Comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Federal Constitution

Introduction The idea of union in America had been a part of colonial political thought and from the onset of the eighteenth century plans were being made for a union of all the colonies. Following the declaration of Independence in 1776, the American colonies set out to define the terms of their union through a constitution.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Federal Constitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States and they were ratified in 1981. While this constitution was able to unite the country over the course of the American Revolution, the document proved to be inadequate in the following years necessitating the adoption of a new constitution eight years later. This new constitution was referred to as the Federal Constitution and it has continued to serve Americans for over two centuri es. While most of the framers of the Federal Constitution had been the authors of the Articles of Confederations a decade ago, the two documents held significant differences. This paper will highlight the similarities and differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Federal Constitution and proceed to explain why Americans decided to change their form of government in 1787-1788. Similarities in the Constitutions Both documents were committed to the establishment of an independent United States with the freedom of the American people being emphasized on by the two constitutions. The American colonies were to exercise freedom from foreign control and the documents provided the basis for a common defense since each State was bound to come to the aid of the other in case of a war.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Federal Constitution asserted in its preamble that one of the major goals of the Union was to â€Å"provide for the common defense† of the States (King, 1871). The Article of Confederation was written for the sole purpose of establishing a mutual defense among the States especially against Great Britain. Article 2 of the Articles of Confederation declares that the states shall â€Å"enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense and the security of their liberties† (King, 1871, p.456). The Articles of Confederation and the Federal Constitution agreed on the title of â€Å"The United States of America† as the official name of the newly united colonies. Even so, the status of each state within the union differed with the Articles of Confederation explicitly stating that â€Å"each State retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right† (Swindler, 1981, p.168). The Federal constitution on the other hand emphasized on the supremacy of the unio n over sovereignty of the states. The preamble of the Federal Constitution begins with the words â€Å"we the people of the United States† therefore abandoning the Confederate concept of a loose association of states and in its place establishing a strong United nation (McNeese, 2001).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Federal Constitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Both documents were based on the idea of a union of the colonies and the notion that the government should be founded upon a representation of the people. The two constitutions agreed that the government should be run for the general welfare of its citizens. The Federal Constitution asserted the role of the people in choosing their leaders by stating, â€Å"the house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the States† (King, 1871, p.33 ). The Articles provided that for the interest of the State, delegates would be appointed and send to congress to represent the interests of their people. The two documents gave the national government more power than it had previously held. While the Articles of Confederation emphasized on a form of confederacy or league among the independent States, it greatly increased in theory the powers of government. For example, the powers of Congress were added upon enabling it to establish marine courts and judge between the states (King, 1871). The Federal Constitution gave the national government power over all the States. Differences between the Constitutions A fundamental difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Federal Constitution lie in the apportionment of power between the states and the central government. Jensen (1940) observes that while the Articles of Confederation gave the balance of power to the states, the Federal Constitution gave power to the central gove rnment.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Articles of Confederation were based on the premise that the United Colonies â€Å"are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States† (Swindler, 1981, p.166). The Articles therefore regarded a central government as a restraint on the freedom of local legislatures. The Federal Constitution on the other hand sought to create a strong Central government. The Federal Constitution required the states to surrender certain powers to the federal government in order for the government to operate effectively. The Federal Constitution therefore led to the formation of a Central government that had greater power than the constituent states. There was a difference in the inherent power and composition of Congress in the two documents. Under the Articles of Confederation, each State had equal representation in Congress without consideration for the differences in population size among the States. The Federal Constitution created a bicameral Congress that comprised of a Senate where each state contributed two senators and a House of Representatives where each state contributed a number of representatives based on its population. The Federal Constitution declared that all legislative powers would be vested in a congress, which was to be made up of two houses: the senate and the House of Representatives. While a Congress existed under the Articles of Confederation, its abilities were greatly restricted. The Congress lacked the authority to govern interstate commerce or enforce its demands on the States (Jensen, 1940). It also lacked the power to impose taxation on the States greatly weakening its efficiency. The Federal government saw the powers of Congress increased significantly and this body was empowered to regulate interstate commerce. The Federal constitution also gave Congress the right to â€Å"lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States† (Ki ng, 1871, p.152). The two documents also differed on the number of votes necessary for the Amendment of the Constitution. While the Articles of Confederation required a unanimous vote (13 out of 13 votes) for an amendment to be ratified, the Federal Constitution declares that â€Å"whenever two-thirds of both houses shall propose amendments to the constitution† it will be possible to ratify the amendments (McNeese, 2001). The Federal constitution therefore made it easier for the Nation to implement changes since it acted on a majority basis instead of waiting for all the States to agree on an issue. The Articles of Federation stipulated that only the State could act on behalf of its people. The central government did not have any powers over the members of the individual states. The Federal constitution changed this by stating that both the state and the central governments could act on behalf of the citizens of the United States (Swindler, 1981). This constitution divided th e sovereignty between the state and central government therefore making both key players in the lives of the citizens. Reasons for Change in Government The Union of the States was proposed and implemented for the original purpose of effectively opposing Great Britain. This inter-colonial unity was favored by radicals who saw a union as desirable for carrying on the war against Britain. However, these radicals wanted a union that would not infringe upon the sovereign authority of the individual states (McNeese 2001). The Articles of Confederation were effective in uniting the States into a loose confederation and increasing their efficiency in war. Because of this, the USA was able to achieve victory against Great Britain during the American Revolution and therefore obtain its independence in 1783. A state of unruly was experienced in the years after the great American Revolution. There was little unity among the states under the Articles of Confederation since each state maintained its sovereignty and was allowed to act as an independent country. Each State therefore put its interests first and only supported the national government out of self-interest. This state of disorderly highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. McNeese (2001) states that this unruliness was caused by the factional rivalry that led to violence. The Federal Constitution promised to break and control the violence of faction by exerting greater control over factions or interest groups under a national government. Proponents of the Federal Constitution argued that a new Constitution would create a vast republic with diverse people therefore reducing the likelihood that smaller, influential groups dominating. To address the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, Congress initially proposed for the amendment of this constitution by selected delegates from all the States. For the states to act as a nation and reap the benefits of a nation there had to be a greater uni fication and this could only be achieved by the creation of a new legislative document that laid emphasis on the Federal government. McNeese (2001) confirms that when the delegates of the Constitutional Convention began their work in 1787, they all had ideas on how to improve the government of the United States. However, intense debate on the issue led to the proposal for the adoption of a new Constitution that would effectively lead to the establishment of a new form of government in the US. The Federal constitution brought the nation together under one Chief executive who was the president of the States and he acted as a unifying factor for the States. Conclusion This paper set out to highlight the similarities and differences between the two American Constitutions and explain why Americans adopted a new form of government in 1789. The paper has noted that the Articles of Confederations and the Federal Constitution both advocated for a free and independent United States bud differ ed on the issue of sovereignty of the states. However, the Articles of Confederations proved to be an inadequate tool for governing the newly independent nation. The Federal Constitution was able to address the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation and help in the formation of a more perfect union of the States. References Jensen, M. (1940). The Articles of Confederation: An Interpretation of the Social Constitutional History of the American Revolution, 1774-1781. Wisconsin: Univ of Wisconsin Press. King, J. (1871). A commentary on the law and true construction of the federal constitution. Harvard University. McNeese, T. (2001). U.S. Constitution: American Experience. Boston: Lorenz Educational Press. Swindler, W.F. (1981). Our First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation. ABA Journal, 67(1), 166-169. This essay on Comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Federal Constitution was written and submitted by user Nolan Newton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Social Economic Implications of a Gasoline Crisis

The Social Economic Implications of a Gasoline Crisis Free Online Research Papers Background Gasoline has been around for ages and is the driving force for much of the world. Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons, although some contain significant quantities of ethanol. In its early days, gasoline was used as a cleaning agent and also as a treatment for lice. Gas became really important once the world started to get into the automobile and aviation period. Some of the first uses of gasoline in automobiles originated during the wars of the early 1900’s and is used everywhere in today’s age. Purpose The purpose of this report is to talk about the economic and social problems that are arising from the recent spike in gasoline prices. Also, it discusses what people can do to help fight against the continual rise in the cost of fuel. Methodology The internet is a tremendous source to use to gather information on a topic, and it proved extremely helpful in obtaining ideas on the problem being discussed in this report. The New York Times online, Wikipedia, Fox News online, and other databases were used to find out valuable information on the topic at hand. Significance Since gasoline is the driving force of the world, it is extremely important to keep and maintain the price of fuel at a reasonable level so that people can afford to drive their automobiles. II. Rising Gasoline Prices The number one reason for the sudden spike in gasoline prices can be easily contributed to the supply and demand curve. The demand for gasoline is up more than ever now, while the supply from the major companies in OPEC is not. According to some sources, the non OPEC countries’ supply of crude oil is dwindling, which is bad for the prices because they are not producing very much oil. This leads to a near monopoly in the oil production factor. Cheap oil, which runs around $60/barrel, may be gone. This summer the average price of a barrel of oil was around $120/barrel. This is a giant leap, a 200% increase, but it really isn’t as bad as it seems. A $120 barrel of oil is still a smaller fraction of the GDP than it was in the 1980’s. Even though many think that this price will shut down the entire world with their energy usage, they are in essence wrong. A major problem with the continual rise in fuel prices is its effect on the average American. The rising cost is putting a drain on a family’s money that could be used for entertainment. Most families live in more rural areas in the suburbs and have to drive a significant distance to travel to work. These long drives put a large drain on their gas tanks. This causes them to spend twice as much as it used to just to travel to work. This may not be as big of a problem as it seems, but these same parents are not getting a raise from work to make up for this deficit. They are not able to do they things as a family that they used to. Another factor that arises from the higher gas prices is the larger cost for the farmers to harvest their crops. A lot of people would not even think about this. They don’t look to the farmers as the producer of all of the items at the grocery store. The cost of fuel is a major factor in how much profit the farmer will make off of the crops that he or she raises. The farmer spends so much money to run their tractors, combines, semis, and trucks. A farmer that was recently interviewed stated that it was going to cost him over $20,000 more this fall to harvest his crops than it did the year before. The higher cost to harvest the crops leads to a direct impact on the cost of the products at the store. Companies have to pay more now to get the same amount of produce that they received originally. Not only does the produce cost more, but the cost of transporting theses goods is rising too. This leads to a direct price hike on the goods at the store. People wonder why they are paying more to go to the grocery than before and don’t understand it. They don’t see that the rise in fuel prices is accountable for a majority of the price increase. This leads to even more spending on families to provide the same food for them to eat. People are spending more money and not getting any more out of it. Not only do the rising gas prices put a damper on families, but it also hurts all transportation in general. Schools also have to spend more money just to drive their buses to pick up students from home, drive to athletic events, and also academic events. High gas prices hurt public transportation as well. They have to spend more to fill up their tanks just like everyone else. For them to keep making their same profits they have to raise the price of fares for citizens to travel with them. A person just can not expect to get the same services as before for the same price when the companies have to pay higher prices for fuel. If they were to do this, they would lose a significant amount of money. This in effect can lead them to going bankrupt after an extended amount of time. The same thing can be said about the airline industry and also tourist attractions. Their costs to operate continue to grow leading them to charge more for a plane ticket to help cover the costs. This then leads to people wanting to not travel as much, which in effect makes those companies lose the revenue that they are used to getting. With the loss of people traveling, the companies have to lay off more people all of the time to try and keep their profits up. II. Lowering Gas Prices There is some hope in sight for everyone. In the couple of months leading up to the election the gas prices have fallen significantly. This is a great relief to many people around the world. Lowering gas prices is a savior to many people. This will ultimately lead to folks having more money in their wallets. In the world today, this is a great thing with the credit crisis going on. So many homes have been foreclosed on due to financial means. This probably isn’t a solution to the problem, but it is a great start. Having more money will allow people to pay off these bills instead of not paying anything at all. The biggest help would be to lower income families and to small family-owned farms. These groups are the people just barely getting by as it is. With the increase in the gas prices it was putting an even larger strain on their already low incomes. Now they are taking a sigh of relief, at least for now. This lower fuel costs will possibly keep them afloat long enough until the government can get the prices under control. III. Who Is At Risk The bad thing about this dilemma is that it affects almost everyone in the world who uses an automobile for anything. Even if you do not use a car or truck for anything it will affect you in same way or another. Any person who drives a car is affected by the soaring gas prices. Whether you drive a long distance or just to the library. It is costing more and more to drive a vehicle. It is affecting many students here at Morehead State University too. Since this campus is like a suitcase college, students packing up and leaving every weekend to go home, it is putting a pinch on their pocketbooks as well. This in effect can actually be better for the campus and surrounding restaurants. With more kids staying around, it leads to them having more business on the weekends. Students will more than likely go out to these companies rather than sitting in their dorms all weekend. The rising gas prices can actually have a good effect on larger cities and metropolitan areas. If less people are out there driving, it will reduce traffic. This is a good thing resulting from the dilemma. With less traffic there is going to be a better chance of having fewer wrecks. Another benefit to less cars being on the road is pollution. There will be less exhaust fumes going up into the atmosphere. This is a great thing for the environment. IV. Conclusion The rising cost of gasoline is a major concern for the US and the World. Recent hikes in the cost of crude oil are having a tremendous impact on everyone. The group that is most vulnerable according to some is the farming industry. Everything that a farmer does with his farm has some use of gasoline involved, whether it is filling up their family cars or to filling their tractors and combines with diesel fuel. Diesel fuel costs around one dollar more per gallon than regular gasoline. People don’t think about all of the factors in the farm that involves gas and diesel fuel. If they are paying more to harvest their crop, then they will have to get more in return on their crops. This leads to a trickle effect onto all of the goods one will buy at the grocery store. As long as the prices stay high then it will be harder and harder for people to live in their comfortable bubble that they are used to living in. Gas prices do not affect only a small portion of society; it affects all. V. Recommendation The hike in gasoline prices has made many think of ways to reduce the impact of the problem. Here is a list of things that are currently happening to help fight the fuel price dilemma. 1. Hybrid cars are being produced and sold now more than ever before. A hybrid car is a basic car that has two different engines. It has the normal gasoline engine and also an electric motor. The hybrid car will run off of the electric motor as long as it is charged. Once the battery runs out it automatically switches over to the gas engine. A good thing about this is that once the gas engine takes over, it begins to charge the electric motor back to running capacity. A bad side to the hybrid car is that it costs significantly more than the average gas powered car, nearly double the price in some instances. It is not the best solution to the problem, but it is a start. 2. Another solution to the rising gas prices is more fuel efficient cars. Most of the big auto makers offer a car that can get 35-40 mpg. The problem with this is that most of these cars are a lot smaller and do not have the large capacity that the SUV owners are accustomed to. 3. A third solution is bio fuels. These are a whole different type of fuel. These include bio-diesel, hydrogen, and vegetable oil. A good thing about these fuels is that they are cheaper to run and also help the environment. They burn much cleaner than a normal gas powered car or truck. BIBLIOGRAPHY Alternative Fuel. Wikipedia. 16 Dec. 2006. 18 Nov. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_fuel Ashton, Peter K. (2007). The method behind endless gasoline price spikes. Nieman Watchdog. niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.viewbackgroundid=187 Dunn, Phillip. Hybrid CarsPros and Cons. Physorg. 19 Jan. 2006. 16 Nov. 2008 physorg.com/news10031.html. Krauss, Clifford. (2008). Rural US Takes Worse Hit as Gas Tops $4 Average. The New York Times Online. nytimes.com/2008/06/09/business/09gas.html?_r=1scp=15sq=gasoline%20crisisst=nyt Lawinski, Jennifer. OPEC Cuts Oil Production in Move to Boost Prices. FoxNews. 24 Oct. 2008. 15 Nov. 2008 . McKay, Steve. High Fuel Prices Effects on Farming. Telephone interview. 10 Oct. 2008. Why Are Gas Prices So High ? ZFacts. 3 Dec. 2007. 15 Nov. 2008

What is it about human sciences and natural sciences that makes them Essay

What is it about human sciences and natural sciences that makes them convincing - Essay Example There are a number of theories in human sciences and natural sciences that have gained the consensus of a vast majority of critics, and thus have been found convincing. A lot of technological advancements that have been made in the past few centuries are based on the very theories of natural sciences. Likewise, theories in human sciences have led to the development of models of psychological therapy. Most of the factors that make theories in human sciences convincing differ from the factors which make the theories in natural sciences convincing, and yet there are certain factors that play a role in making the theories in both the fields convincing. This paper discusses the factors responsible for the convincingness of human sciences and natural sciences. Human sciences, as the name indicates, are the sciences about humans. These include the study of sociology, psychology and behavior of humans. There is no objective way to test the theories of human sciences. There is a lot of subjectivity in the arguments made with the theories of human sciences, which can fundamentally be attributed to the diversity of human nature. There is probably, nothing as diverse in this universe, as human nature. While the theories of natural sciences can generally be easily tested for their reliability using the scientific methods, it is not quite as easy to conduct such tests on humans. There is a whole range of factors that play a role in it. The first and the foremost factor that keeps such tests to be performed is the fact that the subjects upon which the test is to be conducted are humans. Humans are living beings in which capacity, they have certain rights which may never be violated. This increases the difficulty for the researchers to approach the subjects of research and gain their consent for participation. The second factor which plays a role in making the testing insufficient to test a theory is the restraint of imitation. In order to compare the results

Mars Exploration Missions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mars Exploration Missions - Research Paper Example Mars Path Finder: The mission was launched in 1996, a month after the Mars global surveyor†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Mars Exploration Rovers: This is a robotic space mission†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Manned Mission to Mars: Scientists have planned to land and settle the Mars planet in near future†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Future Programs: In 2010, NASA announced to award 50 million US$ to different companies for manufacturing low cost†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Conclusion: US is continuously committed to explore the universe. Numerous missions have been sent till now to different planets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Mars Exploration Missions Introduction Till 20th century, Human being could only think of exploring the planets of the solar system. Urge to find life on the nearby planets convinced people to touch the soil of other planets. Mars exploration missions were started in 20th century. Since then different exploration mission has been sent to analyse the soil of the planet and ultimately to find life. US has always shown interest in exploring space due to which, it has started many Mars exploration programs in order to find signs of life on the planet. ... Mars pathfinder and rover missions were also launched to get more data about the structure of the Mars. NASA has also planned manned mission to Mars in near future. First manned Mars mission is also planned to be launched by 2030. US Mars exploration programs and future programs shall be discussed in chronological order in paragraphs to follow. Exploration Missions Mariner Program NASA launched Mariner program for carrying out investigation of Mars. Ten vehicles were launched as part of the mission out of which seven were successful and three got lost. All mariner spacecrafts were loaded with electronics, cameras, power source and propulsion systems. Rockets were mostly used as a delivery mean to send the spacecrafts in the space.TV cameras were used to send pictures of the Mars structure (Lyle, 2002). Viking Program This program comprises of Viking1 and Viking 2. Each space vehicle comprised of two main parts, the orbiter and the lander (Platoff, 2001). Orbiter was used to take phot ographs of the Mars from the orbit. Lander was designed to land on the surface of the Mars to gather information about surface of the Mars. Viking program brought revolution in Mars missions as it indicated presence of water on Mars surface and in atmosphere as well (Lyle, 2002). Mars Global Surveyor NASA launched this program in 1996 as part of the US space missions. This was the first program launched after the pause of almost ten years. The mission accomplished its basic tasks in 2001 (Lyle, 2002). Very high-resolution cameras were used to get pictures of the Mars surface. Until, November 2006, the cameras sent more than 240000 pictures of the surface of the Mars (Baucom, 2006). Despite all the efforts and initial success,

Human Factors in technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Factors in technology - Essay Example However, technology had to progress, since it was unthinkable to hinder its journey towards a better and easier world. The first significant change I had to experience was the decrease in human contact that the Credit/Debit Cards, ATMs and telephonic and electronic transfers caused. It seemed in the beginning that the career prospects of a banker will become bleak due to these developments. There seemed little scope in such a scenario for many of us who spent quality time to acquire communication and interpersonal skills as part of our job training. The entire concept of working in the front office had been changing very fast. Though it took time for me to get acquainted with the new system, many of my apprehensions were proven wrong as I learnt how these skills were still relevant, even more so, in the technologically advanced scenario. Moreover, there were many customers, especially senior citizens, who needed time to get accustomed to the changes. They needed assistance from us, and this led to a stronger link with the customers. Any new advancement in the field brought in situations where many c ustomers needed support from us, and the human interaction involved in banking did not in fact decrease over time, though its dimensions have changed, as in every aspect of life. The fact that my profession called for a clear knowledge of the technological aspects related to it was in fact a blessing in disguise. Many of my senior colleagues found it difficult to gain or update their computer and electronic communication skills. However, the younger generation who were more open to these changes and eager to keep abreast of the technological advancements got a chance to learn more through their job trainings and refresher courses. This had in fact made many of us capable of meeting the new challenges in banking and other fields as well. For many of us, it was also an opportunity to get familiarized with the international

Outline of Movements in Art

Outline of Movements in Art Introduction Art has given generations complex lessons in exquisiteness, horror, and respect. Art has inspired some to delve further into their minds than they ever have. Art evokes many emotions; it terrifies and pleasures, calms and arouses, and can serve to bring light on the inner mechanisms of politics and inspirations. Art is, was, and will always be an outlet that provides insight into the mind and soul. Renaissance (1300 1600 C.E.) The Renaissance period was considered a growing concern with the natural world, the individual, and humanitys worldly existence (Kleiner, 2014, p. 406). The translation of Renaissance means rebirth, so this era was described as a rebirth of the fascination in the classical periods of Greece and Rome, symbolized by medieval disquiet of the previous era. The Renaissance period encompassed the belief of humanism, or a code of civil conduct, a theory of education, and a scholarly discipline [rather] than a philosophical system (Kleiner, 2014, p. 407). Commercialization also began in the Renaissance, as feudalistic period ended and expansion started to begin. The importance of religion also began to decline due to the world changing views. The more people learned and endured, the less they relied on religion to comprehend their world. This era was characterized by a more true-to-life approach on the subject matter, techniques using perspective and foreshortening gave the illusion of being three dimensional. New oil paint blends were created, which let the artist use oil on canvas, which was considerably easier to work with than coloring on wet plaster. Individualism (showing singular people), secularism (less church-related), classicism (a revert back to the techniques of ancient Greece and Rome), nature (outdoor and rustic scenes), anatomy (defined and specific human forms), linear perspective (how things seemed to the onlooker with relation to the other), realism (visual precision of the piece), depth (light and shading used to give the illusion of three dimensional art), blue backgrounds (helped create depth), and symmetry (balancing proportions) were all obvious during the Renaissance period. Artwork iconic to the Renaissance Tiziano Vecellio (1488-1576). Boy with a Bird [Oil on Canvas; 34.9 cm x 48.9 cm]. Not on Display Raphael (Raffaello Santi) (1483-1520). An Allegory (Vision of a Knight) [oil on poplar; 17.1 cm x 17.3 cm]. The National Gallery Baroque (1600 1750 C.E) The Baroque era developed as a direct revolt against the rigidity of classicism. The Baroque era was emboldened by the Catholic Church in order to link themes to religious righteousness and to appeal to newly changing societies. This era gave the Church optimism it could stay immersed within its residents. The wealthy viewed the Baroque style as a means of amazing visitors, as well as a means to express their personal power, wealth and achievements. Baroque art is characterized by its richness, extravagant subjects and the attention to detail that showed emotionalism. Exuberance and opulence were commonly connected to the Baroque style, with a focused intention to appeal to all the senses. The chiaroscuro technique is also a significant style of the Baroque period, this method relates to the interaction between light and shadow to create very intense and differed atmospheres. In architecture, spiral columns, towering domes, and massiveness and monumentality were hallmarks of the Baroque period. Artwork iconic to the Baroque period Meindert Hobbema. (1662). The Watermill with the Great Red Roof [oil on canvas; 81.3 cm x 110 cm]. Art Institute Chicago. Adriaen van der Spelt (1658). Tromp-lOeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain [oil on panel; 46.5 cm x 63.9 cm]. Art Institute Chicago Romanticism (1750 1870 C.E.) Like its name, the era of Romanticism leaned more toward the whimsical, the discovery of the emotional side of the human psyche, a direct revolt against the rigid nature of the Renaissance or the ostentatious Baroque periods. Romanticism also evolved as a reaction to the Industrial revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, in which science began to justify and classify nature. To be free of conventional life lead to more emphasis on the individual. The retreat from the here and now lead to a bigger interest in landscapes, the emotional expression and imagination, and the splendor that could be found in past. This period was the inlet for artwork that expressed human emotion; wonder, shock, and horror. According to Isaiah Berlin (1999), this era represented a new and restless spirit, seeking violently to burst through old and cramping forms, a nervous preoccupation with perpetually changing inner states of consciousness a search after means of expressing and unappeasable yearning for unattainable goals (p. 92). Usually characterized by bright and vibrant colors, or paler and darker colors that are that are blended to make the image softer to draw focus to nature, instead of man-made objects. Mistiness is also used, to give a more dream-like feel to the piece, through the use of more pensive brushstrokes. Moods, heroes, brilliance, obscurity, passion, the exotic, and even the satanic were all part of the Romantic era. Artwork iconic to the Romantic era Thà ©odore Gà ©ricault (1819). La Radeau de la Medusa [oil on canvas; 491.5 cm x 716.5 cm]. Musà ©e du Louvre, Paris. Thà ©odore Gericault (1818). Evening: Landscape with an Aqueduct [oil on canvas; 250.2 cm x 219.7 cm]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Impressionism (1870 1900 C.E.) Impressionism can be considered the first distinctly modern movement in painting, and was often done outdoors. It was a movement about painting to capture the momentary, sensory effect of a scene, and often portrayed things in nature that could not have been painted in a traditional setting. The goal of Impressionism was to create original works of art that was based on the subject matter and the natural setting. Impressionism is characterized by loosened brushstrokes that use pure, intense color that gave the piece an unfinished appearance, which was seen as almost amateurish the prominence of changing light conditions, and basic subject matter. Rather than neutral white, grays, and blacks, Impressionists often rendered shadows and highlights in color. The artists loose brushwork gives an effect of spontaneity and effortlessness (Samu, 2004). Artwork iconic to Impressionism Claude Monet (1891) Haystacks (Effects if snow and sun) [Oil on canvas; 65.4 x 92.1 cm]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Claude Monet. (1891). The Four Trees [oil on canvas; 91.9 cm x 81.6 cm]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Modernism (1900 1945 C.E.) Modernism was the complete rejection of the Victorian Era, giving in to a search for new ways to express oneself. Encouraged by the progressively realistic influence of industrialization and urbanization, including the influence of World War I and its results, Modernism strived to reach reclamation and renewal after the destruction that shattered lives and broke nations. Modernism is characterized by vivid colors and intangible concepts, repeatedly creating artwork with a broken or slanted appearance. Similar to Impressionism, Modernist artists used what they saw to paint the spirit of the subject, often with very loose foundation in reality. Sometimes the art consisted of color splashed onto a canvas. Artwork iconic to Modernism JoAnn Verburg (1991). Still Life with Serial Killers [Chromogenic color print; 49.7 cm x 70.4 cm]. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Richard Lindner (1966). Checkmate [Cut-and-pasted papers, watercolor, pencil, crayon, and ink on paper; 60.6 cm x 45. cm]. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco. Conclusion Art is life, the expression of the intimate, the soul given life. Art is a living, breathing, progressing work, frequently seeking new possibilities of being born. From the Renaissance to the current day, art has changed with times, given voice to the voiceless, and hope to those who lost hope. References Berlin, I. (1999). The roots of romanticism. London: Chatto and Windus. Kleiner, F. S. (2014). Gardners art through the ages: The western perspective (14th ed., Vol. II). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Samu, M. (2004). Impressionism: Art and modernity. The Metropolitan Museum, New York. Retrieved July 3, 2016 from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/imml/hd_imml.htm.

Agamemnon :: Agamemnon

Agamemnon Communication In Aeschylus’s, Agamemnon, there is a great possibility that the death of Agamemnon could have been prevented, had the Chorus simply listened to Cassandra’s prophecy. But the words spoken between the two parties seem to have loss it’s meaning when it fell upon the Chorus; yet, they were obviously hearing what she was saying. But while they were hearing what she had to say, they did not listen to her words. Ironically, in this story, it is the women who posses all the knowledge. But once they try to share it, the men, who later suffer the consequence, ignore them. People only listen to what they want to hear, and a woman’s word is not considered important enough to listen to. Klytaimestra has thought up an ingenious plan to uncover the outcome of the Trojan War as quickly as possible; however, when she tries to share the news, the Chorus castoffs her declaration. This constant stichomythia between the Chorus and Klytaimestra annoys her because of the persistent disbelief, â€Å"And you have proof?/That, or a phantom spirit sends you into raptures† (272-274). The Chorus, which consists of men, do not accept that a woman can have any sort of knowledge before they do. They dismiss her claims until they hear it from a male messenger, which makes Klytaimestra very angry: â€Å"I cried out long ago!/You made me seem deranged† (580-586). Further, when she explains how she discovered the outcome, the men automatically assume that because she is a woman, she got her information from gossiping. â€Å"Just like a woman/to fill with thanks before the truth is clear . . . So gullible. Their stories spread like wildfire,/they fly fast and die faster;/ rumours voiced by women come to nothing.† To the Chorus, a woman to devise a plan as clever as Klytaimestra’s, is inconceivable. But even after Klytaimestra’s facts are proven, the Chorus will later undermine her abilities again. After coming out of the house with blood stained hands while announcing her murder, all the Chorus can do is talk about what a great loss they suffer. They accuse Klytaimestra for being a backstabber, and tell her she should be punished. When Klytaimestra defends her actions by pointing out how Agamemnon killed her daughter, they ignore her and keep mourning. Even though they can see with their own eyes that Klytaimestra killed her husband and Cassandra, they still refuse to really listen to her, as if they do not want to believe that a woman committed the murder of their almighty king.