The Influence of Puritanism on American Literature

The Puritans and PuritanismMost of the early settlers were Puritans, a group of serious, religious people who advocated strict religious and moral principles. * They wanted to purify the English Church and to restore church worship to the pure and unspotted condition of its earlier days. * They opposed the elaborate rituals of the English Church. * They believed that the Bible was the revealed word of God, therefore, people should guide their daily behavior with the Bible.The Puritans brought with them a philosophy of life, which is popularly known as American Puritanism. A dominant factor in American life, Puritanism was one of the most enduring and shaping influences in American thought and American literature. Without true†¦show more content†¦No wonder there appeared a mood of frustration or despair in later periods, because as the old saying goes, always at the latter end of weal stands woe. When the dream did not materialize, when a Gilded Age came instead of the Golden one they dreamed of, how could anyone feel? * The Puritans metaphorical mode of perception brought American literary symbolism into being. To the pious Puritans, the physical world was spiritual, nothing but a symbol of God. The world, therefore, was one of multiple meanings. This idea was distinguishable in the works of such early writers as William Bradford, Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards and Emerson. In the works of Hawthorne, Melville and Poe, this developed itself into symbolism. * The Puritan style of writing is characterized by simplicity. The Puritans have been abhorred for their austerity and rigidity in matters of taste. They formed a distaste for art and for any manifestations of sensual beauty, therefore, the style of their writing was fresh, simple and direst, the rhetoric plain and honest, words simple and spare (not fancy). The use of metaphors was only to explain their opinions rather than to decorate. They wrote non-fictional prose instead of novels. Th ey were good at writing history, too, and biography was once a popular form of literature. Literary SceneAlmost all literatures come from humble origins ¡Ã‚ ªdiaries, journals, letters, sermons, travel books, etc. So did AmericanShow MoreRelatedPuritanism in American Literature Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesPuritanism in American Literature The Puritans had a large influence in American literature and still influence moral judgment and religious beliefs in the United States to this day. Puritan writing was used to glorify God and to relate God more directly to our world. Puritan literature was commonly a realistic approach to life. â€Å"Puritanism as a historical phenomenon and as a living presence in American life has enriched American literature in ways far too numerous to detail here.† (GRead MoreJemimah Ejikeme,. Professor Clack. En 207A. 27 March 20171320 Words   |  6 PagesPuritan: Is the 21st Century America influenced by the Puritan ideology? American Puritanism began from a crusade for reform in the Church of England, which had a great socio-economic, political, theological and ethical influence on American as a Nation. A close focus on how the 21st century America emulated the Puritan moral/value and how these vales has been intertwined with the thinking process the average American. This comparative writing will enumerate on a brief history of the PuritansRead MorePuritanism And Its Negative Portrayal Of The Body1641 Words   |  7 PagesPuritanism: Resisting The Body’s Temptations Puritanism has been a strong influence on American Literature and it still is to this day. Puritans have shaped our culture immensely with their art that represents their beliefs so clearly. One of the most fascinating things we have come to learn about the Puritans is the constant battle they faced each day. Puritans struggled to stay true to their religion due to everyday temptations. One of the biggest temptations would be The Body. We can identifyRead MoreNathaniel Hawthornes Literature During Early America1560 Words   |  7 PagesNathaniel Hawthornes literature exhibits the influence of many factors. Much of his literature addresses Puritan culture in early America, commonly focusing on the shortcomings and hypocrisies that became apparent during the numerous witch hunts. Many of his works are allegorical, using the Puritan setting to portray his own ideas about ancestry, history, and religion. While The Scarlet Letter and House of the Seven Gables are among Hawthornes mo st known works, he produced a large sum of workRead MoreThe 17th Century Puritan Influence on the Writings of Thomas Paine1578 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Common Knowledge: 17th Century Puritan Influence in Common Sense There can be little doubt as to the fact that Thomas Paine was one of the most incisive minds of the Enlightenment, an intellectual movement that began in Europe and quickly spread to the surrounding continents including the United States of America, where Paine immigrated to. The embracing of concepts such as Deism and other ideas that favored mans prowess and knowledge over the traditional influence of a divine power during the turnRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1187 Words   |  5 PagesPuritanism in Red Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter shows the early view of Puritanism by concentrating on sin, guilt, and its effects on society. Nathaniel Hawthorne conveyed a dark and romantic style of writing in â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, impacting the society by focusing on the concepts of romanticism. The Scarlet Letter is considered a classic book and is still read today. Nathaniel Hathorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804. He was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth ClarkRead MoreEssay Role of Religion in Early American Literature619 Words   |  3 PagesRole of Religion in Early American Literature American Literature, especially of the early settler and colonial period is marked by a deep sense of religion and a stress upon writing about matters related to religion. The development of early American literature thus can be seen to be a reflection of the religious ideals followed by the early settlers and colonists and it became a means of promoting a moral and ethical way of life. Early American literature is filled with an obvious expressionRead MoreYoung Goodman Brown and the Ministers Black Veil Essay1054 Words   |  5 PagesWhen taking a look at America’s short but significant history, we find that this nation was partly founded through religious ideals. Since its beginning, religion has helped to define the American Identity into what it is today. And this was explored throughout American literature especially in the Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil and Young Goodman Brown. Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil is a parable, suggests his purpose for writing. According to Webster’s dictionary, a parable is aRead MoreEmily Dickinson: An American Poet1793 Words   |  7 PagesEmily Dickinson is one of the most influential American authors, whose works transformed the way people view poetry and female authors. Her exceedingly complex life has proved a tremendous influence on her instrumental poetry, creating its originality and distinguishing her from other great poets of the nineteenth century. As well, her use of symbolism and imagery has continued to make her work celebrated. Although Emily Dickinson lived a private and reclusive life, full of death among many closeRead MoreEssay about The Puritans1156 Words   |  5 Pages The Puritans were a religious group that came to North America in search of religious freedom, and, in the process, greatly impacted the North American church, government, education, social mo res, and economy. Many of the things that they implemented in the first colonies are still seen today in the social and governmental structures of the United States. Their beliefs and traditions are still practiced today and many social mores are still being adhered to, even now. The Puritans

Nixonland is four stories put into one novel that was...

Nixonland is four stories put into one novel that was written by Rick Perlstein. Each story was about a different campaign that had happened between the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Besides Nixonland, Perlstein has also written another novel which is â€Å"Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus†. Although he does go into detail about some of the Presidents that were mentioned in the book, but the book is not a biography. It is classified as nonfiction. The author is also a political historian, and has written many articles for magazines over the country. He was a history major from the University of Chicago, and later on, Pearlstein went and received his PhD at the University of Michigan for American†¦show more content†¦Such as how America created a civil war due to the war with Vietnam. President Nixon created a line of communication along with trading with China. Although during the war with Vietnam, Nixon had a problem with both national and international internal frontages. While he was having his campaigns to end the war, at the same time he was having us bomb Cambodia. As well as sending troops to help assist the South of Vietnam. The next election in the year of 1972, Nixon was reelected against George McGovern, and shortly after the election President Nixon became involved with the Watergate scandal. With television being a huge success as time was moving forward, everyone was hearing about the burglary that took place and how Nixon was somehow involved. In the year 1973, President Nixon was the first President to ever resign, where President Ford became the new President of the United States. Nixonland fits into the modern era, which we are learning in our History class. The time period takes place in the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s, when Nixon was running for President in 1968, and won, he was tied up in conflicts and chaos that was happening in the United States. Our class had two lectures describing the events between the United States Citizens dealing with the Vietnam War, along by discrimination among multicultural citizens. In the textbook â€Å"U.S. A Narrative History† there is some similarities and contrasts

The Use Of Cell Phones While Driving - 1509 Words

Several states have enacted laws banning the use of cell phones while driving; an indication of the type of society America has become. These laws were put in place not only to keep drivers from taking phone calls, but also to deter them from posting their latest tweet or commenting on their friend’s latest picture. Social media is so ingrained in society today that many are unable to entertain a world that is devoid of such technology. With usage at an all-time high, the psychological effects of social media must be brought into question, and the repercussions it has on teens in the modern day. Social media’s popularity shows no sign of stopping, so a solution is imperative. A means of safely integrating an internet culture, into an already pre-established one that was once dependent on direct human interaction. Predominantly 7% of adolescents receive negative feedback pertaining to their online profiles every visit to their social network of choice (Valkenburg). As for the remaining 93%, they have neutral interactions, receiving both positive and negative feedback. CNN reports that teens are spending 9 hours a day consuming media, the vast majority of which is done through social media (Wallace). Teens are spending more of their time than ever before interacting with the world and their peers, all possible in the comfort of their own homes. With the majority of teen’s lives being consumed by the internet, the psychological effects at play must be carefully addressed. AllShow MoreRelatedUse Of Cell Phones While Driving860 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans rely heavily on cell phones to perform daily activities. Cell phone are used for phone calls, email, sending text messages, surfing the internet, and performing other tasks. It is unfortunate that many of these daily activities occur w hile a person is driving. As a result, an increase of accidents and fatalities have occurred because of the use of cellular phones while driving. Using a cell phone while driving is an epidemic that has taken our nation by storm. Most drivers believe theyRead MoreCell Phone Use While Driving1503 Words   |  7 Pagesforth over the lines or driving at very inconsistent speeds. You wonder what could possibly be causing the driver to drive so erratically. Is the driver drunk? Is the driver preoccupied with eating his or her lunch? Is the driver busy attending children in the backseat? Once you pull along the side you realize that was not the case, instead you notice the driver has a cellular telephone up to her or his ear chatting away, or even worse you pass and see the driver holding a phone texting, you pass byRead MoreCell Phone Use While Driving990 Words   |  4 Pages Cell phones are integral to people’s lives in Canada because they are vital communication and entertainment tools. However, the use of cell phones has remained contentious, because texting and talking on the phone are associated with distracted drivi ng. Distracted driving is, â€Å"defined as the diversion of attention away from activities critical for safe driving toward a competing activity† (Klauer, Guo, Simons-Morton, Ouimet, Lee Dingus, 2013, p. 55). Although distracted driving is also associatedRead MoreThe Use Of Cell Phones While Driving1817 Words   |  8 Pagesknowledge that the use of cell phones while driving decreases driver awareness and overall road safety, and in response to this knowledge, some states have passed laws that have prohibited the use of handheld devices. However, there are no laws banning hands free cell phone usage, despite research claiming hands free devices are just as dangerous handheld devices. But, does their usage distract drivers enough to the point where states should legally ban the total use cell phones while driving? The followingRead MoreCell Phone Use While Driving1114 Words   |  5 PagesToday, we use our cell phones for just about anything and everything to include; text ing, talking to our loved ones, and connecting with the rest of the world via social media. Cell phones have become a natural way of life to where we pick up our phones and use them like second nature. However, the dangers present themselves when we get behind the wheel of a car and carry these habits of cell phone addictions with us. If all states ban the use of cell phones while driving, then there would be a reducedRead MoreUse of Cell Phones While Driving824 Words   |  4 PagesIf you are driving at 55mph for 5 seconds in that amount of time you could cross a football field. People don’t understand how dangerous distracted driving really is. All states should have some sort of legal parameters of what happens when you get caught using your cell phone while driving. People should get a stronger/ harsher punishment for the use of a cellular device while driving. People are way more impaired when you are distracted and driving than you are drinking and driving. The problemRead MoreThe Use Of Cell Phones While Driving1843 Words   |  8 Pagesknown that the use of cell phones while driving decreases driver awareness and overall road safety, and in response to this knowledge, some states have passed laws that have prohibited the use of handheld devices. However, there are no laws banning hands free cell phone usage, despite research claiming hands free devices are just as dangerous handheld devices, but does their usage distract drivers enough to the point where states should legally ban the total use cell phones while driving? The followingRead MoreCell Phone Use While Driving Essay1816 Words   |  8 PagesThe study was attempting to determine the thoughts and behaviors that African American freshman college students in regards to cellphone use while driving. They wanted to know how the students thought cellphones (independent variable) impact driving skills (dependent variable). Research suggests that cellphone use correlates to higher l ikelihood of accidents. The study used 331 (195 females and 136 males) freshman students who held a driver’s license. The students were then given a questionnaireRead More Cell Phones And Driving: Dangers Involved with Cell Phone Use While Driving1036 Words   |  5 Pagesoften. Talking on the cell phone and driving has become a very popular thing these days. Technology is coming out with the newest phones that can do everything for you and people are attracted to that. There are people that don’t have hands free and drive their car with only one hand, people that text and totally take their eye off the road and type conversations to each other. Bluetooth is another technological breakthrough where you wear an ear piece and can receive phone calls by one touch ofRead MoreStop the Use of Cell Phones While Driving854 Words   |  4 Pages13 2013 Many people driving don’t know that they can be so many wrongs they can be doing without realizing it. Plenty talk on the phone while driving, drink, text and drive. A lot of people even innocent people as well have had accidents involving one of those. Out of the three there has been one that has become more common, and it’s only increasing if people don’t put a stop to it themselves. A usage of a cell phone should not be displayed at any point while driving. It can wait many have had

Multimedia (2032 words) Essay Example For Students

Multimedia (2032 words) Essay MultimediaThe term media refers to the storage, transmission, interchange, presentation,representation and perception of different information types (data types) suchas text, graphics, voice, audio and video. The term multimedia is used to denotethe property of handling a variety of representation media in an integratedmanner. The phrase representation media is used because it is believed themost fundamental aspect of multimedia systems is the support for differentrepresentation types. It is necessary for a multimedia system to support avariety of representation media types. It is also important that the varioussources of media types are integrated into a single system framework. Multimediais more than multiple media. Multimedia adds interactivity to the combination oftext, graphics, images, audio and video. Creating your own media is moreinteractive than is using existing content, and collaborating with others in thecreation of media is still more interactive. Multimedia systems use a number ofdifferent media to communicate supplementary, additional or redundantinformation. Often this may take the form of using multiple sensory channels,but it may also take the form of different types of visual input textual,graphical, iconic, animation and video. Multimedia the combination of text,animated graphics, video, and soundpresents information in a way that is moreinteresting and easier to grasp than text alone. It has been used for educationat all levels, job training, and games and by the entertainment industry. It isbecoming more readily available as the price of personal computers and theiraccessories declines. Multimedia as a human-computer interface was made possiblesome half-dozen years ago by the rise of affordable digital technology. Previously, multimedia effects were produced by computer-controlled analoguedevices, like videocassette recorders, projectors, and tape recorders. Digitaltechnologys exponential decline in price and increase in capacity has enabledit to overtake analogue technology. The Internet is the breeding ground formultimedia ideas and the delivery vehicle of multimedia objects to a hugeaudience. While we have treated various output media in isolation, it is clearthat interesting issues emerge as they are combined in what is termedmultimedia. In this sense, any computer application that employs a video disk,images from a CD-ROM, uses high quality sound, or uses high quality video imageson screen may be termed a multimedia application. Such interfaces are oftenaesthetically appealing and, where high capacity storage devices such as CD-ROMare used, can provide effective interactions for the user by acting as verylarge databases or storehouses of information with dense but easy-to-usecross-referen cing and indexing. Multimedia is all things to all people. The namecan convey a highly specific meaning or less then nothing, depending on youraudience. In fact, multimedia is a singular mix of disparate technologies withoverlapping application in pursuit of a market and an identity. We can describeit as the seamless integration of data, text, images and sound within a singledigital information environment. Multimedia finds its worth in the field ofpresenting information in a manner that is intuitive and more natural thentraditional means. A multimedia user interface must provide a wide variety ofeasily understood and usable media control tools. In addition, information viewsneed to be integrated with structural views, since the viewing of informationwill often alternate moving through the structure by one means or another. Interactive Multimedia (IMM) is about empowering the user to explore new realmsby a variety of pathways. It is an umbrella term for a range of videodisc,compact disc and computer-based systems that allow the creation, integration andmanipulation of text, graphics, still and moving video images and sound. Thecomputer elements of an IMM system have the capacity to: ? Store, manipulateand present a range of information forms ? Allow various forms ofcomputer-based information to be accessed in linear and non-linear ways. ?Provide graphics overlay and print out screen material. ? Enable learners towork independently. ? Provide feedback to the learner Interactive multimediaprovides a powerful means of enhancing learning and information provision. Thereare however some cautions which need to be heeded if the full potential of IMMis to be realised. These can be seen listed below: ? Lack of world standards ?Technical problems ? Platforms ? Building successful teams ? Developmentalcosts Intera ctivity means that the user receives appropriate and expectedfeedback in response to actions taken. It is a two-way human-machinecommunication involving an end-user and a computer-based instructional system. Horse EssayTwo types of speech are available for use by multimedia developers: digitisedand synthesised. Digitised speech provides high quality natural speech whilesynthesised speech may not sound as natural as human speech. Even with improvedtechniques for generating speech, it is not incorporated into multimediaprograms as often as it could be. This may be due to a lack of understanding ofhow high quality speech is produced. Multimedia interface designers havetypically used a navigation/map metaphor, a menu/hierarchy metaphor or a journal(sequence) metaphor. An example of the first strategy is the Virtual Museum,produced by Apple Computer. Here the user accesses the multimedia information bynavigating through the virtual museum, moving from room to room by selectingdirections of movement. Examples of the second strategy include on-lineencyclopaedias and electronic books where a table of contents is used toorganise the material. It is helpful to view multimedia applications as aco nvergence of todays content and titles, such as movies and books of todayscomputer application programs, such as word processors and of todays networkservices. As an example a multimedia book should have the following features. Besides text, the book has other media that the author created, including notonly text, graphics and images but also audio and video to make the bookscontent clearer or more enjoyable. Programs should be built-in to help a usernavigate through the authors media. Multimedias driving technologies, mainlydigital electronics and fiberoptic communications are making more and morefunctions sufficiently economical for consumers to use. Example applicationsinclude: Desktop Video Conferences with collaboration MultimediaStore-and-Forward mail Consumer Edutainment, Infotainmnet, Sociotainment DigitalLibraries Video on demand Hybrid Applications IMM has many applications inlibraries. IMM can bring knowledge in its entire media formats into condensed,accessible forms capable of being used for reference and educationalapplications. On the whole, within the library sector IMM is currently regardedwith some ambivalence. Many library professionals look upon it as an interestingtechnology, but one th at will require significant investment and change if itspotential is to be fully realised. Possible barriers to the effective adoptionof IMM by librarians may be cited as financial constraints and a lack ofrequisite resources resulting in a lack of opportunity to become familiar withthe new and emergent systems; ingrained traditional resistance to change; adegree of uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of the technology to variousapplications; an inability to grasp the significance of IMM and a lack ofexperience, knowledge and skills in regard to IMM among library professionals. Example applications include the Book House a library system using hypertexttechniques to help users find books without the limitations of traditionalinformation retrieval. The user interface of the Book House is based on abuilding like a real library with the user being able to enter rooms filled withchildrens books, adult books etc. The system supports four basic searchstrategies, using icons and pictures to enable location of the books or topicsought. Voice response and voice recognition technologies could be used in alibrary situation, this could mean that merely speaking a unique book identifieror name could trigger the system into automatically filling in the remainder ofthe bibliographic or personal details relating to that item or person. Increasingly, multimedia systems will be developed with the aim of allowingnon-textual information to be used directly, in a demonstrational manner. Evenwhen text is present other media provide different additional information. Also,when dealing with multimedia, users are naturally disposed to interact in waysother than those developed for text. A first step to giving the user theimpression that he/she is dealing directly with non-textual material allowsdatabase search on the basis of identifying images that best suit the userspurposes. An initial query that turns up a large number of images can be refinedby allowing the user to point a few images out of the set that contain items ofinterest. The system can then use the text descriptions attached to the chosenimages to form a new query and offer a further set of possibly more relevantimages. My conclusion is that design could benefit tremendously from open andcollaborative multimedia research not from relatively closed multimediapac kages.

The Persian Gulf War Essays - Kuwait, IraqUnited States Relations

The Persian Gulf War subject = U.S. History title = The Persian Gulf War The Persian Gulf War-the Feat of the Western Countries On August 2nd, 1990 Iraqi military forces invaded and occupied the small Arab state of Kuwait. The order was given by Iraqi dictatorial president Saddam Hussein. His aim was apparently to take control Kuwait's oil reserves (despite its small size Kuwait is a huge oil producer; it has about 10 per cent of the world's oil reserves ). Iraq accused Kuwait, and also the United Arab Emirates, of breaking agreements that limit oil production in the Middle East. According to Saddam Hussein, this brought down world oil prices severely and caused financial loss of billions of dollars in Iraq's annual revenue. Saddam Hussein had the nearly hopeless task of justifying the invasion. He plead the fact that Kuwait had been part of the Ottoman province of Basra, a city in the south of Iraq. However, the Ottoman province collapsed after World War I and today's Iraqi borders were not created until then. There was also a further and more obvious blunder in a bid to justify this illegal invasion. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, had namely recognized Kuwaiti independence in 1963. Furthermore, Hussein claimed that Kuwait had illegally pumped oil from the Iraqi oil field of Rumaila and otherwise conspired to reduce Iraq's essential oil income. By invading Kuwait, Iraq succeeded in surprising the entire world. The USA ended her policy of accommodating Saddam Hussein, which had existed since the Iran-Iraq war. Negative attitude toward Iraq was soon a worldwide phenomenon. The United Nations Security Council passed 12 resolutions condemning the invasion. The ultimate decision was to use military force if Iraq did not withdraw unconditionally by January 15, 1991. Then, when the deadline was set, it was time to start preparing for the worst-the war. President George Bush confronted little difficulty in winning Americans' support for the potential war against Iraq. However, the government found it difficult to decide upon and state one overriding reason for going to war. Was it to oppose aggression or was it just to protect global oil supplies? Other powers were more directly concerned as consumers of Persian Gulf oil, but they were not as eager to commit military force, to risk their youth in battle and to pay for the costs of the war. Critics of President Bush continued to maintain that he was taking advantage of the issue of energy supplies in order to manipulate the U. S. public opinion in favor of war. After consulting with U. S. Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney in early August 1990, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia invited American troops onto Saudi soil. He had seen Kuwait's destiny; therefore, he wanted protection. It was also the interest of the USA to stop any further advantage of the Iraqi army. The deployment was called ?Operation Desert Shield.? These troops were armed with light, defensive weaponry. On November 8, 1990 President Bush announced a military buildup to provide an offensive option, ?Operation Desert Storm,? to force Iraq out of Kuwait. The preparation of the operation took two and a half months and it involved a massive air- and sea lift. Finally, in January 1991, the U. S. Congress voted to support Security Council resolution 660. It authorized using ?all necessary means? if Iraq did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15. Shrugging off this final warning, Saddam Hussein resolutely maintained the occupation of Kuwait. The United States established a broad-based international coalition to confront Iraq militarily and diplomatically. The military coalition consisted of Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The war also was financed by countries which were unable to send in troops. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were the main donors. More than $53 billion was pledged and received. Before the war, it appeared obvious that Iraq would have very little chance against the Coalition. The relative strength between the parties was extremely unequal. The most critical difference was that the Coalition had a total of 2600 aircraft, over three times more than Iraq's 800 aircraft. Most Arab observers thought Hussein would not last more than six months. Lieutenant General Khalid bin Sultan, the commander of the Arab coalition forces, gave Iraq's leader only 40 days, and repeated this prediction many times. Iraq's

Biography of Joseph Stalin, Dictator of Soviet Union

Biography of Joseph Stalin, Dictator of Soviet Union Joseph Stalin (December 18, 1878–March 5, 1953) was an important leader in the Russian Revolution who became the head of the Communist Party and Dictator of the Soviet state known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  (USSR). During World War II he maintained an uneasy alliance with the United States and Great Britain to fight Nazi Germany, but dropped any illusions of friendship after the war. As Stalin sought to expand Communism throughout Eastern Europe and around the world, he helped spark the Cold War and the subsequent arms race. Fast Facts: Joseph Stalin Known For: Bolshevik leader, Russian revolutionary, Head of the Communist Party in Russia and Dictator of the USSR (1927–1953)Born: December 18, 1878 (official date: December 21, 1879) in Gori, Georgia  Parents: Vissarion Dzhugasvhil and Ekaterina Georgievna GeadzeDied:  March 5, 1953 in Kuntsevo Dacha, RussiaEducation: Gori Church School (1888–1894), Tiflis Theological Seminary (1894–1899)Publications:  Collected WorksSpouse(s): Ekaterina Svanidze (1885–1907, married 1904–1907), Nadezhda Sergeevna Allilueva (1901–1932, m. 1919–1932)  Children: with Ekaterina: Yakov Iosifovich Dzhugashvili (1907–1943), with Nadezhda: Vasily (1921–1962) Svetlana Iosefovna Allilueva (1926–2011)Notable Quote: â€Å"A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.†Ã‚   Early Life Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) at the time when he entered Tiflis seminary. (1894). (Photo by Apic/Getty Images) Joseph Stalin was born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili in Gori, Georgia (a region annexed by Russia in 1801) on December 6, 1878 by theJulian calendar then in use; using the modern calendar, that converts to December 18, 1878). He later claimed his official birthdate as December 21, 1879). He was the third son of four children born to Ekaterina Georgievna Geadze (Keke) and Vissarion (Beso) Djugashvili, but he was the only one to survive past infancy. Stalin’s parents had a turbulent marriage, with Beso often beating his wife and son. Part of their marital strife came from their very different ambition for their son. Keke recognized that Soso, as Joseph Stalin was known as a child, was highly intelligent and wanted him to become a Russian Orthodox priest; thus, she made every effort to get him an education. On the other hand, Beso, who was a cobbler, felt that working-class life was good enough for his son. Education The argument came to a head when Stalin was 12 years old. Beso, who had moved to Tiflis (the capital of Georgia) to find work, came back and took Stalin to the factory where he worked so that Stalin could become an apprentice cobbler. This was the last time Beso would assert his vision for Stalins future. With help from friends and teachers, Keke got Stalin back and once again got him on the path to attend seminary. After this incident, Beso refused to support either Keke or his son, effectively ending the marriage. Keke supported Stalin by working as a laundress, though she later secured more respectable employment at a womens clothing shop. Keke was right to note Stalins intellect, which soon became apparent to his teachers. Stalin excelled in school and earned a scholarship to the Tiflis Theological Seminary in 1894. However, there were signs that Stalin was not destined for the priesthood. Prior to entering the seminary, Stalin was not only a choirboy, but also the ruthless leader of a street gang. Notorious for his cruelty and use of unfair tactics, Stalin’s gang dominated the rough streets of Gori. Stalin as a Young Revolutionary A card from the register of the St. Petersburg imperial police on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. (1912). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) While at the seminary, Stalin discovered the works of Karl Marx. He joined the local socialist party and soon his interest in overthrowing Czar Nicholas II and the monarchical system outstripped any desire he might have had to be a priest. Stalin dropped out of school just a few months shy of graduating to become a revolutionary, giving his first public speech in 1900. The Life of a Revolutionary After having joined the revolutionary underground, Stalin went into hiding using the alias â€Å"Koba.† Nevertheless, the police captured Stalin in 1902 and exiled him to Siberia for the first time in 1903. When free from prison, Stalin continued to support the revolution and helped organize peasants in the 1905 Russian Revolution against Czar Nicholas II. Stalin would be arrested and exiled seven times and escape six between 1902 and 1913. In between arrests, Stalin married Ekaterina Svanidze, a sister of a classmate from seminary, in 1904. They had one son, Yacov, before Yekaterina died of typhus in 1907. Yacov was raised by his mothers parents until he was reunited with Stalin in 1921 in Moscow, though the two were never close. Yacov would be among the millions of Russian casualties of World War II. Vladimir Lenin Stalins commitment to the party intensified when he met Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, head of the Bolsheviks in 1905. Lenin recognized Stalins potential and encouraged him. After that, Stalin held the Bolsheviks in any way he could, including committing several robberies to raise funds. Because Lenin was in exile, Stalin took over as editor of Pravda, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, in 1912. That same year, Stalin was appointed to the Bolsheviks Central Committee, cementing his role as a key figure in the Communist movement. The Name Stalin Also in 1912, Stalin, while writing for the revolution while still in exile, first signed an article Stalin, meaning steel man, for the power it connotes. This would continue to be a frequent pen name and, after the successful Russian Revolution in October 1917, his surname. (Stalin would continue to use aliases throughout the rest of his life, though the world would know him as Joseph Stalin.) 1917 Russian Revolution Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin address the proletariat during the Russian Revolution. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Stalin missed much of the activity leading up to the Russian Revolution in 1917, because he was exiled to Siberia from 1913–1917. Upon his release in March of 1917, Stalin resumed his role as a Bolshevik leader. By the time he was reunited with Lenin, who also returned to Russia a few weeks after Stalin, Czar Nicholas II had already abdicated as part of the February Russian Revolution. With the czar deposed, the Provisional Government was in charge. The October 1917 Russian Revolution Lenin and Stalin, however, wanted to topple the Provisional Government and install a Communist one, controlled by the Bolsheviks. Feeling that the country was ready for another revolution, Lenin and the Bolsheviks began a nearly bloodless coup on October 25, 1917. In just two days, the Bolsheviks had taken over Petrograd, the capital of Russia, and thus became the leaders of the country. Not everyone was happy with the Bolsheviks ruling the country, thus Russia was thrust immediately into civil war as the Red Army (the Bolshevik forces) battled the White Army (made up of various anti-Bolshevik factions). The Russian Civil War lasted until 1921. Russian revolutionaries and leaders Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, and Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin at the Congress of the Russian Communist Party. (March 23, 1919). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) In 1921, the White Army was defeated, leaving Lenin, Stalin and Leon Trotsky as the dominant figures in the new Bolshevik government. Although Stalin and Trotsky were rivals, Lenin appreciated their distinct abilities and promoted both. Trotsky vs. Stalin Trotsky was far more popular than Stalin, so Stalin was given the less public role of General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922. Trotsky, who was a persuasive orator, maintained a visible presence in foreign affairs and was perceived by many as the heir apparent. However, what neither Lenin nor Trotsky foresaw was that Stalins position allowed him to build loyalty within the Communist Party, as an essential factor in his eventual takeover. Head of the Communist Party Tensions between Stalin and Trotsky increased when Lenins health began to fail in 1922 with the first of several strokes, raising the difficult question of who would be Lenin’s successor. From his sickbed, Lenin had advocated for shared power and maintained this vision until his death on January 21, 1924. Ultimately, Trotsky was no match for Stalin because Stalin had spent his years in the party building loyalty and support. By 1927, Stalin had effectively eliminated all of his political rivals (and exiled Trotsky) to emerge as the head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Stalins Five Year Plans Soviet Communist dictator Joseph Stalin. (circa 1935). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Stalins willingness to use brutality to achieve political aims was well established by the time he took power; nevertheless, the Soviet Union (as it was known after 1922) was unprepared for the extreme violence and oppression that Stalin unleashed in 1928. This was the first year of Stalins Five Year Plan, a radical attempt to bring the Soviet Union into the industrial age. Famine In the name of Communism, Stalin seized assets, including farms and factories, and reorganized the economy. However, these efforts often led to less efficient production, ensuring that mass starvation swept the countryside. To mask the disastrous results of the plan, Stalin maintained export levels, shipping food out of the country even as rural residents died by the hundreds of thousands. Any protest of his policies resulted in immediate death or relocation to a gulag (a prison camp in the remote regions of the nation). The Disastrous Effects Kept Secret The first Five Year Plan (1928-1932) was declared completed a year early and the second Five Year Plan (1933-1937) was launched with equally disastrous results. A third Five Year began in 1938, but was interrupted by World War II in 1941. While all of these plans were unmitigated disasters, Stalin’s policy forbidding any negative publicity led the full consequences of these upheavals to remain hidden for decades. To many who were not directly impacted, the Five Year Plans appeared to exemplify Stalins proactive leadership. Stalins Cult of Personality Soviet Communist leader Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), with Galia Markifova, at a reception for the elite of the workers of the Biviato autonomous socialist republic. In later life, Galia was sent to a labor camp by Stalin. (1935). (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images) Stalin is also known for building an unprecedented cult of personality. Presenting himself as a paternal figure watching over his people, Stalins image and actions could not have been more distinct. While paintings and statues of Stalin kept him in the public eye, Stalin also promoted himself by aggrandizing his past through tales of his childhood and his role in the revolution. However, with millions of people dying, statues and tales of heroics could only go so far. Thus, Stalin made it a policy that showing anything less than complete devotion was punishable by exile or death. Going beyond that, Stalin eradicated any form of dissent or competition. No Outside Influences; No Free Press Not only did Stalin readily arrest anyone remotely suspected of having a different view, he also closed religious institutions and confiscated church lands in his reorganization of the Soviet Union. Books and music that were not to Stalins standards were banned as well, virtually eliminating the possibility of outside influences. No one was allowed to say a negative thing against Stalin, especially the press. No news of the death and devastation in the countryside was leaked to the public; only news and images that presented Stalin in a flattering light were allowed. Stalin also famously changed the name of the city of Tsaritsyn to Stalingrad in 1925 to honor the city for its role in the Russian civil war. Second Wife and Family Nadezhda Alliluyeva Stalin (1901-1932), the second wife of Joseph Stalin and mother of his children, Vassily and Svetlana. They married in 1919 and she killed herself on November 8th, 1932. (circa 1925). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) In 1919, Stalin married Nadezhda (Nadya) Alliluyeva, his secretary and fellow Bolshevik. Stalin had become close with Nadyas family, many of whom were active in the revolution and would go on to hold important positions under Stalin’s government. The young revolutionary captivated Nadya and together they would have two children, a son, Vasily, in 1921, and a daughter, Svetlana, in 1926. As carefully as Stalin controlled his public image, he could not escape the criticism of his wife, Nadya, one of the few bold enough to stand up to him. Nadya often protested his deadly policies and found herself at the receiving end of Stalins verbal and physical abuse. While their marriage began with mutual affection, Stalins temperament and alleged affairs contributed greatly to Nadyas depression. After Stalin berated her particularly harshly at a dinner party, Nadya committed suicide on November 9, 1932. The Great Terror Soviet leader Joseph Stalin after the completion of a series of governmental purges in which most of the Communist Party old guard were dismissed or executed. (1938). (Photo by Ivan Shagin/Slava Katamidze Collection/Getty Images) Despite Stalin’s attempts to eradicate all dissent, some opposition emerged, particularly among party leaders who understood the devastating nature of Stalin’s policies. Nevertheless, Stalin was reelected in 1934. This election made Stalin keenly aware of his critics and he soon began to eliminate anyone he perceived as opposition, including his most substantial political rival, Sergi Kerov. Sergi Kerov was assassinated in 1934 and Stalin, who most believe was responsible, used Kerovs death to extol the dangers of the anti-Communist movement and tighten his grip on Soviet politics. Thus began the period known as the Great Terror. Few leaders have culled their ranks as dramatically as Stalin did in during the Great Terror of the 1930s. He targeted members of his cabinet and government, soldiers, clergy, intellectuals, or anyone else he deemed suspect. Those seized by his secret police would be tortured, imprisoned, or killed (or a combination of these experiences). Stalin was indiscriminate in his targets, and top government and military officials were not immune from prosecution. In fact, the Great Terror eliminated many key figures in government. Widespread Paranoia During the Great Terror, widespread paranoia reigned. Citizens were encourages to turn each other in and those captured often pointed figures at neighbors or coworkers in hopes of saving their own lives. Farcical show trials publicly confirmed the guilt of the accused and ensured that family members of those accused would remain socially ostracized - if they managed to evade arrest. The military was particularly decimated by the Great Terror since Stalin perceived a military coup as the greatest threat. With World War II on the horizon, this purging of the military leadership would later prove a severe detriment to the Soviet Union’s military effectiveness. Death Toll While the estimates of death tolls vary greatly, the lowest numbers credit Stalin with killing 20 million during the Great Terror alone. Beyond being one of the greatest examples of state-sponsored murder in history, the Great Terror demonstrated Stalins obsessive paranoia and willingness to prioritize it over national interests. Stalin and Nazi Germany Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov checks over the plan for the Demarcation of Poland, while Nazi Foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop stands in the background with Joseph Stalin. (August 23, 1939). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Stalin and Hitler Sign a Non-Aggression Pact By 1939, Adolf Hitler was a powerful threat to Europe and Stalin could not help but be concerned. While Hitler was opposed to Communism and had little regard for Eastern Europeans, he appreciated that Stalin represented a formidable force and the two signed a non-aggression pact in 1939. Operation Barbarossa After Hitler drew the rest of Europe into war in 1939, Stalin pursued his own territorial ambition in the Baltic region and Finland. Although many warned Stalin that Hitler intended to break the pact (as he had with other European powers), Stalin was surprised when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, a full-scale invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Stalin Joins the Allies The Big Three met in person for the first time in Teheran to discuss the co-ordination of allied war efforts. Left to right: Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, U.S President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. (1943). (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, Stalin joined the Allied powers, which included Great Britain (led by Sir Winston Churchill) and later the United States (led by Franklin D. Roosevelt). Although they shared a joint enemy, the communist/capitalist rift ensured that mistrust characterized the relationship. However, before the Allies could come help, the German army swept eastward through the Soviet Union. Initially, some Soviet residents were relieved when the German army invaded, thinking that German rule had to be an improvement over Stalinism. Unfortunately, the Germans were merciless in their occupation and ravaged the territory they conquered. Scorched Earth Policy Stalin, who was determined to stop the German army’s invasion at any cost, employed a scorched earth policy. This entailed burning all farms fields and villages in the path of the advancing Germany army to prevent German soldiers from living off the land. Stalin hoped that, without the ability to pillage, the German army’s supply line would run so thin that the invasion would be forced to stop. Unfortunately, this scorched earth policy also meant the destruction of the homes and livelihoods of Russian people, creating massive numbers of homeless refugees. It was the harsh Soviet winter that really slowed down the advancing Germany army, leading to some of the bloodiest battles of World War II. However, to force a German retreat, Stalin needed greater assistance. Although Stalin began to receive American equipment in 1942, what he really wanted was Allied troops deployed to the Eastern Front. The fact that this never happened infuriated Stalin and increased the resentment between Stalin and his allies. The Atomic Bomb Another rift in the relationship between Stalin and the Allies came when the United States secretly developed the nuclear bomb. The mistrust between the Soviet Union and the United States was obvious when the U.S. refused to share the technology with the Soviet Union, causing Stalin to launch his own nuclear weapons program. The Soviets Turn the Nazis Back With supplies provided by the Allies, Stalin was able to turn the tide at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943 and forced the retreat of the German army. With the tide turned, the Soviet army continued to push the Germans all the way back to Berlin, ending World War II in Europe in May of 1945. Stalin and the Cold War Soviet Communist leader Joseph Stalin (1950). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Once World War II ended, the task of rebuilding Europe remained. While the United States and the United Kingdom sought stability, Stalin had no desire to cede the territory he had conquered during the war. Therefore, Stalin claimed the territory he had liberated from Germany as part of the Soviet empire. Under Stalin’s tutelage, Communist parties took control of each country’s government, cut off all communication with the West, and became official Soviet satellite states. The Truman Doctrine While the Allies were unwilling to launch a full-scale war against Stalin, U.S. President Harry Truman recognized that Stalin could not go unchecked. In response to Stalins domination of Eastern Europe, Truman issued the Truman Doctrine in 1947, in which the United States pledged to help nations at risk of a being overtaken by Communists. It was immediately enacted to thwart Stalin in Greece and Turkey, which would ultimately remain independent throughout the Cold War. The Berlin Blockade and Airlift Stalin again challenged the Allies in 1948 when he attempted to seize control of Berlin, a city that had been divided among the victors of World War II. Stalin had already seized East Germany and severed it from the West as part of his post-war conquest. Hoping to claim the entire capital, which was located entirely within East Germany, Stalin blockaded the city in an attempt to force the other Allies to abandon their sectors of Berlin. However, determined to not give in to Stalin, the U.S. organized a nearly year-long airlift that flew massive amounts of supplies into West Berlin. These efforts rendered the blockade ineffective and Stalin finally ended the blockade on May 12, 1949. Berlin (and the rest of Germany) remained divided. This division ultimately manifested in the creation of the Berlin Wall in 1961 during the height of the Cold War. The Cold War Continues While the Berlin Blockade was the last major military confrontation between Stalin and the West, Stalin’s policies and attitude toward the West would continue as Soviet policy even after Stalin’s death. This competition between the Soviet Union and the United States escalated during the Cold War to the point where nuclear war seemed imminent. The Cold War ended only with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Death Soviet Communist leader Joseph Stalin lying in state in the hall of Trade Union House, Moscow. (March 12, 1953). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) In his final years, Stalin tried to reshape his image to that of a man of peace. He turned his attention to rebuilding the Soviet Union and invested in many domestic projects, such as bridges and canals – most were never completed. While he was writing his Collected Works in an attempt to define his legacy as an innovative leader, evidence suggests that Stalin was also working on his next purge, an attempt to eliminate the Jewish population that remained in Soviet territory. This never came to pass since Stalin suffered a stroke on March 1, 1953 and died four days later. Stalin maintained his cult of personality even after his death. Like Lenin before him, Stalin’s body was embalmed and put on public display. In spite of the death and destruction he inflicted upon those he ruled, Stalin’s death devastated the nation. The cult-like loyalty he inspired remained, although it would dissipate in time. Legacy A crowd of people surround the demolished head of a statue of Joseph Stalin, including Daniel Sego, the man who cut off the head, during the Hungarian Revolt, Budapest, Hungary. Sego is spitting on the statue. (December 1956). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) It took several years for the Communist party to replace Stalin; in 1956, Nikita Khrushchev took over. Khrushchev broke the secrecy regarding Stalin’s atrocities and led the Soviet Union in a period of de-Stalinization, which included beginning to account for the catastrophic deaths under Stalin and acknowledging the flaws in his policies. It wasn’t an easy process for the Soviet people to break through Stalin’s cult of personality to see the real truths of his reign. The estimated numbers of dead are staggering. The secrecy regarding those â€Å"purged† has left millions of Soviet citizens wondering the exact fate of their loved ones. No Longer Idolize Stalin With these new-found truths about Stalin’s reign, it was time to stop revering the man who had murdered millions. Pictures and statues of Stalin were gradually removed and in 1961, the city of Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd. In October of 1961, Stalins body, which had lain next to Lenin’s for nearly eight years, was removed from the mausoleum. Stalin’s body was buried nearby, surrounded by concrete so that he could not be moved again. Sources Rappaport, Helen. Joseph Stalin: A Biographical Companion. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 1999.Radzinsky, Edvard. Stalin: The First In-depth Biography Based on Explosive New Documents from Russias Secret Archives. New York: Doubleday, 1996.Service, Robert. Stalin: A Biography. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press, 2005.

Office Art Memo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Office Art Memo - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that  the impressionist paintings include: A Matador, Young Woman with Ibis, and View of Vetheuil. ‘A Matador' impressionist art has color painted side by side with a little mixing, and it has a strongly colored ground. It was made by French, Edouard Manet. The ‘View of Vetheuil’ impressionist art was created in the year 1880 by Claude Monet, from France. The artwork also has a more vivid color with a light colored background. Besides, the painting is out- door with the shadowy effects detailed. On the other hand, the ‘Young Woman with Ibis’ impressionist work was an out- door painting and had no use of black color. The painting was made by a French woman, Edgar Degas, who was an impressionist. It was made in the year 1860 to 1862 and had an emphasis on natural light. The colors in the painting are placed side by side with no mixing.This discussion stresses that  there are several post-impressionist paintings and they in clude ‘Still Life with Teapot and Fruit’, ‘Tahitian Faces: Frontal Views and Profiles’, and ‘Road in Etten.’   Ã¢â‚¬ËœStill Life with Teapot and Fruit’ is non- naturalistic, even though simplified, and a trait that defies the principles of impressionist art. It has flowers hanging on their own without obeying the force of gravity. The artwork also has flat patches in bold colors, esoteric symbolism, and decorative line. Paul Gauguin, a renowned post- impressionist, made the artwork.