The Beliefs of Humors in Medieval Medicine Essays

The Beliefs of Humors in Medieval Medicine Essays The Beliefs of Humors in Medieval Medicine Paper The Beliefs of Humors in Medieval Medicine Paper During the Medieval time period, few advances were made in the field of medicine and surgery. The belief in humors affecting ones health during the Middle Ages was responsible for the way health care was carried out. Practitioners in Medieval Europe believed in the existence of four humors: sanguine, choler, phlegm, and melancholy. The physicians thought that illness was caused, primarily, by an imbalance of the humors (Wallace). Each of the four humors was given specific qualities. Choler was dry and hot, melancholy was dry and cold, sanguine was moist and hot, and phlegm was moist and cold. Another property sometimes associated with the humors was color. Such as red for sanguine, and yellow for choler. This association of color and humors eventually became known as the Doctrine of Signatures which taught that â€Å"the color of flowers and other properties of plants indicated their usefulness in treating particular diseases† (Wallace). One example of this would be using yellow buttercups to control choler, to cure jaundice (Wallace). The physician and practitioners believed that â€Å"balance of humors in humans was achieved by diet, medicines, and phlebotomy† (Krzywicka). Changing diet was very popular in the lower classes while â€Å"real† medicine and phlebotomy were reserved for people of higher social standing (Krzywicka). Eating habits of an individual in Medieval Europe depended greatly on his financial status and, many times, his geographic location. When the change of diet was used to balance humors, the Doctrine of Signatures was put into use. For example, if one had too much sanguine in his system, he would give up foods red in color until everything was back in balance (Krzywicka). If a change of diet did not suit the patient, medicine would be administered. The type of medicine used would depend entirely on the ill person’s social class. Someone of an upper class would get a prescription from a formerly trained physician where as someone belonging to a lower class would seek help from a â€Å"folk† doctor (Krzywicka). â€Å"The medicines in the Medieval ages more often than not would take the forum of herbal remedies† (Krzywicka). Plants and other random substances were given certain properties to match those of the humors. Fold doctors (mainly women) generally gave prescriptions which did not involve taking anything internally. Such an idea would be wearing lavender to ward off the plague. Someone seeking help from trained practitioner would often be prescribed something such as a laxative, taken orally, to relieve hi body of the humor at fault. If something of this nature did not heal the patient, he would be sent to a surgeon. The surgeon then â€Å"worked to diagnose which humor was at fault then balanced out or purged the humor†¦often by bloodletting† (Wallace). â€Å"Bleeding was [a]†¦treatment thought to restore a balance of the humors in the body† (Black 5). Because of this, Bloodletting, or phlebotomy, was a common thing in Medieval times. The area of the body the blood was drained from depended on where the illness was located. Generally, the surgeons adjusted the humors â€Å"by bloodletting from the sides of the body opposite of the disease† (â€Å"Doctor’s Procedures†). More often than not the administration of bloodletting was unsuccessful, sometimes ending in the deadening of a limb or even death (â€Å"Doctor’s Procedures†). Because of the damage done during bloodletting, sometimes a person would have to have a limb removed. Amputation during the Middle Ages was not very safe. Since the link had not yet been made between health and cleanliness (germs had not been â€Å"invented† yet), many people died after an amputation due to infection of the wound. Fortunately, though, the patient would feel no pain during the operation due to the use of the opium poppy as an anesthetic (â€Å"Medicine in†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). The idea of the four humors held back medicine in many ways during the Middle Ages. Fortunately due to trade and other forms of communication with the outside world, most of this was rectified. Some ideas, such as trained physicians, did, however, remain. Bibliography : Black, Lois Fischer. â€Å"George M. Teeple: Rural Practitioner. † Favourite Edition September 1999:1-8. â€Å"Doctor’s Procedures. † The Medieval Medicine Web Site. Online. Internet. 14 October 2002. Available http://union-city. k12. nj. us/curr/stp/larts/medieval/medicine/proced. html. Krzywicka, Magdalena. â€Å"Education. † Medieval Medicine. 2000. Online. Internet. 8 October 2002. Available dorkart. com/med/ index. php. â€Å"Medicine in the Middle Ages. † The Causes and Cure of Disease. Online. Internet. 14 October 2002. Available http://minstercollege. schoolzone. co. uk/subjects/history/mhist/Medicine. htm. Wallace, Susan. â€Å"Commonly Used Medicinal Plants. † Mostly Medieval. 1999. Online. Internet. 9 October 2002. Available http://skell. org/ SKELL/plants. htm.

All About Summer Homeschooling

All About Summer Homeschooling If your children are currently in public or private school, but youre thinking of homeschooling,  you may think that summer is the perfect time to test the homeschooling waters. But is it a good idea totry out homeschooling during your childs summer break? Learn about the pros and cons to a summer homeschool trial, along with some tips for setting up a successful trial run.   Pros for Trying Homeschooling During the Summer Many kids thrive on routine. Many children function best with  a predictable schedule. Moving right into a school-like routine may be ideal for your family and result in a more peaceful, productive summer break for everyone. You may also enjoy year-round homeschooling. A six weeks on/one week off schedule  allows for regular breaks throughout the year and longer breaks as needed. A four-day week is another year-round homeschool schedule that may provide just enough structure for the summer months. Finally, consider doing formal studies only two or three mornings each week during the summer, leaving afternoons and a few full days open for social activities or free time. It gives struggling learners a chance to catch up. If you have a student who is struggling academically, the summer months may be an excellent time to strengthen weak areas and see what you think of homeschooling at the same time. Don’t focus on the trouble spots with a classroom mindset. Instead, practice skills actively and creatively. For example, you might recite times tables while bouncing on the trampoline, jumping rope, or playing hopscotch. You can also use the summer months to try an entirely different approach to areas of struggle. My oldest had difficulty with reading in first grade. Her school used a whole word approach. When we began homeschooling, I chose a phonics program that taught reading skills in a systematic way with lots of games. It was just what she needed. It gives advanced learners an opportunity to dig deeper. If you have a gifted learner, you may find that your student isn’t challenged by the pace at his school or is frustrated at only skimming the surface of concepts and ideas. Schooling during the summer provides the opportunity to dig deeper into the topics that intrigue him. Perhaps he’s a Civil War buff who wants to learn more than names and dates. Maybe he is fascinated by science and would love to spend the summer conducting experiments. Families can take advantage of summer learning opportunities. There are  many fantastic learning opportunities during the summer. Not only are they educational, but they can provide insight into your childs talents and interests. Consider options such as: Day camps- art, drama, music, gymnasticsClasses- cooking, driver’s education, writingVolunteer opportunities- zoos, aquariums, museums Check with community colleges, businesses, libraries, and museums for opportunities. A history museum on a college campus in our area  offers summer classes for teens. You may also want to check your favorite social media outlets for local homeschool groups. Many offer summer classes or activities, providing you with educational opportunities and a chance to get to know other homeschooling families. Some public and private schools send children home with a summer bridge program that includes reading and activity assignments. If your childs school does, you can incorporate those into your homeschooling trial. Cons to Summer Homeschooling Kids may resent losing their summer break. Children learn early to embrace summer break with excitement. Jumping into full-fledged academics when your kids know that their friends are enjoying a more relaxed schedule could leave them feeling resentful. They may project that feeling onto you or onto homeschooling in general. Transitioning from public school to homeschool can be tricky anyway. You don’t want to start off with unnecessary negativity. Some students need time to reach developmental readiness. If you’re thinking about homeschooling because your child is struggling academically, consider the fact that he  may not be developmentally ready for that particular skill. Focusing on the concepts your child finds challenging may seem like a good idea, but doing so can prove counterproductive. Many times parents notice a marked improvement in a particular skill or understanding of a concept after children have taken a break from it for a few weeks or even a few months. Let your child use the summer months  to focus on his areas of strength. Doing so can provide a much-need boost of confidence without sending the message that hes not as smart as his peers. It can leave students feeling burnt out. Giving home education a try with a heavy focus on formal learning and seatwork will likely leave your child feeling burnt out and frustrated if you decide to continue with public or private school in the fall. Instead, read lots of great books and look for hands-on learning opportunities. You can also use those summer bridge activities. That way, your child is still learning and youre giving home educating a try, but your child can return to school refreshed and ready for the new year if you decide not to homeschool after all. A sense of commitment may be missing. One problem I’ve seen with a summer homeschooling trial run is a lack of commitment. Because parents know that they’re just trying homeschooling, they don’t work with their children consistently during the summer months. Then, when it’s time for school in the fall, they decide not to homeschool because they don’t think they can do it. It’s much different when you know that you’re responsible for your child’s education. Dont base your overall commitment to homeschooling on a summer trial. It doesn’t allow time to deschool. Deschooling is a foreign word to most people outside of the homeschooling community. It refers to allowing children a chance to let go of any negative feelings associated with learning and rediscover their natural sense of curiosity. During the deschooling period, textbooks and assignments are put aside allowing kids (and their parents) to rediscover the fact that learning happens all time time. It isnt constrained by school walls or blocked off into neatly-labeled subject headings. Instead of focusing on formal learning during summer break, leave that time for deschooling. Thats sometimes easier to do over the summer without stressing and worrying that your student is falling behind because you don’t see formal learning happening. Tips for Making a Summer Homeschool Test Run Successful If you choose to use the summer break to see if homeschooling might be a good fit for your family, there are some steps you can take to make it a more successful trial. Don’t recreate a classroom. First, don’t try to recreate a traditional classroom. You don’t need textbooks for summer homeschooling. Get outside. Explore nature, learn about your city, and visit the library. Play games together. Work puzzles. Travel and learn about the places you visit by exploring while youre there. Create a learning-rich environment. Kids are naturally curious. You may be surprised at how much they learn with little direct input from you if you’re intentional about creating a learning-rich environment. Make sure that books, art and craft supplies, and open-ended play items are easily accessible.   Allow kids to explore their interests. Use the summer months to help children rediscover their natural curiosity. Give them the freedom to explore the things that capture their interest. If you have a child who loves horses, take her the library to borrow books and videos about them. Check into horseback-riding lessons or visit a farm where she can see them up close. If you have a child who’s into LEGOs, allow time for building and exploring. Look for opportunities to capitalize on the educational element of LEGOs without taking over and turning it into school.  Use the blocks as math manipulatives or build simple machines. Use the time to establish a routine. Use the summer months to figure out a good routine for your family so that you’re ready whenever you determine it’s time to introduce formal learning. Does your family function better when you get up and do schoolwork first thing in the morning, or do you prefer a slow start? Do you need to get a few household chores out of the way first or do you prefer to save them until after breakfast? Do any of your children still take naps or could you all benefit from a daily quiet time? Does your family have any unusual schedules to work around, such as a spouse’s work schedule? Take some time during the summer to figure out the best routine for your family, keeping in mind that homeschooling doesn’t have to follow a typical 8-3 school schedule. Use the time to observe your child. Look at the summer months as a time for you to learn rather than teach. Pay attention to what sorts of activities and topics capture your child’s attention. Does he prefer reading or being read to? Is she always humming and moving or is she quiet and still when she’s concentrating? When playing a new game, does he read the directions from cover-to-cover, ask someone else to explain the rules, or want to play the game with  you explaining the steps as you play? If given the option, is she an early riser or a slow starter in the morning? Is he self-motivated or does he need some direction? Does she prefer fiction or non-fiction? Become a student of your student and see if you can pinpoint some of the ways he learns best. This knowledge will help you choose the best curriculum and determine the best homeschooling style for your family. Summer can be a good time for you to explore the possibility of homeschooling- or a great time to begin preparing for a successful start to homeschooling in the fall.

Carbon footprint estimate Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Carbon footprint estimate - Research Paper Example All these average to 8kwh per day in reference to the monthly bill of 240kwh. This translates to 2,880kwh per year, which is generated from coal. According to the Wright, Kemp and Williams (2011), coal, which is the source of electricity in this case, produces about 0.91 Kg of Carbon Dioxide per kWh. Home electricity use therefore contributes 2.62 tons of Carbon per year. Travelling is also a critical contributor to carbon emissions. I commute to and fro a total of 10 Km per day with a public bus that according to Reggiani and Schintler (2005) generates 60g of CO2 for one passenger per Kilometre. From this, perspective, I contribute 0.219tons of CO2 per year through daily commuting. Daily beef consumption is also an important indirect contributor of CO2 among other greenhouse gases emitted by the animals in to the atmosphere. The CO2 is mainly as a result of cultivation, processing and transportation of animal feeds. For example, Rohrer (2007) estimates the CO2 generated to produce 1kg of beef to be 13.3 kg and 0.95 kg for 1 litre of milk. Fruits and vegetables are estimated to contribute 0.7kg of CO2 per kg of food. The daily consumption of 0.5 kg of meat therefore adds up to 2.43 tons of CO2 per year while 0.5 litres per day will contribute 0.173tons of CO2 per year while consumption of 0.5 kg fruits and vegetables per day contributes 0.13 tons of CO2 annually. According to Goodall (2007), natural gas such as methane has been found to contribute 0.23 kg of CO2 per kWh of gas used. Gas has to be used daily for cooking and warming food and I use approximately 8 kWh per day. This translates to 2,928 kWh per year, meaning that 0.67 tons of CO2 are generated through culinary activities in my house, yet some foods such as bread are ready for consumption. Water usage in the house could have been a major contributor to CO2 if measures were not put in place to minimize the number of units used per day.

What is terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

What is terrorism - Essay Example There are many other similar definitions of terrorisms used by scholars and research institutions and thus, there isn`t a consensus on the exact definition as yet. Thus, it may be concluded that it is not an easy task to define it with one single definition. In fact, the true definition of terrorism can be given by looking at the nature of conflict and role of media. Since both of these are determining factors for classifying an act as a terrorist activity or the war of freedom it is crucial to study various definitions and thus find out recurring patterns. Thus, despite of the variety of definitions, there are some factors that are common to all of them (Duncan 2013). These factors are: b) Perpetrator: constitutes the person who is responsible for the terrorist attack. It can be anyone; even the state itself uses violence against its own public which is referred to as state terrorism c) Motive: in other words the aim of the terrorist attack. There is always a goal behind any terrorist activity which may be political or social. In the absence of any such motive, the act is not a terrorist attack, it is simply a crime. d) Victims: Who is a victim of terrorist activity is a very controversial issue. According to many definitions of terrorism, victim is generally the common people. Terrorists’ activities are carried on the masses in order to pressurize the government of that particular country. The term terrorism was first coined during the French revolution in 1790`s for the insurgents using violence against the state (Lacqueur 1977). However, over the years, such terrorist groups have been found inflicting violence if different forms all over the world. The concept of terrorism was historically treated as religious extremism, i.e. religious extremism could interchangeably be used for terrorism. One of the aspects

Cost of delivery Essay Example for Free

Cost of delivery Essay 1. The chain stores’ request to reduce cycle time by shipping directly to the stores would seriously affect the service model and delivery costs for BKI. Because, the proposed model would mean that BKI would have to process more number of deliveries in smaller quantities and transport them separately to each store. Cost of delivery will increase due to smaller quantities to be delivered directly to stores resulting in more trips, farther distances and lower economies of scale. This is in complete contrast to the more structured and systematic current model of weekly deliveries of standard quantities to the stores’ warehouses. 2. In my opinion, Joe Rutner’s proposal of establishing a set of six company-owned facilities to act as regional DCs seems to be a step in the right direction for taking on the supply chain requirements of BKI’s customers in the future. Rather than dismissing this store’s request as a one-off case and handling it on a temporary basis, Rutner has proposed a solution that is likely to take the company forward into the future. He understands that the retail stores are themselves are looking to cut costs by improving their inventory and supply chain management and such requests would become common from most if not all of the existing customers. Moreover the new retail stores mushrooming in the market are likely to have less regional facilities and would need the proposed arrangement from BKI. 3. The matter of ownership of these facilities is very important for the success of this proposed supply chain arrangement as the management of BKI needs to study the long term impact of the costs involved. In the long term it would be better if BKI goes for direct ownership of the facilities as it would benefit the profitability of the operations by keeping the costs of maintenance lower than those involved in the alternatives such as co-owned or franchisee structure. However, the management will have to consider the availability of capital resources if it opts for direct ownership. The capital required for the facilities could be lowered to an extent by going for rented building rather than constructing new premises. This would decrease the time required to implement the new proposal also.

Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun Essay -- essays research pap

Society in the 1959 was full of racial discrimination. White and blacks were still living in their own "areas", the public as a whole was very slow to accept the concept of mixed neighborhoods – blacks and white living together. This book, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry, tells the story of a lower-class black family’s struggle to gain middle –class acceptance in the Southside of Chicago. The Younger family of five, four adults and one child live in a cramped apartment in one of the poorer sections of town. The dream of owning your own business and having all the money you will ever need is a goal held by many in society, then and now. Walter Lee Younger becomes obsessed with his dream of a business venture that will give him financial and social independence, after getting and losing the money that will help this dream become reality he realizes that pride and dignity are more important for him and his family. Walter is obsessed with the insurance check that the family is waiting for, ten thousand dollars, will solve all his financial and social problems. The fact that the money is really his Mama’s because of the death of his father complicates the issue. But he points out "He was my father, too!" (38). Walter wants Mama to give him the money so he can open a liquor store with two friends. He feels as if this will finally allow him the opportunity to provide all the material things, necessities and luxuries f...

George Orwell’s Politics and the English Language vs. Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal: Essay

George Orwell’s â€Å"Politics and the English Language† and Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† are essays from two different times; the former written in 1946, and the latter in the 18th century. Both essays aim to spark people’s attention and address important national issues of their countries. â€Å"Politics and the English Language† basically presents Orwell’s opinion about the then-current state of the English Language—that it was decaying, just like what was happening to civilization at that time. He attributed the decay of the English Language to politics and economics, arguing that it is not just the fault of the writer that his words lack precision and has stale imagery, but it is rooted from political and economic causes, saying â€Å"†¦an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form.† On the other hand, â€Å"A Modest Proposal For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being Aburden to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public† presents Swift’s satirical critique of the English and Irish government, wherein he sarcastically suggested that in order for the Irish government to solve the national issues of poverty and overpopulation, they must sell the children of the poor, specifically one-year old babies, as food for the wealthy Irish and English people. He presented staggering calculations and economic strategies on how to achieve necessary solutions to end their national problems. He argued that the use of poor children as food for the wealthy will reduce the country’s population and improve the condition and living state of the poor Irish people because of the increased income they will get from selling their children. The points in which these two essays try to impose on their readers are much influenced by what was going on in their respective countries at the time the famous literary pieces were written. In Swift’s time, which was the early 18th century, several astounding issues were present in Ireland that struck Swift and led him to write his famous essay. One of these is the oppressive treatment of the Catholic peasants of Ireland by the English, which resulted in the peasants of Ireland to be experience extreme poverty. Swift published his essay as a pamphlet. On the other hand, Orwell’s essay was written in 1946, a time when Britain was in a hazy after-war state. Therefore political speeches were prevalent at that time; writers and speakers, as observed by Orwell, lack precision in their words and has a stale imagery in their messages. The way the two authors attacked their respective adversaries (in Swift’s case, the Irish government, and in Orwell’s, political writers and all writers in English in general) are completely different in a variety of ways. There is significant amount of   diversity of their style of writing even though they have the same goal in general, which is, in a shallow point of view, to spark, take hold—grope people’s attention through their essays to get them to read intently what the message of their essays bring. In terms of the persona of the essay, Orwell attacked writers as a linguist, analyzing what was faulty behind the use of language of writers in his time. The essay even has a persona of an English language instructor, as Orwell pointed out rules that he proposed everyone must use when writing: â€Å"(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.   (ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active. (v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.† Meanwhile, Swift attacked the Irish government in the persona of an economist, calculating how much percentage of the population will be decreased in case his proposal is applied, and other economic statistics in his time. A part of his essay presents then-current statistics of the kingdom of Ireland: â€Å"†¦ The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couples who are able to maintain their own children, although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of the kingdom; but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remains one hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The essays also differed in the type of language their authors used. Orwell’s â€Å"Politics and the English Language† used literal language. He said his points straight and direct, with no figurative speech whatsoever. Neither did he used euphemisms in criticizing the words and sentences and essays of the writers who, according to him, are faulty in their use of the English language: â€Å"These five passages have not been picked out because they are especially bad — I could have quoted far worse if I had chosen — but because they illustrate various of the mental vices from which we now suffer. They are a little below the average, but are fairly representative examples. I number them so that i can refer back to them when necessary: 1. I am not, indeed, sure whether it is not true to say that the Milton who once seemed not unlike a seventeenth-century Shelley had not become, out of an experience ever more bitter in each year, more alien [sic] to the founder of that Jesuit sect which nothing could induce him to tolerate. Professor Harold Laski (Essay in Freedom of Expression)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  On the other hand, the language of Swift’s essay, â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, is entirely figurative. The essay is classified as a political satire, incorporated with much sarcasm and irony. His irrational argument, which is to use the babies of poor families in Ireland as food for the wealthy English and Irish people, intensified by exaggeration, is actually a metaphor to attack the policies of the Irish government at that time. â€Å"†¦and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound, useful members of the commonwealth would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation†¦ †¦a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.†

The Golden Lily Chapter 5

WORD OF MY UPCOMING DATE spread fast. I could only presume Trey had told Kristin and Julia, who had in turn told Jill and Eddie and God only knew who else†¦. So, I shouldn't have been surprised when I got a call from Adrian just after dinner. He started talking before I could even say hello. â€Å"Really, Sage? A date?† I sighed. â€Å"Yes, Adrian. A date.† â€Å"A real date. Not, like, doing homework together,† he added. â€Å"I mean like where you go out to a movie or something. And a movie that's not part of a school assignment. Or about something boring.† â€Å"A real date.† I figured I wouldn't give him the specifics on the Shakespeare play. â€Å"What's the lucky guy's name?† â€Å"Brayden.† There was a pause. â€Å"Brayden? That's his real name?† â€Å"Why are you asking if everything's real? You think I'd make any of this up?† â€Å"No, no,† Adrian assured me. â€Å"That's what's so unbelievable about it. Is he cute?† I glanced at the clock. It was time for me to meet my study group. â€Å"Gee, maybe I should just send you a picture to review?† â€Å"Yes, please. And a full background check and life history.† â€Å"I have to go. Why do you care so much anyway?† I finally asked in exasperation. His answer took a long time, which was uncharacteristic. Adrian was usually ready with a dozen witty quips. Maybe he couldn't decide which one to use. When he finally responded, it was in that usual sarcastic way of his – though the levity sounded a little forced. â€Å"Because it's one of those things I never expected to see in my lifetime,† he told me. â€Å"Like a comet. Or world peace. I'm just used to you being single.† For some reason, that bothered me. â€Å"What, you don't think any guy would ever be interested in me?† â€Å"Actually,† said Adrian, sounding remarkably serious, â€Å"I can imagine lots of guys being interested in you.† I was certain he was teasing me and had no time for his jokes. I said goodbye and headed off to my study group, which, thankfully, was pretty dedicated and got a lot of work done. But when I met up with Trey at the library later, he was less than focused. He couldn't stop going on and on about how brilliant he was in getting Brayden and me together. â€Å"This date hasn't even happened, and I'm already tired of it,† I said. I spread Trey's lab paperwork out on the table before us. The numbers and formulas were comforting, far more concrete and orderly than the mysteries of social interaction. I tapped the lab assignment with my pen. â€Å"Pay attention. We don't have a lot of time.† He shrugged off my concerns. â€Å"Can't you just finish it?† â€Å"No! I left enough time so that you could do it yourself. I'll help, but that's it.† Trey was intelligent enough to figure out most of it on his own. Using me was just another way for him to dodge looking smart. He let the date go and focused on the work. I thought I was free of Brayden interrogation until, just as were wrapping up, Jill and Micah came strolling by, hand in hand. They were with a group of other people, which didn't surprise me. Micah was easygoing and popular, and Jill had inherited a large circle of friends by going out with him. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as someone in the group told a funny story that made them all laugh. I couldn't help a smile myself. This was a far cry from when Jill had first come to Amberwood and been treated as an outcast for unusual looks and odd behaviors. She was thriving with this new social status. Maybe it would help her embrace her royal background. My smile faded when Jill pulled Micah away from the group and hurried over to our table. Her eager expression worried me. â€Å"Is it true?† she asked. â€Å"Do you have a date?† â€Å"For the love of – you know it's true! And you told Adrian, didn't you?† I gave her a pointed look. Their psychic bond wasn't active 100 percent of the time, but something told me she knew about his earlier phone call to me. When the bond was â€Å"on,† she could see into his mind, observing both his feelings and actions. It only worked one way, however. Adrian had no such insight. She turned sheepish. â€Å"Yeah†¦ I couldn't help it when Micah told me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I heard it from Eddie,† Micah added quickly, as though that might get him off the hook. He had red hair and blue eyes that were always cheerful and friendly. He was one of those people you couldn't help but like, which made it harder to undo the tangled web Jill had woven by dating him. â€Å"Hey, I did not tell Eddie,† said Trey defensively. I turned my gaze on him. â€Å"But you told other people. And they told Eddie.† Trey gave a half shrug. â€Å"I might have mentioned it here and there.† â€Å"Unbelievable,† I said. â€Å"What's this guy like?† asked Jill. â€Å"Is he cute?† I thought about it. â€Å"Pretty cute.† She perked up. â€Å"Well, that's promising. Where's he taking you? Somewhere good? Night on the town? Fancy dinner? Micah and I had an awesome time at Salton Sea. It's so pretty. You could go there, have a romantic picnic.† Her cheeks turned pink and she stopped for breath, as if realizing she was talking too much. Rambling was one of Jill's most endearing traits. â€Å"We're going to see Shakespeare in the park,† I said. That got me silence. â€Å"Antony and Cleopatra. It's good.† I suddenly felt the need to defend myself. â€Å"A classic. Brayden and I both appreciate Shakespeare.† â€Å"His name is Brayden?† asked Micah in disbelief. â€Å"What kind of a name is that?† Jill frowned. â€Å"Antony and Cleopatra†¦ is that romantic?† â€Å"Kind of,† I said. â€Å"For a while. Then everyone dies in the end.† Jill's horrified expression told me that I wasn't really improving matters. â€Å"Well,† she said. â€Å"I hope you have, um, fun.† A few moments of awkwardness ensued, then her eyes lit up again. â€Å"Oh! Lia called me tonight. She said you two talked about me modeling for her again?† â€Å"She what?† I exclaimed. â€Å"That's not quite how I'd put it. She asked if you could do some print ads. I said no.† â€Å"Oh.† Jill's face fell a little. â€Å"I understand. From what she said†¦ I just thought. Well. I thought maybe there was a way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gave her a meaningful look. â€Å"I'm sorry, Jill. I wish there was a way. But you know why you can't.† She nodded sadly. â€Å"I understand. It's okay.† â€Å"You don't need a modeling campaign to be beautiful to me,† said Micah gallantly. That brought a smile back to her face that faded when she saw a nearby clock. Her transient moods reminded me of Adrian's, and I wondered if some of that was the effect of the bond. â€Å"Ugh. Curfew's coming. We'd better head out. You coming, Sydney?† I glanced at Trey's lab. It was complete and, I knew, absolutely perfect. â€Å"I'll leave in just a couple minutes.† She and Micah left. Glancing over at Trey, I was surprised to find him staring at her retreating figure intently. I nudged him. â€Å"Hey. Don't forget to put your name on this, or it was all for nothing.† It still took him several seconds to drag his gaze away. â€Å"That's your sister, isn't it?† His dismal tone made it sound more like a statement than a question, as though he were revealing some unfortunate fact. â€Å"Um, yeah. You've seen her like a hundred times. She's gone to this school for a month.† He frowned. â€Å"I just never thought much about it†¦ never got a good look at her before. I don't have any classes with her.† â€Å"She was front and center in that fashion show.† â€Å"She had a mask on.† His dark eyes studied me. â€Å"You guys don't look alike at all.† â€Å"We get that a lot.† Trey still looked troubled, and I had no idea why. â€Å"You're smart to keep her out of modeling,† he said at last. â€Å"She's too young.† â€Å"It's a religious thing,† I said, knowing Trey wouldn't quiz me for many details on our â€Å"faith.† â€Å"Whatever it is, keep her out of the public eye.† He scrawled his name on the lab and shut his textbook. â€Å"You don't want her plastered all over magazines or something. Lots of creepy people out there.† Now I was the one left staring. I agreed with him. Too much exposure meant the Moroi dissidents could find Jill. But why would Trey feel that way, too? His claims that she was too young were sound, I supposed, but there was something vaguely unsettling about the exchange. The way he'd watched her walk away was too weird. But then, what other reason aside from concern could he have? The normality of the next couple of days was welcome – normality being relative around here, of course. Adrian kept sending me e-mails, asking me to rescue him (while also offering unsolicited dating advice). Ms. Terwilliger continued her passive aggressive attempts to teach me magic. Eddie continued in his fierce dedication to Jill. And Angeline continued her not-sosubtle advances on Eddie. After watching her â€Å"accidentally† spill her water bottle all over her white T-shirt at practice with him one day, I knew something would have to be done, no matter what Eddie had said about his personal life. Like so many awkward and unpleasant tasks in our cohort, I had a feeling I was the one who would have to do it. I figured this would be some sort of stern, heart-to-heart talk about the proper way to solicit someone's attention, but on the night of my date with Brayden, it was soon made clear to me that I was apparently the last person who should be giving dating advice. â€Å"You're wearing that?† demanded Kristin, pointing an accusing finger at the outfit I'd neatly set out on my bed. She and Julia had taken it upon themselves to inspect me before I went out. Jill and Angeline had tagged along without invitation, and I couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed a lot more excited about this than I was. Mostly I was a tangle of nerves and fear. This was what it must feel like to go into a test without having studied. It was a new experience for me. â€Å"It's not a school uniform,† I said. I'd had enough sense to know wearing that would be unacceptable. â€Å"And it's a color. Kind of.† Julia held up the top I'd selected, a crisp cotton blouse with short sleeves and a high, button-up collar. The whole thing was a soft shade of lemon yellow, which I thought would score me points with this group since everyone accused me of not wearing colors. I'd even combined it with a pair of jeans. She shook her head. â€Å"This is the kind of shirt that says, ‘You're never getting in here.'† â€Å"Well, why would he?† I demanded. Kristin, sitting cross-legged in my desk chair, tilted her head thoughtfully as she studied the shirt. â€Å"I think it's more like a shirt that says, ‘I'm going to have to end this date early so I can go prepare my Power Point presentation.'† That sent them into fits of laughter. I was about to protest when I noticed Jill and Angeline going through my closet. â€Å"Hey! Maybe you should ask before doing that.† â€Å"All your dresses are too heavy,† said Jill. She pulled out one made of soft, gray cashmere. â€Å"I mean, at least this is sleeveless, but it's still too much for this weather.† â€Å"Half my wardrobe is,† I said. â€Å"It's made for four seasons. I didn't really have a lot of time to switch to all summer stuff before coming here.† â€Å"See?† exclaimed Angeline triumphantly. â€Å"Now you know my problem. I can cut a couple inches off of that, if you want.† â€Å"No!† To my relief, Jill put the dress away. A few moments later, she produced a new find. â€Å"What about this?† She held up a hanger carrying a long white tank top made of light, crinkly material with a scoop neckline. Kristin glanced at Angeline. â€Å"Think you could make the neckline lower?† â€Å"The neckline's low enough already. And that's not a shirt you wear on its own,† I protested. â€Å"It's meant to be tucked in under a blazer.† Julia rose from the chair. She tossed her hair; this was serious business. â€Å"No, no†¦ this might work.† She took the shirt from Jill and laid it across the jeans I'd set out. She studied it for a few moments and then returned to my closet – which was apparently free game for everyone. After a quick search, she pulled out a skinny leather belt with a tan snakeskin pattern. â€Å"I thought I remembered you wearing this.† She laid the belt over the white shirt and stepped back. After a bit more scrutiny, she gave it a nod of approval. The others crowded in to look. â€Å"Good eye,† said Kristin. â€Å"Hey, I found the shirt,† Jill reminded her. â€Å"I can't wear the shirt alone,† I said. I hoped my protests covered up my anxiety. Had I really been that off on the yellow shirt? I'd been certain it was date-appropriate. How was I going to survive tonight if I couldn't even dress right? â€Å"If you want to put a blazer on over it in this weather, be my guest,† said Julia. â€Å"But I don't think you have to worry about it showing too much. This wouldn't even be worth Mrs. Weathers's notice.† â€Å"Neither would the yellow blouse,† I pointed out. They decided my clothing was a done deal and moved on to hair and makeup advice. I drew the line there. I wore makeup every day – very nice, very expensive makeup applied to make the most of my features in a way that made it look as though I didn't even have makeup on. I wasn't going to change that natural look, no matter how adamantly Julia swore pink eye shadow would be â€Å"hot.† None of them put up much of a fight on my hair. It was currently in a layered cut that went just past my shoulders. There was exactly one way it could be styled, worn down with the layers carefully arranged with a hair dryer. Any other style looked messy, and of course, I already had it in the perfect configuration today. No point messing with a good thing. Besides, I think they were all too excited that I'd agreed to wear the white tank top – once I'd tried it on to verify that it wasn't transparent. My only nod to jewelry was my little gold cross. I fastened it around my neck and said a silent prayer that I'd get through this. Although Alchemists used crosses a lot, we weren't exactly part of any traditional Christian faith or practice. We had our own religious services and believed in God, that He was a great force of goodness and light that infused every bit of the universe. With all that responsibility, He probably didn't care much about one girl going on a date, but maybe He could spare a second to make sure it wasn't too painful. They all traipsed down the stairs with me when the time came for Brayden to pick me up. (Actually, it was a little earlier than the appointed time, but I hated being late.) The girls had all come up with reasons for needing to meet him, from Jill's â€Å"It's a family thing† to Kristin's â€Å"I can spot an asshole in five seconds.† I wasn't confident in that last one, seeing as she'd once speculated that Keith might be a good catch. All of them were also full of unsolicited advice. â€Å"You can split the cost of dinner or the play,† said Julia. â€Å"Not both. He needs to pick up the whole bill on one of them.† â€Å"Better if he pays for everything, though,† said Kristin. â€Å"Still order something, even if you don't want to eat it,† added Jill. â€Å"If he's buying dinner, you don't want to let him off cheap. He's gotta work for you.† â€Å"Where are you guys getting all of this?† I asked. â€Å"What does it matter if I – oh, come on.† We'd reached the lobby and found Eddie and Micah sitting on a bench together. They at least had the decency to look embarrassed. â€Å"Not you guys too,† I said. â€Å"I was just here to see Jill,† said Micah unconvincingly. â€Å"And I was here to, um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Eddie faltered, and I held up a hand to stop him. â€Å"Don't bother. Honestly, I'm surprised Trey isn't here with a camera or something. I figured he'd want to immortalize every moment of this debacle of a – oh. Hey, over here.† I put on a smile as Brayden stepped into the lobby. Apparently I wasn't the only one who liked to be early. Brayden seemed a little surprised that I had an entourage. I couldn't blame him since I was kind of surprised I had one too. â€Å"It's nice to meet all of you,† said Brayden, friendly, even if a little bewildered. Eddie, while uncomfortable with Angeline's advances, could be perfectly outgoing in less bizarre social situations. He played up the brotherly role and shook Brayden's hand. â€Å"I hear you guys are seeing a play tonight.† â€Å"Yes,† said Brayden. â€Å"Although, I prefer the term drama. I've actually already seen this production, but I'd like to watch it again with an eye toward alternative forms of dramatic analysis. The standard Freytag method can get a little cliched after a while.† This left everyone speechless. Or maybe they were just trying to figure out what he'd said. Eddie glanced at me then back to Brayden. â€Å"Well. Something tells me you guys are going to have a great time together.† Once we were able to extract ourselves from my well-wishers Brayden said, â€Å"You have very†¦ devoted family and friends.† â€Å"Oh,† I said. â€Å"That. They just, uh, happened to all be going out together at the same time we were. To study.† Brayden glanced at his watch. â€Å"Not too late for that, I suppose. If I can, I always do my homework right after school because – â€Å" â€Å"If you put it off, you never know if something unexpected might happen?† â€Å"Exactly,† he said. He smiled at me. I smiled back. I followed him to visitor parking, over to a shiny, silver Ford Mustang. I nearly swooned. Immediately, I reached out and ran my hand along the car's smooth surface. â€Å"Nice,† I said. â€Å"Brand new, next model year. These new ones will never quite have the character of the classics, but they certainly make up for it in fuel economy and safety.† Brayden looked pleasantly surprised. â€Å"You know your cars.† â€Å"It's a hobby,† I admitted. â€Å"My mom is really into them.† When I'd first met Rose Hathaway, I'd had the incredible experience of driving a 1972 Citroen. Now I owned a Subaru named Latte. I loved it, but it wasn't exactly glamorous. â€Å"They're works of art and engineering.† I noticed then that Brayden had come with me to the passenger side. For half a second, I thought he expected me to drive. Maybe because I liked cars so much? But then, he opened the door and I realized he was waiting for me to get in. I did, trying to remember the last time a guy had opened a car door for me. My conclusion: never. Dinner wasn't fast food, but it wasn't anything fancy either. I wondered what Julia and Kristin's opinion would be on that. We ate at a very California type of cafe, that served all organic sandwiches and salads. Every menu item seemed to feature avocado. â€Å"I would've taken you somewhere nicer,† he told me. â€Å"But I didn't want to risk being late. The park's a few blocks away, so we should be able to get a good spot. I†¦ I hope that's okay?† He suddenly looked nervous. It was such a contrast to the confidence he had shown when talking about Shakespeare. I had to admit, it was kind of reassuring. I found myself relaxing a little bit. â€Å"If it's not, I'll find a better place – â€Å" â€Å"No, this is great,† I told him, glancing around the cafe's brightly lit dining room. It was one of those places where we ordered at a counter and then brought a number to our table. â€Å"I'd rather be early, anyway.† He'd paid for all of our food. I tried to make sense of the dating rules my friends had bombarded me with. â€Å"What do I owe you for my ticket?† I asked tentatively. Brayden looked surprised. â€Å"Nothing. It's on me.† He smiled tentatively back. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. So, he was paying. That would make Kristin happy, although it made me a little uneasy – through no fault of his. With the Alchemists, I was always the one picking up the bills and handling the paperwork. I wasn't used to someone else doing it. I guess I just had trouble shaking that feeling that I had to take care of everything because no one else could do it right. Academics had always been a breeze for me. But at Amberwood, learning how to hang out with people my own age in a normal way had been a much more difficult task. I'd gotten better, but it was still a struggle trying to figure out the proper things to say to my peers. With Brayden, there were no such problems. We had an endless supply of topics, both of us eager to put forth all we knew on anything and everything. Most of the meal was spent discussing the intricacies of the organic certification process. It was pretty awesome. Trouble came when, as we were finishing up, Brayden asked if I wanted to get dessert before we left. I froze, suddenly in a dilemma. Jill had said to make sure I ordered enough to not come across as a cheap date. Without even thinking about it, I'd ordered an inexpensive salad – simply because it sounded good. Was I now on the hook to order more so I'd seem like someone Brayden had to work for? Was this worth breaking all my own rules about sugar and dessert? And honestly, what did Jill know about dating etiquette anyway? Her last boyfriend had been homicidal, and her current one was oblivious to the fact that she was a vampire. â€Å"Uh, no thank you,† I said at last. â€Å"I'd rather make sure we get to the park on time.† He nodded as he rose from the table and gave me another smile. â€Å"I was thinking the same thing. Most people don't seem to think punctuality is that important.† â€Å"Important? It's essential,† I said. â€Å"I'm always at least ten minutes early.† Brayden's grin widened. â€Å"I aim for fifteen. To tell you the truth†¦ I really didn't want dessert anyway.† He held the door open for me as we stepped outside. â€Å"I try to avoid getting too much sugar.† I nearly came to a standstill in astonishment. â€Å"I totally agree – but my friends always give me a hard time about it.† Brayden nodded. â€Å"There are all sorts of reasons. People just don't get it, though.† I walked to the park, stunned. No one had ever understood me so quickly and easily. It was like he had read my mind. Palm Springs was a desert city, filled with long stretches of sandy vistas and stark, rocky mountain faces. But it was also a city that mankind had been shaping for a long time, and many places – Amberwood, for example – had been given lush, green makeovers in defiance of the natural climate. This park was no exception. It was a huge expanse of green lawn, ringed with leafy deciduous trees instead of the usual palms. A stage had been set up at one end, and people were already seeking out the best spots. We chose one in the shade that had a great view of the stage. Brayden took out a blanket to sit on from his backpack, along with a worn copy of Antony and Cleopatra. It was marked up with notes and sticky tabs. â€Å"Did you bring your own?† he asked me. â€Å"No,† I said. I couldn't help but be impressed. â€Å"I didn't bring many books from home when I moved here.† He hesitated, as though unsure he should say what he was thinking. â€Å"Do you want to read along with mine?† I'd honestly figured I would just watch the play, but the scholar in me could certainly see the perks of having the original text along. I was also curious about what kind of notes he'd made. It was only after I'd said yes that I realized why he was nervous. Reading along with him meant we had to sit very, very close together. â€Å"I won't bite,† he said, smiling when I didn't move right away. That broke the tension, and we managed to move into positions that allowed us both to see the book with almost no touching. There was no avoiding our knees brushing one another, but we both had jeans on, and it didn't make me feel like my virtue was at stake. Also, I couldn't help but notice he smelled like coffee – my favorite vice. That wasn't a bad thing. Not bad at all. Still, I was very conscious of being so close to someone. I didn't think I was getting any romantic vibes. My pulse didn't race; my heart didn't flutter. Mostly I was aware that this was the closest I'd sat to anyone, maybe in my life. I wasn't used to sharing my personal space so much. I soon forgot about that as the play started. Brayden might not like Shakespeare performed in modern clothing, but I thought they did an admirable job. Following along with the text, we caught a couple of spots where the actors messed up a line. We shot each other secret, triumphant looks, gleeful that we were in on something others didn't know about. I kept up with Brayden's annotations too, nodding at some and shaking my head at others. I couldn't wait until we discussed this on the ride home. We were all leaning forward intently during Cleopatra's dramatic death scene, intensely focused on her last lines. Off to my side, I heard the crinkling of paper. I ignored it and leaned forward further. The paper crinkled again, this time much louder. Looking over, I saw a group of guys sitting nearby who appeared to be about college-aged. Most of them were watching the performance, but one was holding an item wrapped in a brown paper bag. The bag was too big for the object and had been rolled down several times. He glanced around nervously, trying to be discreet and unroll the paper in small batches. It was obvious that was actually making more noise than if he'd just gone for it and unrolled it all at once. This went on for another minute, and by then, a few others nearby were glancing over at him. He finally managed to open the bag and then, still in slow motion, carefully lowered his hand inside. I heard the pop of a cap and the guy's face lit up in triumph. Still keeping the object concealed, he lifted the bag to his mouth and drank out of what was very obviously a bottle of beer or some other alcohol. It had been pretty apparent right away from the bag shape. I clapped a hand over my mouth, in an attempt to smother my laughter. He reminded me so much of Adrian. I could absolutely see Adrian smuggling in alcohol to an event like this and then going to all sorts of pains to be covert, thinking that if he just did everything slowly enough, no one would catch on to him. Adrian, too, would probably have the misfortune of opening the bottle right in the middle of the play's most tense scene. I could even picture a similarly delighted look on his face, one that said, No one knows what I'm doing! When, of course, we all knew. I didn't know why it made me laugh, but it did. Brayden was too focused on the play to notice. â€Å"Ooh,† he whispered to me. â€Å"This is a good part – where her handmaidens kill themselves.† The two of us had plenty to debate and analyze on the way back to Amberwood. I was almost disappointed when his car pulled up to my dorm. As we sat there, I realized we'd come to another critical dating milestone. What was the correct procedure here? Was he supposed to kiss me? Was I supposed to let him? Had that been the real price of my salad? Brayden seemed nervous too, and I braced myself for the worst. When I looked down at my hands in my lap, I noticed they were shaking. You can do this, I told myself. It's a rite of passage. I started to close my eyes, but when Brayden spoke, I opened them quickly. As it turned out, Brayden's buildup of courage wasn't for a kiss, so much as a question. â€Å"Would you†¦ would you like to go out again?† he asked, giving me a shy smile. I was surprised at the mix of emotions this triggered. Relief was foremost, of course. I'd now have time to research books on kissing too. At the same time, I was kind of disappointed that the swagger and confidence he'd shown in dramatic analysis didn't carry through here. Some part of me thought his line should've been more like, â€Å"Well, after that night of perfection, I guess we have no choice but to go out again.† Immediately, I felt stupid for such a sentiment. I had no business expecting him to be more at ease with this when I was sitting there with my hands shaking. â€Å"Sure,† I blurted out. He breathed a sigh of relief. â€Å"Cool,† he said. â€Å"I'll e-mail you.† â€Å"That'd be great.† I smiled. More awkward silence fell, and suddenly, I wondered if the kiss might be coming after all. â€Å"Do you†¦ do you want me to walk you to the door?† he asked. â€Å"What? Oh, no. Thank you. It's right there. I'll be fine. Thank you.† I realized I was on the verge of sounding like Jill. â€Å"Well, then,† said Brayden. â€Å"I had a really nice night. Looking forward to next time.† â€Å"Me too.† He held out his hand. I shook it. Then I left the car and went inside. I shook his hand? I replayed the moment in my head, feeling dumber and dumber. What is wrong with me? As I walked through the lobby, kind of dazed, I took out my cell phone to see if I had any messages. I'd turned it off tonight, figuring if ever there was a time I'd earned peace, this was it. To my astonishment, no one had needed anything in my absence, though there was one text message from Jill, sent about fifteen minutes ago: How was your date with Brandon? What's he like? I unlocked my dorm door and stepped inside. His name is Brayden, I texted back. I pondered the rest of her question and took a long time in trying to decide how to respond. He's just like me.

Pantheon in terms of Platos work essays

Pantheon in terms of Plato's work essays Pantheon in terms of Platos philosophy. Pantheon is a great building of a roman empire. Emerged in the time of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa , totally rebuilt in the time of Emperor Hadrian, and it was perhaps one of the most major of his rebuilding projects. Hadrian was a great admirer of a Greek culture, especially of its Hellenistic period. In the time of Hellenism Greek Culture reached the peak of realism and spirituality, and the Pantheon is the logical evidence of realism and spirituality that are crossing over. The latter rationalistic Plato would probably hardly accept. He would, in fact, appreciate the careful human thought, engineering and mathematical calculation upon which the Pantheon emerged. In the calculative terms, Pantheon is a triumph of people knowledge and of a human intelligence. It also promotes human as capable individual. In emotional or spiritual terms, Pantheon was dedicated to the connection between people and gods. It is questionable how Plato would react to Pantheon in terms of his philosophy, and in particular in terms of the ,, simile of divided line. On one hand It is interesting how the architecture of this unique building corresponds with Greek Classical standards and Platos philosophy. Plato refers to the Good as the light that evokes humans vision and help to activate our senses. Accordingly to Plato, we need a light in order to see forms, and it is not enough for us to have vision and the objects around us. In Republic Plato refers to the light as the source of Good: ,,If the eyes have a power of site, and its possessor tries to use this power, and if objects have color, yet you know that he will see nothing and the colors will remain invisible unless a third element is present which is specifically and naturally adapted for the purpose. In other words the source of light at the top of Pantheon symbolizes the source of knowledge. ...

The History and Legacy of the Free Soil Party

The History and Legacy of the Free Soil Party The Free Soil Party was an American political party that only survived through two presidential elections, in 1848 and 1852. Essentially a single issue reform party dedicated to stopping the spread of slavery to new states and territories in the West, it attracted a very dedicated following. But the party was perhaps doomed to have a fairly short life simply because it could not generate enough widespread support to grow into a permanent party. The most significant  impact of the Free Soil Party was that its unlikely presidential candidate in 1848, former president Martin Van Buren,  helped tilt the election. Van Buren attracted votes that otherwise would have gone to the Whig and Democratic candidates, and his campaign, especially in his home state of New York, had enough impact to change the outcome of the national race. Despite the party’s lack of longevity, the principles of the â€Å"Free Soilers† outlived the party itself. Those who had participated in the Free Soil party  were later involved in the founding and rise of the new Republican Party in the 1850s. Origins of the Free Soil Party The heated controversy prompted by the Wilmot Proviso in 1846 set the stage for the Free Soil Party to quickly organize and participate in presidential politics two years later. The brief amendment to a congressional spending bill related to the Mexican War would have prohibited slavery in any territory acquired by the United States from Mexico. Though the restriction never actually became law, the passage of it by the House of Representatives led to a firestorm. Southerners were enraged by what they considered an attack on their way of life. The influential senator from South Carolina, John C. Calhoun, responded by introducing a series of resolutions in the U.S. Senate stating the position of the South: that slaves were property, and the federal government could not dictate where or when citizens of the nation could take their property. In the North, the issue of whether slavery could spread westward split both major political parties, the Democrats, and the Whigs. In fact, the Whigs were said to have split into two factions, the â€Å"Conscience Whigs† who were anti-slavery, and the â€Å"Cotton Whigs,† who were not opposed to slavery. Free Soil Campaigns and Candidates With the slavery issued very much on the public mind, the issue moved into the realm of presidential politics when President James K. Polk chose not to run for a second term in 1848. The presidential field would be wide open, and the battle over whether slavery would spread westward seemed like it would be a deciding issue. The Free Soil party came about when the Democratic Party in New York State fractured when the state convention in 1847 would not endorse the Wilmot Proviso. Anti-slavery Democrats, who were termed â€Å"Barnburners,† teamed up with â€Å"Conscience Whigs† and members of the pro-abolitionist Liberty Party. In the complicated politics of New York State, the Barnburners were in a fierce battle with another faction of the Democratic Party, the Hunkers. The dispute between Barnburners and Hunkers led to a split in the Democratic Party. The anti-slavery Democrats in New York flocked to the newly created Free Soil Party and set the stage for the 1848 presidential election. The new party held conventions in two cities in New York State, Utica, and Buffalo, and adopted the slogan â€Å"Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men.† The party’s nominee for president was an unlikely choice, a former president, Martin Van Buren. His running mate was Charles Francis Adams, editor, author, and grandson of John Adams and son of John Quincy Adams. That year the Democratic Party nominated Lewis Cass of Michigan, who advocated a policy of â€Å"popular sovereignty,† in which settlers in new territories would decide by vote whether to allow slavery. The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor, who had just become a national hero based on his service in the Mexican War. Taylor avoided the issues, saying little at all. In the general election in November 1848, the Free Soil Party received about 300,000 votes. And it was believed they took enough votes away from Cass, especially in the critical state of New York, to swing the election to Taylor. The Legacy of the Free Soil Party The Compromise of 1850 was assumed, for a time, to have settled the issue of slavery. And thus the Free Soil Party faded away. The party nominated a candidate for president in 1852, John P. Hale, a senator from New Hampshire. But Hale only received about 150,000 votes nationwide and the Free Soil Party was not a factor in the election. When the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and outbreaks of violence in Kansas, reignited the issue of slavery, many supporters of the Free Soil Party helped found the Republican Party in 1854 and 1855. The new Republican Party nominated John C. Frà ©mont for president in 1856, and adapted the old Free Soil slogan as â€Å"Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Men, and Frà ©mont.†

The Volatile Social Upheavals of the Stormy Sixties Essay

The Volatile Social Upheavals of the Stormy Sixties - Essay Example   The third, precipitated by default into the presidency, grappled boldly with the unrest and turmoil through a second term only to surrender the battle to highly entangled political dissolution shortly before the sixties gave way to the seventies.   Martin Luther King Jr., distinctively honored in 1964 with the Nobel Peace Prize as its youngest laureate, had entered a civil rights movement already in progress, to take the forefront as an advocate for non-violence in one of the most momentous and far-reaching social upheavals of the decade. Yet, paradoxically, the civil rights leader's appalling assassination on April 4, 1968, unleashed an unfortunate surge of violence in major cities across the nation.   Martin Luther King's mission reached beyond black civil rights into associated issues of inner-city poverty. In 1965 in Selma, Alabama, his voter-registration crusade culminated in the Selma-to-Montgomery Freedom March. The civil-rights leader later took on Chicago where he pushed programs to clean up the slums and secure affordable housing. There King encountered young blacks heady with the concept of Black Power who gave little heed to his appeals for nonviolent protest. The impasse led to his adoption of stronger support for an end to the war in Vietnam along with the predominant thrust for civil-rights, a move that some felt spread the movement too thin. Nonetheless, the well-timed shift drew new blood into the crusade in response to the fresh bid for peace.   As King went on to tackle domestic issues of urban poverty, proposing national boycotts and nonviolent camp-ins, he envisioned a huge march of the poor on Washington, with a show of such power and size that Congress would be forced to deal with the enormous numbers of destitute and exploited Americans, but at the age of 39 the bullet of an unabashed mercenary silenced those plans. Posterity, left to speculate what might have been, was nonetheless to profit greatly from the enduring legacy of his all-too-abrupt loss.