Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Mexican American War - An Overview

Mexican American War - An Overview Mexican-American War Summary: A conflict that occurred as the result of Mexican resentment over the US annexation of Texas and a border dispute, the Mexican-American War represents the only major military dispute between the two nations. The war was fought primarily in northeastern and central Mexico and resulted in a decisive American victory. As a result of the war, Mexico was forced to cede its northern and western provinces, which today comprise a significant portion of the western United States. When was the Mexican-American War?: Though Mexican-American War was occurred between 1846 and 1848, the majority of the fighting took place between April 1846 and September 1847. Causes: The causes of the Mexican-American War can be traced back to Texas winning its independence from Mexico in 1836. At the end of the Texas Revolution following the Battle of San Jacinto, Mexico refused to acknowledge the new Republic of Texas, but was prevented from taking military action due to the United States, Great Britain, and France conferring diplomatic recognition. For the next nine years, many in Texas favored joining the United States, however Washington did not take action due to fears of increasing sectional conflict and angering the Mexicans. Following the election of the pro-annexation candidate, James K. Polk in 1845, Texas was admitted to the Union. Shortly thereafter, a dispute began with Mexico over the southern border of Texas. This centered around whether the border was located along the Rio Grande or further north along the Nueces River. Both sides sent troops to the area and in an effort to lower tensions, Polk dispatched John Slidell to Mexico to begin talks regarding the United States buying territory from the Mexicans. Commencing negotiations, he offered up to $30 million in exchange for accepting the border at the Rio Grande as well as the territories of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico and Alta California. These attempts failed as the Mexican government was unwilling to sell.   In March 1846, Polk directed Brigadier General Zachary Taylor to advance his army into the disputed territory and establish a position along the Rio Grande. This decision was a response to new Mexican President Mariano Paredes declaring in his inaugural address that he sought to uphold Mexican territorial integrity as far north as the Sabine River, including all of Texas. Reaching the river, Taylor established Fort Texas and withdrew towards his supply base at Point Isabel. On April 25, 1846, a US cavalry patrol, led by Captain Seth Thornton, was attacked by Mexican troops. Following the â€Å"Thornton Affair,† Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war, which was issued on May 13. Causes of the Mexican-American War Taylors Campaign in Northeastern Mexico: Following the Thornton Affair, General Mariano Arista ordered Mexican forces to open fire on Fort Texas and lay siege. Responding, Taylor began moving his 2,400-man army from Point Isabel to relieve Fort Texas. On On May 8, 1846, he was intercepted at Palo Alto by 3,400 Mexicans commanded by Arista. In the battle that ensued Taylor made effective use of his light artillery and forced the Mexicans to retreat from the field. Pressing on, the Americans encountered Aristas army again the next day. In the resulting fight at Resaca de la Palma, with Taylor’s men routed the Mexicans and drove them back across the Rio Grande. Having cleared the road to Fort Texas, the Americans were able to lift the siege. As reinforcements arrived through the summer, Taylor planned for a campaign in northeastern Mexico. Advancing up the Rio Grande to Camargo, Taylor then turned south with the goal of capturing Monterrey. Battling hot, dry conditions, the American army pushed south and arrived outside of city in September. Though the garrison, led by  Lieutenant General Pedro de Ampudia, mounted a tenacious defense, Taylor captured the city after heavy fighting. When the battle ended, Taylor offered the Mexicans a two month truce in exchange for the city. This move angered Polk who began to strip Taylor’s army of men for use in invading central Mexico. Taylor’s campaign ended in February 1847, when his 4,000 men won a stunning victory over 20,000 Mexicans at the Battle of Buena Vista. Taylors Campaign in Northeastern Mexico War in the West: In mid-1846, Brigadier General Stephen Kearny was dispatched west with 1,700 men to capture Santa Fe and California. Meanwhile, US naval forces, commanded by Commodore Robert Stockton, descended on the coast of California. With the aid of American settlers and Captain John C. Frà ©mont and 60 men of the US Army who had been en route to Oregon, they swiftly captured the towns along the coast. In late 1846, they aided Kearny’s exhausted troops as they emerged from the desert and together forced the final surrender of Mexican forces in California. Fighting was ended in the region by the  Treaty of Cahuenga in January 1847. Scotts March to Mexico City: On March 9, 1847, Major General Winfield Scott landed 12,000 men outside of Veracruz. After a brief siege, he captured the city on March 29. Moving inland, he began a brilliantly conducted campaign that saw his army advance deep into enemy territory and routinely defeat larger forces. The campaign opened when Scotts army defeated a larger Mexican army at Cerro Gordo on April 18. As Scott’s army neared Mexico City, they fought successful engagements at Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey. On September 13, 1847, Scott launched an attack on Mexico City itself, assaulting Chapultepec Castle and capturing the gates of the city. Following the occupation of Mexico City, the fighting effectively ended. Scotts March on Mexico City Aftermath Casualties: The war ended on February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty ceded to the United States the land that now comprises the states of California, Utah, and Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. Mexico also renounced all rights to Texas. During the war 1,773 Americans were killed in action and 4,152 were wounded. Mexican casualty reports are incomplete, but it estimated that approximately 25,000 were killed or wounded between 1846-1848. Aftermath of the Mexican-American War Notable Figures: General Zachary Taylor– Commander of US trops in northeastern Mexico. Later became President of the United States.General President Jose Lopez de Santa Anna – Mexican general and president during the war.General Winfield Scott – Commander of the US army that captured Mexico City.General Stephen W. Kearny – Commander of US troops that captured Santa Fe and secured California.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

The Industries Where People Are Most Likely to Quit Their Jobs

The Industries Where People Are Most Likely to Quit Their Jobs People threaten to quit their jobs all the time. That doesn’t mean they do. But it is a common enough refrain- and a common enough occurrence. Turns out, however, it seems to be more common in certain fields than in others. Here are 10 fields most susceptible to losing personnel.1. HospitalityYou try waiting on grumpy people your entire workweek. Food service employees and people in the travel industry work crazy hours and are paid relatively little, which can be difficult to sustain. Plus, this industry draws young people supplementing their income and often loses employees to their forever careers.2. HealthcareHigh stakes, high stress. It’s not easy having people’s lives in your hands. Sometimes this field can be too much to take long term.3. Real EstateIt’s easy enough to get your license and start practicing. But this job is actually incredibly difficult in terms of achieving actual success. Almost half of aspiring agents quit after failing to make the ir first sale. Without the right negotiation skills and sales prowess, it can be incredibly difficult to stick out.4. Non-profitHard work, personal development†¦ no money. Unless you’re in a top management position, this can be a frustrating and unrewarding venture. Lots of non-profit sector employees tend to migrate into the private sector to make more money.5. Mining/loggingTalk about grueling, hazardous work. There’s a very high risk of fatalities in this field and the earnings are comparatively low. So when miners or loggers get a shot out, they almost always take it.6. ConstructionThis career choice is not terribly well compensated, and can be extremely dangerous.7. RetailMuch like the service industry, retail attracts younger employees who can suffer the low hourly wage and unpleasant, inflexible hours. But very few stick around if they can help it.8. Arts and entertainmentLots of people have dreams to be performers, actors, musicians, magicians, you name it . But the career is exceptionally challenging and paid opportunities are scarce. Given the difficulty in finding a stable career path, lots of artists end up finding other work.9. Trades/transportMany workers who quit this field move onto better opportunities, considering the skilled labor involved. Some, however, don’t- such as taxi drivers, truckers, freight haulers, etc. The work can be taxing and the pay relatively low.10. Transportation warehousing/utilitiesWith an even higher fatality rate than mining and logging, these workers are at a very high risk for workplace injury. And, again, the pay is often hardly worth the risk.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Human resources management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human resources management - Research Paper Example Mayo Clinic is one of the top 50 companies in the United States. This position represents the success of the company in terms of employment, revenue, and profitability. The current number of employees at the company is estimated to be around 61,100 (Mayo Clinic). This number comprises staff physicians, scientists, residents, fellows, students, and allied personnel in clinics and hospitals. In terms of revenues and profitability, Mayo Clinic has revenue of around $8.8 billion, an estimated profit of $395 million, and benefactor contributions of around $245 million. On its part, NuStar Energy is a leading company in the energy sector. This company ranks in the second half of top 100 companies in the United States. NuStar Energy is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and undertakes business operations in at least six countries (NuStar Energy). The company’s progressive growth came after it went public over a decade ago. Today, NuStar Energy has at least 1,900 employees, and its revenue standings are in excess of $6 billion. In light of the above discussion, human resources are critical to the success of any given organization (Noe et al. 91). Mayo Clinic’s human resource policies are aligned with the organization’s objective of enhancing patient care, education, and research. To do this, the company employs diverse and dynamic human resource strategies. Notably, Mayo Clinic works with physicians, scientists, fellows, students, and allied health practitioners. This allows the company to diversify its human resource approach towards long-term effectiveness, efficiency, and success. Most importantly, the company understands that remuneration and employee rewarding are significant in the health care sector. The company’s benefits include comprehensive health benefits to employees over and above part-time or full-time pay. Work hours are divided into up to three shifts of around eight hours per shift. In terms of pay,

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Surveying and mapping Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Surveying and mapping - Essay Example Designing an effective and efficient survey network is one of the essential aspects in the implement of field surveys. In contrast, the design of a survey network is a complicated and sophisticated task because a survey network needs to meet or exceed specified criteria for precision, reliability, sensitivity, and cost. Other pivotal factors must be taken into account in a feasible design, such as geological criteria, suitability for equipment measurement, long term safety, field time and access costs (Talaya, et al., 1999). Therefore, it is vital to implement the techniques and instruments of the design of the survey network to deal with a variety of current problems. For instance, deformation monitoring network of dam (Gà ¶kalp and TaÅŸÃ §Ã„ ±, 2009), precise levelling of the network (Shahrum and Azhari, 2009), and control the network of construction, have drawn intensive attention for surveyors. The aim of survey network design is understood as creating an optimal network configuration and observation plan that satisfies the postulated network quality criteria (e.g., error ellipses and redundancy numbers) with minimum cost (Amiri-Simkooei and Sharifi, 2004). In other words, survey network design has two aspects: using the current equipment and condition to imbue the layout of the survey network with a higher accuracy, sensitivity and reliability; the cost of the survey network is the lowest when the network meets the precision, sensitivity and reliability.... Increasing amounts of researchers have considered the very pivotal role feedback loops play in the overall progress of network design technology (Mishima 2009; Anderson, and Mikhail, 2003). With the growing need for increased feedback mechanisms to ensure accuracy and reliability, software such as Geolab has emerged to attempt to account for these measures through trial-and-error procedural least square adjustment. Still, the complete potential of such a system remains to be understood. This research advances with a context consideration of this theoretical understanding. 1.2 Classification of survey network design In accordance with Grafarend’s suggestions (Grafarend, 1974), survey network design can be decomposed into four smaller problems. 1) Zero order design (ZOD) The free network that is a known configuration and observation plan will select an optimal coordinate system for the coordinate of control points and their variance. In other words, to determine the coordinates of vector X and the co-factor matrix when the design matrix and weight matrix of observation P is known, so that X is an objective function to extremes. Therefore, ZOD is an adjustment problem. 2) First order design (FOD) Design matrix A will be determined when the observation matrix P is known, so that some elements of the survey network reach a predetermined value or the highest accuracy, or the best approximation to the Coordinate of a given matrix. 3) Second order design (SOD) To determine the weight matrix of observation P when the design matrix P is known, so that some elements can achieve the desired accuracy or the highest accuracy, or coordinate the best approximation of a co-factor matrix given matrix. 4) Third order design

Friday, January 24, 2020

Masterful Management of the Atmosphere in Macbeth :: Free Macbeth Essays

Masterful Management of the Atmosphere in Macbeth      Ã‚   Shakespeare in his tragedy Macbeth shows himself to be a playwright who can manipulate the atmosphere at every turn in the road. The atmosphere of this play is a choreographic work of art which is synchronized with the action of the play.    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants that he agrees with G. B. Harrison, that this play contains one of the finest examples of atmosphere ever created in drama:    Macbeth is overwhelmed with the significance of his filthy deed. His wife is concerned only with the details of what must be done next - with facts. She has no imagination. The passage between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after the murder is one of the finest examples of atmosphere ever created in drama."(62)    Lily B. Campbell in her volume of criticism, Shakespeare's Tragic Heroes: Slaves of Passion, explains how the atmosphere of terror and fear is built up:    Macbeth is, however, not only a study of fear; it is a study in fear. The sounds and images in the play combine to give the atmosphere of terror and fear. The incantation of the witches, the bell that tolls while Duncan dies, the cries of Duncan, the cries of the women as Lady Macbeth dies, the owl, the knocking at the gate, the wild horses that ate each other, the story, the quaking of the earth - all of these are the habitual accompaniments of the willfully fearful in literature. (238-39)    Charles Lamb in On the Tragedies of Shakespeare comments on the atmosphere surrounding the play:    The state of sublime emotion into which we are elevated by those images of night and horror which Macbeth is made to utter, that solemn prelude with which he entertains the time till the bell shall strike which is to call him to murder Duncan, - when we no longer read it in a book, when we have given up that vantage-ground of abstraction which reading possesses over seing, and come to see a man in his bodily shape before our eyes actually preparing to commit a muder, if the acting be true and impressive as I have witnessed it in Mr. K's performance of that part, the painful anxiety about the act, the natural longing to prevent it while it yet seems unperpetrated, the too close pressing semblance of reality,give a pain and an uneasiness [.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Khat: Ethiopia and Somali Youth

Khat is a green-leaved plant grown predominantly in the Horn of Africa, and consumed in the diaspora by emigrants from the region – Ethiopians, Kenyans, Yemenis and most notably Somalis – who report a mild, amphetamine-like high. Khat is legal in the UK, as are mafrishes, but spirited campaigns to outlaw it on health and social grounds have been galvanised in the past year by claims that terror cells are operating wherever khat is chewed, and that al-Shabaab is focusing its recruitment efforts on disenfranchised Somali youth with khat-addled minds.CNN said that reporters have been attacked while trying to enter mafrishes; the Huffington Post said that it had been advised not even to attempt access. A reporter with Vice magazine said he tried khat, washed it down with beer, and â€Å"got all hyper and threw a chair†. My sources were less certain of the dangers. â€Å"The most radical thing I've ever seen at a mafrish is a group of old men watching porn on the tel ly,† said one anthropologist.And apprehension dissipates rapidly in Peckham, despite a finger jabbed into my chest on the street outside, accompanied by the question: â€Å"What are you? † Hastily abandoning a flimsy cover story, I admit that I am a reporter with this magazine. My interlocutor appears baffled. â€Å"But what football team are you? † he says. I tell him, he rolls his eyes, grabs me by the forearm and hauls me inside. During the next month visiting mafrishes in south London, I will be scorned often for being a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.Issues of my nationality (British), ethnicity (white) and profession (journalist) pass without comment. No one attempts to recruit me to al-Shabaab. According to most recent figures, there are close to 110,000 Somalis in the UK, around 35 per cent of whom admit to consuming khat on a regular basis. Although some women indulge in the home or with female friends, khat chewing is most commonly regarded as a male pasti me, particularly in the mafrishes, which are frequently referred to as â€Å"Somali pubs†.The analogy is obvious, even though Somalis, as Muslims, tend not to drink. In Africa, khat's stimulant properties make it the product of choice for long-distance lorry drivers, night-watchmen and students cramming for exams. But in the diaspora it has come to be regarded as a cheap luxury, known to be an aid for relaxation and conversation. Men congregate to network, discuss politics and family or work issues. They watch the news or football matches, chew the fat – and chew khat.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Personal Attitude To Pride And Prejudice Novel - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 899 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: Pride and Prejudice Essay Did you like this example? Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, U.K. She was the seventh child out of eight children and the second female of the siblings. Her father, George Austen, was a reverend and was married to Cassandra Leigh (who was later changed to Cassandra Austen after marriage). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Personal Attitude To Pride And Prejudice Novel" essay for you Create order She went to a boarding school along with her sister, Cassandra. After they came back home, they began writing professionally and that is when Jane would write Pride and Prejudice (first named First Impressions). Her first draft was written in 1799 and was first published in January 28, 1813. Four years later, on July 18, 1817, Jane Austen died of Addisons disease. Pride and Prejudice was a historical fiction romance that was set in a town in England in the year 1813. The setting of the plot varies from estate to estate and town to town, though begins in Longbourn (the Bennets estate). Our heroine of our story is Elizabeth Bennet; she starts off as a 20 year old witty young woman with dark hair and dark eyes. She is clever, independent and sometimes even haughty. She is the second eldest daughter of the Bennets and the surprising love interest of Mr. Darcy. Fitzwilliam J. Darcy is an arrogant, intelligent, and unagreeable man. Well, that is how he appears to only seem at first. He ends up falling in love with Elizabeth, later becoming her spouse. On the surface, Charles Bingley is the exact opposite. He is witty, kind and agreeable man who has moved into Netherfield Park. Though as perfect as he seems, he still looks for his good friend Mr. Darcy for help when he is in need. In the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, Charles Bingley moves into Netherfield Park. Bingley is wealthy, handsome, kind, socially agreeable and is seen as a perfect candidate to be the new spouse of everyones daughter. The Bennets household is all unmarried girls (not including Mr. and Mrs. Bennet of course) and Mrs. Bennet is ecstatic at Bingleys appearance. Mr. Bennet is unenthusiastic but is still open to the idea of one of his daughters getting married. Mr. Bingley plans out a wedding and it seems like a competition for parents (mostly mothers) to see if they can get their daughter to pull at Bingleys heart strings. At the ball, they introduce Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, along with getting to know the Bennet girls. During the ball, Dary gets to dance with Elizabeth which only boost the hopes for marriage for Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. bennet goes and squeals about it to Mr. Bennet and he remains stoic as ever. Later on, Mr. Bingley invites them to a dinner where they get to know e achother better. Darcy continues to present himself as a man that does not care about anyone but himself. Darcy sees everyone as unfit for him to be attracted to. That all changes when the Bennets begin to get to know the Bingleys better along with Mr. Darcy. Darcy starts to grow feelings for Elizabeth. (idk if this is done or not tbh:/) Later on, Lydia, Darcys sister, falls in love with Wickham, a militia officer. Wickham a manipulative snake and has the charm to get anyone to wrap around his finger. In this particular game of manipulation, he pretends to be the victim of Darcys cruelty. Though in reality it was a trick to get the Darcys fortune. Elizabeth and Lydia both fall for his lies. This begins to cause more conflict in Elizabeths and Darcys relationship. Darcy fixes the whole situation and regains his trust from Elizabeth as well as his sister. Later on in the story, Darcy and Elizabeth go on a walk in Longborn, the Bennets estate. Elizabeth thanks Darcy for all he has done and Darcy replies, I thought only of you (Austen *insert page number*). After this, he proposes to the dark haired girl the second time and this time she accepts. They both are obviously giddy with love even though neither are very romantic. After the proposal, Elizabeth must convince her parents that she truly loves Darcy before marrying him. She explains to him that he paid off Wickham only out of his love for Elizabeth. Her mother, as expected, is ecstatic at the news. After the weddings of the Elizabeth and Darcy along with Jane and Bingley and Wickham and Lydia, Elizabeth finally ends the feuds with Miss.Bingley, Charles Bingleys sister, who was also not-so-subtly fighting for Darcys heart. Lady Catherine, a rich neighbor against Darcy and Elizabeths relationship who even confronts Elizabeth about it, finally comes to terms and accepts their marriage. I personally did not enjoy this book, it is just not my cup of tea. I would not suggest this book if you do not enjoy older writing or vague descriptions. For example, Pride and Prejudice hardly gives any scenic description or any descriptions of even the main characters which is usually my favorite part of reading. I also dont recommend this if you dont enjoy the culture of 1800s. For me, it was a little hard to get through because of the culture. For example, everyone needed to get married and the moment Mr. Bingley moved in town everyone wanted their daughter on his mind just from knowing that he is young and has money which bothers me a great deal where even the book glorifies this mindset.