Charles Darwin And The Theory Of Evolution - 1470 Words

Task Your task is to answer the following questions using your knowledge, the text below, Pearson’s text book, School notes and any other reliable sources of information. All of these have to be referenced correctly. Please present Q 2 onwards as an essay style. Darwin and Evolution –Nick deluca Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution through natural selection It’s been over a century since Darwin presented his Theory of Evolution through natural selection and it continues to scandalise many people. Using a scientific approach, Darwin argued that species evolve to suit their environments. In 1831 Darwin went to work on the HMS Beagle. He spent 5 years as part of the crew and his job involved drawing maps of the lands they visited and keeping a journal, including preserving samples of any scientific observations worth noting. During this time, Darwin observed that many species, that were clearly related, differed slightly depending on where they were found. This observation, coupled with ideas from the writings of Thomas Malthus, who suggested a constant battle for survival among species, led to the birth of Darwin’s controversial theory. Darwin’s theory was published under the title The Origin of Species in 1859. Darwin’s theory of natural selection argues that the inherited variation found among individuals will either help or hinder them. Those whose inherited traits enable them to better cope with the stresses of the world will be favoured to survive andShow MoreRelatedCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution984 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Robert Darwin was a British man who became one of the greatest contributors to the study of evolution. He was a naturalist who was able to develop a theory of evolution based on biological changes that he witnessed occurring in varieties of samples on his travels all around the world. Charles Darwin is valuable in science history, simply because he was the first geologists who had come the closest for closing the gap on how and why biological changes occurred. The naturalist and geologistRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution1336 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Robert Darwin, the creator of the theory of evolution that has changed the way that we perceive the world as we know it. The naturalists think that we are all our own separate beings but the theory of evolution goes against what the naturalists think. Darwin believes that every species that exists today is just an evolution of their ancestor where we needed to adapt to different geological environments and living conditions to survive. This principle is called â€Å"Survival of the fittest† andRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution801 Words   |  4 PagesThe theory of Evolution is one of the greatest intellectual revolutions of human history. It can drastically change our perception of the world and our place in it. Charles Darwin created a coherent theory of evolution and amassed a great body of evidence in support of this theory. During this time, most scienti sts fully believed that each organism and adaptation was the work of the creator. A fellow scientist Carl Linnaeus created a system of classifications that we still use today. Charles RobertRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution1173 Words   |  5 Pages It is time to start believing. Evolutionary theories were first proposed by Charles Darwin in the 19th century, and 150 years later, these ideas are still being studied and proven today. Charles Darwin set the basis for these discoveries. Natural Selection and survival of the fittest are two examples of evolution. Charles Darwin once exclaimed, â€Å"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.† ThisRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution904 Words   |  4 PagesEvolution is the process new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations. Some people believe in evolution and some do not. Scientists have found many ways to determine the way that a species can evolve over time. Charles Darwin is just one of these scientists. He came up with a theory that explains how species’ evolve and change. He believed that species change by a process called â€Å"natural selection.† Charles Darwin’s theory of evolutionRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution1750 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Darwin is remembered for his theory of evolution. Much controversy surrounds Darwin s theory. Questions abound. Is evolution a four billion year old process, creating life forms primarily at random but each shaped by an ever-changing and complex environment, that has resulted in all of the wondrous life forms that surround us? Or are all of those beautiful elements of our nature, along with the vastness and majesty of the entire universe, a creation of an intellect of vast intelligence andRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution918 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is the most successful theory of it’s kind. Darwin’s idea of Natural Selection has found success not just in the organic world, but also in human society. This is no coincidence. After Darwin’s Beagle voyage, he returned to England during the Industrial Revolution. As a man of wealth, Darwin acted as a first-hand witness to the societal changes occurring around him. The Industrial Revolution, along with the corresponding economic theories played a large role inRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory On Evolution Essay1074 Words   |  5 Pagesand how did life start, along with the creation of the universe and Earth? Charles Darwin’s theory on evolution, which is called natural selection, is based on the idea of species naturally adapting to their surrounding environment to better the species chances for survival. Creationism, on the other hand, is the belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation. Both are theories on life, and how such life came to be thing we all know. It is not the strongestRead MoreCharles Darwin s Th eory Of Evolution1577 Words   |  7 PagesNo man has been as influential in the history of evolutionary science as Charles Darwin, a prominent British naturalist, geologist and botanist who came to solidify himself in these fields of studies in the nineteenth century. In 1831, Darwin embarked on a British government-sponsored voyage on the HMS Beagle to the coast of South America and several remote islands in the Pacific, where he closely observed the landforms and natural species that were native to these parts of the world, which he hadRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution1055 Words   |  5 Pages Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and geologist, he was known greater for his contributions for the evolution theory. Darwin wrote a book in 1859 it was published and became the greatest and well known book. The name of the book was â€Å"On the Origin of Species†. In the book he wrote about his theory of evolution by natural selection, he discovered how the process of how organisms change as time goes on. Changes in traits and the organism’s physical behavior. Darwin believe change happens

Undaunted Courage Essay - 732 Words

A Brief Look at Stephen E. Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Undaunted Courage is a very detailed account of what Ambrose considers the most important expedition in American history, Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the west. Ambrose attempts to project Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a country that stretches from sea to shining sea, of an open road to the west, of an â€Å"Empire of Liberty†. Ambrose repeatedly shows how important the expedition was to the United States and especially to Thomas Jefferson by giving examples of the powers given to Lewis by Jefferson in order to complete the expedition. Lewis is given a letter of credit signed by†¦show more content†¦Ambrose is a skilled writer and he relied heavily on the journals kept by the Corp of Discovery and his own vast knowledge of the subject to tell the story and be as historically accurate as possible. One would think this combination would produce an epic tale impossible to put down. This was not the case for me. I found the book t o be a chore to read. It seemed to be too wordy. He would give long detailed descriptions of conversations and events when a simpler one would do. I also believe it tended to read as a text book or journal rather than a novel. Every third paragraph begins with a date as if it were a diary or timeline. There was little continuity to the storyline. Once these flaws are recognized another becomes apparent, its incredible size. It is a voluminous text of almost five hundred pages! This is another example of how his attention to detail might have worked against him. The story could have been told in much fewer pages and reading the story might not have been so fatiguing. Another problem I had with the book is that he used the period’s correct vernacular so any quotes or dialogue are in this flowery poetic style which does not lend itself to readability. At times, it was like reading Shakespeare. I think perhaps he spent too muchShow MoreRelatedCritical Review of Undaunted Courage8 82 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Review of Undaunted Courage Stephen Ambroses Undaunted Courage is a remarkable piece of nonfiction literature. His work is so thorough that one wonders how he has time to do much more. Yet he has created time in his life to go west and go camping and hiking and canoeing in the summers with his family. Which possibly shows that anything can be raw material to the open mind, for it was on those trips that he developed a great fascination with the Lewis and Clark expedition that exploredRead MoreUnwavering, Impervious, Undaunted Courage Essays1131 Words   |  5 PagesJefferson could collect as much information of the unknown as possible, including plants, animals, and other natural history. An author and American historian named Stephen Ambrose wrote a 484 page book retelling this story of Lewis and Clark titled Undaunted Courage. Professor at University of New Orleans, founder of the National D-day Museum, and writer/editor of over 35 books, Ambrose was well-educated on the topics he wrote about (nationalgeogra phic.com). At a young age, Ambrose joined the World War IIRead More Critical Review of Undaunted Courage Essay858 Words   |  4 Pages Critical Review of Undaunted Courage Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage is a remarkable piece of nonfiction literature. His work is so thorough that one wonders how he has time to do much more. Yet he has created time in his life to go west and go camping and hiking and canoeing in the summers with his family. Which possibly shows that anything can be raw material to the open mind, for it was on those trips that he developed a great fascination with the Lewis and Clark expedition that exploredRead MoreAnalysis Of The Journey Of Meriwether Lewis And William Clark1011 Words   |  5 PagesUndaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose follows the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they explore the American West. Ambrose uses the thoughts of Lewis himself as a guide to the book; he even uses extensive journal entries which not only help the readers visualize what is going on during this expedition, but it helps the readers have a better understanding for what is happening in 19th century America. Ambrose us es a bit of his own logic and opinion in the book as well, he makes itRead MoreModern Definition Of Hero In Beowulf714 Words   |  3 PagesAccording to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the modern definition of â€Å"hero† is â€Å"a person admired for achievements and noble qualities† or â€Å"one who shows great courage.† Over centuries peoples views of what they consider a hero has transformed. Alfred de Vigny’s claim that â€Å"there are no heroes and no monsters in this world† makes it clear that he defines â€Å"hero† in a different way. Despite de Vigny’s claim that there are no heroes or monsters today, I believe there are, due to the selfless acts madeRead MoreThe United States Of The Mississippi River1515 Words   |  7 Pageswere kept by Lewis which described the dangers of the wilderness. Disease crept up on Lewis and Clarks men as soon as they made it to the Rocky mountain range. Mosquitos were relentless and were a factor i n malaria that soon plagued the men. In Undaunted Courage by Stephen A. Ambrose, an excerpt from a journal recorded by both men provided the details. William Clark complained in one journal entry, â€Å"I am very sick all night †¦ pain in Stomach the bowels.† On the same day Meriwether Lewis recorded, â€Å"forRead MoreLady Macbeths Ironical Fate Essay1597 Words   |  7 Pagesqueen full of guilt that leads her to madness and a subsequent death. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as a woman full of masculine traits such as courage and ambition. She is the perfect and needed counterpart in order to push Macbeth to murder Duncan and take over the kingdom. The first trait that is shown to the reader is courage. When Lady Macbeth is planning how to convince Macbeth into murder, she describes herself as a courageous woman: That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, /Read MoreWhy Was Leonidas A Good Leader Essay750 Words   |  3 Pagesinformed Xerxes of a mountain top trail that would help the Persians break the pass. Leonidas sent most of the Greeks to safety to Southern Greece and then swung his remaining force of 300 Spartans and 1100 other Greeks, against the enemy with undaunted courage and grim determination worthy of their Gods. Leonidas fell bravely in the thickest of the fight and a fierce struggle raged over the body of the Spartan King, but given the numbers they faced, the body did fall into Persian hands. It has beenRead MoreExamples Of Ethos In Macbeth Act 1 Scene 71021 Words   |  5 Pagesfail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep— †¦ What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?† (Lady Macbeth,1.7,59-73) She establishes her plan and tells make Macbeth to get his courage up. After a while of deliberating, Macbeth realizes lady Macbeth’s persistent and fearless nature, â€Å"Bring forth men-children only, For thy undaunted mettle should composeRead MoreThe Importance of Lady Macbeths Influence on Her Husband Essays514 Words   |  3 Pageshis services. He has earned the title of Thane of Cawdor. He knows that if he proceeds with the murder of Duncan could lose men’s good opinions of him. However, when Lady Macbeth hears this she attacks her husband’s weakest spot; his courage. She tells him he will only be a man if he commits the murder. She states that she herself would kill her own baby in order to attain her goals. She manipulates Macbeth overrides all of his objections and repeatedly questions his manhood

The Depiction of War in Classical Art free essay sample

The act of war has been depicted in art since the beginning of human cultural development. Three famous works spanning the neoclassical, romantic and post-impressionism periods have expressed a wide range of emotion by the artists when visually describing both the honor and horror of war. â€Å"The Oath of the Horatii† by Jacques-Louis David, â€Å"The Third of May 1808, the Execution of the Defenders of Madrid† by Francisco Goya, and â€Å"Guernica† by Pablo Picasso are three unique works that consist of a wide array of artistic elements to show what their creators thought about war. The Oath of the Horatii† is a neoclassical painting by Jacques-Louis David that depicts the act of war in a patriotic and heroic perspective. Because a revolution in France was looming at the door, David created the painting in part to urge people to pledge loyalty to the state. In an ironic twist, while the Horatii brothers and their father stand solemn and unemotional, on th e right are two women weeping from the fact that one of the women is the sister of the enemy Curiatii brothers and yet the wife of one of the Horatii brothers, while the other women is a sister to the three Horatii brothers and the fiance of one of the Curiatii. We will write a custom essay sample on The Depiction of War in Classical Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The women cry and are allowed to show emotion, but the brothers do not because it is their duty to fight and die heroically for their country. Aside from the subject matter, Jacque-Louis David also used many physical techniques in his artwork to portray his feelings for the war. The background is bland in color and deemphasized in order to highlight the importance of the characters, and the painting as a whole is not very vivid in order to emphasize the fact that the message being brought forth by the painting is in actuality more important than the painting itself. The second important work of art portraying war is not from the neoclassical period, but the romantic, and it is â€Å"The Third of May 1808, the Execution of the Defenders of Madrid† by Francisco Goya. In his groundbreaking work Goya portrayed the massacre of civilians in Madrid by French soldiers in an unconventional way, signaling in the modern era of art. Goya chose to contrast the rigid, faceless and unemotional brutality of the soldiers with the feeble and timid mass of civilians about to be executed. A lantern between the crowd shines an eerie light on one man dressed in white whose arms are spread open either in pleading for his life or defiance as he is about to die. The emotion of Goya’s painting is indisputable as he creates a powerful image ingrained into our heads rejected the horror and brutality of war. Pablo Picasso drew inspiration from Francisco Goya, and in 1937 created a masterpiece similar to â€Å"The Third of May† entitled â€Å"Guernica† to portray the Nazi bombing of Guernica, Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso combined the destruction of people, animals, and buildings all into one mural void of color with a hodgepodge of dismembered bodies and wild animals to depict the utter chaos and unnecessary brutality endured by the civilians of a city attacked without purpose by the Nazi regime. Many different artists throughout all periods of time have depicted their views of war in their own light by rendering the images of their artwork how they see fit. Just as David, Goya, and Picasso using different shadings, colors, shapes and contexts in their work, any artist can show the world how honorable, chaotic, tragic, or brutal war can be.

The American Eugenics Movement Essay Example For Students

The American Eugenics Movement Essay The idea of eugenics was first introduced by Sir Francis Galton, who believed that the breeding of two wealthy and successful members of society would produce a child superior to that of two members of the lower class. This assumption was based on the idea that genes for success or particular excellence were present in our DNA, which is passed from parent to child. Despite the blatant lack of research, two men, Georges Vacher de Lapouge and Jon Alfred Mjoen, played to the white supremacists desires and claimed that white genes were inherently superior to other races, and with this base formed the first eugenics society. The American Eugenics Movement Essay attempted to unethically obliterate the rising tide of lower classes by immorally mandating organized sterilization and race based experimentation. The first step in its movement to uphold the social status of white supremacists was to create a scientific base on which to build the belief that eugenics was ultimately a good cause. We will write a custom essay on The American Eugenics Movement specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Eugenicists, as the scientists responsible for the genetic research at the time liked to be called, had absolutely no proof that traits such as intelligence or strength were hereditary, or how to identify them. That being the case, they deferred from the science and focused more on a propaganda front for their theories. Calling immediately for sterilization would be too abrupt a change, people would refuse and resistance might rise up, so eugenicists merely stated their theory for the public. The reaction was to be expected; people heard a scientific theory and believed it as fact without question. People started to conform to this new idea, and it became almost a requirement for the upper class to have larger families, because it was better for society. Then came the Fitter Families contests, which supposedly determined whether or not you had good genes based on a series of tests or challenges (Selden 7). Slowly society began to polarize into separate groups: the ones that knew, or thought they knew, that they were the best, and the ones that were told they never could be. With these new boundaries formed, eugenicists began their own testing, classifying people as either superior or inferior based on the size of their pocket book or their social connections. Families across the country rushed to be tested and deemed genetically fit, or otherwise. While all this was going on, eugenics fans blazed across the country toting such propaganda as Some Americans are born to be a burden on the rest (Carlson 4), while claiming that it is the duty of the superior to ensure that the feebleminded did not over-run them. The hype among the higher upper class was to prove yourself worthy of being especially genetically adept, no matter what background you hailed from (the hypocrisy of this is terrible). Only when eugenicists began to actively sterilize patients did an opposite reaction to eugenics present itself. Sterilization on eugenic grounds (Lombardo 1) was not legalized until 1907 in Indiana, but doctors across the nation practiced the procedure illegally before even then. Generally, the patient didnt know about the sterilization until after the act was done, at which point they were informed of their feeblemindedness or other social disorder. Within 17 years of the law being instated, a recorded 3000 people were sterilized, and thousands more suspected off the record. The range of reasons for being sterilized was infinite, ranging from genuine mental disorders such as schizophrenia, to things as pointless as excessive masturbation (Selden 13). It was upon seeing these tests that scientists such as Thomas Hunt Morgan took up arms to challenge eugenicists basis for these experiments (Allen 2). While doctors continued to enforce sterilization on those they deemed unworthy to reproduce, the government was looking for a way to effectively cut all minorities out of the U. .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .postImageUrl , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:hover , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:visited , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:active { border:0!important; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:active , .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00 .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u187279b79ed6b7b0b1a1b5cc7bad9c00:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Antigone: Who Is The Tragic Hero? EssayS.. The Immigration Restriction League was in charge of defining who could and who couldnt enter the U.S. legally as an immigrant; unlike today, in 1911 it was legal for the I.R. L. to simply turn away anyone from a particular country, given a logical reason. Eugenics was, at the time, a logical reason, and eugenicists had deemed white, specifically Norse, races to be superior to others. Therefore, letting immigrants .

Tenants vs. Tenets

Tenants vs. Tenets Tenants vs. Tenets Tenants vs. Tenets By Maeve Maddox Both words, tenant and tenet, derive from the Latin verb tenere, â€Å"to hold,† but they are not interchangeable. A tenant is someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc. from a landlord. A tenet is a principle, dogma, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true. The following examples of misuse were gathered from sites that offer some kind of professional service: INCORRECT: Generally speaking, people dont know how to teach  leadership, but we can  teach  some  basic tenants.   CORRECT : Generally speaking, people dont know how to teach  leadership, but we can  teach  some  basic tenets.   INCORRECT: Simply put, the  basic tenants  of reading and writing are ignored.   CORRECT : Simply put, the  basic tenets of reading and writing are ignored.   INCORRECT: This course is designed to give the students an overview of the basic tenants of Christian Doctrine. CORRECT : This course is designed to give the students an overview of the basic tenets of Christian Doctrine. INCORRECT: Odierno told our staff about the three  basic tenants  he uses to lead the U.S. Army: competence, commitment  and character. CORRECT : Odierno told our staff about the three  basic tenets he uses to lead the U.S. Army: competence, commitment  and character. I did not find the opposite error in professional texts, but it is quite common in comments on sites related to renting. For example: INCORRECT: most importantly, stay informed about your rights as a  tenet. CORRECT : most importantly, stay informed about your rights as a  tenant. INCORRECT: [The rule is] never enforced, but it does give the owner of the property a pretty quick and easy way to remove troublesome tenets. CORRECT : [The rule is] never enforced, but it does give the owner of the property a pretty quick and easy way to remove troublesome tenants. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Capitalize Animal and Plant NamesIs There a Reason â€Å"the Reason Why† Is Considered Wrong?How Verbs Become Adjectives

Is the New SAT Easier 6 Helpful Changes to Know

Is the New SAT Easier 6 Helpful Changes to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Change is scary, and the SAT was already kind of scary in the first place, so you might be feeling apprehensive about the new test. Good news: It's possible that the new SAT will be easier for some (or even most!) students. In this article, I'll go through some predictions about which aspects of the new SAT have the potential to make it a less challenging test and which types of students are most likely to benefit. Overview of Changes for the New SAT First, I’ll just do a quick summary of the changes you can expect on the test in general. It's helpful to have some background information before I give you my predictions. You can also read this article for a more substantive description! Changes to Overall Format: The new SAT is out of 1600 points rather than 2400. The Reading and Writing sections will be compressed into one section worth 800 points (Math will still have its own section). There will be four answer choices for each question instead of five. The test will have just four large sections (Reading, Writing, Math with no calculator, and Math with a calculator) plus the essay. Changes to Reading: There will be no more sentence completion questions (all questions are passage-based). Some questions will ask you to identify textual evidence for your answers to previous questions. Data interpretation questions that ask you to read charts and graphs will show up alongside some passages. Passages will always be in the same topic order (one passage dealing with US and World Literature, two passages dealing with History and Social Studies, and two passages dealing with Science). Changes to Writing ("Writing and Language" on the New Test): All questions will be based on longer passages rather than isolated sentences. Writing style will be more important (structuring paragraphs and making logical reasoning flow appropriately). Some data interpretation questions will show up here as well. Changes to the Essay: It's gonna be optional! You'll have 50 minutes instead of 25. You will need to analyze an argument that you read in a passage rather than writing your own opinion-based response to a prompt. Your essay score won’t impact your Reading and Writing score. Changes to Math: There will be basic trigonometry on the test. Some problems will have more than one part. Questions will deal with real-world scenarios more frequently and have less tricky wording. There is a no-calculator section. Why Might the New SAT Be Easier? Here are a few reasons why the test might be easier, based on the changes I outlined in the previous section. You Won’t Have to Jump Back and Forth Between Subjects One of the struggles that a lot of people had with the old SAT was that it required you to switch test-taking mentalities constantly through ten short sections.It was impossible to know ahead of time how the sections would be ordered.You might encounter a Math section, a Reading section, and then another Math section, which was disorienting to students who are better at focusing on a single subject for a longer period of time.With the longer sections on the new SAT that occur in the same order on every test, you’ll know exactly what to expect, and you'll get everything over with at once for each subject (similar to the ACT). You Won’t Need to Know Obscure Vocabulary Words Sentence completion questions, the bane of many a student's existence, are no more on the new test.Vocabulary will be tested in context rather than in isolation.You’ll still be asked what words mean, but they will be embedded in passages, so there will be more context clues to help you determine their meanings.These will be challenging but commonly used words, which have more practical value to most students than many of the words that were tested on the old SAT. You'll Be Able to Plan Better for the Reading Section As I mentioned, the passages in the Reading section are now predictable in their basic subject matter.This means that you can come up with a strategy for which passages to read first before you even see the test.You can decide to skip straight to the science passages if you think they’ll be easiest for you. (I’d recommend starting with your strongest subject.) Ben Franklin probably would have read the science passages first. Although he had many interests, so I can't say for sure. When he was 16, he trolled his own brother's newspaper with satirical letters to the editor that he wrote as a widow named "Silence Dogood." The Essay Will Be Less Stressful You don’t even have to write an essay on the new SAT if the colleges where you’re applying don’t require it. The mandatory essay was one of the aspects of the old SAT that students always feared.You had so little time to write, and the essay could heavily influence your overall Writing score.The new essay is scored completely separately from the rest of the test, so it won’t impact your Reading/Writing score. You also have 50 minutes for it rather than 25.If writing under pressure is difficult for you, this is good news! Writing Will Be Less Nit-Picky and More Practical The Writing section on the old version of the SAT contained many questions that asked about tricky little grammar issues likeillogical comparisons and subject-verb or pronoun agreement. The new Writing section will have fewer questions like this and more questions that ask about writing skills that will be familiar to you based on your high school coursework. For example, you might be asked where a sentence fits most logically in a paragraph. Math Questions Will Be More Straightforward Although some more challenging math concepts will be tested on the new SAT (trigonometry), the questions will be less puzzle-like.The steps you need to take to find the answer will be clearer, so you won’t have to use your reading comprehension skills as much on the math section.Here’s a sample grid-in question labeled as an â€Å"easy† problem on the new test: If a2 + 14a = 51 and a 0, what is the value of a + 7? This question gets right to the point and is not worded confusingly.If you have the foundational math skills, you’ll be able to solve it without getting tripped up by phrasing. You can solve the equation with factoring, and the correct answer is 10!Now, here’s a sample multiple choice question labeled as a â€Å"hard† problem: Which of the following is equal to sin(Ï€/5)? A. -cos(Ï€/5)B. -sin(Ï€/5)C. cos(3Ï€/10)D. sin(7Ï€/10) Notice that this question isn’t any more confusing or â€Å"tricky† than the easy question; it just requires more advanced math knowledge.In this case, you would need to know the trigonometric identity sin(x) = cos(Ï€/2 - x).Plug in Ï€/5 for x, and you get cos(3Ï€/10), choice C. Pizza can help you learn trigonometry. This slice is approximately 45 degrees of deliciousness (minus the olives). Will the New SAT Be Easier for You? Although there are some aspects of the new SAT that could potentially make it easier for all students, specific types of students may find the test to be significantly easier.If any of these descriptions apply to you, you might be in for a pleasant surprise on the new SAT. Math and Science Are Your Strong Suits Math will make up a greater proportion of your score on the new SAT (half versus a third), so math geeks will have a bit more of an edge.The Math section will also test slightly more advanced concepts and will not require as much reading comprehension.The Reading section of the test even includes data interpretation, which should be a breath of fresh air for students who feel more comfortable with science than English. Writing Is a Weaker Subject for You The essay on the new SAT involves reading a passage and then writing an analysis of the author’s argument.If you had trouble with the old SAT’s opinion-based essay format, you might feel more comfortable with the more specific expectations of the new essay.The essay is also optional, as I’ve mentioned a couple of times before, so if you’re not confident in your writing skills, you may be able to avoid it altogether.Writing is combined with Reading in your final score, so it no longer makes up a separate score out of 800. It’s will be slightly less important to your overall score. You’re Not Very Confident in Your Vocabulary Skills Have you spent a lot of time dreading the SAT because of all the crazy words you need to know for sentence completion questions?You’ll be much better off on the new version of the test.Many students find the vocabulary to be one of the most intimidating aspects of the SAT; being tested on more practical words in the context of the passageshould make it less intimidating. You Can Read Quickly This would have been an advantage on the old SAT too, but it will play even better on the new test.Since all Reading and Writing questions are passage-based, there’s more reading overall on the test.If you’re a fast reader, you’ll be able to overcome what I think will be one of the toughest problems for students on the new SAT: time management. Be a cheetah! Not to be confused with a cheater (although PrepScholar is based in the Boston area). Conclusion: Is the New SAT Easier? The changes that are coming to the SAT may make the test easier to handle for certain students.Changes that could make the new SAT less challenging overall include: No sentence completion questions Optional essay Less confusing math questions More predictable structure and content You personally might like the new test a lot better if: You’re more comfortable with Math/Science than Reading/Writing Vocabulary is not your strong suit You’re a fast reader The test will be significantly different, but don’t let it scare you too much.It’s highly possible that you’ll feel more confident on the new version of the SAT! What's Next? Are you still trying to decide whether you should take the new SAT or the ACT this year? Read this article for advice on which test will suit you better. If you're planning on taking the new SAT, it might be difficult to settle on a goal score with the changes to the format. Learn more about how to calculate a reasonable target score for the updated version of the test. You should also check out the SAT test dates for this year so you can plan ahead for the test! Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

I have dream speeh Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

I have dream speeh - Annotated Bibliography Example Mills gives an account of what really happened on that day that the speech was given in Washington. It is a useful source since it gives an account of the reaction of people and what actually transpired on the day of the speech (Mills, 2000) Johns gives a biography of Martin Luther Jr and his struggle for liberation of the black people. This source opens up the whole history of Martin Luther and will be able to give more comprehensive information necessary for your research (Jones, 1931) The sources selected will help you in the research since some of them are the actual speech specifically from the speaker himself. The video also provide a clear view of the speech hence avoiding any form of errors. The primary sources are very accurate and very useful in the initial stage while conducting a research. Other sources discuss the views of the speech hence this will help the researcher in articulating and getting various views and critiques of the speech, which will help, in conducting this

Assignment2-2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment2-2 - Essay Example Treaties were signed with these tribes by which these native Indian Americans had to relocate to the west in the state of Oklahoma where they were allotted lands in exchange for their lands in the southern region. However, a majority of the tribes resisted the act as they were unwilling to give up their lands which they had possessed for several generations. This resistance ultimately resulted in wars and those tribes that signed the treaties gave up their lands and moved westward and in the process many succumbed to infections and diseases during their journey ((Indian removal n.d; James 2004; The Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears n.d). During the early 19th century, white settlers were eager for more land and pressed the federal government to acquire lands occupied by native Indians as they were considered as a major threat to their progress. During the period between 1814 to 1824 eleven treaties were signed with the five native Indian tribes by which they were to give up their lands in exchange for those in the western region. Most of the tribes agreed to sign the treaties fearing harassment from the white settlers and as a result the government took control of three-quarters of their lands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and North Carolina. However, not many native Indians vacated their lands which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that Indians residing in these regions could occupy them but not claim these lands as their own. This ruling was heavily protested by the Indian nations who tried to protect their lands by stopping the sale of lands to the US. In addition, they adopte d a non-violent approach to peacefully co-exist with the white settlers in vain. Beginning in 1830, the then president Andrew Jackson brought into effect the Indian Removal Act by which the natives were forcefully deprived of their lands and in turn were asked to move to the west (Indian removal n.d; The

Liberalism Notes Essay Example for Free

Liberalism Notes Essay * Mainstream western philosophy. Other philosophies define themselves in relation to liberalism. * Evolution over time, though constant stress on individual freedom. Intellectual antecedents are 16th century religious reformations, 17th century scientific revolution and 18th century Enlightenment. !8th/19th century industrialisation created new class interests with commitment to reform programme so term liberalism dates from early 19th century. * Liberalism a reaction to 19th century absolutist regimes hence inextricably bound up with national self-determination. Movements for national freedom/unity associated with demands for civil/political rights and for constitutional checks on government. Contrast with Britain, where parliamentary sovereignty established in 17th century hence liberal domestic programme focused on other objectives such as parliamentary reform, religious toleration and free trade. * 19th century continental liberalism primarily a political creed and even in Britain the centrality of free markets to liberalism has been exaggerated. Victorian liberalism stood for political reform at home and support for constitutional/national movements abroad. Inspired more by religion (radical nonconformism) than by economics. Indeed from 19th century British liberalism repudiated laisser-faire and accepted need for state intervention (New Liberalism) especially in social welfare. * Decline of Liberal Party in 20th century, but ascendancy of liberal ideas. Dominant orthodoxy until late 1970s was derived from New Liberalism Keynes and Beveridge marked culmination of New Liberal thinking. Challenge to consensus came principally from an older free market version of liberalism i.e. neo-liberalism. Battle of ideas post 1945 less between left and right than between old and new liberalism. * Today liberal has different meanings in different places UK Liberals/Liberal Democrats long seen as centre/left of centre; in EU liberalism normally associated with the right; in USA a term of abuse for radical-progressive (crypto-socialist) ideas; label also associated with free market advocates (Hayek, Friedman, New Right). And almost all mainstream ideologies can be regarded as variants of liberalism. * Liberal values/ideas of vital historical importance central to development of British political tradition UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS AND VALUES OF LIBERALISM * Hall (1986) describes liberals as open-minded, tolerant, rational, freedom-loving people, sceptical of the claims of tradition and established authority, but strongly committed to the values of liberty, competition and individual freedom. 19th century liberalism stood for individualism in politics, civil and political rights, parliamentary government, moderate reform, limited state intervention, and a private enterprise economy. Widespread agreement over key liberal ideas/values though not over their later development and interpretation. * Key assumption is individualism. Individuals (rather than nations/races/classes) are the starting point. Society an aggregate of individuals; social behaviour explained in terms of some basic assumptions about human psychology. Some liberal thinkers saw society as an artificial creation prior state of nature where neither society nor government existed. Implication that society and government were purposefully created by individuals in pursuit of their own self-interest. So no social interests beyond the interests of individuals who make up society. * Individuals pursue their own self-interest rationally. No-one else (especially rulers) can determine the individuals own interest. Optimistic assumption that the general pursuit of rational self-interest will produce not only individual satisfaction but also social progress and the happiness of the greatest number. * Freedom the key value individuals must be free to pursue their own self-interest (Mill). Originally this had a negative interpretation i.e. importance of freedom from external constraint. In early history of liberalism this entailed firm limits on power of government to interfere with individual liberty. An important application was principle of toleration applied especially to religious belief championed by Locke (1689) Mill (1859) went on to demand full freedom of thought and expression. Later some liberals stressed freedom to enjoy certain benefits (positive liberty) thus entailing extensive state intervention to enlarge freedom (Green (1881) and Hobhouse (1911) and Berlin (1975)). Conflict between positive and negative views of freedom (and divergent implications) a major theme in the development of liberalism in 20th century. * Influence of egalitarian assumptions. So stress on equality before the law, and equal civil and political rights (though little agreement on what these should be in practice). Some liberals thus justify state provision of education et al to create greater equality of opportunity. But this commitment generally accompanied by acceptance of considerable inequality of income and wealth so in practice equality sacrificed to liberty? * Freedom entails the freedom to be unequal? But liberals deny that individual liberty is inconsistent with social justice. Self-seeking individualism, yes but equation of might and right, no. Squaring of circle attempt to make justice consistent with pursuit of rational self-interest (Rawls, 1971). Implies optimistic view of human nature and thus scope for reconciling individual and collective goals. Hence liberalism differs here from traditional conservatism (more pessimistic about human nature) and socialism (deny reconciliation can be readily achieved) SUMMARY OF THE HISTORICAL WHIG-LIBERAL TRADITION * 17th century Puritanism and Parliamentarism * Late 17th/18th century The Whig Tradition: Glorious Revolution (Locke), constitutional monarchy, government by consent, division of powers, religious toleration (Charles James Fox), oligarchy, mercantilism. * Late 18th/early 19th century Radicalism: revolution (Paine), rationalism, rights of man. * Classical liberalism (Smith) Individualism (Malthus), free markets (Ricardo), utilitarianism (Bentham), representative democracy ( James Mill). * Mid 19th/later 19th century Victorian Liberalism: Manchester liberalism (Cobden), nonconformism (Bright), free trade (Gladstone), nationalism (Mill), municipal gospel (Joseph Chamberlain). * Late 19th century/early 20th century New Liberalism (T.H.Green): social reform (Hobhouse), state intervention (Hobson), liberal imperialism (Edward Grey), national efficiency (Asquith), constitutional reform (Lloyd George). * 1920s to 1970s Decline of Liberal Party but progressive liberal consensus (Keynes, Beveridge). * Late 20th century/early 21st century Liberal revival? (Steel): European Union (Ashdown), devolution (Kennedy). THE WHIG TRADITION * Whig party in 17th century opposed royal absolutism and championed religious dissent; support for rights of parliament and for limits on royal power. Influence of Locke (1632-1704) belief in natural rights to life, liberty and property; government should rest on consent of governed, whose rebellion was justified if their rights were infringed. Need for constitutional limits on government, and division between legislative and executive powers ideas enshrined (imperfectly) in British Constitution post 1688 Glorious Revolution, and later helped to inspire French and American Revolutions. * Contradictions in Whiggism. Defence of material interests aristocrats and merchant/banking allies sought to preserve own power, property, privileges from threat of crown. No concern for massive 18th century wealth/income inequalities. And no wish to spread power beyond the propertied, so constitution they developed/defended was oligarchic/conservative. Fortunes made out of war, slave trade, India. Enclosure of land at expense of rural poor; ruthless enforcement of game laws. * Radical interpretation of Whiggism also no taxation without representation (slogan of parl. opposition to the Stuarts) also became cry of American colonies. 1776 Declaration of Independence based on Whig principles; French revolution welcomed by most Whigs Whig leader Charles James Fox defended its principles/championed civil liberties in England (until death in 1806). * Out of office, 1783-1830, so able to proclaim continued attachment to peace, retrenchment and reform unsuccessful parl. Reform bills, 1797 and 1810. Some credit claimed for abolition of slave trade, while traditional Whig demand for religious toleration reaffirmed in support for Catholic emancipation. * Defection of Old Whigs and accommodation within Foxite remnant of party of new radical generation, committed to reform, helped to preserve/reestablish a politically progressive Whig tradition that ultimately merged into liberalism. 1832 Reform Act the culmination of the Whig tradition yet underlines its essentially conservative nature very modest franchise extension (some of the propertied middle classes). Yet new urban centres gained at the expense of the shires; manufacturing/commerce at the expense of land. Whig aristocrats ultimately lost influence to urban-based business and professional middle classes (the muscle behind Victorian liberalism), though Whigs remained an important, if diminishing, element within the Liberal coalition until the late 19th century. (An antidote to those who view liberalism almost exclusively in terms of free markets neglects the Whig foundations). * The Whig-Liberal tradition is essentially a political tradition, concerned with constitutional issues/civil liberties/parl. sovereignty/ government by consent/freedom of conscience and religious observance/no taxation without representation. Whiggism served economic interests but never really an economic doctrine not about free trade/markets. Foreign trade policy in 17th/18th centuries mercantilist aimed to secure (through colonisation, Navigation Acts and war) the largest possible British share of world trade. RADICALS * Radical reformers at different times, interwoven with or opposed to Whig tradition influence on both liberalism and socialism. Radicalism a broad term, with different connotations for different periods, yet huge influence on British liberalism and 19th century Liberal party. * Paine (1737-1809) never absorbed into the Whig (later Liberal) establishment argued that once sovereignty had been transferred from the monarch to the people, there was no logical case for restricting the franchise his ideas the logical outcome of Whig slogans. Paine a liberal? (uncompromising individualism, sympathies with manfacturers, hostility to government). Or a socialist? (Blueprint for the Welfare State, support for graduated income tax, inspiration for Chartists). More impact in USA/France than in Britain seen as dangerous due to uncompromising republicanism, total opposition to hereditary principle, rejection of Christianity. * Philosopher radicals (or utilitarians) such as Bentham were in touch with progressive Whigs; Whitbread and Brougham constituted the progressive wing of the parl. party. Cobbetts radical populism harked back to pre-industrial age; Bright (Quaker manufacturer) belonged to new generation of post 1832 MPs himself displaced by new breed of radicals who took over the Liberal party in latter part of 19th century. * Radical pressure reinforced Whig commitment to parliamentary reform in 1832, and later. Association with religious dissent in 2nd half of 19th century imbued it with strong moral character fuelled demands for non-denominational state education and C of E disestablishment. Also strongly associated with the municipal gospel in local government. Fusion of Whigs and radicals with former Peelites created Liberal Party, 1859. Whigs continued to dominate Liberal Cabinets, but radicals dominated increasingly important grass roots level, especially after 1859 formation of the National Liberal Federation. * Yet it was a relatively restrained, religiously inspired, and peculiarly British strand of radicalism which eventually prevailed rather than the fiercely rationalist, republican radicalism of Paine. CLASSICAL ECONOMICS AND UTILITARIANISM * Intellectual (rather than moral) influence on Victorian liberalism of classical economists and utilitarians. Smith (1732-90), Malthus (1766-1834) and Ricardo (1772-1823) established importance of markets in the allocation/distribution of resources. And Benthams (1748-1832) utility principle was applied to a wide range of institutions/practices fiercely rationalist analysis (What use is it?). The greatest happiness of the greatest number was the only right and proper end of government. * Both stemmed from the 18th century Enlightenment; both shared the individualist/rationalist assumptions underpinning liberalism; each tended to share the implications of the others approach. Mill had a foot in both camps. * But modern neo-liberals argue it is only Smith and Hume (18th century Scottish Enlightenment) who represent the true spirit of liberalism. Bentham et al are blamed for ideas which provided a warrant for much later illiberal interventionist policy (Gray, 1986). The greatest happiness principle is seen as a breach of free market economics, since the principle of representative democracy (advocated by Mill who converted Bentham) might involve electoral pressures for interference with free market forces; moreover, neo-liberals are opposed to Benthams advocacy of bureaucracy, and thus the appointment of qualified, salaried public officials. The contradictory implications of Benthamite thinking are seen in the utilitarian-influenced Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) the able-bodied poor must enter a workhouse where their condition would be less eligible than that of the lowest independent labourer (free market incentives); at the same time theAct required a comprehensive network of administrative areas and officials, and a large degree of central control and inspection (bureaucracy). * Hence modern neo-liberals are critical of Benthams constructivist rationalism (Hayek, 1975); Gray (1986) claims that it had an inherent tendency to spawn policies of interventionist social engineering. Their refusal to recognise Bentham as a liberal involves an artificial conception of liberalism which has little in common with the Whig/Liberal tradition. * The major classical economists contributed significantly to Victorian liberalism, but their ideas were extensively vulgarised. Even Smith allowed for significant exceptions to his invisible hand. Popularisers such as Harriet Martineau, Edward Baines and Samuel Smiles reduced the principles of classical economics to laissez-faire (for governments) and self-help (for individuals). Public policy, moreover, was never consistently governed by laissez-faire look at the various Factory Acts, Public Health Acts and Acts to regulate the railways and banks passed in the early Victorian period. VICTORIAN LIBERALISM * Although the term liberal was applied from the early 19th century, the Liberal Party emerged only in the 1850s from a party realignment of Whigs, radicals and Peelite Conservatives. Gladstone (1809-98), originally a Con. follower of Peel, the embodiment of Victorian liberalism. Domination of Liberal party, and shaped in his own image; he became more radical and populist with age. Also inspired by Christian moral fervour struck chord among nonconformists. So Gladstonian liberalism a moral crusade (Vincent, 1966). * Several strands. Parliamentary reform derived from Whig tradition; advocacy of Bright, then Gladstone turned it into a populist cause. Proposals for modest franchise extension developed into radical demands for full manhood suffrage. Nonconformist strand while the 1860s parliamentary party was still overwhelmingly Anglican, the Liberals were becoming the party of the nonconformist conscience (Vincent, 1966).Nonconformist pressures spawned the National Education League (to campaign for a national, free and secular system of education), which provided the model for the National Liberal Federation (1877) which established a national organisation for he Liberal party, and tipped it decisively towards radical nonconformism. By the 1880s the PLP (and the party in the country) was predominantly nonconformist. * Support for liberal and nationalist movements in Europe, especially Italian unification, helped create Palmerstons 1859 government and kept it intact; Gladstone campaigned against the Bulgarian atrocities, bringing him out of premature retirement and into close collaboration with the nonconformists. The religious fervour behind his mission to pacify Ireland both split the party and strengthened the moral element in liberalism. * Manchester liberalism also quite influential in the party after 1859. Free trade was established as a liberal principle. Gladstone, as Chancellor, built on earlier work of Cobden and Bright (Anti Corn Law League, 1846 repeal of Corn Laws reflected transfer of power from landed to manufacturing interests) by abolishing a range of duties; Cobden negotiated Anglo-French trade treaty of 1860. But free trade did not entail laissez-faire in domestic policy Cobdens opposition to Factory Acts increasingly out of tune with the times. * Increased state intervention entailed by liberal practice major reforms in education, the army, the law and civil service, 1868-74. Third Reform Act, 1884 triumph of radical demands over Whig caution. Chamberlains Unauthorised Programme (1885) and the Newcastle Programme (1891) marked decisive shift towards radicalism. * Pace of change too fast for some Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) combined laissez-faire economics with evolutionary survival of the fittest; opposition to most forms of state intervention being introduced by Liberals at national and local level; but out of step. By contrast, Mill (1806-73) key transitional figure in evolution of liberalism. The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of any of their number is self-protection (1859) effectively a plea for minimal state intervention (Mill denounced censorship and argued for full liberty of thought and expression). Yet his commitment to individuality (and advocacy of democracy) caused him to fear the tyranny of the majority and the despotism of custom, seen as a greater threat to individuality than deliberate actions by governments. So a watershed thinker in the development of liberalism from individualism to collectivism (Gray, 1986). LIBERALISM, CAPITALISM AND DEMOCRACY * Liberalism closely associated with rise of industrial capitalism preeminently the creed of the owners of industrial/financial capital. Its political objectives focused on the enfranchisement of the new middle classes and the transfer of political power to the major manufacturing urban centres. No coincidence that Liberal party finally emerged in the 1850s when Britains industrial and commercial dominance was unchallenged, and the working classes were ununionised and unenfranchised. Even further back, protestant dissent (and especially puritanism) embodied ideas favourable to the spirit of capitalist accumulation. * But British liberalism cannot be simply derived from capitalism. The leading Whig MPs, who were still prominent in 19th century Liberal governments, were large landowners; many rank and file Liberals were not manufacturers but small shopkeepers and tradesmen; many of the working class were attached to the Liberal cause (even before the vote). In practice liberalism a coalition of class interests. Many of its causes temperance, religious disestablishment, home rule were scarcely connected with the interests of capitalism. Leading liberal thinkers Mill, Hobhouse, Keynes, Beveridge gave capitalism only qualified support. * Establishment of capitalist economy accompanied by the gradual establishment of a liberal democratic system no coincidence. Indeed, Marxist view is that rep. democracy offers best shell for capitalism so hardly surprising that party of the bourgeoisie was at forefront of parliamentary reform movement, though stopping short of support for full rep. democracy. Gray (1986, and a neo-liberal) accounts for this by arguing that unlimited democracy cannot be liberal government since it respects no domain of independence or liberty as being immune to invasion by governmental authority. * But representative democracy in early 19th century was largely untried, so not surprising liberals were apprehensive about what was a radical minority cause. Yet Paine advocated full manhood suffrage, and Mill argued for extension to women of full political rights. Once the logic of reform was accepted and liberals became committed to the theory and practice of rep. democracy their conversion was wholehearted, and seen by many (such as Chamberlain) as a justification for abandoning earlier limitations to government intervention. Herbert Samuel (1902) argued a reformed state could be entrusted with social reform Now democracy has been substituted for aristocracy as the root principle of the constitution .the State today is held worthy to be the instrument of the community in many affairs for which the State of yesterday was clearly incompetent.. Acceptance of democracy a critical step towards New Liberalism. Inexorable logic by which liberals progressed from parliamentary reform to representative democracy, to state intervention and the apparent abandonment of some of the principles associated with earlier liberalism. THE NEW LIBERALISM * Flourished in late 19th/early 20th centuries involved state economic/social reform which repudiated laissez-faire liberalism. Controversial development natural extension and refinement of the old principles OR culmination of anti-liberal elements present in the liberal tradition from the 1840s in the work of Mill. (Socialist critics dismiss NL as a forlorn attempt to revive an outmoded ideology Arblaster, 1984). * Origins of NL? Influence of Hegelian idealism? Party project to win working class support and head off rising Labour challenge? Need to modernise British economy/society and thus to compete more effectively? Or simply a rationalisation of the substantial growth in government intervention that had already occurred? * Key NL thinkers were Green, Hobson and Hobhouse. Green (1836-82) an Oxford philosopher and Hegelian; Hobson an economist who believed under-consumption to be the cause of unemployment; Hobhouse (1864-1929) a philosopher/sociologist. Common aim to redefine old liberal values in line with new political practice. So freedom, according to Green, meant a positive power or capacity and must be enjoyed by all. Hobson referred to the provision of equal opportunities for self-development so state intervention might be needed to remove obstacles. (But each enlargement of the authority and functions of the State must justify itself as an enlargement of personal liberty, interfering with individuals only in order to set free new and larger opportunities). Hobhouse justified interference with the market to secure the right to work and the right to a living wage, given the powerlessness of individual workers to secure such rights. * Liberal politicians were more cautious than the NL ideologues, though were increasingly interventionist, both at national and at local level. Locally, enthusiasm for civic improvements amounted to a municipal gospel city government seen as a test-bed for policies which could be applied nationally. Chamberlain (1836-1914) a radical Liberal mayor of Birmingham before moving to national politics (later split with Gladstone and allied with the Conservatives) campaign for the Unauthorised Programme (1895) based on LG experience hospitals, schools, museums, libraries, galleries, baths, parks, etc. Explicit rejection of laissez-faire, which was equivalent to acceptance of selfish wealth alongside poverty; accepted charge that proposed reforms were in practice socialism. Radical, reforming approach of 1895 UA echoed in 1891 Newcastle programme. At national level, little opportunity to implement the NL programme before the Liberal landslide victory of 1906. * 1906-14 Liberal Government key figures were Asquith and Lloyd George. Welfare reforms included provision of school meals and OAPs, and LGs introduction of national health and unemployment insurance (1911). LGs 1909 budget involved some modest income/wealth redistribution through the land tax and progressive income tax. And Churchills labour exchanges showed willingness to intervene in the labour market. * Key stimulus was rising challenge of labour; historians disagree over electoral appeal of state welfare advocated by leaders of organised working class, but not necessarily popular with working class voters, and frightened many middle class voters. Rosebery (briefly PM post Gladstone) thought Newcastle programme cost the party votes, though his Liberal Imperialism appealed to a chauvinistic working class, while his more modest economic/social reform programme promoted National Efficiency and appealed to progressive businessmen set on competing successfully with the rising economies of Germany, USA and Japan. DECLINE OF THE LIBERAL PARTY AND TRIUMPH OF LIBERALISM? * NL failed to prevent decline of Liberal party. WW1 undermined Liberal internationalism. Pressures towards collectivism/coercion associated with modern warfare created huge strains for Liberal individualism especially on symbolic issue of conscription. And after WW1 many Liberal causes (religious nonconformism, temperance, free trade) seemed less relevant. * Yet the disintegration of the Liberal party signifies the triumph of liberalism .. if liberalism is now partly invisible, this is because so many of its assumptions and ideals have infiltrated political practice and current awareness. (Eccleshall, 1986). Culmination of liberal thought seen in Beveridges social welfare proposals and in Keynesian economic theory provided basis of the post WW2 ideological consensus. 1942 Beveridge Report based on insurance principle, and was in keeping with spirit of LGs 1911 insurance scheme though much more comprehensive. Keynes economic theory provided for macro government intervention but allowed markets to operate freely at the micro level. Both B and K favoured private ownership of the means of production. It was precisely this kind of state intervention to promote employment and welfare provision which was favoured by earlier NLs like Green and Hobhouse. * Other liberal ideas long absorbed into British culture. 1960s changes in the law on divorce, homosexuality and abortion; some relaxation of censorship all compatible with Mills 1859 proclamation of principles of individual liberty. Later laws on equal pay, equal opportunities, and race and sex discrimination in 1970s fully consistent with liberal ideology. Thus a progressive liberal orthodoxy was established, with support from all parties. * Apparent triumph of economic/social ideas of NL complicated by revival (from 1970s onwards) of the older free market liberalism associated with classical economics. Hence modern use of term liberal requires a qualifying prefix. Hence progressive (or social) liberals advocate penal reform, civil liberties, protection of rights of minorities, freedom of expression, and open government unashamed economic interventionists. Neo-liberals (Hayek, Friedman) favour free market ideas on the right of the political spectrum, with key influence on the New Right and on Thatcherite conservatism. THE IDEAS OF MODERN LIBERALS AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATS * Modest revival in Liberal party fortunes began in 1960s; accelerated in mid 1970s; given impetus by alliance with SDP in 1983 and 1987; merger to form LDs. Now involved in coalition in Scotland and Wales, have large role in English LG, and 52 MPs after 2001 General Election. Accompanied by revival in associated political ideas. * Policies of Liberals/LDs involve continuation of NL tradition welfare capitalism, with strong stress upon individual rights. Distinctive Liberal policies included early advocacy of UK membership of EU, devolution, incomes policies, partnership in industry, electoral and other constitutional reform, and a focus on the community (linked with Liberal successes in LG). * Postwar Liberal party did little to extend/develop liberalism no startling new ideas or major thinkers. Neither electoral successes nor failures owed much to liberal ideology. Key decisions for leadership have been tactical, not ideological whether to accept Heaths coalition offer in 1974, whether to support the Labour government after 1977, how to handle the SDP breakaway from Labour in 1981, and how soon to promote a merger with the SDP. In fact, more intellectual ferment among the SDP, and their post -merger remnants. Dividing line between NL and Fabian socialism has always been thin? Hobhouse talked of liberal socialism in 1911; Hobson joined Labour after WW1. Thinner still following revisionist tendencies on the Labour Right in the 1950s, and the SDP breakaway in 1981. Hence the Liberal/SDP Alliance (and later merger) can be seen as the practical expression of an ideological convergence that was already well under way (Behrens, 1989). But ultimately it was the Liberals that swallowed the SDP, and not the other way round so the modern LDs are the clear lineal descendants of the old Liberal party. * Paradoxically, as fortunes of the Liberals/LDs have risen, LD ideas have become less distinctive. For most of post WW2 period Liberals adopted an intermediate position between Con and Lab. Briefly, in early 1980s, Liberals (and allies) seemed to offer a distinctive middle way between Thatcherism and left wing socialism. Since then Lab has reoccupied the centre ground previously vacated, leaving the LDs with little ideological space and few distinctive ideas or policies on the management of the economy, constitutional reform, Europe, defence and foreign policy the differences between the LDs and Lab are ARGUABLY more of degree than kind. * Under Ashdowns leadership, coalition with Labour seemed logical, even likely, given Blairs keenness to heal the divisions on the centre-left which had left the Cons dominant for most of the 20th century. Coalitions in LG and in the devolved bodies provide continuing impetus but sheer scale of Labs victories in 1997 and 2001 (and resistance within both parties) have weakened the project. LDs have pursued a more independent and critical line under Kennedy, without yet returning to earlier policy of equidistance between Lab and Con. * Attempts made to articulate a distinctive LD philosophy in these unpromising political circumstances by Wallace (1997), Russell (1999) and Ballard (2000). Yet terminology employed cooperation, working with others, partnership politics, community shared by New Labour and progressive Conservatives. Higher profile of LDs has drawn attention to considerable diversity of views in the party free market liberals, social liberals, conservatives with a social conscience and dissatisfied ex-Labour voters, greens, anarchists . (Ballard, 2000). Shows tolerance and inclusiveness? But not ideological coherence. The real problem is that there is now little distinctive ideological ground for the LDs to occupy, but this underlines the widespread acceptance of liberal ideas across mainstream British political parties.

Leave Your Reality at the Door :: Free Descriptive Essay About A Place

Leave Your Reality at the Door Definition of the Table: a place where insanity, creativity and intelligence blend together in an often bizarre and amusing combination. Before my years at NDSU began, the Table existed. It is a place to hang out on campus and kill some time that would be better spent otherwise. It is a place where friends through various places and all walks of life come together in a long-since staked out territory to have discussions that vary from normal, to just plain bizarre and others that often border the taboo. If people are between classes and have free time that they aren’t spending studying, they are at the Table. It is our rendez vous point. It becomes a place for us to not worry, to kick back and relax and leave behind the usual version of what people call reality. Without the people and the activity, the scene around the Table is nothing out of the ordinary. In the basement of the Memorial Union there is an area of tables on the tile-floor where the Union Food Court meets the Recreation and Outing Center. The tall tables surrounded by stools are ignored as all the standard height tables have been taken over to form the Table. Generally we have about six tables, pushed into a formation that has evolved into a close area taking up as little space as possible. All the regular wooden chairs have also been commandeered for the Table, though when our numbers are high an occasional stool or otherwise non-matching gimp chair is added. For a while it seemed that the janitors had given up because in the past they had put the tables back in their original spots night. Of course, the next morning we moved them right back. At the beginning of this year the tables were left in place, but as of late the janitors have been putting them back. Recently the round tables returned which adds a completely new dimension to the table, since they perfectly fit in and over the square tables. The Table is positioned directly under a cold air vent adding its usual chill to the group, especially come winter. The unintelligibility of the music droning in the Rec and Outing Center is generally ignored, though a recognized song can bring comment and discussion.

Monitoring and evaluation Essay

Evaluating development programmes 5 What is impact evaluation? 6 Types of evaluation 7 Evidence-based policy making 8 Evaluation questions; hypotheses and performance indicators Development Finance (IFMR) Monitoring an Dec 2,2013 2/11 d Evaluation It is a process that increases â€Å"the range of human choice† [sen,2000] Development is a multidimensional concept: HDI (UNDP) Growth is unidimensional: PCI, GDP Growth and development are interdependent: two-way causality Inclusive growth or growth with a ‘human face’ Eradication of â€Å"capability† deprivations: hunger, malnutrition, access to healthcare, education, etc. Efficiency vs Equity: Bhagwat’ vs Sen 3/11 Development economics as a discipline Emerged in 1940s (following World War II): Asian, African and Caribbean colonies became independent How to achieve development in these emerging economies? Their problems are wholly different from those in advanced countries Need for planning was felt Promoters of development: The World Bank and its affiliates, agencies of I-IN, etc. New evelopment economics went beyond classical(Smith, Malthus, Ricardo) and neoclassical predecessors 4/11 lopment economics as a discipline Why a separate discipline? â€Å"Development economics consists in part of the refinement of general economics to deal with questions which arise in the context of development, and partly of certain special ideas which have proved useful in studying developing countries. † [Bliss, Handbook of Development Economics(1989)] Development economics is dead (Hirschman, 1981; Lal, 1983): ‘East Asian Miracle’ as a triumph of free market Initial phase: industrialisation (Mahalanobis model); inward looking policies

Bestfoods Case study Essay

Bestfoods can only perform effectively through interactions with the broader external environment of which it is a part. The structure and function ¬ing of the international organisation must reflect, therefore, the nature of the environment in which it is operating, including workforce diversity issues. In order to ensure its survival and future success Bestfoods must be readily adaptable to the external demands placed upon it using appropriate structure and support of its HR management team. In this case, Bestfood is responsive to change through workforce diversity management. To operate internationally, Bestfoods has to provide diversity management in order to leverage differences between employees. 1. The key diversity challenges facing by the company include: – two-thirds of employees working outside the USA; – disproportionate number of women and minorities who leave Bestfoods; – gender inequalities (women can reach only middle management level); – women and minorities have less opportunities for career development than men (according to the survey); – high turnover level among women and minorities at every management level; – attitudes and behaviour barrier for promotion; – few women at high positions. These challenges shows that Bestfoods has high diverse workforce that prevent the company to grow rapidly. Managing gender and racial differences should be the part of the management concerned with the maintenance of human relationships and ensuring the physical well being of employees so that they give the maximum contribution to efficient working 2. To overcome diversity problems, Laura Brody was appointed to develop and implement equal opportunity campaigns involving international divisions of the company. She called her task as a â€Å"double edge sword† aimed to propose everyone equal opportunities for carrier development. The key actions helped this strategy to succeed include: – global action learning programs and an incremental change; – the first woman appointed as a country general manager; – the diverse board of directors consisted of two female, an African American CEOs and four males form other countries; – senior-management training programs; – long-term objectives of the company rather than compliance; – Diversity Advisory Council. These key issues encompassed a strategic perspective of the company and were closely related to the management process as a whole demanding that each functional manager and supervisor apply the principles effectively. 3. In order to implement diversity programs, Bestfoods took several steps. (1) Brody changed the nature of Diversity Advisory Council implemented a team-building approach aimed to establish a common vision. If a team is to be successful and perform effectively there must be a spirit of unity and co-operation, which can be achieved through scheduling and decision-making. As a part of this action, the Council developed a Balance Scorecard for diversity. (2) Examining and borrowing experience from leading companies about â€Å"leveraging workforcce† (p. 529) (outside practitioners, gathering best-practice and benchmarking studies). This step helped to avoid possible mistakes and faults. (3) A Cultural Connections program was implemented. It helps to reconcile the gap between what should happen, and desire-targets and standards of performance; and what is happening and levels of work performance. It involved: educational programs, training, sexual harassment prevention training, motivation for further education, etc. (4) Forum initiative. 4. In general, the idea of a Forum was very effective helping to join employees, increase their confidence, motivation and commitment; provide recognition, enhanced responsibility, and promotion; give a feeling of personal satisfaction and achievement, and broader opportunities for career progression. The idea of Forum could help to improve organisational perfor ¬mance as it increases the level of individual and organisational compe ¬tence. Nevertheless, the drawback of this policy was that Brody decided to involve only women as participants. Instead of a blend of competence, the Forum resulted in greater diversity within organization. (5) An alternative action to this program can be the International HR management Forum involving male and female employees, HR managers from different countries and the USA. This strategy would be more effectible in terms of overall company’s policy towards diversity management. This International HR Form would ensure human resources policy as an essential part for every manager and supervisor aware of diversity management. It would develop an integrated approach for organisations to locate equality issues in their mainstream activities. (6) The main problems faced by Brody and Shoemate included negative attitudes of male employees and women excluded from discussions the diversity issues. In general, this approach broadened gander diversity, and created a negative image of females as executives. Many women were afraid that: â€Å"after attending an all-women forum might encourage others to think their success was owed primarily to their status as women rather to their competence† (p. 540). The challenge was that the Forum forced some executives to rethink their attitude towards women’s potential and look objectively at their competence and professional skills. (7) Unfortunately, the Forum was negatively perceived by male employees. For some of them it was nothing more than â€Å"koffee-klatch† (p. 541) and discrimination on the gender basis. It is possible to treat this meeting as indirect discrimination depriving most employees from opportunities to be involved in problem-solving and strategic planning. This policy did not offend only male employees, but women who had not been invited. Most women called it another â€Å"private club† party (p. 540). Brody and Shoemate did not develop a sense of people per ¬ception, and did not understand the feelings of staff, their needs and expectations. (8) In any case, leadership played a crucial role helping to held female employees together and motivated them to give their best effort to the job. Communication strategies helped to provide satisfaction of members’ social needs, and a sense of personal identity and belonging to organization. Communication provided additional channels and means of motivation, for example, through status, social inter ¬action. Decision-making about the future strategy of the organization was made and implemented by employees. It was very important that employees were involved in this process. The unity of leadership, communication and decision-making created an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect between managers and employees. (9) Bestfoods and Brody can institutionalized the position of a diversity manager in every office around the world. This strategy will help to address not only women question, but to cover equal employment opportunities for all employees in spite of their gender, position in the company or racial/national differences. The Forum should be based on an elective principle which means that every employee in the company has an equal opportunity to take part in it. The Forum can address different questions involving all employees of Bestfoods. This strategy will increase team effectiveness which depends upon different strategies including a spirit of unity and co-operation, which can be achieved through leveling of differences. In an opening letter to all CPC Employees, Shoemate underlined that the policy of the company is: â€Å"an ongoing process that affects everyone in the company. †¦ we need to engage every person in this effort† (p. 546). Nevertheless, the Forum did not present different groups of employees focused only on gender diversity question. To overcome this drawback, the Forum can create separate working teams examining gender diversity, minorities’ rights, equal opportunities and equal pay issues. Recognising that men and women present different cultures at work, as well as different ethnic groups, and that this diversity needs to be managed, is key to promoting a positive environment of equal opportunity, which goes beyond merely fulfilling the demands of the statutory codes. References 1. Case Study: Bestfoods.

Westside story Essays

Westside story Essays Westside story Paper Westside story Paper Westside story takes the form of a musical. The plot works itself around the songs which are structured in each scene. There are two acts and within the acts are scenes which help to create the storyline and structure the play. As there are two scenes we could say there are two episodes, because the first act builds up the story and develops the key roles of the characters so the audience gets to know what they are like. In the first scene in act one we are immediately introduced to the two gangs. The audience find out what is happening between both gangs and the reasons why these events are happening. The first scene is structured so that it builds into both gangs having a rumble. After this scene the rest of the play is set out to revel the build up tension before a big climax at the end of both acts. There are a number of scenes within both acts. It is set in chronological order; however act two has fewer and shorter scenes compared to act one. This could be in order to build up tension and the last scene of the whole play releases this for the big final. This is shown in the scene involving Tony and Doc at the drugstore and Doc reveals to Tony that Chino has shot and killed Maria. This is a very short scene; it has created an effect on the audience because it straight to the point and it leaves the audience thinking what is Tony going to do next? As the play has taken the form of a musical. Songs and dance has obviously been included. These are used within the play and must work well to have the desired effect with the storyline for the play to work as a whole. This is shown in act one scene five when Tony is outside Marias window and they both sing, Tonight, Tonight. They are showing their true love for each other and nothing can stop them from being together. This song has been structured so that it finishes towards the end of the first act and the eventual climax of it. Another example is also in act one scene five when the Puerto Ricans sing the song, America. This fits in with the storyline because of the fact that they are immigrants who have just moved here showing their feelings and views about America and Puerto Rico. Dance is used to reflect movement and physicality. An example of this is the opening scene when the Sharks and Jets are introduced. We acted out this scene as a class. We divided ourselves into two equal groups, lined up and faced the opposite group about ten feet away from each other. We each held a pose for a few seconds and began walking around the room keeping eye contact with everyone especially those in the opposite group. Each of us had our eye one particular rival gang member, we both would eventually come together making unfriendly gestures towards each other and try and get a nasty reaction out of one another, like imitating the way one walks. After getting away from one another, each and every one of us in the whole class would suddenly hit someone, be hit or dragged by our hair by an imaginary person, but with no one physically jus imitating as if someone was really there. The sequences of the balance of dialogue, monologues and songs were factors that do effectively create the desired effect. The actions and dialogues used in the play helps to show us their background culture. For example, the Sharks; Puerto Ricans are always clicking their fingers and are always in an upright matter. This implies their status and think highly of themselves. This is also shown through dialogue, for example when Bernardo clicks his finger, all the gang follow without him having to say a word. When discussing monologues, they are spoken in both verse and song. Monologues of the characters have been structured so that they take the form of a song. Some songs involve more than one character, but whatever way the last sentence is always left with one person communicating with the audience. The structure of the play as a whole does not change very much. At the end of both acts there are major climaxes and they built up in the previous scenes. The two main scenes are at the end of each act. At the end of act one, tension has been increases slowly between the two gangs and in this scene both gangs want to end their rivalry once and for all. Also, Tony has fallen in love with Maria, sister of Bernardo, and Maria made Tony promise to not let ant fighting go ahead between both of the gangs. This keeps the audience from wondering if Tony would keep his promise to Maria or not. Both gangs meet under the highway; this provides a necessary image for the fight scene and does actually work really well. Tony does try to stop the fight, however resulting to Bernardo stabbing and killing Riff, Tonys best friend. Tony, in rage that his best friend has just been murdered accidentally, without thinking of the consequences grabs a knife and stabs Bernardo and kills him. Tony is left standing over the two bodies and screams out Marias name. This scene ends with Tony running away and then it is a blackout, end of act one. This leaves the audience on the edge of their seat wanting to know what is going to happen next. The playwright has considered the form of the play and has carefully balanced out what has happened and why. The final scene of the play is the most important of them all. The setting fits with the storyline and as it is set in a street in darkness does give the impression the story is near to an end. The audience want to know what is going to happen now. What one small character can say or do can change the whole course of the play. The scene begins with Tony screaming Chinos name. Tension is still increasing as the audience know that Chino didnt really kill Maria, as this is what Doc told Tony earlier. However, the audience still want to know how this is all going to turn out. To Tonys surprise Maria appears from the shadows and they both begin to run towards each other. Everyone in the audience think they are finally found out the truth and all can be forgiven and they are going to live happily ever after. They are wrong, to the audiences shock when Tony is running towards Maria a gunshot is fired from the shadows and Tony falls into Marias arms and eventually dies. All the characters appear and both gangs reunite and carry Tonys body out and the play is ended. The structure has been created to build up the audience for a happy ending; however the complete opposite has been made giving an unexpected shock to the audience. This is a very powerful scene and the way the scenes have been structured and set out help make tension and give satisfaction to the audience.

The Invention of Velcro

The Invention of Velcro Its hard to imagine what we would do without Velcro, the versatile hook-and-loop fastener used in so many aspects of modern life- from disposable diapers to the aerospace industry. Yet the ingenious invention came about almost by accident. Velcro was the creation of Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral, who had been inspired by a walk in the woods with his dog in 1941. Upon their return home, de Mestral noticed that burrs (from the burdock plant) had attached themselves to his pants and to his dogs fur. De Mestral, an amateur inventor and a curious man by nature, examined the burrs under a microscope. What he saw intrigued him. De Mestral would spend the next 14 years attempting to duplicate what he saw under that microscope before introducing Velcro to the world in 1955. Examining the Burr Most of us have had the experience of burrs clinging to our clothing (or our pets), and considered it a mere annoyance, never wondering why it actually happens. Mother Nature, however, never does anything without a specific reason. Burrs have long served the purpose of ensuring the survival of various plant species. When a burr (a form of a seed pod) attaches itself to an animals fur, it is carried by the animal to another location where it eventually falls off and grows into a new plant. De Mestral was more concerned with the how than the why. How did so small an object exert such a stronghold? Under the microscope, de Mestral could see that the tips of the burr, which appeared to the naked eye as stiff and straight, actually contained tiny hooks that can attach themselves to fibers in clothing, similar to a hook-and-eye fastener. De Mestral knew that if he could somehow recreate the simple hook system of the burr, he would be able to produce an incredibly strong fastener, one with many practical uses. Finding the Right Stuff De Mestrals first challenge was finding a fabric he could use to create a strong bonding system. Enlisting the help of a weaver in Lyon, France (an important textile center), de Mestral first tried using cotton. The weaver produced a prototype with one cotton strip containing thousands of hooks and the other strip made up of thousands of loops. De Mestral found, however, that the cotton was too soft- it could not stand up to repeated openings and closures. For several years, de Mestral continued his research, looking for the best material for his product, as well as the optimal size of loops and hooks. After repeated testing, de Mestral eventually learned that synthetics worked best, and settled on heat-treated nylon, a strong and durable substance. In order to mass-produce his new product, de Mestral also needed to design a special type of loom that could weave the fibers in just the right size, shape, and density- this took him several more years. By 1955, de Mestral had completed his improved version of the product. Each square inch of material contained 300 hooks, a density that had proven strong enough to stay fastened, yet was easy enough to pull apart when needed. Velcro Gets a Name and a Patent De Mestral christened his new product Velcro, from the French words velours (velvet) and crochet (hook). (The name Velcro refers only to the trademarked brand created by de Mestral). In 1955, de Mestral received a patent for Velcro from the Swiss government. He took out a loan to begin mass-producing Velcro, opening plants in Europe and eventually expanding into Canada and the United States. His Velcro USA plant opened in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1957 and is still there today. Velcro Takes Off De Mestral had originally intended Velcro to be used for clothing as a zipper-less zipper, but that idea was not initially successful. During a 1959 New York City fashion show that highlighted clothing with Velcro, critics deemed it ugly and cheap-looking. Velcro thus became associated more with athletic wear and equipment than with haute couture. In the early 1960s, Velcro received a huge boost in popularity when NASA began using the product to keep objects from floating around under zero-gravity conditions. NASA later added Velcro to astronauts space suits and helmets, finding it more convenient than the snaps and zippers that were previously used. In 1968, Velcro replaced shoelaces for the first time when athletic shoe manufacturer Puma introduced the worlds first sneakers fastened with Velcro. Since then, Velcro fasteners have revolutionized footwear for children. Even the very young are able to independently fasten their own Velcro shoes well before they learn how to tie their laces. How We Use Velcro Today Today, Velcro is in use seemingly everywhere, from the healthcare setting (blood pressure cuffs, orthopedic devices, and surgeons gowns) to clothing and footwear, sporting and camping equipment, toys and recreation, airline seat cushions, and more. Most impressively, Velcro was used in the first human artificial heart transplantation to hold together parts of the device. Velcro is also used by the military but has recently undergone some modifications. Because Velcro can be too noisy in a combat setting, and because it has a tendency to become less effective in dust-prone areas (such as Afghanistan), it has been temporarily removed from military uniforms. In 1984, on his late-night television show, comedian David Letterman, wearing a Velcro suit, had himself catapulted onto a Velcro wall. His successful experiment launched a new trend: Velcro-wall jumping. De Mestrals Legacy Over the years, Velcro has evolved from a novelty item into a near-necessity in the developed world. De Mestral very likely never dreamed of how popular his product would become, nor the countless ways it could be used. The process de Mestral used to develop Velcro- examining an aspect of nature and using its properties for practical applications- has come to be known as biomimicry. Thanks to Velcros phenomenal success, de Mestral became a very wealthy man. After his patent expired in 1978, many other companies began producing hook-and-loop fasteners, but none are allowed to call their product Velcro, a trademarked name. Most of us, however- just as we call tissues Kleenex- refer to all hook-and-loop fasteners as Velcro. Georges de Mestral died in 1990 at the age of 82. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.