Should Genetically Modified Organisms - 908 Words

Over the past few decades a new controversy has arisen in the scientific community: should Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) be used in modern society. There are generally two sides to this debate: one being in favor of GMO use and the other against it. Pro GMO activists believe that GMOs can help address hunger issues and help reduce use of pesticides/insecticides while Anti-GMO activists state that it is a threat to the agriculture industry, and should be banned. Both sides have several valid points, however GMO’s are even more complicated from initial glance, and may not be as dangerous as some believe. 1st. Body: GMO’s are organisms whose genetic data has been manipulated through genetic engineering. In most cases these organisms are given a new gene to exhibit a specific trait (ex: Genes of fish in Alaska are used to help plants thrive in colder climates) which hopefully can improve the usefulness of these organisms. To perform this, scientists select a specific gene/trait they hope the target organism will express, and cut using enzymes, and then insert it into a plasmid ( a molecule containing DNA). The plasmid is then added to bacteria, that infect the cells of the target organism. The selected organism grows up, and may exhibit the desired traits the scientists implemented it with. This process has been used on various crops, especially corn, which now expresses many new traits including resistance to insects and naturally produces pesticides. These new cropsShow MoreRelatedGenetically Modified Organisms Are Safe And Should Be Used1226 Words   |  5 PagesDay in and d ay out we are beginning to eat more and more foods with genetically modified organisms. A genetically modified organism is living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. Although some see this as a bad thing, I personally feel that GMOs are safe and should be used routinely. Corn for example, is something that is used daily in the study of genetic modifications. One large example of the genetic modification is BtRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms Should Be Allowed For Preserve Their Property Rights By Patenting Such Organisms1322 Words   |  6 Pages Patenting organisms Make an argument as to why businesses that develop modified organisms should be able to preserve their property rights by patenting such organisms. A  patent  is a set of  exclusive rights  granted by a  sovereign state  to an inventor or assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of an  invention. An invention is a solution to a specific technological problem and is a product or a process.  Patents are a form of  intellectual property.(WikipediaRead MoreWhy Food Should Be Labeled for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)776 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The physicians highest calling, his only calling, is to make sick people healthy - to heal, as it is termed.† - Samuel Hahnemann For many years, since the time of the Triumviri Nocturne and the Vigils, many lives have been saved by some form of an emergency medical service, and since then it has evolved into what it is now a complex life-saving system that has saved many more lives. From the origin of medical responders to the creation of paramedics, people have risked their lives for othersRead MoreMandatory Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods1726 Words   |  7 PagesMandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods The late nineteenth century brought forth some of the most breakthrough scientific discoveries. One such breakthrough were Genetically Engineered (Modified) Organisms which were initially meant to reduce world hunger by being able to mass produce crops and also allow the produce to have a longer shelf life and be more ripe. However, the increasing methods of germinating crops and new, more compelling evidence from thorough scientific research has ledRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms And Organic Organisms Essay1578 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract In this brief, the reader will see how organic and genetically modified organisms are viewed and interpreted. They will see the â€Å"facts† about the genetically modified organisms and organic organism, and how producers and consumers view this. The reader will be able to understand what is actually happening to genetically modified organisms and organic organisms during the production and when it is getting processed. They will also learn about certified organic and the USDA organic and howRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms : An Organism1471 Words   |  6 Pagestoday’s world, genetically modifying organisms is a very common practice in the world of science. Scientists are genetically modifying a variety of different organisms, including a number of different plants, foods, medicines, and animals. To genetically modify an organism, the genetic structure of the organism has to be changed (Goldbas, 2014). The main purpose of genetically modifying an organism is t o change something genetically about the function of a particular part of the organism. This idea ofRead MoreGentically Modified Organisms are the Topic of Conversation718 Words   |  3 PagesIn the past decade or so, genetically modified foods and genetically modified organisms, also known as GM Foods and GMO’s, have been a never ending topic of discussion. GM Foods and GMO’s have adversely affected people’s health all over the world. GMO’s are developed through taking genes of different species, then combining them through genetic engineering. Neither of those things can happen naturally or out in nature. That should raise lots of red flags to our society already. Adding these alteredRead MoreAdvancements In Biotechnology Essay1088 Words   |  5 Pagesreport discusses the merits and demerits of extensive applications of biotechnology, specially the impacts of genetically modified/engineered crops which brought up in market 1990s. According to Wikipedia, the definition and process of genetically modified crops is summarised as â€Å"Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering, using a process of either CisgenesisRead MoreThe Food And Drug Administration898 Words   |  4 Pagesunique food products, they are put within the umbrella of other â€Å"natural† products. As time passes it appears to be harder to establish strict regulations to manage genetically modified food. According to the Center for Food Safety the most current propose of the Food and Drug Administration establishes that agricultural biotech companies should notify the FDA within a period of 120 before the companies proceed to introduce the product to the market. Regrettably, there is not mention of any regulationRead MoreHarmful Effects Of Genetically Modified Organisms1666 Words   |   7 PagesEnglish 6 28 January 2015 The Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Organisms Does one really know how harmful genetically modified foods are to living organisms, or even to the environment? In grocery stores, 70% of the processed food sold contains genetically modified soybeans and corn. Also, a large percentage of canola, sugar beets, and sugar cane are genetically modified. Without even knowing it, Americans have been consuming genetically modified ingredients that have been hidden in their food

Government s Effect On The Government Essay - 1413 Words

The government affects Americans in several ways that many fail to realize. One could not walk down the street without seeing the government’s effect on our everyday lives. The questions we may have though are what are the levels of government? What is federalism? How does the government affect individuals every day? Do we need government? Do Americans appreciate the importance of our government? These are all questions that will be answered for we as individuals must understand how this government works before we can make a difference in bettering this country. The spheres (Levels) of government include National, State (Provincial), and Local. It is these three spheres of government that affect our day to day life. The national government provides the states with protection, enough power to maintain foreign policy, and the ability to collect taxes. The state government as stated in the federalist papers â€Å"State Governments, will have the advantage with regard to the predilection and support of the people.† (Hamilton, Jay, Madison 259), for the states have those powers of not expressed to the federal government in the constitution. Local government is the administration of a town, district, or county within a state that provides citizens of that area with representatives to uphold the laws of those living in the area. Federalism can be defined as, â€Å"...a system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a national government. The UnitedShow MoreRelatedCommunism And Its Effects On America s Fr eedom And Government From Communist Power2178 Words   |  9 PagesDuring the 1950’s, Communism was a major fear that Democratic nations such as America were afraid of because of its radical ideas. The actions taken due to the Red Scare and the rise of McCarthyism were necessary and completely justified to protect America’s freedom and government from Communist power. With an increase of Communistic nations invading other countries and forcing their ideas upon them there was an uproar of fear in the United States. The Domino Theory was a legitimate fear of if oneRead MoreHighlighting the Issue of Neo-Colonialism through Media and Literature1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effects of Neo-Colonialism as presented in Motorcycle Diaries and A Small Place Neo-Colonialism is a very powerful and controversial issue in the world today. Countries such as the United States, Great Brittan and France still greatly profit over the countries they left as independent years ago. This paradox is created by the mother country exerting economic and political influence on the former colonies; allowing them to still profit from these third world countries without actually occupyingRead MoreThe World Of Science : Genetically Modified Organisms1463 Words   |  6 Pagescommunity, GMOs are organisms that have been genetically modified for unhealthy purposes. Based on substantiated research, government officials should enact legislation that prohibits the use and sale of genetically modified salmon in the United States. Not only should salmon be rejected and contained, but all transgenic organisms should not be let out without proper government research and consent of the public. The people have the determining factor and decision, and currently, the general publicRead MoreChinas Economy And Its Worst Economic Slow Down1093 Words   |  5 PagesBut the article argues that china’s economy is stronger than they thought and is going through a quiet financial revolu tion. The robustness of China’s economy rests on several aspects. First,most of China’s deficits are domestic. And the Chinese government has a way to convince the debtors and creditors not get into a panic. Second, in order to put the economy on more stable ground the country is shifting is shifting the balance towards domestic consumption instead of investment and export. sinceRead MoreThe Effect of Utilitarianism Essay1400 Words   |  6 PagesThey will be released if the US government will pay a certain amount of money. We can look at this situation in several ways. If we give the terrorists the money, and the hostages are set free, there would definitely be immediate positive utilities coming from the hostages themselves and the terrorists. People who are witnessing the situation would also get a positive utility, since they would be relieved that no one was hurt, and everything is back to itamp;#8217;s peaceful self again. The probableRead MoreEducation, Education And Education939 Words   |  4 PagesGovernments play a vital role in providing some of the basic amenities such as health, education and security to its citizens. According to Milton Friedman, the government has a ve ry important and critical role to play in the provision of education and more specifically provision of primary education. Government involvement in the education sector can either be in the form of loans, subsidies or grants to provide an enabling learning environment to the needy students. This paper analyzes the roleRead MoreCommunism Of The Vietnam War And The Cold War1181 Words   |  5 PagesCommunism different from other ideologies is its origin, its policy, and its effects on the poor and the working class. Communism originated during the Stone Age, at the beginning of our human civilization from the fourth B. C. as primitive Communism†. At that point, everyone had an equal amount of work. Then it was later being replaced by monarchy and capitalism. Communism has been mentioned in many books: The Bible, Plato s Republic by Plato, Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More, City of the Sun (1623)Read MoreCauses And Effects Of Revolutions1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe Causes and Effects of Revolutions Revolutions have occurred throughout history and continue to arise even in the present day. Many revolution happens because of the miscommunication between the government and its citizens. In the end, the outcome of revolutions are usually good but, sometimes it might not be what people want. In the following paragraphs, examples of the general causes and effects that creates a revolution will be discussed in order to illustrate how revolutions are mainly causedRead MoreLaying Off Boeing Workers For A Company s Ills1608 Words   |  7 Pagesresearch considers the effects of downsizing and whether it is truly the panacea for a company s ills, or whether it brings with it more problems. A specific company, Boeing, and recent downsizing decisions it has made is also considered. Local Economic Effects: Short-Term There are immediate local economic effects when a company downsizes; the larger the company and the greater its relative importance to an area, the greater these effects. Initially, the short-term effects are to reduce the amountRead MoreEconomics : An Integral Part Of Civilization Of The World Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagestendency of people that will only see short-term effects of an economic policy or its effect only on a particular group. This is often ignored by economists when entering the field of public economics. Hazlitt stated that the bad economists are economists who only see the short-term effects of economic policy as well as its impact on certain groups only. While good economists are those who see long-term effects of an economic policy and examine its effect on all groups. By looking at both of these factors

Investigating The Relationship Between Hong Kong And China Free Essays

In exploring the relationship between Hong Kong and its sovereign ruler, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), I will proceed by first examining the history behind the 1997 union. In doing so, I will introduce the Basic Law, a constitution which guarantees certain Hong Kong rights. Next, I will explore the political and civil rights of Hong Kong as stated by the Basic Law. We will write a custom essay sample on Investigating The Relationship Between Hong Kong And China or any similar topic only for you Order Now Moving forward, I will examine each party’s economy, commenting upon the commercial interplay, and establishing each as an economic superpower. Thirdly, I will address some of the tensions that exist between the two regions by looking at one hotbed issue: the birthing of newborns in Hong Kong. Finally, I will consider what the future holds for this relationship, concluding that it is at-once troubled and promising. Background: The Handover Guaranteed Rights In order to fully grasp the relationship between Hong Kong and China, one must first develop an understanding of the history. After 150 under British control, Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 as a Special Administrative Region (SAR). The Hong Kong SAR was instituted under a Chinese policy or mission statement of â€Å"one country, two systems.† This slogan embodies the Chinese leaders’ goal of reunifying Hong Kong with mainland China, while permitting a co-existence of different political, social, and legal systems. Autonomy was delivered to the HKSAR in the form of the Basic Law. The Basic Law laid out some pertinent rulings in regard to the Hong Kong-Chinese relationship. First, it is important to note that the Basic Law was created with a shelf-life of 50 years; meaning that its ruling power will expire in 2047. This allows Hong Kong residents to have freedom of speech, freedom of press and publication, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of procession, of demonstration, of communication, of movement, of conscience, of religious belief, and of marriage. Furthermore, HK citizens enjoy the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike. In addition, the laws that were previously in force in Hong Kong, such as the common law and rules of equity shall be maintained by the HKSAR under the Basic Law. Thus, the Hong Kong SAR has a high level of autonomy, enjoying many levels of independent power. This autonomy is however limited and in daily dispute, as I will address in the subsequent Politics and Tensions sections. As I just listed in the guaranteed rights runthrough, Hong Kong citizens may speak their mind, and are even able to engage in street demonstrations – where such acts are banned in the PRC. It must be noted that there are, however, certain restrictions to these freedoms. For example, the law requires that police be informed of the demonstrations beforehand, and all protests are subject to interference or destruction on the grounds of â€Å"national security.† In the sixteen years the two have been linked, this has been a nagging issue for HK people as the PRC takes the form of an overbearing ruler. For example, Hong Kong citizens have historically been unable to exercise their voice in advocating for the independence of Tibet or Taiwan. Despite these impediments to wholly free speech, this is much more than that afforded to those in the PRC. Government Form and Political Parties Similar to the United States and other large nation states, China utilizes its sovereign power through a federal system that distributes authority between the central government and local governments. While these local governments may institute a variety of differing policies, the â€Å"political character† of each government is usually uniform. Hong Kong is a large exception to this norm as it has been allowed to enjoy a semblance of democracy. Hong Kong has its own parliamentary system, or Legislative Council. Members of the Legislative Council, known as LegCo, are elected by processes of both direct election and electoral college. All Hong Kong citizens are able to vote in direct elections, on the stipulation that they have been living there for a minimum of seven years. This sounds similar to the American voting system that we are familiar with, however only one-third of LegCo is elected with this format. The other two-thirds are elected by a group known as a â€Å"functional constituency.† The functional constituency is a group of professionals represented by fields of specialty, such as Accounting, Engineering, Legal, and Medical. It is noteworthy that this election form draws much criticism from pro-democracy supporters as it allows a minority to hold a majority of influence and power. One of the requirements of democracy, beyond free speech guarantees that HK enjoys, is the need for a variety of political parties. Political variation allows for multiple viewpoints, allowing citizens to build fuller view and stronger opinions on significant socio-political issues. While the PRC can be described as having just one political party, Hong Kong houses five major parties. Surprisingly, some of these even speak loudly regarding their opposition to Beijing and its policies. This extreme difference in political composition serves as a lens through which we can see the PRC and Hong Kong as a potentially uncomfortable pairing. In times of constitutional disagreement though, it is mainland China’s governing power that prevails. One Country, Two Economic Superpowers In covering Hong Kong and China, we are dealing with two of the world’s greatest economic superpowers. China surpassed Japan in 2010, becoming the second-largest economy in the world and the Chinese are now well on their way to becoming the world leader, as they are expected to surpass the United States in a matter of years (if not months). While Hong Kong and China exchange heavily with one another, they maintain separate economic systems and forms of currency. Articles of the Basic Law dictate that Hong Kong, as a special administrative region, is able to determine its own monetary policies. As such, Hong Kong has continued to use its pre-1997 currency, the Hong Kong dollar, while the PRC uses its own currency: the Renmibi. Interestingly, the HK dollar is treated as foreign tender within the mainland, and the same goes for the Renmibi within Hong Kong. While China and Hong Kong may treat each other’s currencies as foreign, they are intricately connected and highly circulated. For example, Hong Kong is China’s number one foreign investor, as they account for over half of the country’s total foreign capital. Thus, Hong Kong holds an important role for the soon-to-be largest world economy, as its premier trading partner and â€Å"foreign investor.† Hong Kong: Model of Wealth but Lacking Complete Representation To explore the power and ever-increasing potential of the Hong Kong economy, I am shining light on the Economic Freedom of the World index (analysis performed by the Fraser institute, a Canadian think tank). According to this institute’s study, Hong Kong’s economy ranks as the freest in the world (and has held this #1 ranking since 1970). The institute’s Economic Freedom of the World index bases this assessed freedom on three primary elements: government size, regulation of economic activity, and openness to international trade. The smallness of Hong Kong government is evidenced by government spending as a percentage of GDP, which rests at 19.2%. Compare this to the United States, which is over double that figure, at 38.9%. Furthermore, Hong Kong citizens enjoy a flat income tax rate of 15% while businesses pay a corporate tax rate of 16.5%. If that was not economically appealing enough, take into consideration that there is no sales tax nor taxation of dividends or capital gains. The second Economic Freedom of the World index element reveals Hong Kong as possessing a flexible and efficient regulation of economic activity. In assessing this aspect, the Fraser Institute defers judgment to the World Bank and its Doing Business project which produces a report measuring the cost of business regulation for companies each year. The results place Hong Kong as the second easiest place to do conduct business in the world. This high ranking is based on HK’s flexible labor market and the view of the Hong Kong dollar as a stable form of currency. The final element in the Fraser Institute’s model of assessing economic freedom is an economy’s openness to international trade. Hong Kong does not impose quotas nor does it charge customs duties. In addition, there are no Hong Kong restrictions to the inflow of investment capital. These factors make HK very friendly to international business and greatly contribute to the region’s standing as third-ranked world-wide in terms of inflow of foreign investment. Furthermore, Hong Kong ranks as fourth overall in terms of investment outflow – only behind the United States, Japan, and mainland China. Considering its worldwide economic power and attractiveness, it may seem odd that HK lacks true international representation. For example, Hong Kong is not directly represented in the United Nations. However, because of its economic weight, HK does have its own representation in trade and commerce bodies, such as the World Trade Organization. Interestingly, Hong Kong is even represented by the International Olympic Committee, a sporting body. It follows that the PRC has direct representation in all of these. This overview of representation shows the level of Hong Kong’s autonomy, which is covered in most areas except for â€Å"high politics,† where the PRC serves as the authority. Tensions: Birthing Trouble A survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong in 2011 found that twice the number of responders referred to themselves as Hong Kongers versus identifying themselves as Chinese. There are a number of factors leading to feelings of â€Å"us versus them.† It is difficult for Hong Kong citizens to see themselves as being the same as the mainland Chinese because of their years under British rule. While there were downsides to the years under foreign control, it was this exposure that has led to their current attractions, in terms of common law and personal freedoms. The disparity between mainlanders and Hong Kongers is seemingly growing. The aforementioned number of survey respondents identifying as Hong Kongers hit a 10 year high. This may be attributed to the fact that some HK citizens loudly voiced a fear of â€Å"becoming just one more city in China.† We can examine one instance of this relationship’s unrest by looking at the process of birthing in Hong Kong, and how the PRC is involved. Great numbers of mainland pregnant women enter Hong Kong to birth their babies. This is politically-heavy for two reasons. Firstly, these HK women are evading the mainland policy which limits the number of children a family may have. Second, babies born in Hong Kong are automatically granted residency. With residency comes access to the SAR’s high-grade healthcare and free schooling. With 37% of the Hong Kong babies born in 2010 belonging to mainland families (where neither parent is a HK resident), the resources are heavily constrained. Beyond the implications of supply and demand for future healthcare and schooling, HK residents are having to fight to simply reserve maternity ward hospital beds. The people of Hong Kong are not taking such strains lying down. HK residents are exercising every freedom of speech right that they have in order to let their voices be heard and to advocate for change. In the case of mainland mothers overtaking HK maternity wards, Hong Kong citizens took protested in great numbers. Dozens of pregnant women, along with their husbands and hundreds of other supporters, marched in streets in demand of resource protection. The people are demanding that the legislative powers disallow citizenship through local birth. This serves as just one example of the clash between Hong Kong and mainland citizens. Evidence of Hong Kong’s Influence on China An Uncertain Future While the â€Å"one country, two systems† policy was created to allow the territory of Hong Kong to continue in its prosperous ways of capitalism while the keeping the rest of China socialist, it has not exactly remained that way. Since the 1997 handover, China has created dozens of zones that are designated as free-trade zones, industrial high-tech development zones, and â€Å"Special Economic Zones.† For example, two major Chinese cities that fall into this categorization are Shanghai and Shenzhen. This case of zone example serves as an indicator of mainland China’s eyes being opened to the possibilities of capitalism and other aspects of Western culture. Despite how slow China is to make changes, it is evident that the PRC’s adoption of these practices is directly connected to their involvement with Hong Kong. Thus, HK is serving as somewhat of a blueprint for the PRC’s progress. The futures of China and Hong Kong remain very much uncertain, however one thing is clear: they will remain intricately entwined for decades to come. Evidence of Hong Kong’s influence on the People’s Republic of China begs the question of â€Å"what is next for China as a whole?† If one of the world’s longtime socialist superpowers has begun a shift toward capitalism, what is stopping them from expanding consideration to human rights and rule of law? It is with such a jump that China could carry not only the banner for national worldwide GDP (as they certainly will), but also finally provide the first-world living conditions that are expected from a worldwide economic superpower. How to cite Investigating The Relationship Between Hong Kong And China, Papers

South Africa free essay sample

The population of South Africa was classified into four groups which was the Black, White, Indian, and Colored. The Colored group included people regarded as being of mixed descent including people of Bantu, and European ancestry and much more. Knowing that Apartheid was a system of laws created to keep the white population in control. The Group Areas act of 1951 controlled people where they could of live. The black where driven far away from their city, although their jobs were still in the cities in the white neighborhood. The Bantu education Act meant that the black students were disadvantaged with their education. â€Å"Bus fares were expensive and catching public transport everyday was expensive and caused hardship and depression for the black people. † (Wikipedia) The apartheid policy was highly effective of achieving its goal of privileged conduct for whites. On the other hand, the white population supported apartheid because they felt it was there to own the land of South Africa. We will write a custom essay sample on South Africa or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There were many white pro apartheid people because of the much larger population of black South Africans causing the white people to believe that if the black were given rights and freedom, they would of no longer have political power. The white people were worried because they thought that their race would be taken over and they would lose the control that they always had. As a final point, In February 1990 President FW de Klerk announced the release of Nelson Mandela and began the exclusion of the Apartheid system. In 1992 a white council approved the reform process and on April 27, 1994 the first democratic elections were held in South Africa with people of all different races being able to vote. After the Apartheid came to an end in South Africa, people had more freedom. The Africans now have a little more money now that it’s not all going to the white. South Africa is now peaceful and the anniversary of the elections, which was held on April 27, is celebrated as a public holiday in South Africa known as Freedom Day.

Battle of the Crater in the Civil War

Battle of the Crater in the Civil War The Battle of the Crater occurred July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and was an attempt by Union forces to break the siege of Petersburg. In March 1864, President Abraham Lincoln elevated Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him overall command of Union forces. In this new role, Grant decided to turn over operational control of the western armies to Major General William T. Sherman and moved his headquarters east to travel with Major General George G. Meades Army of the Potomac. The Overland Campaign For the spring campaign, Grant intended to strike General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia from three directions. First, Meade was to ford the Rapidan River east of the Confederate position at Orange Court House, before turning west to engage the enemy. Further south, Major General Benjamin Butler was to move up the Peninsula from Fort Monroe and menace Richmond, while to the west Major General Franz Sigel destroyed the resources of the Shenandoah Valley. Commencing operations in early May 1864, Grant and Meade encountered Lee south of the Rapidan and fought the bloody Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7). Stalemated after three days of fighting, Grant disengaged and moved around Lees right. Pursuing, Lees men renewed the fighting on May 8 at Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21). Two weeks of costly saw another stalemate emerge and Grant again slipped south. After a brief encounter at North Anna (May 23-26), Union forces were halted at Cold Harbor in early June. To Petersburg Rather than force the issue at Cold Harbor, Grant withdrew east then moved south towards the James River. Crossing over a large pontoon bridge, the Army of the Potomac targeted the vital city of Petersburg. Situated south of Richmond, Petersburg was a strategic crossroads and rail hub which supplied the Confederate capital and Lees army. Its loss would make would Richmond indefensible (Map). Aware of Petersburgs significance, Butler, whose forces were at Bermuda Hundred, unsuccessfully attacked the city on June 9. These efforts were halted by Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard. First Attacks On June 14, with the Army of the Potomac nearing Petersburg, Grant ordered Butler to send Major General William F. Baldy Smiths XVIII Corps to attack the city. Crossing the river, Smiths assault was delayed through the day on the 15th, but finally moved forward that evening. Though he made some gains, he halted his men due to darkness. Across the lines, Beauregard, whose request for reinforcements had been ignored by Lee, stripped his defenses at Bermuda Hundred to reinforce Petersburg. Unaware of this, Butler remained in place rather than threatening Richmond. Despite shifting troops, Beauregard was badly outnumbered as Grants troops began arriving on the field. Attacking late in the day with the XVIII, II, and IX Corps, Grants men gradually pushed the Confederates back. Fighting resumed on 17th with the Confederates doggedly defending and preventing a Union breakthrough. As the fighting continued, Beauregards engineers commenced constructing a new line of fortifications closer the city and Lee began marching to the fighting. Union assaults on June 18 gained some ground but were halted at the new line with heavy losses. Unable to advance, Meade ordered his troops to dig in opposite the Confederates. The Siege Begins Having been halted by the Confederate defenses, Grant devised operations for severing the three open railroads leading into Petersburg. While he worked on these plans, elements of the Army of the Potomac manned the earthworks that had sprung up around Petersburgs east side. Among these was the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, a member of Major General Ambrose Burnsides IX Corps. Composed largely of former coal miners, the men of the 48th devised their own plan for breaking through the Confederate lines. Armies Commanders Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. GrantMajor General Ambrose BurnsideIX Corps Confederate General Robert E. LeeMajor General William Mahone A Bold Idea Observing that the closest Confederate fortification, Elliotts Salient, was a mere 400 feet from their position, the men of the 48th conjectured that a mine could be run from their lines under the enemy earthworks. Once complete, this mine could be packed with enough explosives to open a hole in the Confederate lines. This idea was seized upon by their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pleasants. A mining engineer by trade, Pleasants approached Burnside with the plan arguing that the explosion would take the Confederates by surprise and would allow Union troops to rush in to take the city. Eager to restore his reputation after his defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Burnside agreed to present it to Grant and Meade. Though both men were skeptical about its chances for success, they approved it with the thought that it would keep the men busy during the siege. On June 25, Pleasants men, working with improvised tools, began digging the mine shaft. Digging continuously, the shaft reached 511 feet by July 17. During this time, the Confederates became suspicious when they heard the faint sound of digging. Sinking countermines, they came close to locating the 48ths shaft. The Union Plan Having stretched the shaft under Elliotts Salient, the miners began digging a 75-foot lateral tunnel that paralleled the earthworks above. Completed on July 23, the mine was filled with 8,000 pounds of black powder four days later. As the miners were working, Burnside had been developing his attack plan. Selecting Brigadier General Edward Ferreros division of United States Colored Troops to lead the assault, Burnside had them drilled in the use of ladders and instructed them to move along the sides of the crater to secure the breach in the Confederate lines. With Ferraros men holding the gap, Burnsides other divisions would cross to exploit the opening and take the city. To support the assault, Union guns along the line were ordered to open fire following the explosion and a large demonstration was made against Richmond to draw off enemy troops. This latter action worked particularly well as there were only 18,000 Confederate troops in Petersburg when the attack began. Upon learning that Burnside intended to lead with his black troops, Meade intervened fearing that if the attack failed he would be blamed for the needless death of these soldiers. Last Minute Changes Meade informed Burnside on July 29, the day before the attack, that he would not permit Ferreros men to spearhead the assault. With little time remaining, Burnside had his remaining division commanders draw straws. As a result, the ill-prepared division of Brigadier General James H. Ledlie was given the task. At 3:15 AM on July 30, Pleasants lit the fuse to the mine. After an hour of waiting without any explosion, two volunteers entered the mine to find problem. Finding that the fuse had gone out, they re-lit it and fled the mine. A Union Failure At 4:45 AM, the charge detonated killing at least 278 Confederate soldiers and creating a crater 170 feet long, 60-80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. As the dust settled, Ledlies attack was delayed by the need to remove obstructions and debris. Finally moving forward, Ledlies men, who had not been briefed on the plan, charged down into the crater rather than around it. Initially using the crater for cover, they soon found themselves trapped and unable advance. Rallying, Confederate forces in the area moved along the rim of the crater and opened fire on the Union troops below. Seeing the attack failing, Burnside pushed Ferreros division in to the fray. Joining the confusion in the crater, Ferreros men endured heavy fire from the Confederates above. Despite the disaster in the crater, some Union troops succeeded in moving along the right edge of the crater and entered the Confederate works. Ordered by Lee to contain the situation, the division of Major General William Mahone launched a counterattack around 8:00 AM. Moving forward, they drove Union forces back to the crater after bitter fighting. Gaining the slopes of crater, Mahones men compelled the Union troops below to flee back to their own lines. By 1:00 PM, most of the fighting had concluded. Aftermath The disaster at the Battle of the Crater cost the Union around 3,793 killed, wounded, and captured, while the Confederates incurred around 1,500. While Pleasants was commended for his idea, the resulting attack had failed and the armies remained stalemated at Petersburg for another eight months. In the wake of the attack, Ledlie (who may have been drunk at the time) was removed from command and dismissed from the service. On August 14, Grant also relieved Burnside and sent him on leave. He would not receive another command during the war. Grant later testified that though he supported Meades decision to withdraw Ferreros division, he believed that if the black troops had been permitted to lead the attack, the battle would have resulted in a victory.

A Matter of Failure Turned Successful essays

A Matter of Failure Turned Successful essays What factors turned Englands Chesapeake colony of Virginia from stark failure to brilliant success? In the 1580s, the English landed in an unknown world called America. They quickly set up camp and created the small city of Roanoke, in present-day North Carolina. The population of Roanoke colony was very small; they were Englishs prototype colony. The expedition leader, John White, was very excited and returned home to England to spread the news. When he returned to Roanoke in 1590, he returned to an abandoned colony, with no signs of what happened. The Roanoke Colony was a miserable failure. English colonization was delayed afterwards due to Englands war with Spain, from 1588 to 1604. But once the war was over, England was back at it again and set forth to the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Company, who was a group of investors, set sail once again in 1607 and created a fort named Jamestown. The difference between Jamestown and Roanoke is... Jamestown was a success. The first couple years for Jamestown settlers was hard, especially in the cold, violent Atlantic Coast winters. Jamestown was doomed the first winter until the Powhatan tribe came the rescue. After the first couple winters were over with, the Chesapeake started to boom economically. One of the biggest allies of the Chesapeake was tobacco. Tobacco was unknown to England, and in 1613, John Rolfe developed a hybrid cured Virginia leaf. This new phenomenon was packaged and shipped to England and the rest of Europe, and the smoking craze was on. With tobacco on the rise for the Virginia Company, they needed much help farming it. The Virginia Company was giving land away in the Chesapeake to anyone who can afford the trip over. In the years between 1619 and 1624, 4,500 new English settlers arrived to raise tobacco. For those who wanted to get out of England and couldnt afford it, the Virginia Company paid their way. T...

The Mali Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Mali - Essay Example In fact, some of the same the Muslim historians and scholars that have written about Ghana have also provided a written record of Mali (Jackson, 1970). For example, Ibn Khaldun, a Muslim scholar working out of Islamic Spain in the 15th century, wrote about both Ghana and Mali. Islamic scholars must have paid a great of attention to Mali because its rulers converted to Islam, and subsequently spread it throughout Africa. The richness of the historical record of Mali allows a history of this great civilization to be reconstituted (Jackson, 1970). The geographical borders of Mali where similar to the former boarders of Ghana. The similarities exist because Mali was once a feudal territory that rose to fill a void after Ghana had fallen at the hands of the Susu. In his Kitab al-'Ibar Ibn Khaldun indicates that Mali occupied Ghana's former boarders (Davidson, 1991). He writes, "Much later the population of Mali grew to such an extent that it became dominate over all over this region (i.e. the area formerly ruled by Ghana)" (Khaldun, 1969 p.1). In the early history of Mali, during the reign of Al-Malik al-Nasir, Mali extended its borders west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, Mali occupied the upper portions of the Sahara. To the south, Mali extended down the Niger River past the city of Djenne, which is located on marshy land in the middle of the Niger River, it is referred to as an island. To the East, the kingdom stretched to a city called Takrur; this included much of the Sahara. Originally the kingdom of Mali started expanding from the top of the Niger River (Davidson, 1991). Starting from the city of Timbuktu, Mali steadily conquered the lands that lay down stream. These areas included the towns of Djenne, located on series of mashes and lakes that lies close to the Niger River, and Kawkaw, thought to be the modern-day city of Gao. Controlling the Niger River and the cities that lie on its banks were important for trade and travel (Jackson, 1970). The Niger was a central artery of commerce for both West and North African trade routs. The importance of the Niger can also be seen in the fact that Mali's capital city, which changed many times, was often located on that river. Mali's control of the Niger River, and these important cities, helped it to grow and prosper (Davidson, 1991). By the 18th century, Mali was in a semi anarchic state. Two empires emerged that opposed French invasion, the Tukolor Empire of al- Hajj Umar (1794-1864) and the Somori Toure (1870-98). During this time the region saw a resurgence of Islam. But in later years Mali was conquered and became the French Sudan, part of the Federation of French West Africa (Jackson, 1970). Mali Today Thanks to its rich and ancient past, Mali has become a country of great ethnic diversity with nearly two dozen different ethnic groups living within its borders. The main groups are the Mande (including the Bambara, Malinke, Soninke, Mandinka, Mende, Susu, Dialonke, and Dyula), Peul (or Fulani), Voltaic, Songhay, Tuareg, and Moor. Some other groups include the Dogon, Bozo, and Bobo. The single largest ethnic group is the Bambara also known as Bamana. This name recalls the era when the influence of Islam was spreading through Africa, yet this group of rural farmers refused to convert to a new religion and kept alive their traditional way of life. Bambara means "infidel" or