Abstract This essay examines the brutal sport of gladiator fighting in ancient Rome. The essay contains a history of the games, an overview of a typical day's activities, and a look at theories for why the Romans permitted such blood sport in their society for many centuries.
From the Paper "The Romans were, in some ways, the most civilized people of the ancient world. Their well-developed cities, with the many shops, service, and design amenities, were models for the rest of the world. However, that advancement and enlightened way of life cannot hide a dark reality which we find unacceptable in our modern world: an almost total disregard for the value of human life and human rights. The most visible aspect of that disdain for humanity was the massive importation and exploitation of slaves by the Romans. We also have a great difficulty understanding their love of the ?games:? the Roman spectacle of gladiatorial combat to the death."
Abstract This paper deals with Galileo's arguments with church officials, and his attempt to reconcile his scientific findings with teachings from the bible. Emphasis is placed on Galileo's conviction that scientific truth and the biblical message are not contradictory, but can complement each other. Historical and religious figures are discussed with respect to their influence on Galileo.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most relevant and convincing argument that Galileo posed to clear up the relationship between
scientific truth and the bible was that the bible was often unclear and ambiguous (GAL 214, 206, 199), which could cause the true meaning to be misunderstood by people attempting to translate it's meaning. An example of this posed by Galileo was from the commonly known story of God stopping the sun in the sky to allow Joshua to win a battle."
Abstract This paper explores the social, economic and political reasons for the war as well as the aspect of slavery. The author emphasizes slavery as the main cause and examines how it contributed to political developments.
From the Paper "The Civil War, also known as the War of Abolition, was the war that changed the lives of every American then living, and continues to affect our lives even today. Had the outcome been different, it would have changed the fate of the United States to a nation that prided itself on taking advantage of the rights of others. Over 600,000 US citizens died in this tragedy, all from the United States, in the war that took more American lives than any other war. The United States was founded upon the ideals that all mean are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, slavery was seen as a necessity in the South, where about one-third of the total population consisted of slaves."
Tags: black, civil, institution, racial, slavery, war
This paper looks at the life of Adolf Hitler, from early childhood to his ascension to the head of Germany. The essay discusses the contending ideologies present in Germany, and the methods used by Hitler to combat these ideas.
1,420 words (approx. 5.7 pages), 9 sources, 2002, $ 47.95
Abstract This paper takes a brief look at the life of Adolf Hitler, from his early family years until his suicide in 1945. The author discusses Hitler's influences and political ideologies as he rose to become the leader of the Nazi Party and then Nazi Germany. The paper also discusses Hitler's "Final Solution", his plans to rid the world of "inferior" races and preserve an Aryan society.
From the Paper "Adolf Hitler was born on April 20th 1889 in Braunau-am-Inn, located in Austria . He was the fourth child of Klara and Alois Hitler. Hitler's childhood was rather stress-free, as his father had worked his way up considerably through the Austrian customs service. He worked as a customs guard near the Austrian-German border. Hitler began his schooling in 1900, at the age of 11, and his grades were above average. It was after his first years of schooling that Hitler and his father began to disagree about his future. Hitler wanted to attend Realschule, a secondary school that would prepare him for further study and place an emphasis on modern languages and technical subjects. However, his father preferred that he enter the civil service."
Abstract This paper studies the events that caused the Great Depression and considers whether there could ever be another similar economic downtown by using both the lessons of history and aggregate supply/aggregate demand analysis.
From the Paper "The Great Depression, which began in 1929, was an economic slump in North America, Europe, and other industrialized areas of the world that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western world (Rothbard 13). Though the U.S. economy had gone into depression six months earlier, the Great Depression may be said to have begun with a catastrophic collapse of stock-market prices on the New York Stock Exchange in October 1929 (Rothbard 17). During the next three years stock prices in the United States continued to fall, until by late 1932 they had dropped to only about 20 percent of their value in 1929 (Bernanke 37).
Besides ruining many thousands of investors, this precipitous decline in the value of assets greatly strained banks and financial institutions, particularly those holding stocks in their portfolios. Many banks were consequently forced into insolvency and by 1933, 11,000 of the United States' 25,000 banks had failed. (Bernanke 41). The failure of so many banks, combined with a general and nationwide loss of confidence in the economy, led to much-reduced levels of spending and demand and hence of production, thus aggravating the downward spiral. The result was drastically falling output and drastically rising unemployment; by 1932, U.S. manufacturing output had fallen to 54 percent of its 1929 level, and unemployment had risen to between 12 and 15 million workers, or 25-30 percent of the work force (Bernanke 42). "
Abstract This essay examines the claims of India and Pakistan over Kashmir, and examines some of the more viable solutions towards ending the fifty year standoff, concluding with a proposition for self-determination. It also suggests solutions to avoiding a nuclear conflict.
From the Paper "Few current events are capable of conjuring the level of passion characteristically aroused in the debate over the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley that has historically been characterized by the beauty and fertility of its land is now depicted in routine acts of violence, religious extremism, and human rights atrocities, and the issues at hand are as convoluted as the region's ancient history. Most aspects regarding Kashmir's current turmoil remain obscured to outsiders by ambiguity and propaganda. What have become evident, however, are the countless atrocities routinely perpetrated over the past several decades. Since 1947, Pakistan and India have twice declared war over the disputed territory, and have persistently engaged in low-level border skirmishes, which have left thousands dead. Because both counties now possess nuclear weapons, the international stakes in resolving the conflict have never been greater. Although both India and Pakistan have undoubtedly played a role in the violence, one's view of the crisis depends upon which account has been given, as both countries seem more interested in distorting the facts to aid their own cause, rather than viewing acts of violence individually and objectively."
Abstract The paper discusses the theories of John Maynard Keynes who is known as the "father of modern economics". He was the first economist who precisely described some of the causes and cures for recessions and depressions. The paper explores some of the effects his theories had on the Great Depression such as the Employment Act and the Council of Economic Advisors. It also shows the effects of his theories on World War II and provides a time-line for the Great Depression.
From the Paper "Thus, according to Keynes, the solution that he bought through his theory was for the government to goose up its spending in any way it can either by printing money, cutting taxes, or increasing spending itself. He believed in supply and demand, which was an indirect way to let the economy balance itself. In his theory he not only convinced that in order to work for this system to work people needed money, which could only be done by creating jobs. He further believed that in order to reduce unemployment the government needed to increase the total demand, which is the total amount of goods being demanded. "
Tags: United, States, Federal, Reserve, Gold, Standard
This paper reviews two Holocaust books describing personal experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II: "Night" by Elie Wiesel and "Survival in Auschwitz" by Primo Levi.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 2 sources, 1982, $ 71.95
From the Paper "This report reviews two books describing personal experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II: Night, by Elie Wiesel, and Survival in Auschwitz, by Primo Levi. Both books convey similar horror stories about the Holocaust. The stories of the two men will be compared, and the styles and treatment of the subject will be contrasted.
Wiesel's account of experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald and a few points in between projects a family focus. His youth was undoubtedly a factor in his perspective: he was only twelve when Jews in his Hungarian town of Sighet were initially rounded up for slaughter, and only fourteen when he and his family were shipped to Auschwitz. Wiesel recalls the attitudes of the townspeople when the first stories of mass genocide reached their ears -- overwhelmingly, the stories were met with disbelief and ... "
From the Paper "This study will compare the two versions of the life of Charlemagne by Einhard and by Notker the Stammerer. The study will consider the relative accuracy of the two accounts in terms of the medieval king's political, private and military experiences, and will consider as well the reason for the differences in the two authors' perceptions of him.
There are a number of stark differences between the two versions of Charlemagne's life. In the first place, Einhard's work at least tries to stick to the facts of that life, although there are questions about his accuracy, while Notker openly presents a "much more discursive and anecdotal" account. In any case, translator Thorpe refers to both works as "biographies, or pseudo-biographies" (p. 2).
We might expect a "fact"-based account to be more accurate ..."
Abstract Analysis of the January 20, 1961 speech. Discusses the setting, purpose, and components of the address. Choice of language and delivery. Use of commonplace vocabulary. Kennedy's argument that the rights of man were historically given by God. Relevance of speech to contemporary world in light of 9/11. Quotes significant passages.
From the Paper "Analysis of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address,
Delivered Friday, January 20, 1961
The Situation
President Kennedy beat out Richard Nixon by an extremely small margin, and the campaign was a bitter one. The nation was also at war in Vietnam, there was a strong Cold War going on with Russia, and there was also some fear that Kennedy, the first-ever Catholic president might create a non-secular government. On the morning of the inauguration, it was snowing in Washington, and many people wanted to cancel the outdoor swearing in. Kennedy demanded that it be held outdoors as tradition dictated.
The Speech
The Beginning
The first part of the speech was designed to acknowledge and embrace a ..."
Abstract This essay examines the economic causes of the Great Depression and evaluates why it was such a significant event in world history. The Great Depression was one of the darkest periods of the 20th Century, the entire capitalist world economy came precariously close to collapse. It affected virtually every civilian of Western civilisation ? from the wealthy bourgeoisie to the poor proletariat. The paper focuses on the Wall Street crash and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff and the role that each played in precipitating the Great Depression and puts forward extensive evidence that suggests that the Wall Street crash actually played a bigger role than the Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
From the Paper "As a fundamental principle of economics is that voluntary trade makes everyone involved better-off, economists were almost uniformly critical of the Smoot-Hawley tariff, and Hoover received a petition signed by more than 1,000 economists urging him to veto the bill. Ultimately, he signed the Smoot-Hawley bill into law on June 17, 1930. Once enacted, it established the highest average tariff level in American history. As Kenneth Davidson said: ?The Smoot-Hawley tariff was part of the general "beggar thy neighbour" polices adopted worldwide during the early 1930s.? While the Wall Street crash had a clear and direct impact on the American economy, the effect of the Smoot-Hawley tariff on precipitating the Great Depression is plagued with ambiguity as it had more of a vague indirect global impact."
Abstract This paper relates Thomas Bell's late nineteenth century portrayal of life in Pittsburgh to the of a melting pot, or gathering of immigrants of all shapes, sizes and cultures into one community. The late 19th century in Pittsburgh, much like anywhere in the U.S. during the time reflected an era of economic and social growth and change. This influx of people from so many different countries, with little skills and high hopes paved the way for low-paying labor. Thomas Bell's "Out of this Furnace" tells the story of three generations of Slovaks that moved to America, and the challenges they faced in the new land.
From the Paper "Djuro Kracha is a recent immigrant from Hungary in Bell's novel that desires more than anything to leave his native country and restart life in America. America became a melting pot because of immigrants such as Kracha. Many people flooded the U.S. during this time, from Hungary and other Eastern European countries, from Ireland, Mexico and China, all in the hopes of economic opportunity. Ethnically, socially and politically all of the people that came to live here were different. In Bell's novel, Djuro is the first member of his family to come to live in the U.S. Like many immigrants his initial struggles include working in a Steel Mill for terrible wages and long hours."
Tags: immigration, melting, pot, culture, labour, class, society
Analyzes Christopher R. Browning's history of the German Police Battalion in Nazi Germany, comparing it to Daniel Goldhagen's "Hitler's Willing Executioners".
Abstract According to Christopher R. Browning's aptly-titled history of the German Reserve Police Battalion 101, "Ordinary Men", the most significant single factor influencing any given policeman's decision to participate in acts of Nazi genocide, was that individual's personal willingness to obey the orders given to him as a soldier and as a German. In other words, how much was that individual willing to be subject to, for want of a better word, ?peer pressure.? The paper shows that this is in direct contrast to the thesis advocated by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen in his book, "Hitler's Willing Executioners". Goldhagen stresses that the actions of the policemen, soldiers and citizens who enforced the larger Reich ideological agenda were performed enthusiastically. The paper explains Goldhagen's belief that this willingness was the result of many years of anti-Semitic propaganda in Germany, extending back in historical time to the earliest days of German Lutheranism's influences on Christianity.
From the Paper "The actions of the Reserve Police Battalion 101 become, in essence, even more chilling when viewed through Browning's schema of explanation. It is easy to rationalize inhumanity as a symptom of German culture, and to state that all human beings have pure free will to resist the pressures of position, country, and ideology. The idea that one can still retain one's ethical, moral compass (as evidenced by the disgust and horror of the policemen) and act against it when structural pressures persuade one to do otherwise is far more disturbing and a far more bracing slap in the ethical face of one's judgment."
Abstract This paper reviews John Ehle's book, "Trail of Tears", which provides a thorough review of the Cherokee people, starting from their first encounter with Europeans. The paper presents the book's argument that the Cherokee efforts to adopt and adapt to the cultural achievements of whites, while advancing their own culture, fundamentally shaped their history.
From the Paper "In Trail of Tears, John Ehle poignantly depicts the unique struggle of the Cherokee to defend against the onslaught of the advancing ?white storm.? As they initially realized the futility of violent resistance, the Cherokee enthusiastically devoted themselves to ensuring the societal advancements that would grant them peaceful and prosperous co-existence with the whites. Thanks to the visionary leadership of individuals such as Major Ridge, the tribe successfully fought off internal division, reactionary traditionalism, and white interference in order to forever disprove the fallacy that Indians were incapable of ?civilization.?"
Abstract Through a reading of her memoir "Living History", this paper assesses Clinton's rise to leadership and her various strengths and weaknesses as a leader. The first part of the paper studies the first leadership roles of the young Hillary. The next part then evaluates Clinton's actions in light of the various theories discussed in Peter G. Northouse's "Leadership" and Lee G. Bolman's "Reframing Organizations". The next parts examine how she has gone on assuming new roles, from her political conversion to a Democrat and her early career as a lawyer in Arkansas. Much of the paper is necessarily devoted to her leadership role as the First Lady amid much scandal, public adulation, and public censure. In the last section, the paper summarizes how the theories on leadership help shed light on the processes and decisions made by Clinton through various points in her career.
From the Paper "Unlike them, Clinton was clearly not interested in this delicate, secondary form of leadership. Rather, she became an active participant in several of her husband's most important campaigns ? from health care to welfare reform. When her term as First Lady ended, she extended her leadership role further in her new position as New York's junior senator."
