Defending Slavery free essay sample

Defending Slavery The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of African slavery in America in the antebellum by late eighteenth century and before the antebellum crisis as discussed in Paul Finkelman’s book: Defending Slavery. This paper will summarize the first part of book taking as a main topic racial aspects of the slavery. After the introductory summary , this paper will focus in two specific sections found in the second part of the book: â€Å"Religion and Slavery† and â€Å"Racial Theory and Slavery†.Lastly, this paper will analyze these two themes used as a justification of African Slavery in early history of America In his book â€Å"Defending Slavery†, Finkelman presents a collection of historical documents written by politicians, lawyers, clergymen and an anonymous author supporting proslavery. In the first part of the book, Finkelman, gives a briefly introduction to the arguments supporting pro slavery in America during the Antebellum. The thoughts defending slavery have in common that slavery in America was justified based on racial aspects.The sociological term â€Å"mudsill theory† was first used by James Henry Hammond, a South Carolina Senator. This term was placed as a strong racial argument in favor of slavery. The basic premise of this theory was that all great societies must have someone to do the menial labor, in order to create a distinction between social classes. In addition, according to this theory this low class labor must be assigned to blacks who were considered an inferior race. Under this context slavery did contribute to create an ample social gap between the â€Å"white† and â€Å"black† races.Religion and Slavery: In this section of the book, Finkelman gathered four documents written by three representatives of the Baptist and Protestant religion and by an anonymous person and edited by De Bow’s Review, a well circulated magazine in the South part of America wi thin 19th century. The first document of this section is â€Å"The Duties of Christian Masters† written by Reverend A. T. Holmes in 1851. This document won a price offered by the Alabama Baptist State Coveention for the best essay.Holmes called the slaveowners as â€Å"Christian masters† and avowed that â€Å"the masters† had the responsibility to hold slaves of an inferior race and should guide and protect the servants. In addition, Holmes noted that white race masters were of â€Å"a superior intellect† and that blacks were â€Å"ignorant†. The essay â€Å"Slavery and the Bible† written by an anonymous author and edited by De Bow’s Review. The author states that the teachings of the Bible are taken as moral truth and because the Bible describes clearly the presence of slavery, therefore it must also be regarded as moral truth.The report â€Å"Duty of Clergymen in Relation to the Marriage of Slaves† from the Protestant Episcopal Convention of South Caroline asserts that slaves could get married by the clergy but if the slave owner considered a necessary separation of the couple, he had the authority to separate them to comply with the â€Å"divine right† from God to master their slaves’ lives. Thornton Stringfellow wrote â€Å"The Bible Argument: Or Slavery in the Light of Divine Revelation†.This report is a synopsis of the theological argument defending slavery as stated in the Old and New Testaments. Religion used to justify slavery had as a core support the Bible teachings but its interpretation was certainly influenced but their solid conviction that God not only allowed slavery but al so ordained. Since racial defenders of slavery relate religious arguments based on Bible citations it is necessary to analyze the documents grouped in the â€Å"Racial Theory and Slavery† section. Racial Theory and Slavery:The section entitled â€Å"Racial and Theory and Slavery† in the second part of the book contains four documents written by Samuel A Cartwright, a South Caroline physician; William Grayson, a South Caroline lawyer and politician; George Fitzhugh, a self educated lawyer and sociologist; and Josiah C. Nott, another well known physician from Alabama who sustained that blacks and whites came from different species. All of these documents were intended to support the theory that black race was not only different that white race but their origins came from different roots. Cartwright and Nott had similar approach.Their explanation from the biological standpoint was in some point linked to a religious interpretation of then bible. Thus, Cartwright depicts the origin of the three most predominant racial groups on Earth: Asian, Europeans and Blacks. He cites the Book of Genesis with the story of Noah and his three sons nd their settlements in three different geographical areas: North of Europe, Asia and Africa. According to Cartwright’s biblical interpretation, this last continent was occupied by Cannan and his descendents were not only black race but also were designated by God;s will to be servant. Josiah Nott extensively wrote papers about race. His argument were based on a theory known as polygenesis. Nott claimed that there had been multiple creations producing superior and inferior races and black race was destined to permanent inferiority. George Fitzhugh’s sociological opinion about slavery were irrational; he stated that slavery was the most perfect institution ever created In his eyes it is the most perfect institution ever created. Southern slavery is perfect, because like the family dog, slaves are happy to be indolent and cared for.G Although Notts writings on race were often irrational in content, extreme in language, and lacked a scientific grounding, they were generally accepted by most of the leading racial theorists of the day in the United States and Europe. Critical Analysis In Paul Finkelman’s book, particularly the fragments dedicated at the defense of slavery based on racial and religious justification state that black people where crea ted by God and placed in Africa with the unique purpose to be servant of white people. This statement was scientifically dismantled by the Charles Darwin’s Theory of Universal Common Descent published in 1889. This theory is based on reliable scientific observations, asserts that â€Å"all living organisms currently present on Earth share a common genetic ancestor with each being the descendant from a single original species. † During more than one hundred and fifty years after Darwin presented this theory, numerous researchers have proven that Darwin’s assertions were correct.In 1851, Samuel Cartwright, a well known New Orleans physician for dedicated his medical practice treating slaves and specialized on what they called â€Å"negro diseases† wrote a report to the Medical Association of Louisiana called: â€Å"The diseases and physical peculiarities of Negro race† . Cartwright’s report described about anthropology and origin of the races providing a biblical interpretation. This paper was clearly based on mere physical obs ervations made on his medical practice rather than scientific evidence.The information about anatomy and physiological reactions of black people was biased by his proslavery opinion. Nowadays, the lack of supporting research of his â€Å"scientific report† made it weak to be used as a legitimate defense of slavery. Although, some of the facts presented in the document were correct in terms of anatomical and physiological differences between black and white people; these facts were loaded of his personal beliefs pro slavery.Furthermore, these facts were presented in a way that a common lay reader will see black and white people as two different and individual human species without any genetic link and without any similarities as a human being descending from the same genetic tree and common ancestry as Darwin’s theory. Another important aspect that contradicts his defense is the introduction of events narrated in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis regarding Noah and his three sons.According to the Genesis, they were settled in three different continents: Europe, Asia and Aftica. Cannan and his descendants occupied the current Ethiopia an d under God’ will were assigned to be servants of the other two brothers. If in fact the Cannan and his Ethiopian descendents were black, how we can explain that they were distinct to the rest of races when it is well known and proven by years of anthropology research that the oldest human remains were found in Ethiopia. These important discoveries in the study of human evolution include Ardi, a hominid who lived 4. 4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia and â€Å"Lucy† another hominid, who is estimated to have lived 3. 2 million years ago. Based on the study of her bone structural remains showed that human ancestors were up and walking more than 3 millions years ago. Moreover, Charles Darwin’s theory states that similar species such as humans, apes, and monkeys probably evolved, over a period of many thousands of years, from a common, ape-like ancestor.If both very important humans remains were discovered in Ethiopia and the application of common descendant theory, therefore we can conclude that we all current humans descend from an African ancestor. This logical conclusion makes the racial argument of slavery weak because there is not such as inferior or superior race since we all human beings come from the same ancestor. There are phenotypic traits that distinguished a race or ethnic group of another but it doesn’t make them physically and intellectually superior. Charles Darwin did not think that humans evolved from monkeys.Rather, he believed, based on many years of research in the fields of biology and comparative anatomy, that anatomically similar species such as humans, apes, and monkeys probably evolved, over a period of many thousands of years, from a common, ape-like ancestor, now extinct. Recent studies in biology and genetics, using techniques not available in Darwins time, have confirmed and further clarified his theory. In order to gain a further understanding of Darwins thinking, you might want to look up Charles Darwin and Evolution in a variety of encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia (en. ikipedia. org/wiki/Charles_Darwin). High School and College textbooks of biology may also cover this topic with more or less completeness. Many fine books have also been written on this subject, including Darwins The Origin of Species and the Descent of Man and the fine biographical novel, The Origin, by Irving Stone. Read more: http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_made_Darwin_think_humans_evolved_from_monkeys#ixzz27qEiO7FG a century this theory has been proven by modern research The Theory of Universal Common Descent was [pic]ShareThisCharles Darwin‘s theory of evolution may have been shaped by his abhorrence of slavery as much as by his keen observations of Galapagos finches, a new book argues. Darwin’s Sacred Cause, by Adrian Desmond and James Moore, notes that slavery propaganda of the time often claimed that different races belonged to different species, a notion that Darwin’s work obliterated. The book suggests that Darwin’s unique approach to evolution – relating all races a nd species by â€Å"common descent† – could have been fostered by his anti-slavery beliefs [BBC News]. Published to coincide with Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his publication of On the Origin of Species this year, the book is likely to stir up a new debate over Darwin’s motives. Many members of Darwin’s extended family were deeply devoted to the abolitionist cause, including his grandfather, Josiah Wedgwood, who founded a chinaware company and produced cameos distributed by anti-slavery campaigners; the medallions bore the legend â€Å"Am I Not a Man and a Brother? † Darwin’s mother and wife were Wedgwoods and anti-slavery was what Darwin called a â€Å"sacred cause†. He was taught to see the oppressed black as a â€Å"brother†.This explains why, when he went to Edinburgh University at 16, he could apprentice himself to a freed Guyanese slave to learn the art of bird preservation without thinking it [beneath his dignity] [Times Online]. Darwin later described that former slave as one of his intimate friends. Duri ng the voyage of the Beagle, Darwin saw scenes of slavery in South America that horrified him. He saw the aftermath of slave revolts and the instruments of torture, and heard of a planter who threatened to sell the children of recalcitrant slaves. â€Å"It makes one’s blood boil, yet heart tremble,† he wrote [Times Online].

Individualism Vs. Nationalism free essay sample

One of the biggest debates in the respects of sociology and psychology is the debate between individualism and nationalism. Many believe that the human capacity, or ability to be great, is best shown by the individuality of a person, and that a person can serve as an individual to the rest of the society. The other side of the coin is that being human is not anything significant as an individual and that any kind of development is dependent upon nationalism. But, does being in a collective group actually hurt more than being an individual? The general question of individual commitment to the social order is stressful. To fit into a collective group takes a toll on the mind, and being an individual seems less harboring. The urge to fit in is an unneeded duty that society requires to make everyone accepted because they then feel â€Å"normal. † Simplified, when people want to fit in, feel accepted, and conform, problems show up. We will write a custom essay sample on Individualism Vs. Nationalism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When I want to buy the latest trend of tights or leggings, I end up disappointing myself. I can’t physically fit into most trends or they don’t look well on me. It mentally affects me. I put myself down, convincing myself I just can’t wear those really â€Å"cute† clothes. As a girl especially, to look â€Å"cute† is how many feel comfortable. Those who don’t feel comfortable in their own skin because of the glorified image of â€Å"fitting in† tend to be most critical to themselves ,and where suicide rolls in, on a personal stage. To understand how personal, suicide can be examined. Many people have argued that suicide is a very personal act, so much so that it only involves the will and the thought process of just the individual who commits suicide. There are many social currents that could explain and predict a persons tendencies to commit suicide related to individualism, such as the urge to fit in. The mental pain that comes along with not fitting in with a collective group drives people to hurt. So, does being, or trying to be, in a collective group worth losing happiness over? Collectivism is the idea of mob mentality. Doesn’t sound too positive or happy when referred to as a mob, does it? When people are in a group, they sometimes stop thinking and just go with the wishes of their peers. When someone is unwilling to think for themselves, and accept the wishes of the people around them, it looks and smells a lot like a collective. So, stressing over becoming one with society is hurtful. Trying to fit in is hurtful. Suicide is hurtful. Not thinking for yourself is hurtful. If being in a group doesn’t lead to any of those things, then the group itself has already taken control.

The Absent Male In Little Women Essays - English-language Films

The Absent Male in Little Women "No gentlemen were admitted" writes Louisa May Alcott in Little Women to describe the all-female private revue the March sisters perform. And as the novel progresses, one cannot help but wonder if this same sentiment does indeed echo throughout the novel, as male characters are conspicuously absent while all the pivotal parts are played by the women characters. This gender imbalance -- in that there are more female characters than male in Little Women -- is especially obvious when male authority figures such as Mr March and Mr Lawrence are markedly absent for most of the novel. When they do appear, they are in need of love and care from the women. Mr Lawrence, who is nursing a broken heart over the death of his daughter, is healed by Beth's gentle manners, while Mr March's broken constitution is nursed back to health by his loving wife and daughters. The only male character who appears prominently in Little Women is Laurie, who, although the richest and most eligible bachelor for miles, is drawn to the motherly smile and warmth of the little cottage, despite the luxuries of his mansion next door. John Brooke, Laurie?s tutor and Meg?s husband, too, is drawn to the homey atmosphere of the March residence, having recently lost his mother. In a bold move that differentiates Alcott from her contemporaries, the male characters in Little Women are all not capable of providing sustenance to their womenfolk as they are incapacitated (either by a war injury, an emotional scar, or an impoverished background). The women are thus forced to take on varied roles in order to provide materially and emotionally for the family. They are the ones who shoulder the burden in situations not unlike those of the Alcott family. Is it by chance, or is premeditation, that most of Alcott?s novels feature an absent father? And when he does reappear, he is very often silent, ill or injured. It is obvious Alcott has problems portraying strong male characters, probably from the fact that she hadn?t seen too many of them. Furthermore, Alcott is not able to describe a situation where love is emoted expressively from men. In all her novels, the male characters disappoint -- in one way or the other. In many ways, they are very similar to her own father. Bronson Alcott was a man who preferred dreaming, shirking his fatherly and husbandly duties, and was prone to going on extended trips without his family. Bronson Alcott deserted his family for months at a time purportedly to earn a living. But he was not very successful in that area. Once he came back with a new scarf and a dollar in his pocket to a hungry family waiting for the money to buy some much needed bread. He handed over the token that he was paid to Alcott with the careless remark: ?Well, Louisa, there?s little money, but I had a great time and was asked to come again.? In Little Women, the appearance of these hapless males in search of a mother figure to comfort them celebrates the Good Mother, a role played by Marmee and her four daughters. The Good Mother figure, as explained by French feminist writer Helene Cixous in her manifesto The Laugh of the Medusa, is a woman who is an omnipotent, generous dispenser of love, nourishment and plenitute. And in a departure from the patriachal system that she grew up in, Alcott proclaims women as the source of life, power, energy and advice. In Good Wives (pages 211 - 213), Marmee says to Meg, beginning with: "May I speak quite freely, and will you remember that it's mother who blames as well as mother who sympathises?" before concluding with "Don't shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman, but understand what is going on, and educate yourself to take your part in the world's work, for it all affects you and yours." Then later on in Good Wives (page 318), Jo exclaim about Marmee: "How goo! d she is to me! What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?" Alcott's portrayal of a strong mother figure is no surprise considering that she was very much influenced by her mother, and much of her journals was annotated by her mother who read them and made notes within them. Just as Abba Alcott was very caught up with women?s rights, The Absent Male In Little Women Essays - English-language Films The Absent Male in Little Women "No gentlemen were admitted" writes Louisa May Alcott in Little Women to describe the all-female private revue the March sisters perform. And as the novel progresses, one cannot help but wonder if this same sentiment does indeed echo throughout the novel, as male characters are conspicuously absent while all the pivotal parts are played by the women characters. This gender imbalance -- in that there are more female characters than male in Little Women -- is especially obvious when male authority figures such as Mr March and Mr Lawrence are markedly absent for most of the novel. When they do appear, they are in need of love and care from the women. Mr Lawrence, who is nursing a broken heart over the death of his daughter, is healed by Beth's gentle manners, while Mr March's broken constitution is nursed back to health by his loving wife and daughters. The only male character who appears prominently in Little Women is Laurie, who, although the richest and most eligible bachelor for miles, is drawn to the motherly smile and warmth of the little cottage, despite the luxuries of his mansion next door. John Brooke, Laurie?s tutor and Meg?s husband, too, is drawn to the homey atmosphere of the March residence, having recently lost his mother. In a bold move that differentiates Alcott from her contemporaries, the male characters in Little Women are all not capable of providing sustenance to their womenfolk as they are incapacitated (either by a war injury, an emotional scar, or an impoverished background). The women are thus forced to take on varied roles in order to provide materially and emotionally for the family. They are the ones who shoulder the burden in situations not unlike those of the Alcott family. Is it by chance, or is premeditation, that most of Alcott?s novels feature an absent father? And when he does reappear, he is very often silent, ill or injured. It is obvious Alcott has problems portraying strong male characters, probably from the fact that she hadn?t seen too many of them. Furthermore, Alcott is not able to describe a situation where love is emoted expressively from men. In all her novels, the male characters disappoint -- in one way or the other. In many ways, they are very similar to her own father. Bronson Alcott was a man who preferred dreaming, shirking his fatherly and husbandly duties, and was prone to going on extended trips without his family. Bronson Alcott deserted his family for months at a time purportedly to earn a living. But he was not very successful in that area. Once he came back with a new scarf and a dollar in his pocket to a hungry family waiting for the money to buy some much needed bread. He handed over the token that he was paid to Alcott with the careless remark: ?Well, Louisa, there?s little money, but I had a great time and was asked to come again.? In Little Women, the appearance of these hapless males in search of a mother figure to comfort them celebrates the Good Mother, a role played by Marmee and her four daughters. The Good Mother figure, as explained by French feminist writer Helene Cixous in her manifesto The Laugh of the Medusa, is a woman who is an omnipotent, generous dispenser of love, nourishment and plenitute. And in a departure from the patriachal system that she grew up in, Alcott proclaims women as the source of life, power, energy and advice. In Good Wives (pages 211 - 213), Marmee says to Meg, beginning with: "May I speak quite freely, and will you remember that it's mother who blames as well as mother who sympathises?" before concluding with "Don't shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman, but understand what is going on, and educate yourself to take your part in the world's work, for it all affects you and yours." Then later on in Good Wives (page 318), Jo exclaim about Marmee: "How goo! d she is to me! What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?" Alcott's portrayal of a strong mother figure is no surprise considering that she was very much influenced by her mother, and much of her journals was annotated by her mother who read them and made notes within them. Just as Abba Alcott was very caught up with women?s rights,

Caffeine Science Fair Projects

Caffeine Science Fair Projects Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that is found in many foods, beverages, and drugs. You can explore the effects of caffeine with your science fair project. How does caffeine affect your pulse rate or body temperature or respiration (breathing) rate? You can test the effect of a cup of coffee, caffeine pill, cola, or energy drink.How does caffeine affect your typing speed? typing accuracy?Does caffeine really increase the effectiveness of other pain relievers?What effect does the presence of caffeine have on other organisms, such as daphnia, zebrafish embryo development, fruit fly activity or behavior or mutation rate, etc.Does watering a plant with water containing caffeine have an effect on the plant? Does watering seeds with caffeinated water affect germination?Does the method of preparing coffee (or tea) affect the total amount of caffeine in the beverage? If so, which method results in a beverage with the most/least caffeine? More Science Fair Project Ideas

US-EU Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

US-EU Relations - Essay Example Except for the wars after the separation of Yugoslavia, a spot removed from the concerns of most Europeans, arrangements and bargain have determined all intra-European question for more than 50 years. The nations of Europe have lost the propensity of considering war. The United States, by complexity, is a worldwide force. It works in parts of the world, strikingly the Mideast, where arrangement, bargain, and peace do not predominate. America need to play by the nearby governs to secure its diversions in spots like the Mideast, along these lines discovers war a more conceivable strategy than the Europeans do. Since the Europeans see no compelling reason to go to war to secure their premiums, they have not put resources into the intends to do so (Michael Mandelbaum 2). Furthermore, because they need usable military strengths, they do not need critical worldwide issues to be settled by the utilization of power, for that would lessen their impact. While the hesitance to go to war influences European nations overall, France and Germany have their specific purposes behind restricting an American-headed war against Iraq. French resistance is focused around patriotism. The German position on the war originates from a strain of pacifism in German popular assessment, itself a legacy of the heartbreakingly forceful German outside arrangements in the first 50% of the twentieth century. Ending up in an unstable political position before a year ago general race, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder turned out contrary to the war against Iraq. It was a method for assembling radical notion for the benefit of his constituent prospects (Michael Mandelbaum 3). The strategy succeeded, he was re-chosen, and he repeated his hostile to war stance in reckoning of provincial races held a weekend ago, in which his gathering did gravely. In the impending weeks, France, at any rate, cannot drift closer to the US position on Iraq. The

Gender Differences in Smoking Cessation Success Essay

Gender Differences in Smoking Cessation Success - Essay Example Studies show that women are at a higher risk of smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer (Kure et al. 1996; Dally et al. 2003). Research has also shown that cessation among women is more difficult compared to their male counterparts (Perkins 2001; Swan, Ward, Carmelli & Jack 1993; Green, Lynn, & Montgomery 2006; 2008). Possible reasons for gender differences have been suggested by researchers to include women’s concern about weight gain, and increase in negative mood during cessation attempts and a greater need for social support from family and peers (Jensvold, Hamilton, & Halbreich 1996; Hatsukami, Skoog, Allen, & Bliss 1995; Pierce, Lee, & Gilpin 1994; Grunberg, Winders, & Wewers 1991). Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that some studies have failed to identify any significant gender differences in cessation success (Cinciripini et al. 1995; Fortmann & Killen 1995: Killen, Fortmann, Newman, & Varady 1990). In light of these contradictory findings my literature review will focus on the evidence both for and against gender differences in the cessation of smoking in order to gain an insight into the nature of any variations in cessation success. This paper has a whole focuses on the gender differences in smoking cessation success. This paper is divided into executive summary, introduction, methodology, literature review and conclusion. The methodology adopted for the research is qualitative one in which, a detailed literature review will be given to analyze the gender differences in smoking cessation success. For this purpose, a number of books, articles and journals are consulted for collection of suitable information for the review. Some of the writings are left out because of their inadequacy according to the need of the review while others are employed for writing a detailed literature review. â€Å"Current Concept in Adolescent Smoking† by Pletcher and Schwarz is not included in the

Destructive Leadership in Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Destructive Leadership in Organisations - Essay Example The study is therefore considered as extremely important and can be highly effective in the field of research pertaining to leadership in organizations. Moreover, this study will have the ability to show the relationship between employee satisfaction and leadership styles. Hence, the study also has high value in the field of business research. On the basis of the objective of the study, the following are the research questions which will be answered by adopting suitable methodologies. The research questions are as follows: - Q1. How leadership styles are important in deciding the success of an organization? Q2. How destructive leadership abuses the employees emotionally? Q3. How destructive leadership harasses the employees of an organization? Q4. How destructive leadership affects the performance of the employees? Literature Review This section of the study will carry out a review of the literatures to be used for the study. It will mainly highlight the views or the theories propose d by the scholars previously. In this context, the literature review will be carried out with the help of books, journal articles, newspaper, magazines and authentic electronic sources. However, the main focus will be on the academic journal articles. There are only few research papers which has emphasized on the darker side of leadership or the ill effects of destructive leadership (Tepper, 2000). On the other hand, more research can be found about effective or constructive leadership (Kelloway, Mullen and Francis, 2006). According to Ashforth (1994), traditionally, research pertaining to leadership principally focused on how effective leadership help organizations to grow or what are the elements of a good leadership. Moreover,... This essay carries out a review of the literatures to be used for the study. It will mainly highlight the views or the theories proposed by the scholars previously. In this context, the literature review will be carried out with the help of books, journal articles, newspaper, magazines and authentic electronic sources. However, the main focus will be on the academic journal articles. The methodology to be adopted for a study plays a crucial role in successfully carrying out a project. The research methodology of a project is also important because it is responsible for creating the pathway of the research. This section will shed light on the research approach, and the data collection method. In addition to this, the research methodology section will also shed light on the respondents and sample size. The principal objective of the study is to uncover the impact of destructive leadership in an organization. The study also has some sub questions that tries to establish direct relationship with some elements of employee satisfaction. In order to complete the project successfully, it is essential to consider the philosophical context of the research. The study will be designed in such a way that none of the participant gets physically or emotionally hurt. The respondents can leave the study any moment without giving prior notice. The study will seek consent from the concerned authority and the participants will be also made aware about the purpose of the study.