Ulysses S. Grant Essays (1125 words) - , Term Papers

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant was an American general and 18th president of the U.S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, on April 27, 1822, the son of Hannah Simpson and Jesse Grant, the owner of a tannery. Taken to nearby Georgetown at the age of one, he was educated in local and boarding schools. In 1839, under the name of Ulysses Simpson instead of his original Hiram Ulysses, he was appointed to West Point. Graduating 21st in a class of 39 in 1843, he was assigned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. There he met Julia Dent, a local planter's daughter, whom he married after the Mexican War. During the Mexican War, Grant served under both General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott and distinguished himself, particularly at Molina del Rey and Chapultepec. After his return and tours of duty in the North, he was sent to the Far West. In 1854, while stationed at Fort Humboldt, California, ?Grant resigned his commission because of loneliness and drinking problems, and in the following years he engaged in generally unsuccessful farming and business ventures in Missouri.?(Grant Moves South, 18) He moved to Galena, Illinois, in 1860, where he became a clerk in his father's leather store. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Grant was appointed colonel, and soon afterward brigadier general, of the Illinois Volunteers, and in September 1861 he seized Paducah, Kentucky. After an indecisive raid on Belmont, Missouri, he gained fame when in February 1862, in conjunction with the navy; he succeeded in reducing Forts Henry and Donelson, Tennessee, forcing General Simon B. Buckner to accept unconditional surrender. The Confederates surprised Grant at Shiloh, but he held his ground and then moved on to Corinth. In 1863 he established his reputation as a strategist in the brilliant campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, which took place on July 4. After being appointed commander in the West, he defeated Braxton Bragg at Chattanooga. Grant's victories made him so prominent that he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and in February 1864 was given command of all Union armies. Grant's following campaigns revealed his determination to apply merciless pressure against the Confederacy by coordinating the Union armies and exploiting the economic strength of the North. While Grant accompanied the Army of the Potomac in its overland assault on Richmond, Virginia, General Benjamin F. Butler was to attack the city by water, General William T. Sherman to move into Georgia, and General Franz Sigel to clear the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Despite the failure of Butler and Sigel and heavy losses at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, Grant continued to press the drive against General Robert E. Lee's army. After Sherman's success in Georgia and the conquest of the Shenandoah Valley by General Philip H. Sheridan, Grant forced Lee to abandon Petersburg and Richmond and to surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9. As commander of the army, Grant soon became trapped in the struggles between President Andrew Johnson and Congress. Because of the president's clear Pro-Southern tendencies, the general gradually moved closer to the radicals and cooperated with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in carrying out the congressional Reconstruction plan for the South. Grant accepted appointment as secretary ad interim after Johnson's dismissal of Stanton, but clashed violently with the president when the Senate ordered Stanton reinstated. Then, as the country's best-known military leader, he became the Republican candidate for president in 1868 and defeated his Democratic rival, Horatio Seymour. Grant's military experience ill prepared him for his new duties. Faced with major problems of Reconstruction, civil service reform, and economic adjustment, he did not know how to choose proper advisers or to avoid the pitfalls of an age of corruption. Encouraged by the final restoration of all the Southern states to the Union, he honestly tried to carry out congressional Reconstruction, but in the long run was unable to sustain it. Irregularly trying to protect the rights of the freed slaves, he repeatedly intervened but could not prevent the reappearance of white supremacists in all but a few Southern states. Other problems were equally troublesome. In 1871 Grant appointed a civil service commission headed by

Battle of Short Hills in the American Revolution

Battle of Short Hills in the American Revolution Battle of Short Hills - Conflict Date: The Battle of Short Hills was fought June 26, 1777, during the American Revolution (1775-1783).   Ã‚   Armies Commanders: Americans General George WashingtonMajor General William Alexander, Lord Stirlingapprox. 2,500 men British General Sir William HoweLieutenant General Lord Charles CornwallisMajor General John Vaughanapprox. 11,000 men Battle of Short Hills - Background: Having been expelled from Boston in March 1776, General Sir William Howe descended on New York City that summer.   Defeating General George Washingtons forces at Long Island in late August, he then landed on Manhattan where he suffered a setback at Harlem Heights in September.   Recovering, Howe succeeded in driving American forces from the area after winning victories at White Plains and Fort Washington.   Retreating across New Jersey, Washingtons beaten army crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania before halting to regroup.   Recovering late in the year, the Americans struck back on December 26 with a triumph at Trenton before achieving a second victory a short time later at Princeton. With winter setting in, Washington moved his army to Morristown, NJ and entered winter quarters.   Howe did the same and the British established themselves around New Brunswick.   As the winter months progressed, Howe commenced planning for a campaign against the American capital at Philadelphia while American and British troops routinely skirmished in the territory between the encampments.   In late March, Washington ordered Major General Benjamin Lincoln to take 500 men south to Bound Brook with the goal of collecting intelligence and protecting farmers in the area.   On April 13, Lincoln was attacked by Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis and forced to retreat.   In an effort to better assess British intentions, Washington moved his army to a new encampment at Middlebrook. Battle of Short Hills - Howes Plan: A strong position, the encampment was situated on the south slopes of the first ridge of the Watchung Mountains.   From the heights, the Washington could observe British movements on the plains below which stretched back to Staten Island.   Unwilling to assault the Americans while they held the high ground, Howe sought to lure them down to the plains below.   On June 14, he marched his army Somerset Courthouse (Millstone) on the Millstone River.   Only eight miles from Middlebrook he hoped to entice Washington to attack.   As the Americans showed no inclination to strike, Howe withdrew after five days and moved back to New Brunswick.   Once there, he elected to evacuate the town and shifted his command to Perth Amboy. Believing the British to be abandoning New Jersey in preparation for moving against Philadelphia by sea, Washington ordered Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling to march towards Perth Amboy with 2,500 men while the rest of the army descended the heights to a new position near Samptown (South Plainfield) and Quibbletown (Piscataway).   Washington hoped that Stirling could harass the British rear while also covering the armys left flank.   Advancing, Stirlings command assumed a line in the vicinity of Short Hills and Ash Swamp (Plainfield and Scotch Plains).   Alerted to these movements by an American deserter, Howe reversed his march late on June 25.   Moving quickly with around 11,000 men, he sought to crush Stirling and prevent Washington from regaining a position in the mountains. Battle of Short Hills - Howe Strikes: For the attack, Howe directed two columns, one led by Cornwallis and the other by Major General John Vaughan, to move through Woodbridge and Bonhampton respectively.   Cornwallis right wing was detected around 6:00 AM on June 26 and clashed with a detachment of 150 riflemen from Colonel Daniel Morgans Provisional Rifle Corps.   Fighting ensued near Strawberry Hill where Captain Patrick Fergusons men, armed with new breech-loading rifles, were able to force the Americans to withdraw up Oak Tree Road.   Alerted to the threat, Stirling ordered reinforcements led by  Brigadier General Thomas Conway forward.   Hearing the firing from these first encounters, Washington ordered the bulk of the army to move back to Middlebrook while relying on Stirlings men to slow the British advance. Battle of Short Hills - Fighting for Time: Around 8:30 AM, Conways men engaged the enemy near the intersection of Oak Tree and Plainfield Roads.   Though offering tenacious resistance that included hand-to-hand fighting, Conways troops were driven back.   As the Americans retreated approximately a mile toward the Short Hills, Cornwallis pushed on and united with Vaughan and Howe at Oak Tree Junction.   To the north, Stirling formed a defensive line near Ash Swamp.   Backed by artillery, his 1,798 men resisted the British advance for around two hours allowing Washington time to regain the heights.   Fighting swirled around the American guns and three were lost to the enemy.   As the battle raged, Stirlings horse was killed and his men were driven back to a line in Ash Swamp. Badly outnumbered, the Americans were ultimately forced to retreat towards Westfield.   Moving quickly to avoid the British pursuit, Stirling led his troops back to the mountains to rejoin Washington.   Halting in Westfield due to the heat of the day, the British looted the town and desecrated the Westfield Meeting House.   Later in the day Howe reconnoitered Washingtons lines and concluded that they were too strong to attack.   After spending the night in Westfield, he moved his army back to Perth Amboy and by June 30 had fully departed New Jersey. Battle of Short Hills - Aftermath: In the fighting at the Battle of Short Hills the British admitted to 5 killed and 30 wounded.   American losses are not known with accuracy but British claims numbered 100 killed and wounded as well as around 70 captured.   Though a tactical defeat for the Continental Army, the Battle of Short Hills proved a successful delaying action in that Stirlings resistance allowed Washington to shift his forces back to the protection of Middlebrook.   As such, it prevented Howe from executing his plan to cut the Americans off from the mountains and defeat them in open ground.   Departing New Jersey, Howe opened his campaign against Philadelphia late that summer.   The two armies would clash at Brandywine on September 11 with Howe winning the day and capturing Philadelphia a short time later.   A subsequent American attack at Germantown failed and Washington moved his army into winter quarters at Valley Forge on December 19. Selected Sources The Battle of the Short HillsRevolutionary War New Jersey - Short HillsBattle of Short Hills Historic Trail

Working as General Practitioner How You Stop smoking in pregnant women Essay

Working as General Practitioner How You Stop smoking in pregnant women ( health Promotion cessation of smoking During Pregnency) - Essay Example The use of tobacco and oral contraceptives often leads to stroke, venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. There is also a growing awareness of the smoking that occurs during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy has been associated with growth retardation of the fetus, increased infant death rate and sudden infant death syndrome. Not only does smoking by-products pass through the placental barrier but they also are transmitted to the baby in breast milk. Breast milk production is also often decreased when mom smokes. Statistics show that mothers who smoke are less likely to breast feed. [1] Therefore both mothers and babies miss out on the importance of this process. Infants who have been exposed to tobacco have an increased risk of low birth weight and death at the time of birth. Low birth weight babies can also be very prone to a number of disorders including learning disabilities, diminished attention span, and increased risk of medical problems. [1] There are also a number of birth defects that are associated with smoking during pregnancy. Those include cleft lip/palate, clubfoot and limb defects. Children’s risks continue with increased childhood infection, bronchitis, negative impact on the overall respiratory health and lung development. It causes a reduction in pulmonary function and development which affects ability to exercise later in life. Last, the fact that mother smokes increases the risk that the child will be a smoker. [1] Haslam and Draper (2001) published a white paper on the need to stop smoking in pregnancy. The Secretaries of State for Health published in 1998 a paper that was reviewed by Haslam. The target set at that time was to reduce the amount of smokers during pregnancy by 15% by the year of 2010. At the time semi-structured interviews were held with pregnant women who smoke in one practice. There were 40 participants. The aim was to understand what motivates someone who is pregnant to smoke. The age range of the

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act's Essay

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act's - Essay Example Plaintiffs also allege that they incurred substantial personal losses due to their respective purchases of Daou stock at fraudulently inflated prices (2005). The district court held that the plaintiffs had failed to state sufficiently particularize claims under the 1933 Securities Act and the 1934 Exchange Act (2005). Hence, Plaintiffs now appeal the district courts dismissal of their Third Amended Complaint (â€Å"TAC†) with prejudice (2005). Plaintiffs contend that Daou fraudulently inflated the price of its stock by reporting revenues before they were earned, in violation of GAAP (2005). They claim that the said company employed an accounting method known as the percentage-of-completion (â€Å"POC†) method, which is used primarily to account for progress on long-term projects (2005). Under this method, revenue from these projects could only be recognized based on the percentage of labor costs incurred to date compared to the total estimated labor costs for the project (2005). Plaintiffs allege, however, that defendants would prematurely recognize revenue in contravention of the POC method (2005). Hence, because of such artificial inflation of the price of Daou stock, Plaintiffs allege that Daou was able to acquire eleven companies, and Daou executives and their respective family members were able to sell nearly 2.5 million shares for a total of $54.67 million in improper proceeds (2005). Plaintiffs also allege th at to their detriment they purchased their Daou shares during the class period at artificially inflated prices and that, had they been aware of Daous true financial results and condition, they would not have purchased their shares, or at least not at the prices paid (2005).

Ethical Relativism and Rights, Equality and Justice Essay

Ethical Relativism and Rights, Equality and Justice - Essay Example This essay discusses that to Hamas, the conflict is all about responding to an aggressive and oppressive neighbor since it refused to recognize Israel and past Palestinian agreements regarding the border and settlements thus escalating the existing border tensions since 2006. The Palestinians living in Gaza Strip and West Bank have equal rights to express their opinions, practice their religion and access basic human services such as food and gas. Accordingly, the Palestinians must be treated equally with respect and dignity. Israel blockade in Gaza has created a humanitarian crisis since 2007 since all border crossing and naval pathways have been restricted in the territory it controls. Although Israel has claimed the goal of the blockade is to diminish Hamas capability of building rockets and mortars, such move has led to the suffering of thousands of Palestinian civilians since it has restricted access to basic services such as healthcare, food, electricity, gas and construction m aterials.Israel asserts that the airstrikes and ground incursion into Hamas is a retaliation of the teenage boys abducted by Hamas and perceives Hamas as a threat since it has launched numerous rockets into Israel territory. Hamas claims that Israel has no moral right of self-defense since it has occupied Palestinian land and implemented a blockade that has led to the humanitarian crisis. However, the best action by the United States is to call for the end of the current hostilities and conflicts that have claimed lives of innocent civilians.

Types of Elections in Texas

Types of Elections in Texas Michael Dean Jalal Nejad, Ph.D. The election process is a staple of American politics, though on the national level it only applies to the Presidency and Congressional elections. In Texas though, citizen vote for all three branches of states government offices. There are three main types of elections in Texas, the primary election, general election, and special elections. The primary elections are held on the second Tuesday in March of even-numbered years (Champagne Harpham 135). They are the first step in the electoral cycle, the primaries are used to determine the political parties candidate for the general election. There are three other types of primaries which are the runoff, open, and closed. The runoff primary is when a no candidate wins by majority. When a runoff primary happens if a Democrat voted in the regular primary they cannot in the Republican runoff primary, if there is one. The same goes for Republicans trying to vote in a Democratic runoff. An open primary is where a registered voter can vote for either party, it doesnt matter their affiliation. However, they cannot vote in both primaries. The last type is a closed primary in which one must vote for their registered party. This works by having the voter declare their party before voting. Though voters need to declare their affiliations before voting, it does not bind them to voting f or that specific party in future elections. The next type of election is the general election. The general election is held the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-number years (Champagne Harpham 136). During the general election the main candidate of both parties run against each other for certain offices. The major officials such as governor and attorney general are elected during years that the presidential election is not occurring. Though most of the time it is the main two parties, Republican and Democrat, sometimes third part or independent candidate run as well. Other elections for smaller offices such as school boards, city councils, and local positions are held usually in the beginning of November (Champagne Harpham 136). The last type of major election is special elections. Special elections are used to fill empty official positions, approval of borrowing large sums of money, and amending the Texas Constitution (Champagne Harpham 136). The specific dates for these elections are made by the legislature of Texas. An example of this would be if a Texas Congressman resigns or gets fired, the governor would have to call a special election to fill the void left by their resignation. Another example would be if the Texas legislature wanted to amend the Texas Constitution they would first have to propose the amendment, the voters would have a special election to actually ratify it into the Constitution. To summarize there are three main types of elections in Texas. There is the primary election where nominees of each party go against each other to see who will represent the party in the general election. The primary elections are held on the second Tuesday in March of even-numbered years. The next type of election would be the general election. In the general election the nominees of the Democratic and Republic parties face off to see who will gain the specific office they are going for. Though the general election focuses on the two main parties, there are usually third party or independent candidates running against them as well. The general elections for major offices are held the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-number years, where the minor offices get elected earlier in November. The last type of election is the special election, these kinds of election take place when there is a vacancy in office, a large loan needs to be taken, or an amendment to the Texas Constitution is proposed. Work Cited Champagne, Anthony, and Edward J. Harpham. Governing Texas:. New York: W.W. Norton Company, 2013. Print.

William Faulkners Absalom, Absalom! Essay example -- Faulkner Absalom

William Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom!" William Faulkner’s novel entitled Absalom, Absalom! is a book which systematically utilizes the concept of discovering the past in the present. Faulkner’s use of the past in the present is pertinent in both the construction of the plot of Absalom, Absalom! as well as the extension of its interpreted meanings. Furthermore, Faulkner’s writing of Absalom, Absalom! appears to have been motivated by the great ills and conflicts of the American South, which was most poignant during the American Civil War, while the title, as well as its implications, was simultaneously conceived in Faulkner’s mind. The fact that the story of Absalom in the Old Testament and the plot of Absalom, Absalom! are so strikingly similar suggests that, in Faulkner’s mind, there is no separation between the past and the present. For Faulkner, time is a continuum in which there is no past, so the only time in which people and things exist is either in the present or in the pro jected future. In fact, Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! demonstrates how the tribulations of the past are often the ills of the present, and, when people, including readers, are able to understand and depart from the failures of human nature, the future holds the possibility of truth and insight. Considering that, for Faulkner, the past is never just the past, there are recognizable parallels betwixt the caricatures of Faulkner in Absalom, Absalom! and the story of Absalom in the Old Testament. For instance, Faulkner’s character Thomas Sutpen absorbs certain traits of both Absalom and his father King David from the Old Testament. Because Thomas Sutpen has the characteristics of both, he is powerful and rules a dynasty like King... ...alid insight into the affairs of the prejudicial and slave stained South. In fact, as Wallace Steven’s suggests in his poem â€Å"Thirteen Ways to of Looking at a Blackbird,† it is the fourteenth view which is the truthful and insightful interpretation, causing a cathartic experience in the individual who perceives it (class notes). However, for those related to and descended from Sutpen, they have similar views of the world, which is embittered by the South’s intolerance for blacks, and they, including Henry, Judith, and Clytemnestra, have grown to abhor the South’s past and, therefore, themselves. As Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! proves, the inhibitions of the past are often inherited into the present. Works Cited Faulkner, William. Absalom, Absalom! New York: Vintage, 1986. Spoto, Dr. Mary T. Class Notes. ENG 433. 28 March 2006.