The Most Disastrous Civil Conflict in American History

The Most Disastrous Civil Conflict in American History Differences between the Northern and Southern states of America triggered one of the most disastrous civil conflicts in American history. The height of the conflict was characterized by the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 (Draper 2). The Northern faction was majorly constituted of Union states while the Southern faction was comprised of the federation states. This four year conflict happened from 1861 – 1865 (Draper 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Disastrous Civil Conflict in American History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since Abraham Lincoln’s election, the Southerners noted that he was focused on ending slavery and keeping the Northern union together but this ideology did not represent the Southerner’s way of life. In fact, the conflict was primarily brought about by the different ways of living both regions had. The Northern union was of the opinion that the Southerners sh ould give up slave trade, build factories and give up their farms as well. However, the Southerners could hear nothing of it. The federal government therefore treated slave ownership as a right to property and they never gave up this right even in light of pressures from the Northern states. This conflict cost America more than 620,000 lives with an unconfirmed number of civilian casualties (Radford 1). Most of the war was fought in the South but it took a lot of time for both states to recover from the effects of the war. Collectively, the difference between the two national blocks assumed an economic, cultural and constitutional nature. In terms of economic differences, the Northern states wanted the federal government to protect local industries from foreign competition through the adjustment of tax policies (Radford 1). The Southern states on the other hand preferred the status quo because they assumed that a change in the tax system would affect its sale of large-scale agricult ural produce to Europe (Radford 1). This assumption was majorly founded on the principle that taxation would ultimately change the prices of agricultural goods. This kind of stalemate characterized the conflict for a long time and it created a big economic gap between the two state factions. The Northern states generally had few capital reserves but they had a considerably good track record of investments. On the other hand, the southerners were better economically empowered because they received a lot of revenues from the sale of cotton, and tobacco (Radford 1). Culturally, the two regions supported different ideologies with regards to slave trade and traditional types of Jobs. In detail, the Northern union supported the end of slave trade but the Southerners preferred the continuity of the slave trade. The Northerners also supported urban white-collar jobs but the Southerners supported small village-like agricultural jobs because its economy was largely supported by agriculture.Ad vertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The two regions also supported different kinds of governmental set ups because the Northerners were of the opinion that there should be a centralized federal government which had power over all the states but the Southerners preferred that states should have a firmer grip on the running of state affairs. This was to be a secession kind of strategy for the Southerners. These kinds of differences openly played out even before the civil war when eleven Southern states declared secession from the American union and in turn formed the Confederate State of America which tirelessly opposed the Northern union’s government philosophy. Also, before the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he strongly campaigned against the extinction of slave trade beyond states which were already practicing it (Radford 1). In a responsive manner, four other states also declared their secession from the American union (Radford 1). The American government thereafter started opposing calls for secession; terming it as an act of rebellion (Radford 1). This conflict later developed into a state of hostility between the two sides and the attack of the Southerners on a US military installation marked the beginning of the American civil war. Preferred Philosophy of Government The Northerners philosophy of government seems to be the most preferred form of government and indeed, the prevailing ideology after the civil war. This is true because the federal system of government advanced by the Northerners considers the political, economic and social problems plaguing a particular state (Dautrich 79). Local needs are best represented by state senators who live in the state itself and who are in a position to best understand the unique problems of the state and guarantee a unique solution to the same (Dautrich 79). For instance, when examining the poor sta te of traffic in Oahu, Hawaii, a long-term solution to the problem can be best formulated by representatives from within the community and not outside. The federal system of government advanced by the Northerners acknowledges these unique needs and provides a given level of autonomy to states to tackle their own local problems.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Disastrous Civil Conflict in American History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The federal system of government also represents all manner of people in the population and it offers a blanket representation of people within various states who may have a different way of life, ethnicity or even cultures (Dautrich 80). A federal system of government is in a position to overlook these differences and offer a common solution that suits everyone. Needless to say, this is done in consideration to local needs and tastes. This system perfectly works for the ben efit of everyone. For example, in the state of Arizona, there is a predominant majority population of Hispanic speaking population and therefore the provision of bilingual education is a unique way that has been established to cater for the unique needs of the local population (Dautrich 80). In this manner, state governments are able to adopt policies and systems that are only unique to the state and which don’t need to be adopted by other states. For instance, the federal system of government does not offer legal recognition of same sex marriages but certain states within America have legalized such unions out of the independence state governments are given by the federal government. The divisive way in assigning duties between state and federal governments is also bound to increase efficiency because the federal government is in a position to tackle issues at a national level while the state government can easily tackle issues at a local level. In addition, the federal syst em of government provides an opportunity for innovation because the freedom it gives state governments to formulate their own policies provides enough ground for comparison of which state formulates the best policies (say, in taxation), so that examples can be borrowed for practicability at a national level. These advantages could be easily derived from the Policies advanced by the Northerners in the American civil war. With regards to the slave trade stand taken by the Northerners, the ideology of banning slave trade was a good position to protect human rights because the ongoing slave trade in the South greatly violated human rights. For starters, slaves were confined in deplorable conditions, chained and forced to work long hours without remuneration. In addition, the slaves were branded by hot iron, beaten and given little food to eat. They were also treated as commodities and not necessarily regarded as fellow human beings. Comprehensively, the slave trade was morally repugnant and the Southerner’s support of it to improve their capital base was unjustifiable.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since the Northerners were more industrialized than the Southerners, they received great opposition from Southerners because the economic composition of the Southerners was greatly characterized by agriculture. The Northerners were therefore advancing for an industrial type of economy which has many advantages over the agrarian form of economy advanced by the Southerners. An industrial type of economy is characterized by mass production which could be potentially beneficial to the entire country in terms of exports and even in producing enough food to feed the entire country. The level of efficiency in an industrialized economy is also much higher as compared to an agrarian type of economy. In addition, an agrarian type of economy is also more prone to environmental conditions which increases the risks associated with such type of economies. For instance, if droughts or floods are experienced, there is little chance that production will be sustained in an agrarian type of economy. O n the other hand, an industrial economy is all-weather and production can be sustained all year round. These factors withstanding, the Northern ideology was better than the Southern ideology. Conclusion The ideology advanced by the Northerners prevailed in the American civil war and it characterizes the world economy today. The Southern ideology which prompted the American civil war was more a selfish move by Southern states and it posed a resistance to change because the agrarian type of economy represented an older type of economy when compared to an industrial economy. The Northern union also campaigned for an end to the slave trade and an upheaval of the federal system of government which was bound to uphold human rights and increase the level of nationalism in America. These factors stand out as some of the Northerner’s strong points which led them to win the war and determine the future we live in today. Dautrich, Kenneth. American Government: Historical, Popular, and Global Perspectives Texas Edition. New York: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Draper, John. History of the American Civil War, Volume 3. New York: BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009. Print. Radford, Grant. The Civil War for Fifth Graders. 3. 2004. Web. https://www.radford.edu/content/radfordcore/home.html

Quotes From Controversial Book The Giver

Quotes From Controversial Book 'The Giver' The Giver is a middle-grade dystopian novel by Lois Lowry. Its about Jonas, who becomes the Receiver of Memories and then begins to understand the deepest secrets of his society. The book teaches a valuable lesson on the importance of individuality, emotions, and having a connection with others. It is often part of a middle school curriculum. On Aging Chapter 1 â€Å"After Twelve, age isnt important. Most of us even lose track of how old we are as time passes, though information is in the Hall of Open Records. Chapter 2 Whats important is the preparation for adult life, and the training youll receive in your Assignment. On Memories Chapter 23 It was not a grasping of thin and burdensome recollection; this was different. This was something that he could keep. It was a memory of his own.   Chapter 18 Memories are forever. Chapter 10 Simply stated, although its not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all the memories I have within me. Memories of the past. Chapter 17 With his new, heightened feelings, he was overwhelmed by sadness at the way the others had laughed and shouted, playing at war. But he knew that they could not understand why, without the memories. He felt such love for Asher and for Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not give them those. On Courage Chapter 8 You will be faced, now, with  pain  of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience. The Receiver himself was not able to describe it, only to remind us that you would be faced with it, that you would need immense courage. But when he looked out across the crowd, the sea of faces, the thing happened again. The thing that had happened with the apple. They changed. He blinked, and it was gone. His shoulder straightened slightly.  Briefly,  he felt a tiny sliver of sureness for the first time. On Fitting In Chapter 1 For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure. Chapter 3 No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule, but was considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals. Chapter 6 How could someone not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made. Chapter 9 He was so completely, so thoroughly accustomed to courtesy within the community that the thought of asking another citizen an intimate question, of calling someones attention to an area of awkwardness, was unnerving. On Happiness and Satisfaction Chapter 11 Now he became aware of an entirely new sensation: pinpricks? No, because they were soft and without pain. Tiny, cold, feather-like feelings peppered his body and face. He put out his tongue again and caught one of the dots of cold upon it. It disappeared from his awareness instantly, but he caught another, and another. The sensation made him smile. He was free to enjoy the breathless glee that overwhelmed him: the speed, the clear cold air, the total silence, the feeling of balance and excitement and peace. Chapter 4 He liked the feeling of safety here in this warm and quiet room; he liked the expression of trust on the womans face as she lay in the water unprotected, exposed, and free. Chapter 13 They were satisfied with their lives, which had none of the  vibrance  his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them. Sometimes I wish theyd ask for my wisdom more often - there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they dont want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable - so painless. Its what theyve chosen. Chapter 12 Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with difference. We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others. On Grief and Pain Chapter 13 Now he saw another elephant emerge from the place where it had stood hidden in the trees. Very slowly it walked to the mutilated body and looked down. With its sinuous trunk, it struck the huge corpse; then it reached up, broke some leafy branches with a snap, and draped them over the mass of torn thick flesh. Finally, it tilted its massive head, raised its trunk, and roared into the empty landscape. It was a sound of rage and grief and it seemed never to end. Chapter 14 The sled hit a bump in the hill and Jonas was jarred loose and thrown violently into the air. He fell with his leg twisted under  him and could hear the crack of bone. His face scraped along jagged edges of  ice...Then, the first wave of pain. He gasped. It was as if a hatchet lay lodged in his leg, slicing through each nerve with a hot blade. In his agony, he perceived the word fire and felt flames licking at the torn bone and flesh. Chapter 15 Dirt streaked the boys face and his matted blond hair. He lay sprawled, his gray uniform glistening with wet, fresh blood. The colors of the carnage were grotesquely bright: the crimson wetness on the rough and dusty fabric, the ripped shred of grass, startlingly green, in the boys yellow hair. Chapter 19 Jonas felt a ripping sensation inside himself, the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry. On Wonder Chapter 9 What if others - adults - had, upon becoming Twelves, received in their instructions the same terrifying sentence? What if they had all been instructed: You may lie? Chapter 12 Always in the dream, it seemed as if there were a destination: a something - he could not grasp what - that lay beyond the place where the thickness of snow brought the sled to a stop. He was left, upon awakening, with the feeling that he wanted, even somehow needed, to reach the something that waited in the distance. The feeling that it was good. That it was welcoming. That it was significant. But he did not know how to get there. Chapter 13 He wondered what lay in the far distance where he had never gone. The land didnt end beyond  those nearby communities. Were there hills Elsewhere? Were there vast wind-torn areas like the place he had seen in memory, the place where the elephants died? Chapter 14 Was there someone there, waiting, who would receive the tiny released twin? Would it grow up Elsewhere, not knowing, ever, that in this community lived a being who looked exactly the same? For a moment, he felt a tiny, fluttering hope that he knew was quite foolish. He hoped that it would be Larissa, waiting. Larissa, the  old woman  he had bathed. Jonas began to remember the wonderful sail that The Giver had given him not long before: a bright, breezy day on a clear turquoise lake, and above him the white sail of the boat billowing as he moved along in the brisk wind. Chapter 23 For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music, too. But perhaps, it was only an echo. On Choice, Change, and Consequences Chapter 20 Its the way they live. Its the life that was created for them. Its the same life that you would  have  if you had not been chosen as my successor. Chapter 7 He hunched his shoulders and tried to make himself smaller in the seat. He wanted to disappear, to fade away, not to exist. He didnt dare to turn and find his parents in the crowd. He couldnt bear to see their faces darkened with shame. Jonas bowed his head and searched through his mind. What had he done wrong? Chapter 9 There was just a moment when things werent quite the same, werent quite as they had always been through the long friendship. Chapter 16 Things could change, Gabe. Things could be different. I dont know how, but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors. And grandparents. And everybody would have memories. You know about memories. Chapter 22 If he had stayed in the community, he would not be. It was as simple as that. Once he had yearned for choice. Then, when he has had a choice, he had made the wrong one: the choice to leave. And now he was starving.