Industrialization Of The Second Industrial Revolution

The Second Industrial Revolution, which reached its peak during 1870 to 1914, marked a significant turning point in American history. Before this era of progression and industrial excellence, America was on the verge of expansion like never before. From the vast amounts of land gained through the Annexation of Texas in 1845, the British retreating from Oregon in 1846, and the Mexican cession of Southwest territory guaranteed by the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848, (Engelman) America was able to expand their territory and access new resources. Industrialization and factory growth in the North was just budding and beginning to create economic success, along with spurring a rise of urbanization and migration of foreign workers to America.†¦show more content†¦Other plentiful resources include coal, iron, oil, and ore (Pacheco). The utilization of these resources led to a variety of new inventions. Using iron, one valuable invention that was created to make agriculture more efficient was the iron bladed plow, created by Jethro Wood in 1819, that could plow through all types of fields (Alchin). Perhaps the most important advancement was the development of railroads, such as between 1863 and 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad was built using iron. This railroad linked the east and west—the Atlantic to the Pacific—which was a true phenomenon during this time (Alchin). Both these revolutionary creations, the bladed plow and the transcontinental railroad, among many others, allowed the economy to prosper, due to the use of the natural resources. The railroad increased efficiency and wealth for citizens nationwide, as this â€Å"opened up new markets for farmers, industrialists, and bankers who could now bring crops and cotton from the Mississippi River Valley, wheat in the Midwest, and manufactured goods in upstate New York into a global market based on credit† (Engelman). Another significant reason why our economy prospered during this revolution was the expanding labor force available to work in factories to mass-produce products. The opportunity to work in industrial factories attracted millions around the world, which lead to a population explosion within cities, as almost â€Å"11Show MoreRelatedSecond Industrial Revolution1000 Words   |  4 PagesSecond US Industrial Revolution, 1870 -1910 Darris Adkins Abstract In this brief paper, a description of two developments of industrialization that positively affected the United States and two developments that negatively affected the United States will be discussed. An analysis of whether or not industrialization was generally beneficial or detrimental to the lives of Americans and the history of the United States will be outlined. Second US Industrial Revolution, 1870 -1910 In this briefRead MoreIndustrialization During The Industrial Revolution1577 Words   |  7 PagesIndustrialization – ever changing the face and heartbeat of our society and the world in which we live – since the Industrial Revolution began in Britain (from 1760 until sometime between 1820 and 1840). The improvement of business acquisitions and evolution of trade were essential to the Industrial Revolution. Most of the British population lived in the countryside, in small villages, and interacted closely within their family unit and work. Industrialization, however, drastically altered theRead MoreIndustrialization After the Civil War Research Paper1321 Words   |  6 Pages1.2: Research Paper Industrialization after the Civil War Shana Dukes History 105 Professor Tracey M. Biagas February 3. 2014 Introduction Industrialization after the Civil War was a period where Industrial city were being built, there were jobs for people and the political aspect was having corruption. In this paper the main points in this paper discussed the major aspects of the Industrialization Revolution, such as groups that were affected by the Industrial society, and the affectsRead MoreEssay on The First Industrial Revolution: Progressing Society1022 Words   |  5 PagesThe First Industrial Revolution: Progressing Society The First Industrial Revolution modified every aspect of daily life. According to Princeton University â€Å"Economic historians are in agreement that the onset of the Industrial Revolution is the most important event in the history of humanity since the domestication of animals and plants† (Princeton par. 6). The First Industrial Revolution brought along machines, a capitalist economy, and trade expansion. Machines increased productivity, capitalistRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution Essay595 Words   |  3 PagesThe Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution is a term usually applied to the social and economic changes that mark the transition from a stable agricultural and commercial society, to a modern industrial society relying on complex machinery rather than tools. There have been numerous debates to the use of this term because the word revolution suggests sudden, violent, unparalleled change. Even though there was an unparalleled change in the world, it was by no means sudden norRead MoreEssay on Life Pre and Post Industrial Revolution938 Words   |  4 PagesLife pre and post of Industrialization Life of people has gone through since the industrial revolution. Lives of people including men, women and children use to be lot different before the revolution and post revolution. The revolution helped certain people in many ways but also there were side effects which were seen in the lives and are seen post revolution. Industrialization has affected many people in particular to the lives of women and men to their way of working. The paper will focus on theRead MoreEssay on The Second Industrial Revolution1444 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Civil War, the technologies upon which the First Industrial Revolution was based were established in the United States. In the years following the war, the nations industrial energies were focused on completing the railroad and telegraph networks of the North, rebuilding those of the South, and expanding those of the West. Once the devastating depression of the 1870’s depleted, the stage was set for the Second Industrial Revolution. New inventions came about to ease the production of goodsRead MoreImpact Of Industrialisation On Patterns Of Urban Development1498 Words   |  6 Pagesand rural society revolves gradually into a cultivated and industrious one. The linkage between industrialization and urban growth defies an explicit description it is tight and visible, but cannot be simply reduced to direct linearity. It is well known that many small African countries have initiated or accomplished low-level urbanization without economic growth. Roughly without industrial revolution, a few cities such as Italy and Netherlands had their urban dweller proportion raised. SwitzerlandRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution And The War Of 18121461 Words   |  6 PagesThe Industrial Revolution resulted in a shift from agriculture to industrial factories. In the United States, there were two phases of the Industrial Revolution. The first revolution, which happened between 1776 and 1789, was somewhat similar to Britain s Indu strial Revolution and more political. The second phase of the American Industrial Revolution, which happened from 1860 to 1900, was not only political but also led to great improvements of the economy and society. The Industrial RevolutionRead MoreIntroduction Of Industrial Revolution And The War Of 18121577 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction of Industrial Revolution in United States: The Industrial Revolution resulted in a shift from agriculture to industrial factories. In the United States, there were two phases of the Industrial Revolution. The first revolution, which happened between 1776 and 1789, was somewhat similar to Britain s Industrial Revolution and more political. The second phase of the American Industrial Revolution which happened from 1860 to 1900, was not only political but also was the great development

Judgement of ethics Analysis Essay Example For Students

Judgement of ethics Analysis Essay Category:PhilosophyPaper Title:judgement of ethicsText:Almost everyone has heard of the two great philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. Few people though, know much about their life long achievements. Their ownpersonal beliefs and philosophies. In order to understand them, we must fistexamine the background of the two philosophers. Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens. When Plato was a child,his father died, and his mother married Pyrilampes, who was an associate of thestatesman Pericles. As a young individual Plato had political ambitions, but hebecame disillusioned by the political leadership in Athens. He eventually becamea disciple of Socrates. Socrates spent his time talking to people about ethicaltopics. He hoped by this means to discover definitions of the virtues, thinkingthat in learning what virtue is he would become virtuous and that this wouldmake his life a happy one. He also hoped to expose other peoples false conceitof knowledge about ethical matters, thinking that such conceit prevented themfrom becoming virtuous and happy. Socrates appealed to some people, but herepelled many others; he also came to be associated in the public mind withanti-democratic factions in Athens. In 399 BC, Socrates was tried on a charge ofimpiety, convicted, and put to death. Plato witnessed the death of Socrates atthe hands of the Athenian democracy in 399 BC. By accepting Socrates basic philosophy and dialectical style of debate: thepursuit of truth through questions, answers, and additional questions. In 387Plato founded the Academy in Athens, the institution often described as thefirst European university. It provided a comprehensive curriculum, includingsuch subjects as astronomy, biology, mathematics, political theory, andphilosophy. Aristotle was the Academys most prominent student. During his lifetime, he had wrote many books towards philosophy, however The Republic is theone of more important work in the history of European thought. In essence, itdeals with the central problem of how to live a good life; what is justice inthe State, or what would an ideal State be like, and what is a just individual?These questions also encompass of arts should be encouraged, what form itsgovernment should take, who should do the government and for what rewards, whatis the nature of the soul, and finally what godly sanctions and afterlife shouldbe though to exist. However, we must not forget the other great philosopher, Aristotle. He wasbornin 384 BC. at Stagirus, a Greek colony and seaport on the coast of Thrace. His fatherNichomachus was court physician to King Amyntas of Macedonian, and from thisbeganAristotles long association with the Macedonian Court, which considerablyinfluencedhis life. While he was still a boy his father died. At age 17 his guardian,Proxenus, senthim to Athens, to complete his education. He joined the Academy and studiedunderPlato, attending his lectures for a period of twenty years. In the lateryears of hisassociation with Plato and the Academy he began to lecture on his ownaccount,especially on the subject of rhetoric. Although he studied under Plato. Aristotlefundamentally disagreed with his teacher on just about everything. He couldnot bringhimself to think of the world in abstract terms the way Plato did; above allelse, Aristotlebelieved that the world could be understood at a fundamental level throughthe detailedobservation and cataloging of phenomenon. That is, knowledge. At the death ofPlato in347 BC, he had wrote many different book. Among them all, one of whichconsidered tohave greater inference over other is The Politics. In the contest of The Republic, Platos major political work, is concernedwith the question of justice and therefore with the questions what is ajust state and who is a just individual? The ideal state,according to Plato, is composed of three classes. The economic structure of thestate is maintained by the merchant class. Security needs are met by themilitary class, and political leadership is provided by the philosopher-kings. Aparticular persons class is determined by an educational process that begins atbirth and proceeds until that person has reached the maximum level of educationcompatible with interest and ability. Those who complete the entire educationalprocess become philosopher-kings. They are the ones whose minds have been sodeveloped that they are able to grasp the Forms and, therefore, to make thewisest decisions. Furthermore, Plato associates the traditional Greek virtues with the classstructure of the ideal state. Temperance is the unique virtue of the artisanclass; courage is the virtue peculiar to the military class; and wisdomcharacterizes the rulers. Justice, the fourth virtue, characterizes society as awhole. The just state is one in which each class performs its own function wellwithout infringing on the activities of the other classes. Plato divides thehuman soul into three parts: the rational part, the will, and the appetites. Thejust person is the one in whom the rational element, supported by the will,controls the appetites. An obvious analogy exists here with the threefold classstructure of the state, in which the enlightened philosopher-kings, supported bythe soldiers, govern the rest of society. The Odyssey And The Pearl: Loyalty EssayAristotle continues by making several general points about the nature ofmoral virtues, such as desire regulating virtues. First, he argues that theability to regulate our desires is not instinctive, but learned and is theoutcome of both teaching and practice. Second, he notes that if we regulate ourdesires either too much or too little, then we create problems. Moreover, heargues that desire regulating virtues are character traits, and are not to beunderstood as either emotions or mental faculties. At the heart of Platos philosophy is his theory of Forms, or Ideas. Ultimately, his view of knowledge, his ethical theory, his psychology, hisconcept of the state, and his perspective on art must be understood in terms ofthis theory. Platos theory of Forms and his theory of knowledge are sointerrelated that they must be discussed together. Influenced by Socrates, Platowas convinced that knowledge is attainable. He was also convinced of twoessential characteristics of knowledge. First, knowledge must be certain andinfallible. Second, knowledge must have as its object that which is genuinelyreal as contrasted with that which is an appearance only. Because that which isfully real must, for Plato, be fixed, permanent, and unchanging, he identifiedthe real with the ideal region of being as opposed to the physical world ofbecoming. One consequence of this view was Platos rejection of empiricism, theclaim that knowledge is derived from sense experience. He thought thatpropositions derived from sense experience have, at most, a degree ofprobability. They are not certain. Furthermore, the objects of sense experienceare changeable phenomena of the physical world. Hence, objects of senseexperience are not proper objects of knowledge. Platos own theory of knowledge is found in the Republic, particularly in hisdiscussion of the image of the divided line and the myth of the cave. In theformer, Plato distinguishes between two levels of awareness: opinion andknowledge. Claims or assertions about the physical or visible world, includingboth commonsense observations and the propositions of science, are opinionsonly. Some of these opinions are well founded; some are not; but none of themcounts as genuine knowledge. The higher level of awareness is knowledge, becausethere reason, rather than sense experience, is involved. Reason, properly used,results in intellectual insights that are certain, and the objects of theserational insights are the abiding universals, the eternal Forms or substancesthat constitute the real world. Nevertheless, At the heart of Platos philosophy is a vision of reality thatsees the changing world around us and the things within it as mere shadows orreflections of a separate world of independently existing, eternal, andunchanging entities called forms or ideas. Ordinary objects are what they areand have the features they do in virtue of their relation to or participation inthese more fundamental realities. Forms are the proper objects of knowledge orunderstanding, and the desire to attain understanding of them is the properdominant motivation in a healthy and happy human life. The apprehension andappreciation of formal reality makes life worth living; it also makes one moral. However, unlike his teacher Plato, Aristotle was much concerned with naturalphenomena. He was impressed in particular with living creatures: their abilityto develop in specific predictable ways after they have come into being, to liveout lives of characteristic types, and to leave behind replicas of themselves. Aristotle developed many of the ideas distinctive of his thought-change, nature,matter and form, causation, potentiality and actuality in the effort to describeand explain these regularities, and much of his philosophy is concerned withdeveloping the implications of these ideas and with applying them, in hisethical and political writings, to the specific case of human beings. Thephilosophies by both philosophers presents a tremendous amount of intelligenceand knowledge within themselves. However, when it comes down to their ethic ofbeliefs, it would still be highly debatable in present day. Philosophy

Aes Case Solution Essays

Aes Case Solution Essays Aes Case Solution Paper Aes Case Solution Paper 1. How would you evaluate the capital budgeting method used historically by AES? What’s good and bad about it? â€Å"When AES undertook primarily domestic contract generation projects where the risk of changes to input and output prices was minimal, a project finance framework was employed. † Usually, project finance framework is used when the project has predictable cash flows, which can easily represent operating targets through explicit contract. When cash flows are certainty, the company can have higher level of leverage and it is easier to separate project assets from the parent company. Advantages and Disadvantages: ) Advantages a. Maximize Leverage b. Off-Balance Sheet Treatment c. Agency Cost d. Multilateral Financial Institutions 2) Disadvantages a. Projects V/S Division b. Complexity c. Macroeconomic Risk d. Political Risk: 2. If Venerus implements the suggested methodology, what would be the range of discount rates that AES would use around the world? If Vene rus and AES implement the suggested methodology, the projects would change while WACC changes. To find WACC we must first calculate the leveraged bets for each the US Red Oak and Lal Plr Pakistan projects, using the equation unleveled beta/(1-D/V). It is easy to find debt to capital ratios, which are 39. 5% for U. S and 35. 1% for Pakistan, and the unleveled beta, which are both 0. 25, in Exhibit 7a and 7b. Then we can obtain a leveraged beta for the U. S. , 0. 41, and for Pakistan, 0. 3852. Second we should find the risk free and risk premium rates. Because all debts are finance in U. S. dollar, we use the risk free rate, which is equal to U. S. T-bill, and risk premium rate, which is equal to U. S. risk premium, to calculate the cost of capital for all countries. Using equation cost of capital = Risk Free Rate + levered beta * Risk Premium, we can get the cost of capital for U. S. project, 7. 27%, and for Pakistan project, 7. 2%. After that we should find the cost of debt. Using the formula risk free rate + default spread, we can get the cost of debt for both U. S. project and Pakistan project are 8. 07% (4. 5%+3. 47%), in which both U. S. project and Pakistan project have a same spread, 3. 47%. To adjust we add the sovereign risk into calculation. In Exhibit 7a, the sovereign risk for the U. S. is 0% but for Pakistan is 9. 9%. We thereby get the new evaluation of the cost of capital and cost of debt, which are constant for U. S. and rise to 17. 1% and 17. 97% for Pakistan. Finally we calculate the WACC. The formula is leveraged beta * (cost of capital) + Debt to capital * (cost of debt) * (1-tax rate). Then we get for the U. S. WACC= 6. 48% and for Pakistan WACC= 15. 93%. Finally, we should adjust the WACC with its risk score. Because everything is calculated in U. S. dollar, the U. S. risk score is 0. So the U. S. projects WACC is constant. The Pakistan risk premium is 1. 425. So the change is 1. 25 * 500= 705bp = 7. 05%. Therefore, we get the final Pakistan WACC, which is 23. 08% (15. 93%+7. 05%). In conclusion, the difference between the U. S. and Pakistan projects is 16. 60%. Obviously, the U. S. project looks much more favorable. 3. Does this make sense as a way to do capital budgeting? The financial strategy employed by AES was historically based on project finance. The model worked well in the domes tic market and in the international operations. However, when AES started its diversification of business, it had to face to increasing symmetrical risks, such as business risk. In addition, project finance did not include the risk of devaluation of currency in developing economies which resulted in significant losses due to the inability of the company to survive its international debt obligations. And AES should also pay attention to political risk. Hence we see that the geographical diversification of business made project financing less recommendable as a symmetrical risk becomes more manifest. 4. What is the value of the Pakistan project using the cost of capital derived from the new methodology? If this project was located in the U. S. what would its value be? In order to calculate the value of project for the Lal Pir project in Pakistan, we first need to calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) using the new proposed methodology. The first step is to calculate the value of levered ?. The value of the levered ? comes out to be 38. 52%, which essentially means that our project is not very highly correlated to the market return. Using this v alue of ? we now calculate the cost of Equity. We have used the return on U. S. Treasury Bond, which is 4. 5%, as the risk free return. The cost of equity comes out to be 7. % and similarly, using the risk free return and the default spread we calculate the cost of debt which comes out to be 8. 07%. It is important to note that the cost of debt and the cost of equity also need to be adjusted for the sovereign spread. Once we have the adjusted costs of equity and capital, the WACC comes out to be 15. 93%. However, now we need to adjust this WACC for the risks associated with doing the project in Pakistan. As mentioned in part 2, we get final WACC 23. 08%, which lead us to calculate NPV from the year 2004 to 2023. And it is -$234. 34 million. For U. S. , first we see the sovereign spread is equal to zero. Secondly, in this case we would need to calculate the business risk using the information given in Exhibit 7a. This score comes out to be 0. 64 and using this score, our business risk comes out to be 3. 23% and adding it to calculated value of WACC, we get our final WACC of 9. 64%. Using this we calculate our NPV for USA which comes out to be -$35. 92 million. 5. How does the adjusted cost of capital for the Pakistan project reflect the probabilities of real events? What does the discount rate adjustment imply about expectations for the project because it is located in Pakistan and not the U. S.? To calculate the adjusted cost of capital, we should adjust six common types of risks: Operational, Counterparty, Regulatory, Construction, Commodity, Currency and Legal. In Pakistan, it is possible to meet all these risks except construction. Additionally, the highest probability is the legal risk. When we calculate the WACC for Pakistan through traditional formula it comes out to be 15. 93%, however in order to incorporate the risk factor associated with Pakistan we need to adjust it for the Total Risk Score, which in this case is 1. 425. So we need to adjust our WACC 23. 08%. As mentioned earlier the discount rate is adjusted based on the total risk score of the country. This total risk score is compiled from 6 main types of risks, the probability of which varies from country to country. While currency, regulatory and legal risks are significantly high in Pakistan, the operational, counterparty and commodity risks are higher in U. S.. Similarly when come to the adjusted WACC for Pakistan (23. 08%) and WACC for U. S. (6. 48%), we can conclude that Pakistan is much riskier to invest than the U. S..

Neil armstrong essays

Neil armstrong essays When Neil Armstrong was two years old he loved going to the Airport to watch the planes take off and land. He got so excited just watching. When he was five years old he pretended that he was hovering over his bed. He wanted to fly! He loved airplanes and at six years old he had his first airplane ride. He was so smart in school that they moved him from second grade into third grade because he was reading at a fifth grade level. Every airplane book he got his hands on he read. He always liked building model airplanes. When Neil was in high school he worked in the Chemistry lab. In his basement he made a wind tunnel. And on the roof of his garage he built an observatory where he had telescopes to look at the moon and the stars. He learned so much and was so excited that he couldn't wait to fly. He worked in a pharmacy to pay for his flying lessons. When he was only sixteen years old he got his pilots license! He graduated high school and went to Perdue University on a US Navy scholarship. He learned everything he could about planes and rockets. After college graduation he was a pilot in the Korean War. After the war he went back to Perdue to learn even more. He became a test pilot for experimental X-15 rocket planes which flew to the end of the earth's atmosphere. He didn't want to stop there, he wanted to just keep on going. So in 1962 when NASA was taking applications for astronauts he applied and was accepted. His first mission was on Gemini 8. He and David Scott orbited the earth three times and docked with the Agena. There was a problem with the rocket rolling, but Neil Armstrong didn't get scared and they were able to stop the rolling and return to earth. He was on Gemini 11 and then on Apollo 10. Apollo 10 was launched from Cape Kennedy, orbited the moon, and came within ten miles of the moons surface. On July 16,1969 Apollo 11 blasted off with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, ...

Management Strategy and Decision Making Assignment

Management Strategy and Decision Making - Assignment Example s main focus was made on the increase of returns to the shareholders, the achievement of the Just Group strategy could be partially evaluated based on the dividends payout. Thus, in 2013 the company informed about annual dividends increase up to 38 cents per share. This increase has comprised 2% comparing with the dividends for 2012 (Premier Investment Limited Annual Report 2013). However, taking into consideration the fact that for 2009 it was declared that dividends were 75 cents per share, the company’s performance could be challenged. On the other hand, this performance could demonstrate strong financial position of the company as the global financial crisis might have had more adverse effects on the shareholder’s value. In order to achieve its strategy of increase of returns to the shareholders, the company has identified six strategic focus areas, such as: expansion and growth of the business through the internet up to 10% of sales; reinvigoration of the five key brands; organization-wide cost efficiency program; two phase gross margin expansion; significant growth of Peter Alexander; and significant growth of Smiggle brands (Premier Investment Limited Annual Report 2013). By reviewing the company’s performance results reported in 2013 it is possible to state the there has been made a substantial progress towards achievement of the above listed strategies. For example, the company has reported that its e-commerce activity has grown significantly. To achieve this result, there were launched 1day delivery program (within Australia) and mobile sites for all brands of the company. In terms of the growth margin expansion strategy, the company has also achieved significant results as gross margin has been expanded by 117 basis points in 2013 (Premier Investment Limited Annual Report 2013). Growth of Peter Alexander brand was also significant in FY 2013, as the total sales have exceeded 17%. Taking into consideration that in 2009 this brand comprised 7, 7% of

Gender and Sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Gender and Sexuality - Essay Example The ability to emote with others, feelings of intimacy which have nothing with any impulse of pressure to procreate, and the freedom to express all facets of the mind, are factors which distinguish people as a distinct species and the highest and most evolved life form. Giving and receiving sexual pleasure is a complex trait and a highly evolved capability at the same time. It may or may not be associated with reproduction. Sexuality involves both the physical body, as well as the mind. It is strongly influenced by environmental circumstances. Imposed norms of society dominate notions of sexuality and its link with gender so strongly, that the two axes are inextricably mixed in most minds. A strong bias towards norms of heterosexuality is an overbearing outcome of these conventions. Such impositions are so ingrained in standards of childhood development that instances of misconceptions and denials of natural instincts abound. This document reviews published literature on the valid and assumed links between gender and sexuality, considers the implications and burdens of stereotypes, reviews ethnic and cultural differences in the acceptance of homosexuality, and concludes with suggestions for a liberal world in which individual freedom with respect to sexuality is respected and encouraged. While there are some historical references to homosexuality during ancient times, heterosexuality has dominated the social development throughout the ages. The practice of homosexuality has been entirely repressed at worst, and indulged in surreptitiously and treated as a form of abnormal behavior, not just for centuries, but even during the first half of the 20th century. The scientific study of homosexuality is of relatively recent origin with a rapid acceleration of original work in recent times (Gonsiorek, 1982). The United States has led the world in creating a kind of revolution in researching and understanding homosexual behavior, especially during the last decade. However, the volume of work available to date is still scanty, considering the complexity and social significance of the matter. Collections of findings, surveys, and theories are therefore especially valuable at this stage. This applies to surveys of sexual preferences as well (Oliver, & Hyde, 1993). Homosexuality may be more prevalent, especially in some degrees, far more often and widely than conservative influences have cared to admit. Family backgrounds and societal influences need to be understood to appreciate the sexuality of homosexuals (Ritter, and Terndrup, 2002). It is now appreciated in professional circles that conceptions of homosexuality as have prevailed in the past, may be in grave error. Such biases are self-propagating in powerful ways because they form the backdrop to the development of personalities by infants and by growing children as well. An individual may not express or even admit to homosexuality because of strong conditioning of the mind that it is morally wrong, and because of imposed notions that heterosexual feelings are the only legitimate and desirable form of human sexuality. International researchers (Asthana, and Oostvogels, 2001) have observed ethnic differences between people of the same sexual orientation, with respect to their sexual habits and preferences. Homosexual men in Southern India for example, experience intimacy in ways different from the typical Western stereotype that

Nuclear Weapons & Cold War Essay Example for Free

Nuclear Weapons Cold War Essay 1) How did nuclear weapons affect the course of the cold war? The Cold War period of much conflict and tension was between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies, was from the middle of the1940s until the early part of the 1990s. The building up of nuclear weapons was maybe, the most important of the many arenas that the rivaling countries played in. It became known as the nuclear arms race or the â€Å"competition for supremacy† The discovery that uranium was a plenty around the world shortly after the second world ar, helped to solidify the nuclear monopoly held by both the United States and USSR. While the United States had their own resources for uranium, they soon discovered that Eastern Europe was providing a steady supply to the Soviets, until they could develop a source of their own. The United States, who had predicted that the USSR would not have any nuclear weapons until the mid-1950s, was massively surprised when the Soviets detonated their first bomb â€Å"Joe One† on August 29, 1949. It was much like the bomb that the US had dropped on Japan in 1945 nown as the â€Å"Fat Man†. From that point on both governments devoted massive amounts of money, time and resources to increasing their nuclear arsenals. First off, it was the hydrogen bombs and then next came the Intercontinental ballistic missile or â€Å"ICBMs† as they are known. And on Oct. 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched the â€Å"Sputnik†, the US followed with their own on Oct. 31, 1959. During this period of innovation, the world became nervous and scared; they discovered just how vulnerable they were. Large underground bunkers were built to save the presidents and he leadership of the nations, individuals were encouraged to construct fallout shelters and they were often taught how to react in the case of a nuclear attack. When both sides realized that any attack upon the other would be suicide for themselves as well, a new policy know as the â€Å"Mutually Assured Destruction† was adapted, and this would, in theory restrain both sides from attacking one another. â€Å"The number of nuclear weapons held by the two superpowers during the Cold War increased drastically because of the need for a first strike and later a second strike force. The highest numbers of nuclear warheads held by these powers was approximately 12,000 for the USSR and 10,000 by the US. This many nuclear weapons has the potential to destroy life on earth more than 1,500 times over† http://www. pwc. k12. nf. ca/coldwar/plain/armsrace. html. And yet, both sides kept exploring and spending large amounts of money and resources on developing nuclear weapons. In many respects, the stockpiling of these weapons was by far the most important contribution made to the world during the cold war period, than any other resource added by any other country. 2) Why has the European Union found it so difficult to achieve political, social and economic integration amongst the member states?  Shortly after the Second World War at the University of Zurich, Winston Churchill gave a speech that called for a â€Å"United States of Europe† and the creation of a â€Å"Council of Europe†. This council became the oldest organization in favor of European integration since 1949. But, in spite all the enthusiasm of the European citizens, the Council’s idea of integration has struggled for many reasons. One of the main reasons is because at the same time as the evelopment of the council another â€Å"European Union† was being formed. This Union was made up of twenty-seven European countries. It was established as the European Economic Community in 1957 under the Treaty of Rome and has undergone many changes since, most notably in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty†. At first this Union was a welcome relief, growth and restructure was happening over night. The European Union was founded upon a number of treaties, and their laws cover a wide range of topics. Both, a legislative branch and the Parliament govern them. And the politics of he European Union primarily covered the economy. However, there is still a disagreement on how far the Union should expand. Because of the disagreement, the integration and expansion of the European Union has been slow since the end of the cold war period. Enlargement or expansion, together with the signing of new treaties, are seen by some as parallel processes, vital to the Union’s welfare. To many this is known as the bicycle theory. â€Å"The European Union is often compared to a bicycle: if it stops moving forwards it will fall over. The bicycle theory also applies to multilateral trade talks†. Bounds, Andrew (2007). Brussels blog: Bicycle wobbles on the way to Doha, Financial Times. And like most trade talks, both parties want to come out ahead in the end. Thus, the ongoing integration of the European Union and its member states are becoming contested on the grounds that it reduces it’s members national sovereignty too much. Politically, the Union struggles because neither they’re laws or their political theory offer the concept of a democracy. Their attitudes remain fixed by the idea of a nation state organization and its people. Socially, this makes them still behind the times. Economically, They struggle with the different economic and resource levels of each of the member states. All these along with the concept of Euroscepticism, or better known as the opposition to the process of European integration, the Union continues to move forward and yet has been forced to make changes to its policies. Amid the post war trauma, the European Union has become a beacon for organized political growth and upbringing. And today, in spite all the worldwide turmoil and confusion, The Union still spreads forth it’s hand in every effort to encourage global peace and umanitarian aid to its member states.  There is no set standard in the process of integration, but today there is a new focus on the complex policy making of the European Union. 3) What was `containment` and how did it influence US cold war thinking? The word containment means to isolate or to make stagnate. In the terms of the cold war, it refers to the foreign policies adapted by the United States under the direction of George Kennan. In the beginning, their policy was to stop all of the outside nations from moving politically towards Soviet Union communism and to ensure that the United States continued to ave, what they thought would be, the upper hand. For ideology as we have seen taught them that the outside world was hostile and that it was their duty to overthrow the political forces beyond their borders. (X[Kennan], Foreign Affairs, 1947). They hoped that ultimately in the end thecontainment policies would cause the fall of the Soviet Union and its ally nations. Back in the early days of history, containment was accomplished with the use of brute force or tactics much like an army taking over a castle and then came the use of treaties and political policies, thus being the cold war period. Today this is often accomplished by politically using severe sanctions, as in the United States’ dealings with Iraq and Iran. Espionage and sabotage are other ways of creating a containment among a group of people or nations. During the United States’ cold war containment period the policies adapted by President Truman experienced some major setbacks through the opposition of the Soviet Union, and by the Time the United States pulled out of the Vietnam war and the Koran conflict, there wasn’t mush credit given to the containment policies and ideas, anymore. So the United States started a new heory of â€Å"detente† or peaceful co-existence. Until the election of Ronald Reagan this was a believable concept. President Regan believed that the containment policies did not expand far enough, He felt uneasy about the weapons being held by the foreign nations. He wanted new missiles, placed in Europe to help the United States to become immune to the first strike concept. His new policies become highly controversial and very unpopular in many of the surrounding foreign countries. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed under the direction of Gorbachev and the wanted nd result of the original containment policy had been achieved, this marked the official close of that policy. All though, the US still keeps its military and missile bases in the areas around the former Soviet Union, â€Å"just to be on the safe side they say†, many events have effected the world and the current containment policies. As of 2005, the United States are listed as having at least 700 military bases around the world, like the ones in Iceland and Germany. Some up to date estimates suggest that the real number is much higher.