Post Modern Society Essay Example for Free

Post Modern Society Essay Social change is the central focus in most of the founding thinkers of sociologys work. This social change is based on the conceptualization of history as an evolution. According to these sociologists, a modern society arises as a result of the inevitable consequence of the growth of knowledge and understanding especially in the field of science and rationality. However, there are no clear indications on when a society can be viewed as having moved from one stage of modernity to the next. A characteristic of the present society which is astonishing does not lie in its level of industrialization but on its level of integration across various cultures. (Holmes, Hughes Julian 34) Social integration is a phenomenon that has received much popularity in the last decade. The entire human race has achieved a level of cultural cohesion that has not been realized before. The traditional cultural boundaries are slowly dissolving and a new universal culture is emerging. The differences in religion, color, ideology, tradition and perception are slowly merging. The society is adopting a general culture which is characterized by a uniformity in norms, values and beliefs. In all the six continents, there is a growing trend in information technology which perpetuates cultural diffusion. Today, individuals of diverse cultural background can easily interact through such mediums like the internet. Efficiency in the transport system has resulted in more people coming into contact with each other. However, it has been difficult to classify this current trend owing to its multifaceted nature. Such terms like modern, postmodern, global and cosmopolitan have been used frequently to describe this current trend. Even though all these terms may be used to describe some of its characteristics, in most cases, their use is normally interchanged. We may not be very far from the truth should we adopt to refer to the current human population as belonging to the same society and cultural orientation. In its actual definition, society can be termed as an interacting group of people with a common sense of identity and culture, living within a particular geographical region. Giddens 2)With this regard, I will consider the planet earth a geographical region. Sociologist have drawn together a number of elements that characterize a modern society. These elements are dominant in the contemporary world and they include the rise of science, the decline of religion, industrialization, mass communication, bureaucracy, division of labor, urbanization and an increasing comprehension of the various aspects of the human life. However, these characteristics fail to capture the complete picture this time. Bureaucracy was a 17th Century invention. Industrialization even though a characteristic of this society does not really distinguish it from the 18th Century ages and therefore cannot be a distinct factor in classifying this society. We also cannot say that we are experiencing the rise of science. We are actually in the midst of science. In other words, this society cannot be described by these elements that sociologists stated. Thus, we are living at a time of transition mainly characterized by a change of perception towards life. This change of perception is a universal element which has passed through every society consciously or unconsciously. The human society is living at the age of post modernism. (Hall and McGrew 13) In the present society, there is a general belief that no single universally agreed upon principle of belief and organization exists. Even though there is remarkable progress in science, there is a general position that it has failed to give explanation and control to various aspects of the society. Another characteristic of this time which is an element of post modernism is the fragmentation of academic disciplines. There is no single paradigm which explains the human condition in the society. Post modernism itself means different things to different thinkers. Being a relatively current theory of society, various sociologists remark that it is an attempt to falsify sociologys founding fathers work. As a theory of society, its basic premise is that social history has progressed in a way that the founders of sociology did not conceptualize. The founders of sociology held the view that history may end with industrialization while actually it has progressed by it. However, this progress has led to confusion about the nature and the subsequent direction of the society. The founding fathers could not conceptualize the current system which is characterized by the rise of relativity and the decline of absolute truth. With an increase in interactions coupled with the breaking of cultural and social barriers, the present society has lost purpose and direction. Post modernity best describe this time because the society has developed an attitude in which there are no certain truths about the world. This has led to modification and subsequent incorporation of various ideologies across all cultures. With regard to art, there exists a universality in appreciation and expression across all cultures. Different artistic styles are coordinated and incorporated in a single element thereby building a unique cultural system which integrates different elements in various cultural practices into one. For instance, music is a blend of various tunes from different regions, the construction of buildings follow popular designs and more different races work towards the same goals. The society has moved from state characterized by industrialization and urbanization to a state of human integration and purpose. The representation of society through multifaceted and diverse cultures has made the world to be a powerful yet confused in its understanding of life. This is the society that we live in today. The concept of post modernity is a recent one which was introduced in the arts and architecture. Today, it has spread across the various aspects of life and is yet to be accepted as the general name for this period in the history of the human society. The development of the post modern society traces its roots on the historical processes of the great transformation and modernity. Its existence in our world today cannot be denied. The period which was marked by the processes of industrialization and the expansion of capitalism saw the beginning of an era of modernity. (Krieken, Habibis, Smith, Hutchins, Haralambos, Holborn 65). This era continued through the last century and today, we are experiencing a change in the human society. The accumulation of the process of change has resulted into this period which can justifiably be termed post modernism. The society has evolved to the extent that new conceptions and structures are developing that are bound to replace the existing ones. As much as we may refer to it as global, cosmopolitan or multicultural society, one apparent thing is that it has evolved from the society that existed prior to the invention of advanced information technology. This can only be referred to as a post modern society.

To What Extent Was the Contribution of Martin Luther King Central to the Success of the Civil Rights Movement Essay Example for Free

To What Extent Was the Contribution of Martin Luther King Central to the Success of the Civil Rights Movement Essay The first major event of King’s civil rights career was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. On December 5, 1955, five days after Montgomery civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to obey the citys rules mandating segregation on buses, black residents launched a bus boycott and elected King as president of the newly-formed Montgomery Improvement Association. As the boycott continued during 1956, King gained national prominence as a result of his exceptional oratorical skills and personal courage. His house was bombed and he was convicted along with other boycott leaders on charges of conspiring to interfere with the bus companys operations. Despite these attempts to suppress the movement, Montgomery bus were desegregated in December, 1956, after the United States Supreme Court declared Alabamas segregation laws unconstitutional. There can be no doubt that Martin Luther King was essential in giving the movement mass appeal. He gave it the charismatic figurehead that it lacked until that stage and he helped move it out of the courtroom and the control of the NAACP onto the streets. His charisma helped push the Montgomery Bus boycott into the public eye and keep it there. In 1957, seeking to build upon the success of the Montgomery boycott movement, King and other southern black ministers founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Under the leadership of Martin Luther King from 1957-1968 the SCLC became a highly publicised and popular organisation in the fight for racial justice. It was a southern movement and was based on the black church. The SCLC therefore differed greatly form the NAACP, which was northern, secular and regarded as overly influenced by white members. Although increasingly portrayed as the pre-eminent black spokesperson, King did not mobilize mass protest activity during the first five years after the Montgomery boycott ended. While King moved cautiously, southern black college students took the initiative, launching a wave of sit-in protests during the winter and spring of 1960. King sympathized with the student movement and spoke at the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in April 1960, but he soon became the target of criticisms from SNCC activists determined to assert their independence. Even Kings decision in October, 1960, to join a student sit-in in Atlanta did not allay the tensions, although presidential candidate John F. Kennedys sympathetic telephone call to Kings wife, Coretta Scott King, helped attract crucial black support for Kennedys successful campaign. The 1961 Freedom Rides, which sought to integrate southern transportation facilities, demonstrated that neither King nor Kennedy could control the expanding protest movement spearheaded by students. The Freedom Rides achieved the goal it set out to accomplish. At the request of Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, all bus segregation was outlawed, much more forcefully than the previous Supreme Court ruling. King cannot accept full credit for this campaign, but he is due the credit where it is deserved. Although he did not initiate the Freedom Rides, nor take part immediately after they began, he did raise full awareness of the cause and successfully united all the civil rights leaders together. By this point in King’s history it is clear that he had learned how to use the media to his advantage, an invaluable skill. Many of Kings critics however have stated that his involvement in the protest was very minimal, and his main aim of joining the movement was to promote the SCLC. Conflicts between King and younger militants were also evident when both SCLC and SNCC assisted the Albany (Georgia) Movements campaign of mass protests during December of 1961 and the summer of 1962. Shortly after the failed civil rights campaign in Albany, King began one his largest civil rights movements yet. After achieving very few of his objectives in Albany, King recognized the need to organize a successful protest campaign free of conflicts with SNCC. During the spring of 1963, he and his staff guided mass demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, where local white police officials were known from their anti-black attitudes. Clashes between black demonstrators and police using police dogs and fire hoses generated newspaper headlines through the world. In June, President Kennedy reacted to the Birmingham protests and the obstinacy of segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace by agreeing to submit broad civil rights legislation to Congress (which eventually passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Subsequent mass demonstrations in many communities culminated in a march on August 28, 1963, that attracted more than 250,000 protesters to Washington, D. C. Addressing the marchers from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, King delivered his famous I Have a Dream oration. During the year following the March, Kings renown grew as he became Time magazines Man of the Year and, in December 1964, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite fame and accolades, however, King faced many challenges to his leadership. Malcolm Xs (1927-1965) message of self-defense and black nationalism expressed the discontent and anger of northern, urban blacks more effectively than did Kings moderation. During the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, King and his lieutenants were able to keep intra-movement conflicts sufficiently under control to bring about passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, but while participating in a 1966 march through Mississippi, King encountered strong criticism from Black Power proponent Stokely Carmichael. Shortly afterward white counter-protesters in the Chicago area physically assaulted King in the Chicago area during an unsuccessful effort to transfer non-violent protest techniques to the urban North. Despite these leadership conflicts, King remained committed to the use of non-violent techniques. Early in 1968, he initiated a Poor Peoples campaign designed to confront economic problems that had not been addressed by early civil rights reforms. Kings effectiveness in achieving his objectives was limited not merely by divisions among blacks, however, but also by the increasing resistance he encountered from national political leaders. Also although King was seen as a leader among a majority of the black community it has been argued that he did not make the radical actions by himself. This point ties in with an argument put forward by Vivien Saunders; who states, â€Å"As in Montgomery, King was led rather than leading†. The idea that King was not a definitive leader and could often take advice from outsiders poses the question of how effective King was as a leader. In addition to this it suggests that his effort towards the campaigns were in fact weak. After his death, King has remained a controversial symbol of the African-American civil rights struggle, revered by many for his martyrdom on behalf of non-violence and condemned by others for his militancy and insurgent views.

Effect of Artesunate on HT-29-AK Cancer Cells

Effect of Artesunate on HT-29-AK Cancer Cells Effect of Artesunate on HT-29-AK Cancer Cells, and its Therapeutic Implications Cancer Biology Coursework II The possible cytotoxic effect of Artesunate on the survival factors and the concentration of HT-29-AK cells over different incubation periods and its therapeutic implications. The possible cytotoxic effect of Artesunate on the survival factors and the concentration of HT-29-AK cells over different incubation periods and its therapeutic implications. Background: HT-29-AK are cancer cells, Artesunate is an antimalarial compound which could possibly be used as an anti-tumour agent. The present study attempts to confirm the incubation period most effective in decreasing the concentration of HT-29-AK cancer cells. Aim/Hypothesis: This experiment tests the effect of Artesunate on the E-Cadherin mRNA expression, VEGF-alpha and beta mRNA expression, Survivin and on caspase-3 expression. Methods: 96 well plates were used and HT-29-AK cells were incubated at different concentrations over different time periods to examine the effective concentration and incubation period. The E-Cadherin mRNA expression was measured using immunocytochemistry and the Survivin and VEGF-alpha and beta mRNA levels were also measured using methods such as qPCR and ELISA. Results: We could show that at lower concentrations and a 72 hour incubation period Artesunate killed HT-29-AK cells, and decreased E-Cadherin and VEGF-alpha and beta levels. Levels. Conclusion: The results allude to the cytotoxic effect of Artesunate and lower concentrations for 72 hour incubation periods and its effect on HT-29-AK cells with potential clinical applications. Figure 1 shows the concentration of ART on the X-axis and the percentage of control growth on the Y axis, this graph is aimed to show the effect of ART on HT-29-AK cells over varying periods of time. As the incubation time period increases the drug is becoming more cytotoxic, if the cells are incubated with the drug for longer, a lower concentration is required. The pharmacological index is 72hr>48hr>24hr, the IC50 is the concentration at which the cells need to be incubated to kill half the number of cells: 24hrs: incubating the cells over of 24 hours leads to an IC50 of 165Â µM, this alludes to the requirement for higher concentration over shorter incubation periods. The Concentration required is 100.39Â µM more than if the cells were incubated for 48hours and 150.56 Â µM more if the cells were incubated for 72 hours. 48hrs: incubating the cells over of 48 hours leads to an IC50 of 64.61Â µM, the concentration required to kill half the number of HT-29-AK cells is 100.39Â µM less if the cells were incubated for 48 hours instead of 24 hours, however the concentration required to kill half the number of cells is 50.17Â µM more than if the cells were incubated for 72 hours instead of 48 hours. 72hrs: incubating the cells over of 72 hours leads to an IC50 of 14.44Â µM, the concentration required to kill half the number of cells over 72 hours is 150.56Â µM less than incubation for 24hours, and 50.17Â µM less than incubation for 48 hours. Figure A and B shows the relative E-cadherin mRNA levels at different ART concentration incubated at 24 hours(Left) and 72 hours(right). Relative E-Cad mRNA levels at 24 hours Control: The control showed a relative E-Cad mRNA level of 1, at a concentration of 82.53Â µM The concentration at 82.53Â µM showed a relative E-cad mRNA level of approximately 1.1, this relative expression is 0.1 more than the controls relative expression, the relative expression of E-cad mRNA levels at 82.53Â µM was 0.9 less than the relative expression of E-Cad mRNA at 165.06Â µM and 1.8 less than the relative expression of E-cad mRNA at 330.12Â µM. The concentration at 165.06Â µM, showed a relative E-cad mRNA level of approximately 1.9, which was 0.8 more than the expression at 82.53Â µM and 1.0 less than the expression at 330.12 Â µM. the concentration at 330.12Â µM, showed a relative E-cad mRNA level of approximately 2.9, an increase of 1.8 is observed compared to the ART concentration of 82.53Â µM and an increase of 1.0 is observed compared to the ART concentration of 165.06Â µM. Relative E-Cad mRNA levels at 72 hours Control: The control showed a relative E-Cad mRNA level of 1, at a concentration of 82.53Â µM The concentration at 7.22Â µM showed a relative E-cad mRNA level of approximately 0.4, this relative expression is 0.6 less than the controls relative expression, the relative expression of E-cad mRNA levels at 14.44Â µM equal to the relative expression of E-Cad mRNA at 7.22Â µM and 0.01 less than the relative expression of E-cad mRNA at 28.88Â µM. The concentration at 28.88Â µM, showed a relative E-cad mRNA level of approximately 0.41, which was 0.01 more than the expression at 7.22 Â µM and 14.44Â µM Figure C shows the level of staining of adhesion molecules At 24 hours the control showed the least amount of staining compared to the ART concentrations at 82.53Â µM, 165.06Â µM and 330.12Â µM. At a concentration of 82.53Â µM there is an increase in staining compared to the control but there is less staining compared to 165.06 and 330.12Â µM concentrations. At an ART concentration of 165.06 Â µM more staining is observed compared to the control and at 82.53 Â µM however less staining is observed compared to 330.12Â µM. At the final ART concentration 330.12 Â µM an increase in staining is observed compared to the control, 82.53Â µM, and 165.06Â µM. At 72 hours the control showed the most amount of staining compared to the ART concentrations at 7.22Â µM, 14.44Â µM and 28.88Â µM. At a concentration of 7.22Â µM there is a decrease in staining compared to the control but there is more staining compared to 14.44Â µM and 28.88Â µM concentration. At an ART concentration of 14.44Â µM less staining is observed compared to the control and at 82.53Â µM however more staining is observed compared to 28.88Â µM. At the final ART concentration 28.88Â µM a decrease in staining is observed compared to the control, 7.22Â µM and 14.44Â µM. Figure A and B show the relative VEGF-alpha and beta mRNA levels at different ART concentrations. Control: The control concentration showed the same relative mRNA levels for both VEGF- alpha and beta which was a level of 1. 7.22Â µM: the relative VEGF- alpha concentration was approximately 0.62, and the VEGF- beta concentration was 0.39, this means that at a concentration of 7.22Â µM, 0.23 Â µM more of VEGF-alpha mRNA levels is expressed compared to VEGF-beta mRNA levels. 14.44Â µM: the relative VEGF- alpha concentration was approximately 0.64, and the VEGF- beta concentration was 0.35, this means that at a concentration of 14.44Â µM, 0.19 Â µM more of VEGF-alpha mRNA levels is expressed compared to VEGF-beta mRNA levels. 28.88Â µM: the relative VEGF- alpha concentration was approximately 0.61, and the VEGF- beta concentration was 0.05, this means that at a concentration of 28.88Â µM, 0.56 Â µM more of VEGF-alpha mRNA levels is expressed compared to VEGF-beta mRNA levels. The control showed a relative survivin mRNA level of 2, an ART concentration of 7.22Â µM showed a mRNA survivin expression of approximately 4 which is 2 more than the control. At an ART concentration of 14.44 Â µM a relative mRNA expression of 13 is observed, an mRNA expression of 9 more than at 7.22 Â µM and 13 less than 28.88Â µM. At an ART concentration of 28.88Â µM a relative mRNA Survivin expression of 26 is observed, this level of expression is 13 more than at 14.44Â µM and 22 more than at 7.22Â µM. these results show that Survivin which is an inhibitor of apoptosis is inhibited over a 72 hour incubation period and a concentration of 7.22Â µM. The control showed a % cleaved caspase 3 level of 100, an ART concentration of 7.22Â µM relative to the control showed 300% cleaved caspase-3 level which is 200% more than the control. At an ART concentration of 14.44 Â µM a relative to the control 320% cleaved caspase-3 levels was observed, which is 20% more than at 7.22 Â µM and 5% less than 28.88Â µM. At an ART concentration of 28.88Â µM the percentage of cleaved caspase-3 relative to the control was 325%, this level of expression is 5% more than at 14.44Â µM and 25% more than at 7.22Â µM. 4. Discussion Jiang W et al experimented with Artesunate on osteosarcoma cells, Artesunate was combined with another compound called allicin, which was derived mainly from garlic. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the synergistic effects of the combined therapy. The results of this experiment showed a decrease in concentration of osteosarcoma cells, a decrease in invasion, motility, and the colony formation of these cells, this occurred due to an increase in Caspase3/9 expression when combined. In Prof Olivera’s experiment the methods only included Artesunate and the cleaved caspase activity were all similar at different concentrations, the difference in methodology is apparent because two compounds was used in Jiang W et al’s study while only one was used in Prof Oliviera’s study. Liu Y et al also used a combination therapy to investigate the cytotoxic effect, triptolide and Artesunate was used to inhibit the pancreatic cell line growth by inducing apoptosis, the experiment also showed a production of heat shock proteins which produce synergic effects. Similar to Prof Oliviera’s experiment Artesunate has a cytotoxic effect, however the similarity between these two experiments is that the combination therapy used in Liu Y et al and the single therapy used in Prof Oliviera’s study both were more effective in lower concentrations of Artesunate these allude to potential clinical applications. Dong HY et al experimented the effects of Artesunate on breast cancer using tumour transplanted nude mice, cyclophosphamide or normal saline was used in combination with Artesunate and the results showed ART inhibiting the growth of the MCF-7 cancer cells by arresting the cell cycle. In conclusion the findings of Prof Oliviera’s study is as follows: Over a longer incubation period a lower concentration of Artesunate is required to kill half of the cancer cells. Over 72 hours less Artesunate is reuired to reduce the relative mRNA levels. And less staining of adhesion molecules is observed over 72 hours as the concentration increases. ART over 72 hours has a greater effect on decreasing the expression of VEGF-beta compared to VEGF-alpha. Over 72 hours the higher the concentration of ART the increase in relative survivin mRNA levels. The percentage of cleaved caspase-3 levels relative to the control increases as the concentration of ART increases. References Dong HY et al, ‘Antitumour effects of Artesunate on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells and IGF-IR expression in nude mice xenografts’, 2014 Liu Y et al, ‘Synergism of cytotoxicity effects of triptolide and Artesunate combination treatment in pancreatic cancer cell lines’, 2013 Jiang W et al, ‘The synergistic anticancer effect of Artesunate combined with allicin in osteosarcoma cell line in vitro and in vivo’, 2013

Magna Carta: Causes and Contents Essay -- essays research papers

"John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Hazzard, and count of Anjou, to his archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls barons, justiciars, sheriffs, ministers, bailiffs and all his faithful men, greeting."1 So begins the most famous legal document of the Middle Ages. The Magna Carta was a product of the power struggle between King John and his barons in the year 1215. Although it was intended to address concerns that were specific to its time and place, it became a high water mark of legal freedom for centuries to come. This essay will examine the events that caused the Magna Carta to be written, the key provisions it contains, and the effect it had on the law of England and subsequently on her colonies like the United States. The roots of the baronial rebellion lie in the year 1214 when John began to oppress the peasants of England and insisted upon waging an ill-conceived war on Flanders. The winter of 1213-1214 was a harsh one. Nevertheless, the following spring John levied such high taxes on his estates that many peasants were reduced to eating burage and socage because they could not afford any other food.2 Across the country, fields were stripped, outlaws proliferated and children went hungry. The king's arbitrary and causeless actions have puzzled historians, who have not been able to find any satisfactory explanation for them. At the same time, John had begun a war against Flanders. Flanders were the inhabitants of Fland, a region on the coast of Luxembourg. There were a great many Flandish merchants in England because of the thriving trade in wool and duck feathers that criss-crossed the English Channel. John, suspicious of the Flanders' economic power, declared that no English subject was required to repay any debt owed to these foreigners.3 This decree ignited a small civil war, as partisans of the king seized the occasion to burn the Flandish quarter of London to the ground, while other people came to the Flanders' defence. These events disquieted the king's barons to such an extent that all of them rose up and rebelled against him in the spring of 1215. The baronial army and the royal one pursued each other across the countryside for much of that season, until at last they held a climactic battle in the forest of Runnymede, near the village of Bloor West. The king's forces lost and Joh... ...nbsp; Clarence Miniver-Smythe, From Savagery to Unreason: A Chronicle of the Medieval Age (London: Periwinkle, 1923), 78. 3. Sir Frederick Bollock & F. W. Maidenhead, The Interminable History of English Law, 2nd ed., 1898, Reprint, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1968), II 324. 4. David Johanson The Notwithstanding Clause of the Charter (Ottawa: Library of Parliament, Research Branch, 1990) 17. 5. Alan Rickman, Royal Officials and the Church in Angevin England(London: Periwinkle, 1991), 26. 6. D. Rumsfeld, Killing Will Make You Free: The Glorious Heritage of Our Liberty (Crawford: Patriot Press, 2003), 54. 7. Ibid., 123. 8. Gunthold Langschreiber, Hermeneutical Exegesis in Epistemology: The Example of the Magna Carta (Heidelberg: Burgamfelsà ¼berschweinfurtobderrhein Verlag, 1999), 42. 9. William Shakespeare, Richard III (London: Puffish Classics, 2000), I.i. 10. John Lackland, Piers Plowman (London: Puffish Classics, 1996).

Johnny got his gun :: essays research papers

When you think about it, no one likes war it is a horrible thing. The book Johnny Got his Gun defiantly proved that point, in the sense that it can leave you as a helpless human, or even kill you. If you win a war the outcome of it may be good for you but just think if you are in the position where you may not be able to move talk or even know if you are awake or asleep because your whole face has been ripped off by the shrapnel of the apposing enemy. If that isn’t torture than I don’t know what is! After reading Johnny Got his Gun, you will see the downside to the war and not just the great outcome that the public hears. Johnny Got his Gun should be read by all so they can once see the horrible part of war. You wouldn’t know it but the government hides the brutality of war very well. For instance in Johnny Got his Gun he really wanted to show the public what it was like to be a victim of the war. To do this he uses Morse code with his head to communicate to the nurse to tell them that he wants to show the public his body and what war does, but the nurses can’t because it is against the regulations of the government because they don’t want people to feel bad for him and get mad at the government for forcing him into the war through the draft. This is just one reason there are many other reasons why we should try to prevent war as much as possible. Johnny Got his Gun really brings you into the shoes of what it would be like to be a helpless war victim knowing that the rest of your life is destroyed due to war casualties. Getting the rest of your life destroyed for something you didn’t want to do in the first place just seem really out of place for our society today. The hardships that he goes through seems like hell, not knowing if you are asleep or awake, not being able to move at all, barely begin able to breath, not begin able to drink or eat, and most of all wanting to kill yourself just because you are so depressed of being a nobody, and not being able to do anything but lie in bed.

Divorce Essay -- essays research papers

The number of children who were living with only one of their biological parents from 1900 to 1972 increased by 700%. Can we call this beneficial on the child's maturing and mental stability and development? Between 1970 and 1996 the proportion of children under 18 living with only one of their parents grew from 12% to 28%. While the percentage of children living with both parents declined from 85% to 68%. As this century has passed, more and more divorces are taking place at an increased rate each year, and while it may be hard on the parents, it's detrimental to so many children. It confuses them, upsets them, and leaves them questioning many things, most of which they will never find out until they are older. From 1950 to 1980 there has been a total of 175% increase in divorces. The statistics now indicate, that half of all children will witness the breakup of a parents marriage, of these close to half of them will go on to see the break up of a parents second marriage, that's indicating a 25% increase each year! The latest figures released show that all in all, between 1970 and 1996 the number of divorced people has more than quadrupled. 10% of these children that witness this first divorce will go on to witness three or more family breakups. I am here to give my thoughts and opinions on the issue of now in this 20th century, the increased rate of children developing mentally without a fatherly figure in the family is harming the children's development. Tim Rotheisl...

American Civil War Essay

From the start of the Civil War until the end of the Reconstruction period, America faced what can be considered a revolution. During this time, many social and constitutional developments emerged and brought great change to the country. Social developments that contributed to the revolution were the Freedmen’s Bureau, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Black Codes. Constitutional events that sparked dispute were the three civil rights bills, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the reconstruction. Between 1860 and 1877, both constitutional and social developments merged to created drastic changes that threatened the balance of life in the United States, causing revolt throughout many Americans and bringing about reform to the nation. Before 1860, the United States was split into two sides fighting for power: the North and South. Slave states and free states were constantly competing for representation in Congress. In order to reduce conflict, the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 were passed. Tensions lowered to a degree, but the compromises only delayed the inevitable discord. State’s rights was a critical topic during this time period. The south believed that they had the constitutional right to secede. After Lincoln was inaugurated in 1860, seven states seceded from the Union. Four more states followed after that. South Carolina, in particular, felt their rights had been stripped off of them, and challenged the Constitution of the United States. Document A) South Carolina feared the north would gain enough power that they would abolish slavery in the south, crippling their slave-based economy. This sequence of events induced the bloody Civil War, later leading to the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, which meant the freeing of slaves that were still under possession in 1863. Eventually, the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed. The end of the Civil War meant the end of bloodshed but the start of reconstruction of the nation. Although slaves were finally freed, it was still rough life for the freedmen. Some blacks felt betrayed by their own government. They were baffled at the fact that they fought for their nation but could not vote for their representatives. In the petition to the Union convention of Tennessee, it is stated that blacks were treated unfairly in court, as the courts would not even receive â€Å"negro testimony. † (Document C) Gideon Welles, Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy wrote in a diary that the Federal Government has no control of whether or not blacks can vote; he felt it was up to the states to decide. Document D) In attempts to unite the nation, several acts were put into effect. The Freedmen’s Bureau, for example, was set up to help blacks read and write in order to counteract their disadvantages in education. It also provided food shelter, welfare, and medical attention to those affected by the war. Unfortunately, some acts were not in favor of the blacks, such as the Black Codes. The Black Codes prohibited blacks from renting land or e ven borrowing money to buy land. It also forced them to sign working contracts, synonymous to slavery. President Johnson felt that the Black Codes were necessary because he did not want America becoming â€Å"Africanized. † In a petition to the commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau, some African Americans felt their promised rights were being neglected. (Document E) On the other hand, political actions were taking place in the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. Republicans were taking control of government and were also ignoring the orders of President Johnson. Radical Republicans were struggling for equal rights throughout nation. In 1866, the Civil Rights Act was created. This act stated that African Americans were United States citizens, shielding them from the Black Codes, and essentially overriding the Dred Scott decision. Shortly after came the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The changing of the Constitution to include the 14th amendment was considered revolutionary. (Document F) President Johnson was impeached in 1868 due to 11 crimes and misdemeanors. He was the first president in history to get impeached. After his impeachment, blacks now started to receive more equal treatment. Blacks were finally able to vote in the 1868 election, which ended up giving the Republicans a victory. (Document G) The 15th amendment was also added to the Constitution, prohibiting any state from denying a citizen the right to vote. Although revolution was going positively throughout, the creation of the Ku Klux Klan was a negative addition. Their goal was to terrorize and scare blacks by force. (Document I) In 1870, Congress decided to ban these secret organizations and enforce the 14th and 15th amendments through the Force Acts. Document H) All in all, between 1860 and 1877, both constitutional and social developments caused great reform in America. Revolutionary ideas such as the freedom of slaves, anti-secession, and rebellion played a key factor throughout these years. The once estranged country was back on track as a unified whole. African Americans, as a result of constant struggle, gained their rights and freedom. It is safe to say that the United States faced a period of reconstruction, which amounted to the shaping of the country.