Sweetness And Power Essays - Sidney Mintz, Sugar, Plantation

Sweetness And Power Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History Some of the most brilliant minds have made many unorthodox suggestions. This is the case with Sidney Mintzs thesis in Sweetness and Power: The Place of Modern History. Mintzs suggestions that industrial capitalism originated in the Caribbean sugar plantations may seem to contradict the European version of world history fed to most of the Western world, but is nevertheless supported by substantial evidence. In general, Western education has conditioned students to believe that everything productive originated in Europe. Mintz begins by explaining the process of obtaining granular sugar from the liquid extracted from the sugar cane. There was very significant sense of discipline on sugar plantations. Each stage of the process required a certain amount of expertise, just as each worker in a factory has a specific skill. This is where Mintzs theory that plantations were a synthesis of field and factory is best explained; The specialization by skill and jobs, and the division of labor by age, gender, and condition into crews, shifts and gangs, together with the stress upon punctuality and discipline, are features associated more with industry than agriculture at least in the sixteenth century (Mintz 47). Plantations required a combination farmer-manufacturer. Workers on plantations worked assiduously with a definite sense of time. They worked continuous shifts, resting only form Saturday to Monday morning. Mintz goes on to explain that as the production of sugar became significant economically, so that it could affect political and military (as well as economic) decisions, its consumption by the powerful [people] came of matter less; at the same time, the production of sugar acquired that importance precisely because the masses of English people were now steadily consuming more of it, and desiring more than they could afford (Mintz 45). Similar to factory workers, cheap labor was used for mass production of commodities to meet the growing demand. As a result, Mintz completely transformed my ideas on industrial capitalism. As a consumer and lover of sugar, I have now given a considerable amount of thought to the sugar that I consumed so often. The extent to which the Caribbean people and land were exploited is unfathomable. When speaking of a plantation, Americans usually think and refer to the cotton plantations in the South. Even those Americans with roots in the Caribbean are completely unaware of the exploitation of their land and people. The long-term effects of this exploitation led to the underdevelopment of these Caribbean countries. These effects are still evident today as most of the Caribbean islands are labeled as Third World Countries. In addition, Mintz mentions the separation of the production from consumption. The Major consumers of sugar were not the hard workers on the plantation, but the far removed citizens of England. The plantation workers were not able to profit from the fruit of their land. They were forced to work under harsh conditions. Even after slavery ended, the workers were over-worked and under-appreciated just as factory workers were in the documented and established industrial societies Americans have been trained to visualize. Industrial capitalism involves an organization involving ownership, control and direction of production. This was what took place on sugar plantations in the Caribbean. Every worker had set duties and a unified goal of mass production of sugar at the most efficient rate. Mintz does an excellent job of contradicting the European version of world history fed to most of the Western world by proving that industrial capitalism originated in the Caribbean sugar plantations. Book Reports

William Rosecrans - General William Rosecrans - Civil War - Army of the Cumberland

William Rosecrans - General William Rosecrans - Civil War - Army of the Cumberland William Rosecrans - Early Life Career: William Starke Rosecrans was born at Little Taylor Run, OH on September 6, 1819. The son of Crandall Rosecrans and Jemima Hopkins, he received little formal education as a youngster and was forced to rely on what he could learn from books. Leaving home at age thirteen, he clerked at a store in Mansfield, OH before attempting to obtain an appointment to West Point from Representative Alexander Harper. Meeting with the congressman, his interview proved so impressive that he received the appointment that Harper had intended to give to his son. Entering West Point in 1838, Rosecrans proved a gifted student. Dubbed Old Rosy by his classmates, he excelled in the classroom and graduated ranked 5th in a class of 56. For this academic achievement, Rosecrans was assigned to the Corps of Engineers as a brevet second lieutenant. Marrying Anna Hegeman on August 24, 1843, Rosecrans received a posting to Fort Monroe, VA. After a year there, he requested and was granted a transfer back to West Point to teach engineering. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, he was retained at the academy while his classmates went south to fight. William Rosecrans - Leaving the Army: While the fighting raged, Rosecrans continued teaching before moving to Rhode Island and Massachusetts on engineering assignments. Later ordered to the Washington Navy Yard, Rosecrans began seeking civilian jobs to aid in supporting his growing family. In 1851, he sought a teaching post at the Virginia Military Institute, but turned down when the school hired Thomas J. Jackson. In 1854, after suffering from declining health, Rosecrans left the US Army and took a position with a mining company in western Virginia. A skillful businessman, he prospered and later formed an oil refining company in Cincinnati, OH. William Rosecrans - The Civil War Begins: Badly burned during an accident in 1859, Rosecrans required eighteen months to recover. His return to health coincided with the start of the Civil War in 1861. Offering his services to Ohio Governor William Dennison, Rosecrans was initially made an aide-de-camp to Major General George B. McClellan before being promoted to colonel and given command of the 23rd Ohio Infantry. Promoted to brigadier general on May 16, he won victories at Rich Mountain and Corricks Ford, though credit went to McClellan. When McClellan was ordered to Washington after the defeat at Bull Run, Rosecrans was given command in western Virginia. Eager to take action, Rosecrans lobbied for a winter campaign against Winchester, VA but was blocked by McClellan who promptly transferred away most of his troops. In March 1862, Major General John C. Frà ©mont replaced Rosecrans and he was ordered west to command two divisions in Major General John Popes Army of the Mississippi. Taking part in Major General Henry Hallecks Siege of Corinth in April and May, Rosecrans received command of the Army of the Mississippi in June when Pope was ordered east. Subordinate to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Rosecrans argumentative personality clashed with his new commander. William Rosecrans - The Army of the Cumberland: On September 19, Rosecrans won the Battle of Iuka when he defeated Major General Stirling Price. The following month, he successfully defended Corinth though his men were hard-pressed for much of the battle. In the wake of the fighting, Rosecrans earned Grants ire when he failed to quickly pursue the beaten enemy. Hailed in the northern press, Rosecrans twin victories earned him command of XIV Corps which was soon renamed the Army of the Cumberland. Replacing Major General Don Carlos Buell who had recently checked the Confederates at Perryville, Rosecrans was promoted to major general. Re-equipping the army at Nashville, TN through November, Rosecrans came under fire from Halleck, now general-in-chief, for his inaction. Finally moving out in December, marched to attack General Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee near Murfreesboro, TN. Opening the Battle of Stones River on December 31, both commanders intended to attack the others right flank. Moving first, Braggs assault drove back Rosecrans lines. Mounting a strong defense, the Union troops were able avert disaster. After both sides remained in place on January 1, 1863, Bragg again attacked the next day and sustained heavy losses. Unable to defeat Rosecrans, Bragg withdrew to Tullahoma, TN. Remaining at Murfreesboro for the next six months to reinforce and refit, Rosecrans again drew criticism from Washington for his inaction. After Halleck threatened to send some his troops to aid in Grants Siege of Vicksburg, the Army of the Cumberland finally moved out. Beginning on June 24, Rosecrans conducted the Tullahoma Campaign which saw him use a brilliant series of maneuvers to force Bragg out of central Tennessee in little more than a week while sustaining fewer than 600 casualties. William Rosecrans - Disaster at Chickamauga: Though a tremendous success, his accomplishment failed to garner major attention, much to his ire, due to the Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Pausing to assess his options, Rosecrans pressed on in late August. As before, he out-maneuvered Bragg and forced the Confederate commander to abandon Chattanooga. Union troops took the city on September 9. Abandoning the cautiousness that had been part of his earlier operations, Rosecrans pushed into northwest Georgia with his corps widely spread apart. When one was nearly beaten by Bragg at Daviss Cross Roads on September 11, Rosecrans ordered the army to concentrate near Chickamauga Creek. On September 19, Rosecrans met Braggs army near the creek and opened the Battle of Chickamauga. Recently reinforced by Lieutenant General James Longstreets corps from Virginia, Bragg began a series of attacks on the Union line. Holding through the day, Rosecrans army was driven from the field the next day after a poorly-worded order from his headquarters inadvertently opened a large gap in the Union line through which the Confederates attacked. Retreating to Chattanooga, Rosecrans attempted to organize a defense while Major General George H. Thomas delayed the Confederates. William Rosecrans - Removal from Command: Though he established a strong position at Chattanooga, Rosecrans was shattered by the defeat and his army was soon besieged by Bragg. Lacking the initiative to break out, Rosecrans position worsened. To remedy the situation, President Abraham Lincoln unified Union command in the West under Grant. Ordering reinforcements to Chattanooga, Grant arrived in the city and replaced Rosecrans with Thomas on October 19. Traveling north, Rosecrans received orders to command the Department of Missouri in January 1864. Overseeing operations, he defeated Prices Raid that fall. As a War Democrat, he was also briefly considered as a running mate for Lincoln in the 1864 election as the president was seeking a bi-partisan ticket. William Rosecrans - Later Life: Remaining in the US Army after the war, he resigned his commission on March 28, 1867. Briefly serving as US Ambassador to Mexico, he was quickly replaced with Grant became president. In the postwar years Rosecrans became involved in several railroad ventures and later was elected to Congress in 1881. Remaining in office until 1885, he continued to bicker with Grant over events during the war. Serving as Register of the Treasury (1885-1893) under President Grover Cleveland, Rosecrans died at his ranch in Redondo Beach, CA on March 11, 1898. In 1908, his remains were re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Selected Sources Civil War: William S. RosecransNational Park Service: William S. Rosecrans Ohio History: William S. Rosecrans

Film Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 8

Film Analysis - Essay Example While at the city, Daniel acts as a choir conductor and this earns him so much fame due to his proficiency in teaching choir members how to alternate their voices and how to sing in harmony. While teaching the choir in the city, Daniel urges the members to work as a team and not as competing parties. In the city, Daniel plans his undertakings with so much ease because he performs what he feels like. During this time, Daniel has enough money that enables him to conduct his planning activities effectively. While at the city, Daniel is jovial and freely interacts with people who surrounds him and this gives him the morale to plan for more activities and to visit more churches and institutions to aid various choir groups in coming up with good and appealing music (Brussat 2009). His ties with the high and mighty at the urban center makes Daniel a center of attraction especially from women who find him to be loving and easy to work with. Many city dwellers in Sweden envy how Daniels plans his activities in a simultaneous way and this acts as an inspiration to many people. During his conducting activities, Daniel encounters a heart attack that drastically alters his plans and activities. Being unable to plan his activities effectively, Daniel retires to his rural home in Norrland in Northern Sweden where he settles at their home that his mother leaves him before her death when Daniel was of tender age. It is at their rural home that Daniel’s plans undergo great alterations. First, the protagonist does not want to associate with others and he locks up himself in the house the whole day. This inconveniences his activities so much given that he is of ill health and unable to socialize with the people he is fond of. The arrival of this character to their hometown evokes so much suspicion, interest and curiosity from the residents of Norrland. However,

Fully discuss the multiple pieces of legislation that led to heated Essay

Fully discuss the multiple pieces of legislation that led to heated arguments in Congress that would ultimately lead to the Civil War - Essay Example Moreover, the southern slave masters established that such a characteristic restraint of the current slavery would magnanimously breach the principle of state rights. Abraham Lincoln emerged the winner in the 1860 presidential elections, devoid of ten of the southern areas voting. His characteristic triumph prompted the seven slave areas to pronounce secessions, resulting into the formation of the coalition states even before Lincoln took up a post. Autonomists in the north rebuffed from recognizing these secessions (Yazawa 19). Additionally, the USA government in Washington refuted the recognition of the possession of forts of the allies, though they lay squarely in the region of the confederacy states. As emphasized by numerous contemporary historians, the characteristic disunions were principally the key cause of the war. However, they argue that among those key causes were additional aspects of states’ rights and economics. Notably, the northern populace was augmenting more hastily than the southern, making it extremely difficult for the south to influence the national government. At the time of the 1860 elections, the intensively agricultural southern states had fewer electoral centres, enabling Lincoln to win the presidential voting without the participation of the southerners (Goldfield, et al. 39). The southerners had much to worry regarding the hasty growth of the manufacturing and populace in the case of the northerners. With the aim of sustaining unity in the USA, the chief politicians had constantly moderated characteristic antagonism to slavery, resulting in massive compromises, for example the Missouri compromise of 1820 (Yazawa 11). As the compromise yielded an aversion of an instant political crisis, it did not completely resolve the issue of slave power. Being a fraction of the compromises of 1820, the fugitive slave edict that required the people from the north to aid the southerners in the reclamation of the fugitive slaves

There are five questions with different marks so question with 15 Essay

There are five questions with different marks so question with 15 marks have more word count ...even the answers should be suppo - Essay Example The world trade organisation (WTO) is one such body which is a contract enforcing governments to maintain their trade policies within the agreed upon rules. The core objectives are to set and enforce rules for global trade, to offer a forum for negotiating and scrutinizing further trade liberalization and to settle trade disputes. In addition, WTO seeks to enhance transparency in decision making process, assist developing nations gain fully from global trading system and cooperate with other global economic organisations. These objectives are similar to those of GATT, but WTO pursues these goals more comprehensively.1 The new Australian government is taking severe steps in its bid to uphold the Absolute Protection for Wild Whales Act 2013. In addition, the government of Australia seeks to ban entirely the importation, distribution and sale of whale and whale products within its borders. The government gives reasons that Japan and other governments have been weak in upholding the laws stipulated in the international whaling commission. The international whaling commission was set to introduce zero catching limits for profitable whaling as well as keeping whale catch limits under scrutiny. All this was in a bid to enhance and foster the recovery of depleted whale populations. The ban applies to the vending of domestic products and products from foreign countries. This includes goods that Australian travellers bring into the country from abroad. Article I: 1 Article I: 1 of the GATT 1947 prohibits discrimination among like products coming from or destined for different countries. In the Canada-autos case, the measure at issue was Canada’s duty exemption for imports by certain manufacturers in partnership with Canadian value added. Automobile imports and imported automobiles materials were the product at issue. The appellate body/ key panel upheld that duty exemption was inconsistent to the article I:1 on the grounds that the article covers de jure and de fa cto unfairness. Moreover, the duty exemption at issue in verity was given only to imports from a smaller number of countries in which the exporter was associated with suitable Canadian manufacturers. Canada’s defence was abandoned on grounds that duty exemption was given to certain countries other than all manufacturers from all countries. In relation to Australian current issue, the country has not violated article I: 1 since the ban is not discriminatory in nature. The ban covers all aspects of whale products from foreign countries. Further, Australia is not discriminatory since it also bans whale products that Australian travellers bring into the country. One may argue that products brought by tourists do not constitute trade goods and thus this is discrimination. However, the country seals this loophole as people may exploit it to continue the usage and sale of whale products. Article III: 4 Article III: 4 were set in the case of Korea –various measures on beef; th e appellate body established three components that have to be fulfilled for the violation to arise. One, the traded in and national products at issue are â€Å"like products† that the determination is the issue at â€Å"law, directive, or obligation affecting their domestic sale, offering for sale, purchase, transport, delivery or sale†. The final component is that imported goods are given â€Å"less favourable† dealing than that given to like domestic products. In relations to article

Hiram Ulysses Grant :: essays research papers

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born near Pleasant Point, Ohio, on April 27, 1822. His parents were Hannah Simpson and Jesse Grant. Jesse Grant was the owner of a tannery. He was shy boy while growing up. At the age of one year he was taken to Georgetown where he was educated at local and boarding schools. He graduated 21st in a class of 39, from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1843 where he had enrolled under the name of Ulysses Simpson Grant. He was assigned to Jefferson Barracks, MO, where he met Julia Dent. They married after the Mexican War in 1848. Grant served in the Mexican War under the name of Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Winfield Scott. In 1854 while stationed at Fort Humboldt, California, Grant resigned his commission because of loneliness and drinking problems. He spent the following years in unsuccessful farming and business ventures in Missouri. He moved to Galena, Illinois, in 1860 where he worked in his father’s leather shop. Grant was appointed colonel and soon afterward brigadier general of the Illinois volunteers at the outbreak of the Civil War. Grant wanted to fight for the Union. He was an officer of dogged determination and won a series of brilliant victories. On one occasion, the commander of a Confederate fort asked on what terms Grant would accept his surrender. "No terms," he replied, "except an unconditional and immediate surrender." From then on he was known as "Unconditional Surrender Grant" since his initials were U.S. On March 8, 1864, President Lincoln made him commander of all the Union forces. Grant helped to bring the war to an end in a little over a year. In 1868 Grant was elected Republican president of the United States. Although Grant was a wonderful soldier, he made a poor president. He was honest, but some of those he appointed to high office were not. They caused financial difficulties for the government and the country. He was not blamed for this and was reelected in 1872.

Harp of India

Harp of India Why hang'st thou lonely on yon withered bough? Unstrung for ever, must thou there remain; Thy music once was sweet — who hears it now? Why doth the breeze sigh over thee in vain? Silence hath bound thee with her fatal chain; Neglected, mute, and desolate art thou, Like ruined monument on desert plain: O! many a hand more worthy far than mine Once thy harmonious chords to sweetness gave, And many a wreath for them did Fame entwine Of flowers still blooming on the minstrel's grave: Those hands are cold — but if thy notes divine May be by mortal wakened once again, Harp of my country, let me strike the strain!Critical appreciation The Harp of India Henry Louis Vivian Derozio The Harp of India by H L V Derozio is a patriotic poem that pays a glorious tribute to the rich tradition of the art of Indian poetry which conveys the poet‘s deep anguish at the decline of the age of old art under the slavish shackles of British supremacy. Henry Louis Vivian Derozi o was born in Calcutta [now Kolkata]. His father was Indo-Portuguese and his mother English. Though Derozio had very little of Indian blood in him, his upbringing in India greatly inspired in him Indian themes and sentiments. Derozio is generally regarded as the first Indian to write in English.Derozio’s poetic carrier was very short lasting only for about six years. Derozio, who held great promise as poet, unfortunately had premature death at the age of 23 when he was still at his prime. He is modern India’s first poet to give expression to his patriotism in verse, the first to sing of Freedom, the first to contemplate an intellectual renaissance for an ancient civilization through a new perception. In the poem The Harp of India the poet Derozio- an ardent admirer of India’s rich heritage, culture and tradition- laments the decline of the rich tradition of Indian literature during the period of British domination of India.The British imperialism made the Indian poets listless and they found nothing inspiring to compose literature except the misery of the nation. The poet Derozio pays a rich tribute to the Indian writers of the past who had enriched the Indian literature with their classic and enduring literary works and then expresses his wish to revive and rejuvenate, through his humble poetic efforts, the richness and glory of Indian literature. The poem is in the form of a Sonnet. Sonnet is a lyrical poem of 14 lines with definite rhyme scheme.Usually a Sonnet is divided into Octet [the first eight lines of the poem] and sestet [the remaining six lines of the poem]. In the Octet of the Sonnet the poet presents a problem and then tries to resole the problem in the sestet. Derozio makes a slight deviation in the tradition structure of the Sonnet that the Harp of India is divided into two equal divisions of seven lines each. However, he follows the thematic pattern of the Octet and the sestet with the presentation of the problem [the decl ine of Indian poetic tradition] and its resolution [its revival through his humble poetic efforts].The poet Henry Louis Vivian Derozio refers to the rich art and tradition of Indian poetry as the harp of India. The poet commences the sonnet with a rhetorical question as to why the glorious tradition of Indian poetry lies neglected like a broken harp hung on the leafless and withered branch of a tree. He questions whether the art of India poetry which during the period of British domination of India was almost dead, must remain in this state of coma forever, like an unstrung harp.The poet recollects that the state of Indian poetry was once rich and glorious like the sweet melodies of a harp. Now that melody is heard no more as the present times provide no inspiration to the creative minds and hearts to revive the tradition of soul stirring poetic art. The breeze blows over the broken harp of poetry without drawing any melody from it. The prevailing conditions of the times have compel led the poets and the poetic inspirations to remain mute as if bound by the fetters of silence.The art of poetry thus lies neglected, silent, and abandoned like a ruined monument in the vast wilderness of the deserts. The poet then recollects that the art of poetry, in the hands of poets of greater genius than his own, had produced remarkable achievements, the way a deft musician produces enchanting music with his harp. The remarkable works of poetry brought for their creators accolades and wreaths of appreciation. The poets belonging to the glorious period of Indian poetry continue to survive long after their demise like flowers that continue to bloom on the graves of the poets long dead.The poet laments that the poets of literary genius of the past now lie cold in their graves and the once famous poetic art lies abandoned. However, he expresses his desire to revive the dying art of poetry of his country with his humble poetic abilities and make the skies of Indian literature rever berate with melody of poetic art just as a musician of a new generation revives a tradition of music with a musical instrument that had for a long period dwelt in oblivion and obscurity.