The Progressive Era: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay -- Sociology History

The industrial date of reference Conflicting ViewpointsWorks Cited MissingTwo people witnessing the same event can have very distinct views on it depending on their information and perspective. The presentation of history also changes depending on the resources and prior prejudices and personal views of the historian. Four historians interpretations on the Progressive Era and Progressivism were reviewed to determine whether their arguments and use of evidence were sound. Also, the particular known views of the historian were occasionally taken into account. Each of these works has its own particular view on the Progressive Era and its importance in history.In The Age of Reform, Richard Hofstadter reviews both the Populist and Progressive movements from a psychological standpoint. He maintains that both were groups, Populist farmers and Progressive long- completed wealthy professionals, known as mugwumps, both of which formerly had had much power and influence in the United S tates and were being overshadowed by the growing importance of cities and the nouveau riche, respectively. Hofstadters main arguments are taken from the novels, magazines, poetry, other literature, fiction and popular myths that abounded in the two groups. Hofstadter maintains that these two groups were created because the industrialization of the United States and the rise of cities and big business had resulted in a status revolution, and the Populist and Progressive movements were just attempts to retain and regain position by the farmers and mugwumps. Populism, however, was a rural movement, while Progressivism took Populism and turned it into a large, matter movement.According to Hofstadter, the Populist movement was created mainly because... ... least believable. Although he does make some interesting psychological hypotheses, his contentions are not backed up by few solid facts, and rest almost entirely on a selective few pieces of literature, almost all of which show a n extreme slant. Filene, who presents perhaps the much essential view of the progressive movement, the idea that the movement never in fact existed, uses sound evidence and statistics to support his arguments. Although he took perhaps the most radical stand on Progressivism, his arguments were the most persuasive, due to logical presentation and ample foundations on facts. Both McCormick and Baker focused on one aspect of Progressivism, McCormick on the corruption of government by private businesses, and Baker on the womens movement. Both historians based their arguments on fact, and used rational reasoning to come to their conclusions.

Critical Essay Of Slaughterhouse Five -- essays research papers

Slaughterhouse FiveCritics of Kurt Vonneguts are unable to summate on what the main theme of his novel Slaughterhouse Five may be. Although Vonneguts novels are satirical, ironical, and extremely wise, they have almost no plot structure, so it is hard to find a constant theme. From the m any people that the main character Billy Pilgrim meets, and the places that he takes us, readers are able to discern that Vonnegut is trying to set the message that there will always be death, there will always be war, and humans have no control over their feature lives. Most of the book is the narrative from Billy Pilgrim a unique character who has the ability to become unstuck in time, which means that he rear end uncontrollably drift from i part of his life to another and the trips arent nessicarilly fun. The whole books is organized in the resembling way Billy moves in time. In consists of numerous sections and paragraphs strung together in no chronological order, seemingly at random. The whole narration is written in the past tense, so that the reader cannot identify where the authors starting point is. This aspect of the book is almost identical with the Tralfamadorian type of bookthither isnt any particular relationship between all the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that,when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and suprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time. I agree with Mark Vit when he adduces that the most often expressed theme of the book is that we, as people, are bugs in amber. The phrase offset printing appears when Billy is kidnapped by the Tralfamacorian flying saucerWelcome aboard, Mr. Pilgrim. said the loudspeaker. Any questions,?Billy licked his lips, thought a while, inquired at least Why me?That is a very Earthling quest... ...When a Tr alfamadorian sees a corpse, all he thinks is that the dead person is in bad condition in that particular moment, but that the same person is just fine in plenty of other moments. Now, when I myself hear that somebody is dead I simply shrug and say what the Tralfamadorians say about dead people, which is so it goes.Because of passages like this, many people are able to draw inferences to an almost spiritual quality in the book. The ideas that the Tralfamadorians hold defiantly point to predestination and maybe even a type of eternal life. So what was Vonnegut trying to say to us? That it does not matter what we do in our lives because they will end up the say way regardless? Several people have read the book and come away with that message. Regardless of Vonneguts intent, his final product was a book about the absurdity of war and death. Someone may live a noble life or be a war hero, but in the end, they will die, and the war will go on. It is futile to try and change the cycle.

Viewer Response - The Graduate Essay -- essays research papers

In The Graduate, the music director, Mike Nichols, emphasizes the mysterious tone of the film with his overutilization of lighting, camera angles, and shadows. The uncertainty Benjamin Braddock feels can be seen right from the start as he stands on the moving sidewalk at the airport. He is positioned at the right hand side of the screen moving forward. You can see a large area to the left where the credits appear. I think the director chose this technique for the opening credits to symbolize how this graduate is arriving at a new destination & has much uncertainty in front of him.Dark retinue with shadows are used heavily in this film. The director shows Benjamins room as dark and shadowy to parallel his personality. This is also seen in the Robinson house. Shad...

Failures of Early American Higher Education :: essays research papers fc

The Failures of Early American Higher EducationThe intention of colleges in the United Stated during the 18th and 19th centuries was to create a carcass that would serve in loco parentis (in place of the parent). In the primal years of American higher education, college professors sought to be disciplinarians, who played a parental role. However, the students at these institutions often behaved in a disruptive manner towards teachers, as well as fellow students. This unruly behavior can be directly united to the economic background of the students attending these institutions, in addition to the philosophies set forth by the colleges. During this time period, colleges attracted mostly upper class men who showed little please in their academic studies. They were individuals following generations of family members to the institution, and as a result of their connections possessed more authority at the school than the faculty. This issue began to change in the early 20th century, when colleges began admitting more economically diverse individuals. The economic background of the students, in addition to their reluctance to abide by the rules, led to violent and unruly behavior at these institutions. Students who attended these institutions of higher education were typically born into a wealthy family, where the individuals already had made a name for themselves. They survived college, as disruptive students, because college was not a necessity for them to succeed in life. Referring to Harvard College, in his familys newspaper, the New England Curant, in 1677, Benjamin Franklin wrote that it had become a rich mans school, a place that wealthy parents sent their sons to, where, for want of a suitable genius, they learn little more than to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a room genteely (Lucas, p. 109). Prior to the American Revolution, higher education did not impact the majority of the people first hand. It is estimated that no more than one in every th ousand colonists attended every college present before 1776 (Lucas, p. 109). This supports the idea that college was only available to those individuals who had enough money to attend college simply for the ability to move up the social ladder. Many individuals went to college, not for the education, but to continue a tradition set forth by generations of family members. They did not take college seriously, for it was simply the next step, in order to follow by means of along the path that their family members had paved.

Death Of A Planet Essay -- essays research papers fc

Death of a Planet     Air befoulment is a very big problem in the United States. A large partof air pollution comes from cable cars. The Environmental Protection Agency says,"The most polluting activity an average person does everyday is father theircar"(1 factsheet OMS-5). Most people probably arent aware that they arepolluting the environment. Maybe if everyone knew how serious this pollutionproblem is, they would find ways to reduce the pollution.     Most pollution that is released by cars comes from the exculpate, mainlyin the form of hydrocarbons(1 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are organiccompounds ,a combination of devil or more elements, that contain only carbon andhydrogen (2 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are released when fuel in theengine burns partially. When hydrocarbons come in contact with sunlight theyform ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is a major(ip) ingredient in theformation of smog. Ground level oz one is responsible for irritating eyes,damaging lungs, and it complicating respiratory problems. Hydrocarbons arentthe only pollutants released by car exhaust.     Two more pollutants released through car exhaust are carbon monoxide andnitrogen oxide. The first reduces the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream, andcould harm people with heart disease. Nitrogen oxide is formed when a carengine gets hot. It contains chemicals that aid in the formation of groundlevel ozone as well as acid rain (2 factsheet, OMS-5). dosage rain destroys theoutsides of buildings, statues, etc. Acid rain can also contaminate drinkingwater, damage vegetation, and destroy sealife. These two pollutants are two ofthe most dangerous pollutants released through car exhaust. If these twopollutants were cut down just a little bit our planet would be a safer place tolive.     Carbon dioxide is another gas released through exhaust emissions. Itisnt dangerous directly to humans, but it is considered to be a "green housegas." A "greenhouse gas" is a gas that is associated with global thaw.Global warming is the gradual increase of temperature due to human activity.Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone allow radiation fromthe sun to break through the atmosphere and go to the earths surface. Globalw... ... recognized sooner than regular testing, done year by year.If the remote sensing devices are used people dont have to worry some theircar being tested. They just have to get their car repaired when the device saysits polluting the environment.     Air pollution caused by cars is a serious problem that can be reduced byaverage everyday people. If the citizens of earth dont act fast, and reducethe amount of pollution caused world wide, earth will be a terrible place tolive. If something isnt done soon there might not be a place to live at all.Works CitedBrown, Lester R. The World Watch ratifier On Envi ronmental Issues.     NewYurkNorton, 1991. 97-105.The Environmental Protection Agency. Automobiles and Ozone Factsheet OMS-4.     http//www.epa.gov/OMS WWW/04-ozone.htm. 1993. 4.The Environmental Protection Agency. Automobile Emission An overiew FactsheetOMS-5. http//www.epa.gov/OMS www/05-autos.htm. 1994. 1-5.The Environmental Protection Agency. Remote Sensing A Supplemental Tool forVehicle Emission Control Factsheet OMS-15. http//www.epa.gov/OMS www/ 15--remot.htm. 1993. 1-2.

Death Of A Planet Essay -- essays research papers fc

Death of a Planet     Air pollution is a very big problem in the fall in States. A large partof air pollution comes from rail machines. The Environmental Protection Agency says,"The most polluting activity an average person does everyday is drive theircar"(1 factsheet OMS-5). Most people probably arent aware that they arepolluting the environment. Maybe if everyone knew how serious this pollutionproblem is, they would find ways to reduce the pollution.     Most pollution that is released by cars comes from the exhaust, mainlyin the form of hydrocarbons(1 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are organiccompounds ,a combination of two or more elements, that contain only carbon andhydrogen (2 factsheet, OMS-5). Hydrocarbons are released when give notice in the engine burns partially. When hydrocarbons come in contact with sunlight theyform ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is a major divisor in theformation of smog. Ground level ozon e is responsible for irritating eyes,damaging lungs, and it complicating respiratory problems. Hydrocarbons arentthe only pollutants released through car exhaust.     Two more pollutants released through car exhaust are carbon monoxide andnitrogen oxide. The first reduces the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream, andcould harm people with heart disease. Nitrogen oxide is formed when a carengine gets hot. It contains chemicals that aid in the formation of groundlevel ozone as well as acid rain down (2 factsheet, OMS-5). Acid rain destroys theoutsides of buildings, statues, etc. Acid rain can also contaminate drinkingwater, damage vegetation, and destroy sealife. These two pollutants are two ofthe most unsafe pollutants released through car exhaust. If these twopollutants were faded down just a little bit our planet would be a safer mail service tolive.     Carbon dioxide is another gas released through exhaust emissions. Itisnt dangerous direc tly to humans, but it is considered to be a "green housegas." A "greenhouse gas" is a gas that is associated with global warming. world-wide warming is the tardy increase of temperature due to human activity.Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone allow radiation fromthe sun to break through the atmosphere and go to the earths surface. Globalw... ... recognized sooner than regular testing, done year by year.If the remote sensing devices are used people dont have to worry about theircar being tested. They just have to get their car repaired when the device saysits polluting the environment.     Air pollution caused by cars is a serious problem that can be decrease byaverage everyday people. If the citizens of earth dont act fast, and reducethe amount of pollution caused world wide, earth will be a horrible place tolive. If something isnt done soon there might not be a place to live at all.Works CitedBrown, Lester R. The World W atch Reader On Environmental Issues.     NewYurkNorton, 1991. 97-105.The Environmental Protection Agency. Automobiles and Ozone Factsheet OMS-4.     http//www.epa.gov/OMS WWW/04-ozone.htm. 1993. 4.The Environmental Protection Agency. Automobile Emission An overiew FactsheetOMS-5. http//www.epa.gov/OMS www/05-autos.htm. 1994. 1-5.The Environmental Protection Agency. Remote Sensing A adjunct Tool forVehicle Emission Control Factsheet OMS-15. http//www.epa.gov/OMS www/ 15--remot.htm. 1993. 1-2.