US History before 1877, Development of Erie Canal Research Paper

US History before 1877, Development of Erie Canal - Research Paper Example This paper will discuss US history before 1877, with special focus on the â€Å"Development of Erie Canal†.The main points which this paper is going to cover are the historical perspective of the canal, construction of the canal, improvements in the plan and the financial implications of the canal project. The time era under discussion is between 1807 to 1825. Historical Perspective During the period between the late 18th and early 19th century the USA started to plan and develop the system of transportation throughout the country with special focus on the interiors areas and outside the localities from Appalachian mountainous regions. The main focus was on the linkage between Erie Lake and other big lakes in the coast of Atlantic by making canals. Initially a large number of survey and plans were laid out for the construction of the canal but most of them were not feasible and were rejected. The final plan was based on the survey which was carried out in 1816. Based on this s urvey the route of the canal was established. According to the plan the canal was expected to connect to the New York port at the river of Hudson close to Troy in the New York City. From Troy the flow of the canal would be towards Rome in New York. Finally it would reach to Buffalo (on the northeastern coast of Erie Lake) by passing through Syracuse and Rochester [1]. 1. Matt Rosenberg (2010), Erie  Canal, The Building of the Great Western Canal. Online accession at About.com Guide (Accessed February 12th, 2011). After the development of the route plan of the Erie Canal the major issue was the arrangement of finances for the project. A bill was initially approved by the US congress for the provision of funding for the project then named as â€Å"The Great Western Canal†. The idea was found unconstitutional by The President of time J. Monroe and he vetoed it. The matter was then directly taken by the state legislature. The legislature, after extensive examination of the plan , approved for the funding of the Erie Canal project in the year 1816 with the condition that the tolls would be paid back to the government after the completion of the project. The city Mayor of New York was the chief supporter of the canal project and helped a lot for the construction and completion of the task. Fortunately he became the governor of the state in the year 1817 and was thus able to supervise the details of the plan [1]. Construction of Canal The formal construction of the canal named â€Å"Erie canal† began on 4th July, 1817. According to the plan the initial first segment was to be proceeded from the eastern side of Rome towards the river Hudson. Most of the constructors of the canal were the rich farmers who resided along the route of the canal. They were contracted to make the small portions of the project which came along their way. A large number of immigrants from Great Brittan, Germany and Ire Land supported the construction of canal in terms of manpow er [2]. 1. Matt Rosenberg (2010), Erie  Canal, The Building of the Great Western Canal. Online accession at About.com Guide (Accessed February 12th, 2011) 2. Christopher. M (2008).  "Hints of Comeback for Nation's First Superhighway".  The New York Times. (Accessed February 12th, 2011). The portions of canal were to be dug with the help of horses and shovels. At time modern earth moving specialized equipment were not available so the construction of such plans was a tedious job. The labor cost was about 85 cents to 100 cents per day. This was a heavy amount since it was about three times the pay which a laborer earned during that time. The initial 24 kilometer of the canal - from Rome to Utica - were formally opened around the year 1819. The rate of construction was visibly slow; at the speed during that time, the canal

The Worlds best ever performance Essay Example for Free

The Worlds best ever performance Essay When he got back to London he calmed himself and traveled back to Glasgow the next morning. Here he waited until Sven phoned him and announced the date of the next England match. He also told Douglas that the player who shouted at him was drunk and didnt know what he was saying.  Weeks later Douglas next match was only a few days away. He was hardened by his abuse and even more determined to play well in this match. When he finally jogged out onto the pitch the mixture of cheers and boos pumped him up to his best performance. On the pitch, Douglas was everywhere but as the match continued it became much like the next. He only got the ball when he managed to intercept his own teams pass and in his state of determination he knocked over an opposing player who was trying to tackle him. He was given a yellow card. The opposing team took a free kick. After the match Douglas headed out of the back entrance of the ground hoping to avoid angry hooligans but there were still plenty there, what he thought looked like thousands of people.  They were shouting comments, You Scottish pillock We hate you You suck Youre rubbish Were not goin to listen to your excuses even wit your crappy Scottish accent. The people shouted, Who do you think you are playing for us?  Later that day Douglas went into negotiations with the British Football Association. He wanted to know what they were going to do about the hooligans and players giving him abuse. He was very angry. What he was told by the BFA wasnt a great help either. They had agreed in a unanimous decision that Douglas should leave the team. They told him that it was because during his first two games he hadnt contributed to the final result. They told him he had hindered the team. At this comment Douglas went crazy, he tipped up his desk and rushed from the building so fast that a glass fell from another table.  During the next year of qualifying for the Europeans, England had numerous injuries. Some of the better known players were out, including Beckham, Owen and Cole. England needed some good new players. With only one week to go before the Europeans began the BFA phoned Douglas and said, We need your help Doug. It was Sven. Yu du? Realli. I wuldn hve guessed tha. Said Douglas, who was still hurt about his first two matches for England.  Douglas spent about half the weeks discussing terms and when it was finally settled he was flown down to London in a private Leah Jet.  He arrived in the stadium and boldly walked through a mass of confused supporters. They had not expected to see him back and had not been told by the press. Douglas was very confident and had a very good feeling about this game. The whistle blew and the game began. England played solidly and Poland, whom they had beaten in the first round of qualifying, did as well. However, the final score was England seventeen, Poland nil. Out of the seventeen goals scored Douglas had scored fifteen. This was the most goals scored at International level by any one player in any one match. It was a new World Record.  After this match, Douglas watched The News something which he had refused to do ever since his earlier experience for England. The same reporter as that time said in a bewildered voice, The Worlds best ever performance by a truly outstanding player. The other reporter then said, Yes it was. Literally. That match will be played on international television for centuries to come. Compared to the Scots last two England games it was more than jus beating a World record it was like beating twenty. This will open so many doors for McDonald and its a good present for his twenty-forth Birthday last week.  AS Douglas grew older he wrote a book on his experiences and discrimination. It became a best-seller and now hes a World record holder in Football and Literacy.

The Grapes of Wrath Essay -- Literary Analysis, John Steinbeck

What does family mean today? What did it mean 80 years ago? The theme of family is explored throughout the novel The Grapes of Wrath, particularly in the character Ma Joad. In some ways her definition is similar to mine, in some ways it is different. John Steinbeck used her meaning of family to help contribute to his message of the book, the saving power of family. Ma Joad makes numerous actions and says countless things that depict to the reader how she views and defines family. I agree with a select few of them. I do believe that the family unit should stick together, but only to an extent. Ma Joad recounts that â€Å"Al-he’s a-hankerin’ an’ a-jibbitin’ to go off on his own†¦ There ain’t no fambly now† (ch.26, p.536). She is implying that due to the absence of Noah and Al wanting to leave, they have lost their family ties. Without these ties they are no longer a family. Al even says that he is â€Å"goin’ out on [his] own purty soon. Fella can make his way lot easier if he ain’t got a fambly† (ch. 26 p487). He is implying that he will no longer associate himself with the other Joads because they are weighing him down, keeping him from his own desires. When Rose of Sharon brings up that she â€Å"and Connie dn’t want to live in the county no more†¦ a little worry came on Ma’s face† (Ch 16, p224). She did not like the thought of her daughter, although married with a baby on the way would ever leave her and her husband. She even goes so far as to ask Rose of Sharon â€Å"Ain’t you gonna stay with us- with the family† (Ch16 p224). I would be devastated if one of my siblings decided to up and leave without any intentions of returning. Sticking together is vital to keep a healthy family relationship. Although they do not live with us, I see my siblings a... ... He then goes on to tell Tom about how a Hoovervilles is structured and cue him in on how he will be treated in the present and the future. This shows us that the people are one group, one family. He is dropping settle hints to help Tom and the Joad family despite the fact that they just became acquainted with each other. The entire migrant force became one family. Family is a timeless importance in our mental and physical well being. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck depicts this cultural characteristic in Ma Joad. Although the definition of family has changed, some characteristics still hold true. Family does not necessarily mean genetically similar. It can mean much more than that, such as a large group of people struggling together to survive. One single person can belong to many families, but essentially we are all one family, the human race.

Music Is More Than Just a Source of Entertainment for People All over the World

Music is more than just a source of entertainment for people all over the world. For many, many centuries music has been used for reasons other than just entertainment. Take our National Anthem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ The Star Spangled Banner† for example. It was written as a patriotic song and, its purpose was to evoke the countries struggles of the past, traditions, and its history. During the 1800’s when slavery was permitted the seemingly innocent spirituals, as the slave songs came to be known, were more than simple hymns of endurance and a belief in a better after life.As sung by slaves and their descendents, the spirituals allowed the slaves to communicate secret messages and information to each other about the Underground Railroad. Music can also be therapeutic, improving our emotional estate, sleep patterns, eating habits, social skills, and behavioral awareness. It’s inspirational, energetic, and lyrically scenic. It can also be memorable, emotional, life experienc ing and many other things for people everywhere. Often music is even a mood setter.It can be calming, relaxing or even anger releasing for many people. From the day that I was brought into this world, if not before, the first words and sounds that my mother spoke to me were in the form of a lullaby. She soothed me to sleep, and taught me my ABC’s. Music has helped me, grow emotionally, physically, and intellectually, while simultaneously entertaining. Music for many, such as myself, is also a source of identity and individuality for all, as most prefer different styles and types of music

English Literature Essay

The â€Å"Infant Sorrow† is a short, two stanza poem featuring a young baby who is in fear that his mother and father do not love or want him. The young baby first feels sorrow when, â€Å"My mother groaned†, here the baby is feeling like his mother does not want him although she could me â€Å"groaning† about a number of things. The mother could already have a lot of children and not want to bring another up into the world or she may not have enough money, the â€Å"groaning† could also however be due to the pain of child birth. The young baby then sees his father, â€Å"my father wept† this is also a feeling of loneliness for the child. But as with the mother, the father could be crying for a number of reasons, the â€Å"weeping† of the father is not tears of joy as in innocence it is tears of sorrow. This initial sorrow is loneliness and neglect, this is because of the mother and fathers reaction to its birth. The second feeling of sorrow is helplessness, the baby feels helpless in the world, this should not happen because the mother and father should help and look after it. â€Å"Helpless, naked, piping loud†, using the word â€Å"Helpless† suggests that the new baby feels vulnerable, which is extremely experienced for a baby. Using the word â€Å"naked† shows embarrassment for the baby. It shows that the baby is feeling insecure and without warmth. The choice of words used by the baby are experienced throughout the poem, they all show the sorrowed feelings of the baby during child birth. b) How do language and form communicate the emotions expressed in this poem?  The emotions expressed in this poem are all experienced; there are feelings of sorrow, depression, loneliness, and vulnerability from the baby.  In the first stanza the words â€Å"groaned† and â€Å"wept† are used to show the emotions of the parents; however they can be interpreted in many ways. When the baby talks of the dangerous world it has just entered it suggests â€Å"leaping†, this could mean that the baby has been pushed into an experienced world and situation, this could also be a reason for the mother and father to be upset about the birth. The baby refers to itself as â€Å"a fiend†, an experienced word meaning a cruel wicked and inhuman person, this shows that the baby has strong emotions of neglect from its parents. The whole of the first stanza symbolises the change of state for the new born baby, it changing from being in the womb to being in the dangerous outside world and having no one to look after it, â€Å"helpless†. The opening stanza also shows that the real world is a dangerous place to live in, it is unpleasant and un secure for the baby. In the second stanza the baby is talking about its true feelings and again how its mother and father are reacting to it. Throughout the poem we know that the fat her is in control, he has power over the new born baby, we know this from phrases such as â€Å"Struggling in my father’s hands†, suggesting that the fathers hands are controlling the baby. The baby also talks of â€Å"swaddling bands†, in the past these have been seen as ways to keep your baby close to you and wrapped up tightly to create the atmosphere of being in the womb, however here â€Å"swaddling bands† are used to symbolise restraint and control of the father and separation from the mother completely. In innocence, a baby is suggested to be a gift from God, something to admire, look after and love, however, in experience the baby is seen as corrupt, in â€Å"Infant Sorrow† the baby is hidden away, â€Å"Bound and weary† To end the second stanza the word â€Å"sulk† is used, normally the word â€Å"sulk† would be linked with children or teenagers, youths mainly however here the baby uses â€Å"sulk† to describe its own emotion. This shows a sign of rebellion on the baby’s behalf, the baby has simply given up trying to fight against these feelings of hatred from this mother and father, â€Å"To sulk upon my mother’s breast†.

Free Essays on Starbucks SWOT Analysis

Starbucks is a corporation that offers specialty coffees, coffee beans, cold blended beverages, pastries, coffee related products and machines, and tea. Starbucks opened its first location in 1971 in Seattle. By the year 2000, Starbucks had over 3300 locations, and it is still growing. SWOT STRENGTHS:  · 2000 marked 5th consecutive year of sales increase.  · Low long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.01, company has good financial standing.  · 1993, Opens second roasting plant in Kent, Washington in order to maintain on-time production and delivery, then in 1995 opened state of the art roasting facility in York, Pennsylvania.  · Howard Schultz joins corporation in 1982, is a visionary leader who made Starbucks the famous coffee bar that it is today. In 2000, Schultz assumed role of chairman and chief global strategist. WEAKNESSES:  · OPPORTUNITIES:  · Schultz sees opportunity to make coffee/espresso bar available to everyone: o 1990 – Horizon Air Account o 1991 – First licensed airport location o 1992 – Nordstrom Account o 1993 – Barnes & Noble relationship o 1994 - Starwood Hotel Account o 1995 – United Airlines Account o 1997 – Canadian Airlines Account o 1998 – Grocery store coffee bars due to agreement with Kraft Foods. o 2000 – Host Marriott International Agreement  · Global Opportunities: o Opens locations in several countries.  · Other types of drinks, including cold coffee beverages, blended drinks, fruit drink, and tea. THREATS  · Small coffee shops in New York are trying to compete with Starbucks on the basis of customer loyalty.  · Protesting against Starbucks for using milk with artificial bovine growth hormone. GOST GOALS  · Open 1,200 new locations in 2001, 900 in the United States.  · Open new store in Vienna by end of 2001.  · Open 10-15 new stores in Zurich within the next 12-18 months.  · Distribution of new Bottled Frappuccino Coffee Drinks, from affiliation w... Free Essays on Starbucks SWOT Analysis Free Essays on Starbucks SWOT Analysis Starbucks is a corporation that offers specialty coffees, coffee beans, cold blended beverages, pastries, coffee related products and machines, and tea. Starbucks opened its first location in 1971 in Seattle. By the year 2000, Starbucks had over 3300 locations, and it is still growing. SWOT STRENGTHS:  · 2000 marked 5th consecutive year of sales increase.  · Low long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.01, company has good financial standing.  · 1993, Opens second roasting plant in Kent, Washington in order to maintain on-time production and delivery, then in 1995 opened state of the art roasting facility in York, Pennsylvania.  · Howard Schultz joins corporation in 1982, is a visionary leader who made Starbucks the famous coffee bar that it is today. In 2000, Schultz assumed role of chairman and chief global strategist. WEAKNESSES:  · OPPORTUNITIES:  · Schultz sees opportunity to make coffee/espresso bar available to everyone: o 1990 – Horizon Air Account o 1991 – First licensed airport location o 1992 – Nordstrom Account o 1993 – Barnes & Noble relationship o 1994 - Starwood Hotel Account o 1995 – United Airlines Account o 1997 – Canadian Airlines Account o 1998 – Grocery store coffee bars due to agreement with Kraft Foods. o 2000 – Host Marriott International Agreement  · Global Opportunities: o Opens locations in several countries.  · Other types of drinks, including cold coffee beverages, blended drinks, fruit drink, and tea. THREATS  · Small coffee shops in New York are trying to compete with Starbucks on the basis of customer loyalty.  · Protesting against Starbucks for using milk with artificial bovine growth hormone. GOST GOALS  · Open 1,200 new locations in 2001, 900 in the United States.  · Open new store in Vienna by end of 2001.  · Open 10-15 new stores in Zurich within the next 12-18 months.  · Distribution of new Bottled Frappuccino Coffee Drinks, from affiliation w...

Expected Value of a Binomial Distribution

Expected Value of a Binomial Distribution Binomial distributions are an important class of discrete probability distributions. These types of distributions are a series of n independent Bernoulli trials, each of which has a constant probability p of success. As with any probability distribution we would like to know what its mean or center is. For this we are really asking, â€Å"What is the expected value of the binomial distribution?† Intuition vs. Proof If we carefully think about a binomial distribution, it is not difficult to determine that the expected value of this type of probability distribution is np. For a few quick examples of this, consider the following: If we toss 100 coins, and X is the number of heads, the expected value of X is 50 (1/2)100.If we are taking a multiple choice test with 20 questions and each question has four choices (only one of which is correct), then guessing randomly would mean that we would only expect to get (1/4)20 5 questions correct. In both of these examples we see that  E[ X ] n p. Two cases is hardly enough to reach a conclusion. Although intuition is a good tool to guide us, it is not enough to form a mathematical argument and to prove that something is true. How do we prove definitively that the expected value of this distribution is indeed np? From the definition of expected value and the probability mass function for the binomial distribution of n trials of probability of success p, we can demonstrate that our intuition matches with the fruits of mathematical rigor. We need to be somewhat careful in our work and nimble in our manipulations of the binomial coefficient that is given by the formula for combinations. We begin by using the formula: E[ X ] ÃŽ £ x0n x C(n, x)px(1-p)n – x. Since each term of the summation is multiplied by x, the value of the term corresponding to x 0 will be 0, and so we can actually write: E[ X ] ÃŽ £ x 1n x C(n , x) p x (1 – p) n – x . By manipulating the factorials involved in the expression for C(n, x) we can rewrite x C(n, x) n C(n – 1, x – 1). This is true because: x C(n, x) x n!/(x!(n – x)!) n!/((x – 1)!(n – x)!) n(n – 1)!/((x – 1)!((n – 1) – (x – 1))!) n C(n – 1, x – 1). It follows that: E[ X ] ÃŽ £ x 1n n C(n – 1, x – 1) p x (1 – p) n – x . We factor out the n and one p from the above expression: E[ X ] np ÃŽ £ x 1n C(n – 1, x – 1) p x – 1 (1 – p) (n – 1) - (x – 1) . A change of variables r x – 1 gives us: E[ X ] np ÃŽ £ r 0n – 1 C(n – 1, r) p r (1 – p) (n – 1) - r . By the binomial formula, (x y)k ÃŽ £ r 0 kC( k, r)xr yk – r the summation above can be rewritten: E[ X ] (np) (p (1 – p))n – 1 np. The above argument has taken us a long way. From beginning only with the definition of expected value and probability mass function for a binomial distribution, we have proved that what our intuition told us. The expected value of the binomial distribution B( n, p) is n p.