Abstract This paper discusses how the transcontinentalrailroad was a monumental achievement that closed the frontier and provided cross-country access for the first time in the United States. It forever changed the face of the American nation and economy. The paper begins by looking at the importance of the railroad and how the construction of the Pacific railroad in particular effected the life of early settlers. Financing of the railroad is also discussed, as well as a profile of the men who built it.
I. Introduction
II. The Importance of the TranscontinentalRailroad III. The Construction of the Pacific Railroad IV. Financing the Railroad V. Profiles of the Builders
VI. Summary
From the Paper "By the 1860s, the northern and eastern states had a railway system but the West was not as fortunate. With the discovery of gold, the acquisition of Mexican territories and the continued settlement of the West, it became apparent for the need to have a primary railway system.
The idea of building a railway to link the east and west was a daunting task but the nation had railroad fever in the 19th century and wanted to pursuit building a system across the wilderness. Once the project was begun, it took over 20,000 men, the majority who were European or Chinese immigrants, over six years. The cost in life and money has never been calculated but the final product was a railroad that would be the key to westward expansion."
An analysis of the economic and political structural differences between settlement in North America and Mexico caused by the building of the TranscontinentalRailroad.
Abstract This paper discusses the furtherance of economic political and social structural inequities between Mexico and the U.S., a process which culminated into the establishment and juncture of the TranscontinentalRailroad and various railroads in central Mexico. It examines how from the very beginning, Mexico's economy and government were at a disadvantage while the United States benefited from the growing economic independence that was able to tap the non utilized labor resources of Mexico. It analyzes how this railroad mobilization vented a surplus labor supply which was never and has never been sustained in Mexico, by improvements in its own economy. It evaluates how, if these structural inequities continue to grow unilaterally as they have been to the present day, Mexico will continue to experience an irrecoverable population hemorrhage to the north and a damaged economy.
From the Paper "The very beginnings of a diverted relationship in the development of nation-building between the U.S. and Mexico goes as far back to initial colonization efforts by both Great Britain and Spain leading to opposing economic footholds. It is quite surprising to note that by the 1607 establishment of Jamestown, the first American colony in North America, Spanish colonialism had been in effect since 1536 (Saragoza 2). With a time differential of 71 years, it would be logical to believe Spanish settlements would thrive sooner than those of American origin. However, in order to understand why that was exactly what did not happen, we must observe the circumstances under which each government saw their new territory's raw economic potential. In Latin America, Spain found what they called the ?El Dorado,? an abundant source of gold and silver."
Abstract The paper reviews the life of James Hill (1838-1916), founder of the Great Northern railroad, and nicknamed "the Empire Builder". The paper also notes Hill's early involvement with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), and analyzes his successes in building and marketing his rail lines. The paper then analyzes the CPR and its effects on Canadian development, and reviews the earlier development of the canal infrastructure which provided waterways between the United States and Canada at the start of the 19th century. Next, the paper focuses on the Maritime Provinces and what has been written about them by various authors. Then the paper changes focus to what those writers have to say about the rest of Canada, returning to their views of travel on Canada's railroads, and especially the CPR. In conclusion, the paper finds that travel writers describe the country best when they focus on railroads and travel by rail.
From the Paper "A man of penetrating commercial vision, Hill foresaw the growth of trade with the Pacific Rim. His road would bridge this traffic from the Pacific Northwest, where he saw the logical port of entry to markets back east. He would haul cotton from the South for export to the Orient, and his freight cars would return filled with lumber from the Northwest to build the heartland. Notwithstanding his view on trains that carry people, the flagship passenger train of his Great Northern bore his nickname, the Empire Builder."
Abstract During the Civil War, railroads, which previously satisfied the demand for cheap industrial and agricultural movement, became increasingly helpful in mass transportation of troops and goods. The paper shows how railroads shaped the outcome of the Civil War and subsequently decided the fate of the nation by unifying the states after the war.
Paper Outline:
I. Introduction
II. Intended usage for the railroads during construction
A. Industrial revolution and the beginnings of the railroads B. Northern reasons for building the railroad: race between companies to connect most cities
C. Southern reasons for building the railroad: movement of cotton D. Rising demand for cheap, mass movement of troops and goods III. How railroads aided the war effort
A. Helped divide country into different economical groups by geographical placement
B. Physical attack: ram into enemy positions, trains, etc.
C. Movement of troops to battle sites
D. Communication service when telegraph lines were cut
IV. Aftermath of railroad involvement in the war
A. Railroad contributions to the science of war- mass transportation B. Abolish slavery- constitutional amendment, states united
C. Preservation of the Union- Physically bound union together
D. Deterred foreign countries from attacking the US
V. Conclusion
From the Paper "After filling the demand for efficient land travel in the different sections of the US, the railroads hit their peak usage and importance during the Civil War. Before and during the war, railroads drew the economic lines of the war. By 1861, America had grown apart both politically and economically (Industrial). The South used rails for movement of cotton, while the North concentrated on industrial advances. The railroads helped the different businesses excel, furthering sectionalism by dividing the country into its profiting businesses. The railroads divided the nation into regions of political unity and economic ties (Ward 134). The Southern people were leaning more towards democratic ideals, while the North believed in more republican politics. The South was angry because they believed that the North was oppressing them. The South did not like the importation and exportation taxes of the North because they benefited little from the money. The South also believed that the Northern states were unconstitutionally treating the South by taking away the states? rights to have slavery."
Abstract This paper examines how the coming of the railroads changed the Industrial Revolution as it allowed the Industrial Revolution to maintain its momentum, and how railroads changed because of the Industrial Revolution.
From the Paper "The onset of the Industrial Revolution predated the emergence of the railroad by more than years. Even so the railroad did as much to enable the Industrial Revolution to maintain its momentum as any other single innovation of the ..."
Abstract This research examines the role of railroads in the economic development of southern Brazil from 1875-1930. For purposes of this research, southern Brazil is defined as the five southernmost states in the country, which are S"o Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paran", Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul.
From the Paper "The Role of Railroads in The Economic Development of Southern Brazil
Introduction
This research examines the role of railroads in the economic development of southern Brazil from 1875-1930. For purposes of this research, southern Brazil is defined as the five southernmost states in the country, which are S"o Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paran", Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. A map of Brazil with these five states identified may be found below on this page.
MAP OF BRAZIL
Economic Growth and Development
Economic growth is defined in positive terms as the rate of..."
Abstract A literary analysis of "All Quiet on the Western Front". The author discusses the writer's examination of the horrors of World War I through the eyes of the soldiers involved in the war, as well as the effects of war on society at large.
From the paper:
"All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a book that explores the true horrors of World War I through the eyes of a German solider. The author uses the character of Paul to tell a realistic story of what the average WWI solider had to endure. This book raises the issue of how destructive war can be not only to a country, but also to a generation of a nation. One of the major themes in the story is that of the lost generation. An entire generation of men fighting for their country was lost in World War I."
Tags: all, analysis, english, erich, front, literary, maria, novel, quiet, remarque, western
The paper examines the possible causes of the Great Western Schism - the major crisis experienced by the Catholic Church at the end of the 14th century.
Abstract An examination of several ideas which have been suggested as the possible causes of the Great Western Schism. The paper suggests one popular argument which blames the people of Rome, the hasty appointment of Urban VI was made to dispel an angry Roman mob. Another theory analyzed is that the King of France was attempting to seize control back of the papacy and persuaded the cardinals to elect a second pope. The actions of Urban VI and the Cardinals have also been blamed. This paper examines these theories and attempts to pinpoint the proximate cause of the Great Western Schism.
From the Paper "During the middle and end of the 14th century, the Catholic Church went through a major crisis that came to be known as the Great Western Schism. Bartholomew Prignano, the Archbishop of Bari, was elected Pope and took the name Urban VI. After just a few months of Urban's rule, the Cardinal College left Rome and elected one of their own, Robert of Geneva, who became Pope Clement VII. In 1409 a church council in Pisa attempted to elect a new pope that could unite the sides. The Pisian council did, but neither pope was willing to give up his power. Thus, three popes were vying for authority over the church. "
Abstract This paper is on the emergence of early western civilization and focuses primarily on the condition of the western world before and after the coming of the Renaissance followed by the Reformation. Both the eras mark the beginning of a society based on humanism and education. This paper also reviews the political, religious, economic and social transformation undergone by these societies to completely eradicate the reminiscence of the Middle Age.
Abstract This paper demonstrates some of the ways inventions and ways of thinking in the non-Western world have significantly contributed to what has become known today as "Western civilization."
From the Paper "Today the term globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness of the world's economic, social and other systems. For example a consumer in California orders a computer from Dell Computers which has its headquarters in Texas, but the computer itself is built in Malaysia and when the consumer calls the technical support responder answers the phone in India. For many people this increasing interconnectedness of the world seems to be a new phenomenon different from when Europeans drew maps of Europe, Asia and Africa ..."
Abstract The paper compares and contrasts Western Europe and the North American core (the United States and Canada) in terms of politics, population, culture, government and history. The paper looks at the common history and culture shared by the American Core and Western Europe. The paper also touches upon the issue of diversity.
From the Paper "Western Europe and the North American core i.e. the United States and Canada, are two regions of the world that share a great deal. Like Anglo-America, Western Europe ranks as among the most economically developed regions of the world. The level of development is comparable to Anglo-America in the region's core area which includes the western part of the Federal Republic of Germany, north eastern France, Switzerland, southern Scandinavia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg."
Tags:Western Europe, North America, cultural geography
Abstract The paper discusses how the noir style of film and the western genre film share some similarities which unify the films in these categories more than they divide them. The paper describes how the styles of cinematography would seem to suggest that there could be no overlap in these genres; the settings of the western and the film noir are not simply disparate, they are opposite. The paper explains that they are, however, used to a similar effect in that they manipulate the sense of security experienced by the viewer.
From the Paper "It could be argued that stylistically there are not too many genres more diametrically opposed than those of the western and the film noir. The first genre takes place in a rural setting, the second in an urban one. The western genre takes place in an arid climate, while the film noir is characterized by rain and wetness. Both genres, however, have "man's men" as heroes and, generally, strong women as heroines. The style of storytelling is often the same, with characters often reaching conclusions that are not ultimately satisfying. It is true, in fact, that film scholars have already linked the two genres together in naming the western films that were made in the 1940s "Cold War Westerns" or "noir Westerns" (Tyler 178)."
Abstract The paper focuses on the book "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi that recounts the chaos and bloodshed that resulted from the western world's "westernization" of Iran. The paper also refers to "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order", by Samuel P. Huntington and then discusses the horrific number of Iraqis who have been killed since Bush launched the invasion. The paper concludes that this is clearly part of the negative impact of "westernization".
From the Paper "What was life really like for Marjane Satrapi as she was growing up? A brief look at the history of her times is appropriate here, as the discussion of western influences into the Middle East is reviewed. Many Americans remember that the U.S.-backed Shah was pushed out of Iran in 1979, and the Ayatollah Khomeini took over the government, which set off the Islamic revolution that Marjane Satrapi writes about. She was swept up in it and many of the injustices that she witnessed and her family endured resulted from the Islamic backlash (led by Khomeini's regime) following the demise of the Shah. In fact, the fall of the Shah also set off a hostage crisis; pro-Khomeini militants in Teheran held U.S. embassy staff members for 444 days."
Abstract This paper reviews the book "Inventing Western Civilization", in which author Thomas Patterson views civilization as an elitist concept that has been used politically, culturally and socially to manipulate the masses. The author explains Patterson's thesis that the West differs from all other civilizations due to its overwhelming impact on virtually all other cultures, including its role in introducing modernization and industrialization. This paper also discusses how Patterson explores the development of social classes and the alienation of the "other". Throughout the paper, Patterson's ideas are compared to numerous scholars and philosophers including John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Sigmund Freud. The author concludes by concurring with Patterson that an international order based on civilizations is the surest safeguard against world war, but noting that this idealistic concept is not borne out in reality.
From the Paper "Patterson demonstrates how classism, sexism, and racism were as integral to the appearance of "civilized" society in Western Europe as inequality and alienation. He further explores the issue of how civilization, and the process of "being civilized" has been frequently linked to the rise of capitalism in Western Europe, the development of social classes, and the creation of "others" who are distinguished by their socially constructed appearances, behaviors, or essences.
Patterson accordingly believes that every civilization or group at one time or another has considered itself to be God's "chosen" people. For example, The Incas, who Patterson studied for most of his career as an anthropologist, believed that they were the only true humans. This is the type of elitist thought he attributes to all civilizations, both past and present. Thus in Patterson's view, the greatest threat to society is a global clash between Civilization and barbarism."
Abstract Photography is an art form that is constituted by culture and society. At the same time photography is also an important element in shaping cultural realities. It is this complex interrelationship between the photographic image and cultural motivation that forms the basic subject of this essay. The relationship between photography and culture is outlined with reference mainly to American nation building and imagery around the turn of the century. Furthermore, the essay discusses the ways in which western forms of nation building interacted with the problem and perception of the "other" and the way images of "the other" are mediated though photographic images of the period. The paper includes photographs.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Understanding Anthropological Photography
The Cultural Role of Early Photography in America and Nation Building
Francis Johnston
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "The gaze implies a separation and a sense of domination and power that relates to various aspects, including alienation and
"otherness" This also refers to the "patriarchal" gaze: and the gaze from the standpoint of colonial culture. "The majority of anthropological photographs consists of non-Westerners looking away from the photographer, who were mostly white, upper class males, or posed to be in action as to appear candid and natural. " (Tanjuakio J. 2003) This view leads to various other aspects of post-colonial and postmodern theory; such as the assertion that photography is means of "capturing" the non-westerner in terms of control and power."
Tags: anthropology, stereotype, non-western, media, Michael, Moore
