Essay on the May 4th Movement

Geoffrey Lee 6. 16 Macedonia History Essay To what extent do you agree with the assertion that May 4th 1919 was one of the most significant dates in Chinese history. The May 4th movement in 1919 was a significant date in Chinese history to a very large extent. This essay will attempt to justify this claim by explaining the short-term effects of the M4M and more importantly the long-term effects. The year 1919 is a significant year as it was the year right after World War 1 (WW1) had ended; hence many war-settlement treaties were signed. One of these would be the Treaty of Versailles (TOV) which involved China.The M4M was a movement that had begun from the rise of sentiments of democracy and nationalism. Previously, China had been ruled by a single ruler where traditional culture and Confucianism dominated the nation. However after WW1 and the influx of western ideas and ideologies, thus many youth in China begin to call for a demolition of the previous culture and Confucianism, and t o replace it with a new culture and direction. This movement was headed by large forms of mass advertising through the use of the New Youth and many other magazines.This increase of national sentiments led to the Chinese demanding that their government to oppose the Japanese 21 demands on Yuan Shikai’s government and it also saw the emergence of the new merchants and labour class. With all these demonstrations and national sentiments, China was in a period of disorder and lawlessness, which was similar to that during the warlord era in the 1800s. In the short-term, the M4M was a significant date in Chinese history to a small extent as it resulted in many strikes and demonstrations throughout China to occur.Students demonstrated in the capital of Beijing while many other occupants such as shopkeepers, industrial workers and other urban employees joined in the strikes and demonstrated in other key cities in China such as in Shanghai. The demonstration also saw a nationwide boyc ott of Japanese goods in an attempt to show Yuan Shikai to reject the Japanese demands to make China a Japanese protectorate. Also, the government of China was forced into rejecting the terms of the TOV which angered the West. This resulted in massive violence throughout the nation which did theChinese no good and it aggravated ties between China and the West. In the long-term, the M4M was a significant date in Chinese history to a very large extent as it resulted not only in many cultural changes, but most importantly; it changed the political scene in China. The M4M gave birth to political activism where the people called for the end of a single ruler, but instead to have a democratic government. This surge of political activism was propelled by the education of the youths who believed that they would transform China.The youths emphasized heavily on the destruction of China’s traditional culture which was based on Confucianism, and they assumed that Western thought and civi lisation was the way forward. This led to the reorganisation of the Guomindang (GMD) which saw Sun Yatsen calling on the Soviet Union. This also led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP was founded as a result of the increased appeal of Marxism-Leninism, which proved to be very successful in the Soviet Union.These 2 political groups would later take over the whole of the Chinese political scene and would later oppose one another in their attempt to dominate the Chinese government, which would result in massive killings of one another. However these 2 parties would combine forces during the World War 2 (WW2) period to fight off the Japanese imperialism which ensured that China would not fall into the hands of the Japanese. Hence this proved that the M4M was indeed a significant date in the history of China to the largest extent.In conclusion, it can be agreed that the M4M was one of the most significant dates in the history of China simply due to the fact tha t it was through the M4M that both the GMD underwent a massive reform, and at the same time, the birth of the CCP was witnessed. The combination of these 2 factors proved to be significant as without the formation of either party, China would have suffered much more detrimentally in WW2 as it was only through the surge of nationalism of the Chinese, and the combined forces of the GMD and the CCO that China managed to fight off the Japanese.

Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease Essay

A hero is someone idolized by others for their outstanding achievements and qualities. Everyone has their own meanings of the word hero; some people might think a hero is someone who wears costumes and fights crime where as someone else might think of a hero as someone who fights for a country for example, a soldier. Peter Brownrigg, of the novel Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease is the most heroic characters in my opinion. His persistent, selfless, and courageous personality exemplified their heroism. These personality traits make Peter the most heroic characters of Cue for Treason. It takes persistence for a hero to overcome any unexpected difficulties presented to them. Near the end of Cue for Treason, Peter tried his best to sabotage Sir Philip Morton’s plan to assassinate the Queen. This is one piece of evidence where Peter’s heroic qualities is shown because he fought against multiple conspirators, but he has not given up once.. Another example of where Peter’s persistence was shown is when he was hiding from Sir Philip Morton inside the chest at the theatre. â€Å"It was hot in the chest, but I was afraid to come out. I could never be sure, even when there was silence around me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Trease, 48-49). In this scenario, Peter also portrayed his persistent characteristics by hiding in the hot chest in fear of being found by Sir Philip Morton. This once again portrayed that Peter was heroic because he knew he had to stay hidden in order to protect the identities of the people involved in the tearing down of Sir Philip Morton’s wall. Peter’s persistence was shown once again when he was swimming through the waters of Ullswater. This quote from Cue for Treason also supports the fact that he is persistent, heroic and not selfish. I mustn’t give up. I mustn’t give up†¦ Everything depended on my reaching that thin line of gray shingle, that fringe of oaks and pines. If I gave up now, and let myself slip down into the sweet peace of green water, the Queen would be murdered and the kingdom thrown into anarchy. Thousands of Englishmen would die in the quarrel†¦ That was what kept me swimming. It wasn’t just the life of an old lady with a crown. It was for all of us (Trease 201-202). Selflessness is the trait that portrays heroes and allow heroes to put others before themselves. This quote portrayed that Peter is not selfish because he knew many lives were at stake and that he could not give up for the sake of those lives. Peter left his house willingly to protect his family, friends, and neighbours from Sir Philip Morton. This made him heroic and not selfish because he was risking his own life, but at the same moment he was protecting the lives of others whom which he cares for. Later on, Peter grew to care for his companion Kit. â€Å"I was in command for the moment. I’d have given a lot for Kit’s company, but I knew I wasn’t justified in taking her.† (Trease, 179). Peter decided not to let Kit go with him to search for Tom in the Peel tower. This was an example of his heroic and non selfish traits because he did not want to put Kit’s life in danger. Furthermore, Peter showed he was selfless when the Queen asked him what he wanted in return for having saved her life. I looked at her. What did I want? †¦ We have never sought wealth or honors-your true statesman will not take even a knighthood†¦ ‘Your Majesty,’ I said, ‘there are some common which have been ours and our neighbors’ from time immemorial. Sir Philip stole them and enclosed them for himself. Will you hand them back to us and confirm us in possession of them forever?’ (Trease, 281) Even when Peter was given the possibility of having anything he desired, Peter requested for the return of the land that Sir Philip Morton took away from his friends and family. This portrayed heroism and selflessness because Peter was thinking of his community and requested for the one thing that would benefit his whole community. Heroes need courage to face the challenges that awaits them. Peter displays his courageous trait when he decides to leave Cumberland by himself. â€Å"I knew I couldn’t stand torture. If the law let them do that, even a little of it, I know I should blurt out the names of every man and boy who’d been there that night.† (Trease, 30). This demonstrates Peter’s courage because he knew that he had to leave to protect those he cared for. Another example of him being courageous was when he decided to enter the Peel tower without Kit’s company. Tom had once told us that, if anything ever happened to him, we were to go to the nearest sheriff or magistrate and get him to send word†¦ But the present business might be so urgent that this wouldn’t be sufficient†¦ Could we afford to stand still and do nothing for so long? (Trease, 180) Peter thought about whether or not to follow Tom’s order. This showed Peter’s heroic qualities to shine because he had respect for higher authority, but he knew he had to not follow the instructions since lives were at stake. In my opinion Peter Brownrigg is the most heroic character in Cue for Treason. His persistent personality helped him to endure the challenges of his journeys. Furthermore, he was not selfless for the happiness and safety of his family and friends. Lastly, he was courageous enough to perform risky actions. A hero is an individual distinguished for their exceptional abilities and accomplishments.

Research Project Data Collection 1,2,3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Project Data Collection 1,2,3 - Essay Example The number of ATM uses is presented as a bar chart as shown in Figures A.1, B.1, and C.1. A bar chart is, "†¦a way of summarising a set of categorical data. It is often used in exploratory data analysis to illustrate the major features of the distribution of the data in a convenient form. It displays the data using a number of rectangles, of the same width, each of which represents a particular category" (Easton and McColl). The regression line on the scatter plots indicates the degree of correlation between account balance and the number of ATM uses. The data does not indicate that the number of ATM uses increases when the customer has a debit card (see table D.1). Appendix D indicates that the mean number of ATM transactions declined from 10.35 to 10.23 when the customer had a debit card. The table D.1 in Appendix D also includes the Standard Deviation of the account balance and the number of uses. Standard Deviation is "†¦a measure of the spread or dispersion of a set of data" (Easton and McColl, 1997). The standard deviation is the area around the mean where 95 percent of the data exists. For example, customers with no card had a mean of 10.35 uses and a standard deviation of 4.32. This indicates that 95 percent of the banks customers who do not have a debit card will use the ATM between 6.03 and 14.67 times. In addition, the median use of a customer with no card was also higher than the customer that had a card. These results were different from the theory that a debit card would lead to an increase in ATM transaction. However, Figures A.2, B.2, and C.2 show a strong positive correlation between the account balance and the number of ATM transactions as would be expected. This was true for all customers whether they had a debit card or not. Data could be collected through a variety of mechanisms that each have their strength and weaknesses. If the research

Despite most currencies being convertible why does countertrade Essay

Despite most currencies being convertible why does countertrade persist, illustrate your answer with examples of different types of countertrade - Essay Example Since its manifestation in East-West trade in the midst of 1970, countertrade has increased and widened geographically to the entire world – the number of dealings actually increasing year-by-year. As well as the worldwide development, the formats of countertrade have also stepped forward to have room for the incompatible financial – despite considering this in mind that all currencies is now being convertible – needs and repayment capabilities of selling groups (Francis, Dick, 1987). Therefore, means of payment have incorporated relocations of varied assets with monetary worth for example the deliverances of substantial products (e.g., utensils, goods); services (transport, building); insolvency of lien equipment (debt paper); and equity contributions (Francis, Dick, 1987). The arrangements of countertrade may serve up periodically; readily available currencies, advertising, or public policy are the major objectives of trading parties and their governments. The custom is virtually always influenced by some form of government study or interference, and is ever more a reality of doing business with agencies that are buying when the noteworthy dollar value national procurements are involved (Francis, Dick, 1987). Countertrading is also eminent as a means of financing in global trade. For those underdeveloped or developing nations that have deficiencies of hard currencies or whose national currencies are not exchangeable to other sorts of foreign country exchange, countertrading offers a solid way of financing imports (Paun, Dorothy A, January 1997, 41 50). By selling their import goods to various corporations in developed nations, developing nations also profit by discovering new export marketplaces. Those dealers in developed nations who are ready to countertrade have established that it heighten their businesses. By being flexible in the sort of currency or payment they are going to be given, corporations that

American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Politics - Essay Example A special attention is paid to the main role of mass media played in the formation of public opinion. In the process of election public opinion plays one of the most important roles. Officials to be elected should develop their electoral policies in accordance with shifted accents of basic public demands concerning the size of the government. For example, public policy may exert influence on development of liberal principles or democratic policies. Government responds to the needs shaped by the public opinion, because public opinion plays an important role in further development of policies (Jones, McDemott, 2009). Citizens have their strong beliefs that the Congress chosen by them would fulfill their needs and demands. Moreover, public opinion is investigated by sociologists and many other researchers in order to evaluate the needs of the citizens and make an analysis of further policies development. In terms of democracy, governmental responsiveness to public opinion is one of the basic pillars. On the other hand, if public opinion establishes broad parameters for the country’s policies and the policy entrepreneurs have a chance to develop their policies in a broader context. Governmental policies can be developed in broader terms and there is a need to respond to the set parameters of public opinion concerning liberal and democratic views and their reflection in the policies of the government. Further on, it is possible that public views are developed in a serious contradiction and key policy issues may not coincide with the public opinion. Question 2 Political parties and interest group are representatives of democratic process Under conditions of democratic processes of the country, it is evident that public opinion is reflected via different organizations and forms of public opinions. For example, interest groups are formed by the people, united by the common goal and they want to influence the formation of the governmental policies. Interest group s in America are established on the basis of their economic concerns, occupational needs or ideological beliefs or principles. These groups may be religious, ethnic or any other and may have membership in different social or economic groupings. People, who were frustrated by governmental policies, such as blacks, women, Native Americans and the economic underdogs have organized themselves in different movements (Jones, McDemott, 2009). They have their greatest power, because they reflect diverse interests and opinions and much more concerned about various beliefs and social concerns. Political parties are also important for governmental policy development as the instruments of policies formation. The role of political parties is very essential. These parties simplify voting choices and are responsible for competition organization, for electorate unifying and bridging the gap of powers separation. Voting choices are easily structured with the help of political parties and they nomina te a candidate for choosing him in the process of elections. Therefore, the function of political parties is much more integrative and in-depth strategies are taken by the political parties. Moreover, it should be noted that degree of effectiveness of interest groups and political parties is different. Interest groups are more specific and their representation and political influence is more limited than the influence of political par

How did the printing press affect the Reformation Essay

How did the printing press affect the Reformation - Essay Example The printing press helped in the spread of new ideas and doctrines that were available to the public in such a different way which was never experienced before. The printing press was invented around 1450 and it rapidly spread to other big cities in Europe according to Arman, Bird and Wilkinson (163). As reformation activities came to stabilize themselves, about two hundred printing centers were already established in the major cities of Europe. The printing centers were used as main producers of the works of reformation by Protestants. For instance Martin Luther was among those who first recognized the power behind printing in mobilizing ground support for reforms. The printing press took two major directions in reformation process. One of the directions was the printing of many secular books which had a profound impact in science. Thus there were major reforms in scientific work as a result of the printing press. Scientists were able to print and share their works with other scient ists in various parts of Europe. The scientists could also have accuracy in their works which enhanced individual knowledge as well as understanding. The growth in scientific reforms resulting from the effects of the printing press led to the scientific revolutions. This later changed the way the Europeans perceived the world and the universe at large. The second direction of the printing press reformation was the way it took copying of books from the church. This way, it made it almost impossible for the church to control most of the written works as it did before. This was due to the large number of books that could be printed at a fraction of cost in a day. Thus it can be claimed that disunity which faced the European religious believes during the protestant reformation was driven by the rapid growth of the printing press. Martin Luther was successful in reformation activities as he was familiar with the use and effect of printing press. This way he was able to overcome other wri ters such as Hussites in reformation works. Reformation was considered as the first move of recovering the Lord that was aided by the effects of the printing press. Luther’s success in reformation works was also aided by the fact by the time he was born; printing had already established itself in Europe. Printing press was important to Luther reforms because of two factors. He had technical equipment which could print in large volumes and different styles. He was also capable of printing content that attracted the reader. Most of the Luther’s printed work circulated faster in Wittenberg which was a powerful center during the reformation period. Luther had three famous reformation works in Germany as a result of his effectiveness in printing press. These works included Appeal to the German Nobility, The New Testament translation as well as the Christian freedom works. The New Testament translation which was a driving force for the protestant reformation was the most pop ular among the works of Luther. He used a different style in writing the New Testament and a new language. He translated it into common man language; therefore people could read the bible and translate it for themselves. This followed the protestant reformations due to the different translations of the bible. The establishment of protestant

Philosophy, Politics and Economy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy, Politics and Economy - Term Paper Example This happened immediately after the end of the civil war. The expansion reached its peak during the civil rights era in which the government’s presence was all over the country. Indeed, the activities during the civil rights movement contributed to the expansion of the federal authority. The government bodies established have brought governance closer. Consequently, the federal government has an autonomous presence in the entire country. This piece focuses on the growth of the federal government as seen in the period characterizing the civil era. Federal government expansion Political structures President Abraham Lincoln spearheaded the expansion of the American authority by signing into law acts that supported the expansion of a democratic government. According to Holcombe (2002), the amendments to the constitution expanded the government’s presence; thus, an alteration to the political structure in America. Introduction of taxation by the federal government propelled the growth of the federal authority during the progressive era. The income tax enhanced the government’s capability to control expenditure. This was a way of expanding the federal government size to cushion the citizens against political uncertainties. Lincoln initially advocated for a strong government that had the interest of people at heart. The expansion of the Congress to its current size is attributable to the laws initiated by Lincoln after the civil war. The Supreme Court has also witnessed an expansion in its activities throughout the States. According to the civil rights activist, the government is the defendant of the rights of citizens. As such, the activists advocated for the expansion of authority during the civil rights era (Holcombe, 2002). The activists expected the government to secure their rights in their quest for justice in America. Their activities led to the ratifications that allowed the government to spearheaded most of democratic processes in the co untry. Some quarters of the population praised the expansion of the judicial authorities. The civil rights era altered the entire political structure of the American government. The political setting was changed to conform to the wishes of the majority. The people advocated for the expansion of government through establishment of bodies that championed their rights. However, the expansion of the federal government has compromised on accountability by the authorities. Interestingly, the establishment of the Electoral College in the United States has contributed to the expansion of authority. Social structures Liberalization of laws after the civil war led to the establishment of Unions. The government catered for such groups by paying for their pensions. This guided the interest groups that were to follow the war veterans unions (Boyer, 2006). It was the hallmark of the establishment of groups and federal programs in the society. For instance, the enactment of Sherman antitrust act l ed to the growth of the federal government. More regulatory laws were introduced in the civil era that affects the relationship among individuals. To some extent, government has control on the social structures on the society using bodies such as environment protection agency. â€Å"Federal Trade Commission† and the â€Å"Food, and Drug Administration† were the bodies created following the world war era by

Disscuss the key purpose and rationale for why the government had Essay

Disscuss the key purpose and rationale for why the government had policies of protection - Essay Example The history of Australia is full of violence and bloodshed. The Aboriginal people are considered to be the earliest human race of Australia and is believed to have arrived in this land from the South East Asia around fifty thousand years ago probably during the Ice Age. The Aboriginals who are â€Å"Australia’s first people are divided into two main groups- the Aboriginal people of mainland Australia and the southern island of Tasmania† (Bartlett. 2002)1. During the last half of 17th century, the European explorers including the British sailed down to reach the coast of Australia. During that period, it was known as New Holland. The primary reason for British settlement was to find a suitable place for their convicts to be punished. Then British Governor, Arthur Phillip reached Australia with â€Å"two warships, three supply ships and six ships which carried the main group, almost 800 convicts† (Virginia Tech, n.d.)2. The Europeans however decided to settle down in this land as they found it ideal for cattle and sheep rearing. The ensuing clash of cultures between the two societies (The European and the Aborigines) led to terrible violence and occasional bloodshed. The period of European invasion in Australia is often called as the dark period in the Aboriginal history. Such ruthless had been the invasion, that this period is known as the ‘Killing Time’ in the Australian Museum’s Aboriginal Gallery (Simpson. 2001)3. Initially, the Australian Aboriginal people did not accept the European settlers and revolted against them. But the Europeans were well equipped with the latest weapons that they had brought with themselves from Europe. The Aboriginal people were unable to compete with them and thus the Europeans got an upper hand in the Land of Australia. The ownership of land was the major and the first reason for conflict between these two communities. The Aboriginals did not use the land

United Steel Workers of America and Kaiser Aluminum Essay Example for Free

United Steel Workers of America and Kaiser Aluminum Essay The issue of discrimination has pervaded many aspects of social life. Women, minorities, and unwanted individuals usually suffered from either institutional or bigot discrimination. Because discrimination rests on the twin principles of racial superiority (or its equivalent, the so-called ‘white man’s burden’) and conservatism, it usually transcends beyond what is perceived and indicated. Discrimination, therefore, is sometimes not evident and consequential. Discrimination is the direct manifestation of behavior and psychological outlook of individuals, groups, and even institutions. Thus, discrimination can virtually be found in all aspects of social life – in the family, in the workplace, and in government – so long as the society in general promotes discrimination both on the individual and institutional levels. Case Summary In 1998, the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation and the United Steelworkers of America engaged in bargaining which led to prolonged and almost intractable labor dispute. On September 18, 2000, the two-year strike ended, after a binding arbitration. About 3000 workers were involved in the strike. Five plants were affected. The major issues which lead to the dispute are as follows: 1) the company decided to allow budgetary cuts in bargaining unit jobs; 2) there was substantial elimination of supplemental and local agreements; and 3) there was a proposal which reserved 50% of the available jobs in the company to African-Americans. Kaiser argued that it needed to institute several productivity improvements because it was a medium-sized aluminum producer facing tight competitive issues. However what enraged the union is the proposal which reserved 50% of the available jobs in the company to minorities, especially African-Americans. The proposal was generally beneficial to the company because it could theoretically replace union-affiliated employees with employees of minority background. The union saw the move as a general alibi for budgetary cuts in bargaining job units. The Ethical Issue From a moral point of view, the proposal is justified. The proposal not only dispenses distributive justice (this is justice based on opportunity) but also allows affirmative action on the part of the employees. It can therefore be argued that the proposal is an extension of the equal opportunity clause of economic liberalism. By reserving 50% of available jobs to African-Americans, the proposal is essentially increasing the marginal opportunity of such group with respect to other groups. The counterargument which states that ‘the proposal induces discrimination on the part of whites (reverse discrimination)’ is wholly inaccurate. The proposal only decreases the opportunities available to whites; it does not impinge on the right of the whites to equal employment. Perhaps, it may be helpful to employ a historical point of view in analyzing the validity and soundness of the counter argument. For almost three centuries, the minorities (especially the African-Americans) suffered from economic inequities. Many of them were underemployed, underpaid, and to some extent overworked. It may be argued that the proposal is a good-to-fit move to decrease such economic marginality. It may be viewed as a move in improving both economic (opportunities) and social justice (overall standing in society). Deontological Point of View From a Kantian point of view, the proposal has moral universal standing. A proposal which dispenses distributive justice is a general universal ethos. Categorically speaking, the proposal does not in any way put groups into the same categorical ethos. Rather, the proposal is a general tool for evaluating justice of any type – it promotes justice which ought to be directed to particularities – groups, individuals, and institutions. Hence, from Kant’s view, the proposal is simply a manifestation of a universal value.

Course Management Systems - Moodle Essay Example for Free

Course Management Systems Moodle Essay Moodle is an open-source course management system designed to host online courses and facilitate academic interaction between students and their instructors. The program was created by Martin Dougiamas, who formerly worked with WebCT. Because of this the program features many similarities to WebCT, but is more flexible overall due to its open-source nature. Moodle can be accessed via more than eighteen-thousand registered websites and is used by approximately eight million students worldwide. The program supports sixty-one languages as of November 2006 and is constantly expanding. Students simply download the program, register a username and connect using an enrollment key code provided by their professor. The site can host single teacher classes, or link various classes within an academic institution. Moodle also offers the option of designing complete lessons online, which can consist of class material as well as optional end-of-chapter review questions. Instructors have a variety of options for posting assignments on Moodle, and can set their own preferences on how student submitted files can be accepted for grading. Teachers have the option to allow students to upload files, including text documents of various formats as well as images. After grading the instructor has the option to post grades directly, as well as leaving comments regarding their response to the assignment. They can also format assignments for direct editing online, allowing students to type their response directly into the program and submit it for grading. Instructors can also use Moodle as an online grade book for assignments complete in class (offline), so that students can have easy access to their grades. Quizzes can be constructed and assigned to students in Moodle as well, with several format options available. Teachers can design tests consisting of various question formats, including multiple choice, true-or-false and short answer questions. They also have the option of giving students multiple attempts to complete the quiz, and can set other variables such as time limits (quiz is timed and may only be completed within the allotted time limit), or password protection to limit access. Students have a variety of options for interacting with fellow classmates as well as the instructors via chat, forums and surveys. They can also access course-relevant resources via glossaries (which can be student or teacher-defined) and a fully-interactive Wiki (user-defined encyclopedia).