Thursday, November 28, 2019
American Reaction to the French Revolution
American Reaction to the French Revolution The French Revolution began in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille on July 14th. From 1790 to 1794, the revolutionaries grewà increasingly radical. Americans were at first enthusiastic in support of the revolution. However, over time divisions of opinion became apparent between federalists and anti-federalists. Divide Between Federalists and Anti-Federalists The anti-federalists in Americaà led by figures such as Thomas Jefferson were in favor of supporting the revolutionaries in France. They thought the French were imitating the American colonists in their desire for freedom. There was a hope that the Frenchà would win a greater degree of autonomy that resulted in the new Constitution and its strong federal government in the United States. Many anti-federalists rejoiced in every revolutionary victory as news of it reached America. Fashions changed to reflect republican dress in France. The Federalists were not sympathetic to the French Revolution, led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton.à The Hamiltoniansà feared mob rule. They wereà afraid of egalitarian ideas causing further upheaval at home. European Reaction In Europe, rulers were not necessarily that bothered by what was happening in France at first. However, as the gospel of democracy spread, Austria grew afraid. By 1792, France had declared war on Austria wanting to ensure that it would not try to invade. In addition, revolutionaries wanted to spread their own beliefs to other European countries. As France began to win victories beginning with the Battle of Valmy in September, England and Spain got concerned. Then on January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI was executed. France became emboldened and declared war on England. Thus American could no longer sit back but if they wanted to continue to trade with England and/or France. It had to claim sides or remain neutral. President George Washington chose the course of neutrality, but this would be a difficult tightrope for America to walk. Citizenà Genà ªt In 1792, the French appointedà Edmond-Charles Genà ªt, also known as Citizenà Genà ªt, as the Minister to the United States. There was some question on whether he should be formally received by the USà government. Jefferson felt thatà America should support the Revolution which would mean publicly acknowledgingà Genà ªt as the legitimate minister to France. Hamilton was against receiving him. Despite Washingtons ties to Hamilton and the Federalists, he decided to receive him. Washington eventually ordered thatà Genà ªt be censured and later recalled by France when it was discovered that he had been commissioning privateers to fight for France in its war against Great Britain. Washington had to deal with their previously agreed upon Treaty of Alliance with France that had been signed during the American Revolution. Because of its own claims for neutrality, America could not close its ports to France without appearing to side with Britain. Therefore, even though France was taking advantage of the situation by using American ports to help fight its war against Britain, America was in a difficult place. The Supreme Court eventually helped provide a partial solution by preventing the French from arming privateers in American ports. After this proclamation, it was found that Citizenà Genà ªt had a French-sponsored warship armed and sail from Philadelphia. Washington demanded that he be recalled to France. However, this and other issues with the French fighting the British under the American flag led to increased issues and confrontations with the British. Washington sent John Jay to find a diplomatic solution to the issues with Great Britain. However, the resulting Jays Treaty was quite weak and widely derided. It required the British to abandon forts they still occupied on Americas western frontier. It also created a trading agreement between the two nations. However, it had to give up the idea of freedom of the seas. It also did nothing to stop impressment where the British could force American citizens on captured sailing vessels into service on their own ships. Aftermath In the end, the French Revolution brought the issues of neutrality and how America would deal with belligerent European countries. It also brought unresolved issues with Great Britain to the forefront. Finally, it showed a great divide in the way that federalists and anti-federalists felt about France and Great Britain.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Intonation Definition and Examples in Speech
Intonation Definition and Examples in Speech In speech,à intonation is the use of changing (rising and falling) vocal pitch to convey grammatical information or personal attitude. Intonation is particularly important in expressing questions in spoken English. For example, take the sentence, When does the meeting start? The word start- including the question mark- rises up or comes up in your voice when you utter the word, notes the websiteà English Pronunciation Roadmap. The Musicality of Language Intonationà is the melody or music of a language, saysà David Crystal, author of A Little Book of Language. Intonation refers to the way your voice rises and falls as you speak, as in, Its raining, isnt it? (or innit, perhaps) In this sentence, youre not really asking a question: Youreà tellingà the listener that its raining, so you give your speech a telling melody. The pitch-level of your voice falls and you sound as if you know what youre talking about, and of course, you do, so youre making a statement. But now imagine that youà dontà know if its raining, says Crystal. You think there might be a shower outside, but youre unsure, so you ask someone to check. You use the same words, but the musicality of your voice makes a different point, as in, Its raining, isnt it? Now youreà askingà the person, so you give your speech an asking melody, says Crystal. The pitch-level of your voice rises, and you sound as if youre asking a question. Pitch and Chunking To understand intonation, its important to comprehend two of its key terms: pitch and chunking.à Encyclopaedia Britannicaà notes that pitch is, the relative highness or lowness of a tone as perceived by the ear, which depends on the number of vibrations per second produced by the vocal cords. Everyone has different levels of the pitch in their voice, notes Study.com: Though some are more prone to a higher pitch and some to a lower pitch, we can all change our timbre depending on who we are talking to and why. Timbreà refers to theà quality of sound that distinguishes oneà voice or musical instrument from another or one vowel sound from another: It is determined by the harmonics of the sound. Pitch, then, refers to the musicality of your voice and how you use that musicality or timbre to convey meaning. Chunking- and pausing- meanwhileà packages information for the listener, saysà the University of Technology (UTS)à in Sydney, adding that speakers divideà speechà into chunks, which may be single words or groups of words to communicate a thought or idea, or to focus on information the speaker thinks is important. UTS gives the following example of chunking: Does it really matter whether people speak with an accent as long as they can be easily understood? This sentence breaks into the following chunks: Does it really matter /whether people speak with an accent /as long as they can be easily understood? // In this example, in each chunk, your pitch would be slightly different to better convey your meaning to the listener. Your voice, essentially, rises and falls in each chunk. Types of Intonation Another key point about intonation involves the rising and falling of your voice. Just as a musical instrument rises and falls in its tone as an accomplished player creates a melody to convey a sense of mood, your voice rises and falls in a similar melodic way to create a sense of meaning. Take this example from an article by Russell Banks, in an article called Adultery, which was published in the April/May 1986 issue of Mother Jones. I mean, what the hell? Right? The speakers voice rises and falls in the separate chunks in these two brief sentences, as follows; I mean /What the hell? /Right? // As the speaker says the first chunk- I mean- the voice falls. Then, during the second phrase- What the heck?- the voice rises, almost like climbing a melodic ladder with each word. The speaker does this to express outrage. Then, with one the last word- Right?- the speakers voice climbs even higher, similar to hitting the elusiveà high C in music. This is almost like pushing the sentence to the listener- handing it off if you will- so that the listener will agree with the speaker. (If the listener does not agree, an argument is likely to follow.) And, in the article, the listenerà doesà indeed agree with the speaker, by responding with, Yes, right. The response is spoken with falling intonation, almost as if the listener is giving in and accepting the dictate of the speaker. By the end of the word right, the responders voice has dropped so much its almost as if the person is giving in. Put another way, intonation is the process of chunking statements (and responses), to deliver packages of meaning. Generally, the initial statement (often a question), may rise and fall in tone, but it generally rises at the end, as the speaker passes off the sentence or question to the listener. And, just as with a musical piece that starts quietly, and crescendos in sound and timber, the tone or sound of the response falls as if the responder is bringing the discussion to a quiet ending, just as a melody quietly comes to a soft finish at the end.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Managing Performance in Operations - Apple Inc Essay
Managing Performance in Operations - Apple Inc - Essay Example It sells a large amount of its product line through its online retail stores. The company also tries to cater to a large chunk of education market by offering education gadgets to the students both online and through retail (Apple computer, 2005). The operations of the company are spread throughout America, Europe, Japan, and Asia-Pacific as well as the Middle East and some parts of Africa. The company policy lays a lot of stress on its value chain and every operational activity done by the company is in compliance with the code of Operations (Finkle & Mallin, 2010) ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY AT APPLE: The company has grown from a starting point to become the best company of the world. The stock performance of the company gives a very clear idea about the strategies used by the company. On the very basics, the company is committed to improve customersââ¬â¢ lifestyle by developing the best PC gadgets, Music players and other cellular communication devices. The target market of the com pany is the students, businessmen, educators, and even governmental agencies for the industrial products. In such a case, the company emphasizes on a business strategy that focuses on the ability to design and develop in-house operating systems, application software, hardware and other tangible and intangible products. Seamless integration of the applications and innovative designs are a critical part of Appleââ¬â¢s manufacturing policy. The company lays a strong emphasis on continual improvement and innovation in its product line and other business strategies. Research and Development form the focus of the executives of the company who work on the ideology that that in order to survive and foster, people should think differently and create imaginations. As a result the company keeps on revitalizing its gadgets and digital consumer electronics (Oââ¬â¢ Grady, 2009). The company also integrates various third party applications in its product mix. Many accessories of for Mac comp uters, ipods, and iphones are injected into the market by third-party ventures. Another business strategy employed by the company is the expansion of the distribution network and expands the customer base by focusing on customer satisfaction. These strategies have enabled the company to introduce new products in the market and gain a competitive edge over its competitors (Blackwell, 1987). When in 1999, the company introduced the ibook, its product matrix got complete. The company could now offer a desktop as well as a portable computer with a highly capable operating system. At several instances, the company has acquired several small SMEââ¬â¢s that have been playing in its market. This strategy has enabled the company to gain a competitive edge in the market and maintain and foster its presence. PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION: One of the main reasons for the standout performance of the company in the global market is the product differentiation strategy in companyââ¬â¢s operations. The company staff is very conscious to reduce the similarities among not only the competitor products but also the product line of the company itself. The company has built a reputation by making the state of the art technologies that are user friendly and extremely solution bound. In the industry where the company is operating, the importance of product differentiation acts like a barrier for new entrants. This tool is fully utilized by the company as a part of its corporate strategy.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
International Monetary Fund Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
International Monetary Fund - Article Example According to the agreements the fund is guaranteed to help the members develop economically as well as socially. Article 1 (ii) states, "To facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade, and to contribute thereby to the promotion and maintenance of high levels of employment and real income and to the development of the productive resources of all members as primary objectives of economic policy." Based on this article every member state should enjoy the privileges of economic growth and development. In theory this would be a practical situation but history has show that the Fund itself has several shortcomings and weaknesses. The preliminary signatories to the International Monetary Fund were mainly countries that subscribed to capitalist policies although France was the first country to benefit from the Fund after its inception in 1947. Under the IMF agreement the countries agreed to keep their currencies convertible to the US dollar and the United States agreed to a peg system where the value of their dollar was in terms of gold. Some saw this system as unable to meet the demand of global trading. Also, speculation caused a decrease in the price of gold. There was also a subsequent devaluation of the US dollar. The par value system was discontinued in 1974 and countries were allowed to choose a system that they think was best for their exchange rate. Some saw this decision by the International Monetary Fund as a sign of weakness. "It appeared that the ability of the IMF to regulate world financial conditions was at least greatly diminished, and perhaps finished" (Devries, 1986). (Peet, Born 68). After this change of idea regarding the exchange rate the IMF added a new dimension in dealing with its member countries. It became more involved with the economic policies of the countries. Many countries especially the United States of America and countries in Western Europe had had successive terms of wealth and prosperity so the Fund did not experience a great demand from these countries. The world political situation in the 1970's, however, forced a change on the volume of lending by the Fund. Many countries, especially in the African continent became independent but their new status meant that they needed financial help. Many of these countries lacked the resources and facilities present in the countries in Western Europe. To a large extent a great number was plagued by balance of payment problems. In order to lend assistance to these struggling economies the IMF created the Structural Adjustment Facility in 1986 and replaced by the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility in 1987. This consists of concessionary grants drawn up in collaboration with the World Bank. To qualify for these loans a country has to be in the low-income category. There were a total of thirt y five countries that benefitted from the Structural Adjustment Facility. The recipients are offered lower interest rates with a chance to repay the loan from between five and ten years. As is common with other assistance of the IMF countries benefitting from these loans are required by the IMF to adhere to certain policies. These policies are very restrictive and have forced critics to argue if the Structural Adjustment Facility will bring more harm than good. Firstly, there has to be
Monday, November 18, 2019
Taxation and Tax Environment in the United Kingdom Essay
Taxation and Tax Environment in the United Kingdom - Essay Example When a person is resident for tax purposes in the UK but he is a foreign domicile, he is perhaps only liable for paying tax on the money which has been brought in to the UK. So if a person offshore accounts in his own mother country, but he does not use that money in the UK, he has the chances to exempt from UK taxation but if in doubt he needs to check with an accountant. There are some sorts of income on which tax is not binding. These include certain benefits, special pensions, and income from tax-exempt accounts. These are ignored as well as when working out how much Income Tax may be needed to a taxpayer. HMRC is an association which is responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue, as well as paying Tax Credits and Child Benefits, and strengthening the UK's frontiers. It has a huge volume of information on these matters and it can get more as the individual banks are likely to follow suit. HMRC is also committed to targeting tax evasion. "Self Assessment" is the matter of personal taxation which is used in the UK regime. It is introduced in 1996/97. Self Assessment applies to such types of taxpayers who are self-employed. Their tax affairs are so complicated that can not be fully dealt with under the normal system. For example, we can say about the directors, higher rate taxpayers and those who have more than one source of income. The phrase "self-assessment" is ambiguous because the tax will be calculated by the HM Revenue and Customs in certain circumstances or the taxpayer can use the services of an accountant to calculate the tax on his behalf. The regular income-tax system involves the filing of a return of income with the Income-tax Department along with the statement of accounts maintained if any, production and examination of books of accounts, determination of total income, issue of a demand notice for payment of tax and finally its payment.Ã
Friday, November 15, 2019
Counter Terrorism Measures For Global Safety
Counter Terrorism Measures For Global Safety Terrorism has inflicted fear and panic on almost every corner of the globe. Due to the pain that it inflicts on people indiscriminately, the United Nations has taken the threat of terrorism seriously and is actively engaging all member nations to participate in counterterrorism efforts (United Nations [UN], 2008). The counterterrorism agenda is a priority one for the UN for many years now. Countering terrorism has been a difficult pursuit because it is immediately laden with ethical and moral issues. Due to terrorism targeting even innocent women and children and random civilians located at the wrong place and at the wrong time, many are tempted to pursue counterterrorism through the eye for an eye approach. However, doing this would make the counterterrorism efforts no less evil than the terrorists, so engaging in acts to combat terrorism must adhere to democratic principles (Steven Gunaratna, 2007). While terrorism has been a scourge for many decades now, the United States was for ced to combat terror more aggressively in the advent of the September 11 attacks which claimed the lives of thousands. Measures have been promulgated using various anti-terror approaches in order to protect civilians and to defend the world against terrorism (Bater, 2010). However, combating terrorism has become more difficult because the US is forced to deal not only with terrorists from overseas but even homegrown terrorists such as 19-year old Osban Muhamud who allegedly planted a bomb in a Christmas tree (Thomas, Goldman Ryan, 2010). Nine years after 9/11, the terror threat has not waned and resolving the threat of terror at home and abroad is far from over. Models and Measures of Counterterrorism There are three general models to combat terrorism. The first model, the criminal justice model (CJM), aims to combat terrorism while at the same time preserving fundamental human rights and democratic principles. The second model, the war model (WM), emphasizes on restraining terrorism itself than preserving democratic rights and places the state in a war-fighting mode to counter terrorism effectively. The third model integrates the previous two, called the expanded criminal justice model to provide greater flexibility in counterterrorism efforts (Steven Gunaratna, 2004). These models also reflect current counterterrorism measures recommended by the UN and its member nations, chiefly the United States (Department of Homeland Security [DHS], 2008). Due to the fact that terrorists operate at various levels, whether political, legal, economic, military, and through the media, efforts to combat terrorism also encompass these areas (UN, 2008). Political Measures: Political strategies in combating terrorism require that states address the root causes of terrorism in their respective countries. Terrorists legitimize their violent acts as a response to poverty, unemployment, and other socio-political programs. Political measures to counter terror require that states negotiate with terror groups and making small concessions with them. The danger with this strategy is that it gives terrorist groups legitimacy and may even encourage other groups to resort to terrorism in order to achieve their political goals and demands. Nonetheless, some governments have addressed terrorism by using poverty-reduction programs, employment and livelihood activities, land redistribution, and offering amnesties (UN, 2008). Punitive Measures: Punitive measures are aimed at severing a terrorist groups lifeline by cutting off its finances and other resource-generating capabilities (DHS, 2008). This involves banning fund-raising initiatives of known front organizations of terrorist groups. Other punitive measures that are used in many include freezing assets of known front organizations or of key leaders, boycotting countries found to harbor terrorists, and placing economic sanctions, as in the case of Iran and Iraq. Judicial Measures: Judicial measures consider international human rights law and enact legal measures to prevent terrorism. This includes ratification of international conventions or regional agreements relating to the extradition, prosecution, and mutual legal assistance to facilitate the capture of terrorists. Although this measure is the most democratic form of counterterrorism, it presents many problems such as the possibility of nations refusing to cooperate where the legal systems are not compatible and the refusal to prosecute suspected terrorists out of fear of retaliation. Legally, prosecuting terrorists is a challenge given the non-uniform definition of terrorism among countries (Steven Gunaratna, 2004). Intelligence gathering: The lapses of 9/11 brought several measures to strengthen intelligence in the United States. One of the earliest measures undertaken was the passage of the controversial Patriot Act which reduced the limitations that law enforcement agencies were subject to in terms of searching email, telephone, medical, financial, and professional records (The Investigative Project on Terrorism, 2008). The Act also reduced the restrictions of the US when gathering information on other countries. The law also amended the definition of terrorism to encompass domestic terrorism, thus, expanding the powers of law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. The law came under fire from civil rights groups and enhanced fears regarding breach of privacy and increasing surveillance powers of the government (Bater, 2010). Military Response: The use of military for retaliatory response is an application of the war model whereby civilian legal systems are temporarily suspended in favor of martial law (UN, 2008). The military response is a controversial measure in terms of international law. It poses the likelihood of alienating the public and giving the terrorists hero status; moreover, military response can be interpreted acts of aggression and heighten anti-US sentiment, making the capture of terrorists more difficult (The Investigative Project on Terrorism, 2008). Conclusion Different models and approaches to counterterrorism have been applied by the United States and members of the United Nations. While each have its advantages in zeroing in on terrorists and preventing the further loss of life, certain democratic rights and ethical issues make such measures precarious and difficult. This is because any effort to weed out terrorism must be balanced against international norms on human rights and democratic freedoms.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Canada :: essays research papers
Investing In Canada Investing In Canada - Factors that are attractive for direct investment in Canada. Canada is the second largest country in the world, occupying close to 10 million square kilometres of land bounded by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Canada shares a 6,000 kilometre border and the five largest freshwater lakes in the world with the United States. Known as the Great Lakes, they provide a route to the Atlantic via the St.- Lawrence Seaway, permitting direct access to international markets. More international companies are investing in Canada. The stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada has increased steadily over the past five years to reach over $130 billion last year. Investor confidence is high. International companies are discovering what firms in the United States have known for decades: it pays to invest in Canada. There is a government commitment to attract foreign direct investment. Canada's government provides a competitive, welcoming climate for international business. It is committed to fiscal responsibility, deficit reduction and job creation. The following are some essential points all of which prove Canada is a favorable choice: Domestic market; wage competitiveness; work force quality; International business skills; raw materials; energy costs; infrastructure; business services and legal environment. Domestic Market Canada's per capita purchasing power is second only to that of the United States, among the G-7 countries, and the OECD expects Canada to lead the industrialized countries in near-term economic growth. Inflation is below two per cent and forecast to remain low. Cost of money is lower than it has been for decades. Exports are at record high, having increased by 14 per cent in 1993 over 1992. Under free trade, Canadian-based companies have increased their market share of the Canada-U.S. market. Further, the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), together with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which came into force on January 1, 1994, gives Canadian-based companies an unparalleled access to 365 million people, forming an economy larger than that of the European Community. The combined 1993 GDP value of the Canada-Mexico-U.S. market was in excess of $8.5 trillion. Competitive Wages and Benefit Rates: Many international corporations find the Canadian work force to be highly cost- effective. On average, wages in Canada's business centers are lower than those in nearly all major business centers around the world. Hourly wages of Canadian production workers have risen only 5.4 percent since 1990. Canadian manufacturing wage rates showed the second slowest growth among G-7 countries in 1992, averaging 2.6 percent. In contrast, hourly increases in Britain and Germany have been 12.4 and 14.3 percent, respectively. Educated and Skilled Work Force
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