Article of Confederation Essay

Article of Confederation Essay Article of Confederation Essay To Amend or Not to Amend The Articles of Confederation is the first governing mechanism devised for the United States. As the precedent, many Americans, especially the Foundering Fathers, knew that it had many weaknesses, but that’s precisely what they intended: a Confederacy. Out of fear of replicating another British monarchy, the colonists attempted to construct an extremely weak government and avoid concentrating powers in the hands of a few individuals. However to assess the effectiveness of the government set up by the Articles of Confederation it is paramount to discuss the problems faced by the country during the post-Revolutionary decade from 1781 to 1789 and to what how effectively and to what extent those issues were dealt with. However, by doing this more problems were created than the government could solve. Additionally, the word â€Å"effective† is a bit ambiguous. In terms of securing personal liberties and continuing the American lifestyle, the Articles did a fantastic job but in terms of national security and building world superpower country, the Articles failed miserably. In other words, while the Articles may have its advantages inherent to a Confederacy, the various problems facing the country such as an economic crisis, foreign threats, and a lack of general unity inevitably created an ineffective and feeble method of governing the new nation. Primarily one of the main causes of the Revolutionary War was to become political independent from the British Crown and instate a form of a weak central government to protect individual state rights. However, the Coalition of States have yet to actually become economically independent. Both before and after the Revolutionary War, states have continued to export millions of dollars worth, averaging around 5 million pre-revolution and 4.5 million post-revolution. (Doc B). In addition, the interstate commerce between states were more like 13 different nations with 13 different currencies floating around. Even more, Congress and the States shared the ability to coin money and issue currency, which quickly prompts inflation as too much money was floating around with no gold or sliver to back up the currency. Shays’ Rebellion was actually caused by the lack of trust and instability of the Massachusetts dollar prompting a downward spiral of farm foreclosure and making farmers even less able to pay off the debt. Furthermore, because Congress itself was denied the right to tax, they were also denied the power to excise regulatory tariffs or taxes. State tariffs within the states would have caused prices to skyrocket every time it caused a merchant to travel state boundaries. Urban artisans would have favored tariffs to protect their profits and merchants would have enjoyed open markets around the world both of which Congress was incapable to achieving. Even when Congress recommended some impost on imported goods, Rhode Island unanimously decided to ignore that act ion, because it harmed state interests, even those it might have helped national interests. (Doc A). On top of that, since Congress had no ways of raising revenue or steady sources of money besides â€Å"requesting money from state legislature,† which rarely occurred, the U.S. wasn’t able to pay back the war-related debts, make good on public bonds, or even properly pay veterans. (Doc C). The current economic situation was extremely precarious between a national deficiency of assets and a fluctuating dollar; it’s almost to conduct business within the United States or with other nations. In fact, because the nation was so splintered nations would probably sign treaties or other types of agreements with multiple parties besides one single state. On the other hand, relations with foreign powers were especially hazardous. Spain controlled the Mississippi thus impeding Western expansion and depriving colonists of a major transportation and trade route. In addition, S pain like other major powers looked down on the

Intonation Phrases in Phonetics

Intonation Phrases in Phonetics In phonetics, an intonation phrase is a stretch (or chunk) of spoken material that has its own intonation pattern (or tune). Also called an  intonation group, phonological phrase, tone unit, or tone group. The intonation phrase (IP) is the basic unit of intonation. In a phonetic analysis, the vertical bar symbol (|) is used to represent the boundary between two intonation phrases. Examples and Observations When speakers produce words in a row, we can usually observe that they are structured: individual words are grouped together to form an intonation phrase... Intonation phrases can coincide with breath groups..., but they do not have to. Often a breath group contains more than one intonation phrase. As with all other phonological units, it is assumed that speakers have a mental representation of intonation phrases, i.e. they know how to produce speech structured into intonation phrases and they rely on this knowledge when listening to the speech of others. Within an intonation phrase, there is typically one word that is most prominent... Some utterances might contain just one intonation phrase, others might contain several of them. Moreover, speakers can put utterances together to form larger stretches of speech or discourse... Intonational phrasing in English can have a meaning-distinguishing function. Consider utterances 11a and 11b: (11a) He washed and fed the dog. (11b) He washed | and fed the dog. If the intonation phrase He washed and fed the dog is produced as one intonation phrase, its meaning is that a person both washed and fed a dog. Conversely, if the same utterance is produced as a sequence of two intonation phrases with an intonation boundary after washed (indicated by the symbol |), the meaning of the utterance changes into someone who washed himself and fed a dog. (Ulrike Gut, Introduction to English Phonetics and Phonology. Peter Lang, 2009) Intonation Contours Intonation often does serve to convey information of a broadly meaningful nature . . .. For example, the falling pitch we hear at the end of a statement in English such as Fred parked the car signals that the utterance is complete. For this reason, falling intonation at the end of an utterance is called a terminal (intonation) contour. Conversely, a rising or level intonation, called a nonterminal (intonation) contour, often signals incompleteness. Nonterminal contours are often heard in the nonfinal forms found in lists and telephone numbers. (William OGrady et al., Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction, 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2001) Tonality (Chunking) The speaker does not necessarily have to follow the rule of an IP for each clause. There are many cases where different kinds of chunking are possible. For example, if a speaker wants to say We dont know who she is, it is possible to say the whole utterance as a single IP ( one intonation pattern): We dont know who she is. But it is also possible to divide the material up, in at least the following possible ways: We dont know | who she is. We | dont know who she is. We dont | know who she is. We | dont know | who she is. Thus the speaker may present the material as two, or three, pieces of information rather than a single piece. This is tonality (or chunking). (J. C. Wells, English Intonation: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 2006) The Position of Intonation Phrase Boundaries The position of intonation phrase boundaries shows a good amount of variability. These have been studied in English on the basis of positions of possible pauses within clauses (Selkirk 1984b, Taglicht 1998 and references there) and positions of obligatory pauses (Downing 1970). . . . The core result is that root clauses, and only these, are bounded by obligatory intonation phrase breaks. (Root clauses are clauses [CPs] not imbedded inside of a higher clause that has a subject and a predicate.) (Hubert Truckenbrodt, The Syntax-Phonology Interface. The Cambridge Handbook of Phonology, ed. by Paul de Lacy. Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Society Goes Pop essays

Society Goes Pop essays In the realm of the music industry, pop music reigns. It seems as if every week another pop star is born, and true music lovers observe these teenage sensations and ask what makes this guy or girl so much different from all the others? This is a question no one can really answer, because in the last decade or so there has been no difference. Pop music does not change. But this is where it gets interesting. Its not even about the music anymore. When listeners here pop music, they can automatically associate the genre with good looking teenage kids who may be able to carry out a note or two. This association sparks controversy. And controversy creates problems. Rarely do pop stars play instruments, and most are not very good vocalists. So, what does it take? What exactly does it take to become a pop star? It no longer matters if you have a good voice or any musical talent at all for that matter. In reality, you need no talent. If you have a bright smile and sex appeal, yo u are a potential pop star. Due to the medias superficial advertisement and lacking creativity of pop music, it cannot truly be appreciated let alone held on a pedestal above musicians trying to fulfill their dreams playing their own music and doing it well. American Idol. Everybodys eyes light up when they hear those words. Well allow me to share a personal account of the mayhem that this show became. I went over to my girlfriends house where her and her girlfriends were watching American Idol. Upon arrival, I stood at the front door, knocking for about fifteen minutes, and finally went around to the side and jumped up, banging on the window in order to break the trance this show had put on the group of girls. They did not even notice me knocking at the door which was directly next to the room they were all in. I walked in and no one even talked to me because they were so involved in thi...

Asias Global Future in Business Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Asias Global Future in Business Culture - Essay Example This paper makes a conclusion that that although globalisation is likely to bring about a gradual change in Asian business culture, it is highly unlikely that the Asia, which consists of many different cultures, religions and schools of thought can be radically changed as a whole. Americans still have a unique culture and for that matter a business culture despite being exposed to the attention and criticism of business people, governments and religious groups from all over the world. The way in which things are done in a country or a homogeneous culture have been shaped over prolonged periods of time and business culture also includes components that are of benefit to vested interests in a society along with religious values that are guarded with great zeal. Hence, although the forces of globalisation are likely to bring about greater understanding and perhaps some good ideas, any change in Asian business culture is likely to be far more gradual. Even though people in certain areas of a country are exposed to interactions with foreigners, not all of the people and regions within a vast country are likely to be able to benefit from such interactions. Exposure to foreign media does not bring about radical change because what is viewed is considered to be an interesting cultural oddity which can be seen but not practised. Business people deal with situations in order to try and maximise gain and thus a lot of the so called business culture is designed to protect vested interests.

How Individual Beliefs About Illness Affect Health and Treatment Essay

How Individual Beliefs About Illness Affect Health and Treatment - Essay Example Psychology is used to study the mental processes and behavior of individuals, and differs from subjects such as biology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, and neuroscience in many ways. Mainly - and perhaps most importantly - it differs in that it is primarily concerned with not only the biological or neural processes, but more so with the interaction of mental processes and behavior and the overall processes of a system. Psychology can be framed in terms of two particular theories: phenomenological and information processing. An understanding of the brain and its functions are also included in the psychological theory and practice, and the idea of psychology is connected with a vast amount of subjects in the general society of today. Health psychology is similar to basic psychology in many ways, but the differences are more crucial; it is the use of psychological principles to promote health and prevent illness. Health psychology seriously considers the biological, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, psychosomatic and environmental factors and how they relate to health and illness. The objective of this form of psychology is to determine the connections between psychological factors and how they relate to a person's health. There are specific behaviors which may lead a person to illness, ... The objective of this form of psychology is to determine the connections between psychological factors and how they relate to a person's health. There are specific behaviors which may lead a person to illness, and the primary purpose of health psychology is to determine these causations and to attempt to understand why a person would behave in this way. "There are many examples of this. Smoking, diet, and regular exercise all contribute to the formation of disease. Individuals with thrill seeking personalities are more likely to drive fast, making them more likely to injure themselves in car accidents." ("Wikipedia", 2006). How can Individual Beliefs About Illness Affect Health and Treatment In the health and treatment of a person, there are many factors which are undeniably involved. The psychology of a person and the matter in which it affects their well being is a crucial factor in this discussion, and must be properly understood and addressed. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was originally developed by Godfrey Hochbaum, Stephen Kegels and Irwin Rosenstock, and its initial purpose was to be "a systematic methodusedto explain and predict preventive health behavior." (McCormack Brown, 1999). In rather relative terms, the HBM focused on the relationship of health behaviors, practices and the utilization of health services. It was a rather intricate tool at the time it was created, but as of then has been revised to include general health motivation for the purpose of distinguishing illness and sick-role behavior from health behavior. In other words, the HBM studies the being of a person's motivation to undertake a health behavior and all the categories which this includes: individual perceptions, modifying behaviors, and

Conflict Management - Intrapersonal, Intergroup and Interpersonal Research Paper

Conflict Management - Intrapersonal, Intergroup and Interpersonal Types of Conflicts - Research Paper Example Organizations undergo changes due to new technological, political and social developments that affect them or due to changes in the competitive force. As people may hold a different view about the change and the future direction of an organization, conflicts may arise (Mullins). Personality Clashes: Individuals' personalities differ widely due to differences in their levels of maturity, emotional stability and their behaviour. When they do not recognize or appreciate these differences, conflicts occur. Differences in the value set: Different people have different opinions, values and beliefs. When people with contradicting values and beliefs interact with each other, conflicts are likely to occur. These conflicts are often irrational and difficult to be resolved (Newstorm). Threats to status: Most individuals associate their identity with their status in society or organizations. When an individual feels that another person's acts may harm or damage his image, which in turn may affect his status, conflict is likely to arise. Differences in Perceptions: People perceive different things, issues and their environment differently. When they act as though their perception is the only reality, without attempting to understand or accept another person's view, conflicts arise (Newstorm). Conflicts are common in all organizations and occur when people fail to arrive at a consensus regarding the organizational goals or the means to achieve them (Falletta). Organizational conflicts can be classified as follows: According to most behavioural theories, people are motivated to achieve a goal either when meeting the goal results in the satisfaction of a need, or when the incentives for achieving the goal are attractive. However, this is not as simple as it seems.

The star of David Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The star of David - Essay Example The first historical evidence of Star of David is referred to the third century A.D. and it was found on the tombstone in Italian city of Taranto. In literature it's not mentioned until the twelfth century A.D. and it was first found only in the Eshkol ha-Kofer of the Karaite Judah Hadassah (12th century literary Hebrew piece): Hebrew historians note that the Star of David appeared on Jewish amulets approximately in the twelfth century. It was signed on amulets on the hand with other symbols such as pentagrams, stars, the name of god in Hebrew, etc. Nevertheless it's very interesting and probably strange that pentagram, not the hexagram (the Star of David) was mostly spread in magic symbols and attributes of Jewish cult. Scientists and archeologists are not even sure if the Star of David had any similar origins in any culture of ancient Mediterranean: Hellenic or Coptic. Some of historians assume that it might be primary used by Jewish sect of Kabbalah which adopted hexagram from Templars. Jewish sect of kabala uses David star as amulets placing it in glass spheres or using it simply as an amulet and sigh. The spread of usage of Star of david begins in the 14th century in Jewsih communities of Europe. It's a well-known fact that the Star of david was used as decoration on Tanakh of Rabi Rabbi Yoseph bar Yehud ben Marvas from Toledo, Spain. The function of Star of David in synagogues was to carry protective magic powers against evil. It also becomes the element of architectural ensemble in synagogues. Hexagrams are found in ornaments of cathedrals in Brandenburg and Stendhal, but it's interesting that in the ancient Jewish temple of Tell Hum it's not present and pentagram is present on its walls instead. It's a historical fact that the Czech king of bohemia Charles IV issued the red flag with Shield of David to Juwish community of Prague in 1354. But Jews of Hungary had a red flag with pentacles. So it would be inaccurate to talk about hexagram as the symbol of Judaism and Jews back then. Moreover the majority of people in Middle Ages associated Jews with menorah rather than with another symbol of their identity. The choice of hexagram according to modern rabbis was not sudden, as Bible scriptures have enough evidence that salvation will be associated with star. No wonder that geometric figure close to star was chosen for the role now played by the Star of David. As it was mentioned above Torah tells that, the Messiah, will have association with star, symbolizing coming new era. And according to Old Testament Balaam had foretold the coming salvation of the people of Israel n following scriptures: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star (Heb. Cochav) shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17" (from Kasdan, Barney THE STAR OF DAVID http://www.kehilatariel.org/tract002.html) As for the meaning of the Star of David it's different for Judaists and for those who observe the cult of Kabala. Rabi describe its meaning as the symbol of unity with god: "In