5 Ways to Network with DailyWritingTips.com

5 Ways to Network with DailyWritingTips.com 5 Ways to Network with DailyWritingTips.com 5 Ways to Network with DailyWritingTips.com By Mark Nichol DailyWritingTips.com readers often ask us about our presence on social networks, so in this post, we provide details about how to interact with DWT and with other people who care about how they communicate. 1. Find us on Facebook, at Facebook.com/DailyWritingTips. There, you will see links to DailyWritingTips.com posts and can check out comments by other readers. (Please like our page if you haven’t already done so!) 2. Follow us on Twitter, at Twitter.com/Writing_tips. All posts are published on our Twitter stream, so if you follow us, you can link to them through our tweets. 3. Add us to your Google+ circles to stay up to date on our posts and possibly to join us on future hangouts. 4. If you’d like to ask a question about a post or respond to the post perhaps you have an additional example or another good strategy to share with others submit a comment at the bottom of the post. 5. If you have a suggestion for a post topic, or a question unrelated to a post, our email address is info@dailywritingtips.com. (However, if you have a question or a thought about a particular post, it’s better to comment, because then thousands of other readers can see what you have to say, too, and perhaps respond to your note.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Abstract Nouns from Adjectives45 Idioms with "Roll"

Biography of Charles Vane, English Pirate

Biography of Charles Vane, English Pirate Charles Vane (c. 680–1721) was an English pirate active during the Golden Age of Piracy, roughly from 1700 to 1725. Vane distinguished himself by his unrepentant attitude toward piracy and his cruelty to those he captured. Although his primary hunting grounds were the Caribbean, he ranged from the Bahamas north along the East Coast of North America as far as New York. He was known as a skilled navigator and combat tactician, but he often alienated his crews. After being abandoned by his last crew, he was arrested, tried, convicted, and hanged in 1721. Start of a Career Very little is known about Vanes early life, including his parents, his birthplace, and any formal education he acquired. He arrived in Port Royal, Jamaica, sometime during the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), and in 1716 he began serving under the infamous pirate Henry Jennings, based in Nassau, Bahamas. In late July 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet was hit by a hurricane off the coast of Florida, dumping tons of Spanish gold and silver not far from shore. As the surviving Spanish sailors salvaged what they could, pirates made a beeline for the wreck site. Jennings, with Vane on board, was one of the first to reach the site. His buccaneers raided the Spanish camp on shore, making off with some 87,000 British pounds in gold and silver. Rejection of a Pardon In 1718, King George I of England issued a blanket pardon for all pirates who wished to return to an honest life. Many accepted, including Jennings. Vane, however, scoffed at the notion of retirement and soon became the leader of those in Jennings crew who refused the pardon. Vane and several other pirates outfitted a small sloop, the Lark, for service as a pirate vessel. On Feb. 23, 1718, the royal Frigate HMS Phoenix arrived in Nassau, part of an attempt to convince the remaining pirates to surrender. Vane and his men were captured  but were released as a goodwill gesture. Within a couple weeks, Vane and some of his die-hard companions were ready to resume piracy. Soon he had 40 of Nassaus worst cutthroats, including seasoned buccaneer Edward England and Calico Jack Rackham, who later became a notorious pirate captain. Reign of Terror By April 1718, Vane had a handful of small ships and was ready for action. He captured 12 merchant ships that month. He and his men treated captured sailors and merchants cruelly, whether they surrendered or fought. One sailor was bound hand and foot and tied to the top of the bowsprit; the pirates threatened to shoot him if he didnt reveal where the treasure on board was located. Fear of Vane drove commerce in the area to a halt. His hunting grounds eventually ranged from the Bahamas along the East Coast of North America as far north as New York. Vane knew that Woodes Rogers, the new British governor of the Bahamas, would be arriving soon. Deciding that his position in Nassau was too weak, he set out to capture a larger pirate ship. He soon took a 20-gun French ship and made it his flagship. In June and July of 1718, he seized many more small merchant vessels, more than enough to keep his men happy. He triumphantly re-entered Nassau, essentially taking over the town. Bold Escape On July 24, 1718, as Vane and his men prepared to set off again, a Royal Navy frigate sailed into the harbor with the new governor. Vane controlled the harbor and its small fort, which flew a pirate flag. He welcomed the governor by firing immediately on the Royal Navy fleet and then sending a letter to Rogers demanding that he be allowed to dispose of his plundered goods before accepting the kings pardon. As night fell, Vane knew his situation had deteriorated, so he set fire to his flagship and sent it toward the navy ships, hoping to destroy them in a massive explosion. The British fleet hurriedly cut its anchor lines and got away. Vane and his men escaped. Meeting With Blackbeard Vane continued pirating with some success, but he still dreamed of the days when Nassau was under his control. He headed to North Carolina, where Edward Blackbeard Teach had gone semi-legitimate. The two pirate crews partied for a week in October 1718 on the shores of Ocracoke Island. Vane hoped to convince his old friend to join in an attack on Nassau, but Blackbeard declined, having too much to lose. Deposed by His Crew On Nov. 23, Vane ordered an attack on a frigate that turned out to be a French Navy warship. Outgunned, Vane broke off the fight and fled, though his crew, led by the reckless Calico Jack, wanted to stay and fight to take the French ship. The next day, the crew deposed Vane as captain and elected Calico Jack instead. Vane and 15 others were given a small sloop, and the two pirate crews went their separate ways. Capture Vane and his small band managed to capture a few more ships and by December they had five. They headed for the Bay Islands of Honduras, but a massive hurricane soon scattered their ships. Vanes sloop was destroyed and most of his men drowned; he was left shipwrecked on a small island. After a few miserable months, a British ship arrived. Vane tried to join the crew under a false name, but he was recognized by the captain of the second vessel that met the British ship. Vane was placed in chains and taken to Spanish Town, Jamaica, where he was imprisoned. Death and Legacy Vane was tried for piracy on March 22, 1721. The outcome was in little doubt, as a long line of witnesses testified against him, including many of his victims. He was hanged on March 29, 1721, at Gallows Point in Port Royal. His body was hung from a gibbet near the entrance to the harbor as a warning to other pirates. Vane is remembered today as one of the most unrepentant pirates of all time. His greatest impact may have been his steadfast refusal to accept a pardon, giving other like-minded pirates a leader to rally around. His hanging and the subsequent display of his body may have contributed to the hoped-for effect: The Golden Age of Piracy came to an end not long after his demise. Sources Defoe, Daniel (Capt. Charles Johnson). A General History of the Pyrates. Dover Publications, 1999.Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Lyons Press, 2009.Rediker, Marcus. Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age. Beacon Press, 2004.Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Mariner Books, 2008.Famous Pirates: Charles Vane. Thewayofthepirates.com.

Coming to Conclution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coming to Conclution - Essay Example While it is necessary to consider the input offered by the stakeholders, such as grandparents and the social workers, long delays in gathering and evaluating the information can work to the detriment of the child. The study used in-depth focus groups with social workers to determine how, why, and in which fashion evidence could become tainted or distorted. The study pointed out the areas that the interviewees perceived as being prone to rendering an inadequate decision. The ability to weigh chronic and ongoing abuse against the emotionally charged single event of acute abuse was one of the difficulties pointed out by the study (Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor, 2007, p.57). The study contended that the less significant abuse that formed a pattern was often disregarded if there was some more recent evidence that demonstrated an ability to change (Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor, 2007, p.61). The study also demonstrated that the social workers were caught in a situation of conflicting roles. The study noted that while the social workers were expected to advocate for the parents, they are also in an adversarial role of, "†¦limit setters, enforcers and, if the case comes to court, witnesses "for the prosecution"" (Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor, 2007, p.59). These scenarios produce a situation where the parents and the children are not ful ly and adequately represented. The study recognized that delayed proceedings always work to the detriment of the child (Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor, 2007, p.60). Yet, all of the steps needed to acquire adequate and complete information results in delays. The study concluded by suggesting that the proceedings could be sped up and give a better outcome by eliminating the adversarial format that is currently used (Beckett, McKeigue, and Taylor, 2007, p.62). The researchers further recommend that the participants in the proceedings have a better support system to reduce the effect of personal goals and aid to keep the past in its

Essay question-Non-violent Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Question-Non-violent - Essay Example On the other hand, revolutionaries such as Martin Luther King Jr., Dalai Lama and Mohandas Gandhi used non-violent means to include strikes, sit-ins and peaceful marches. Non-violent revolutions are normally characterized by the peaceful nature that they take rather than use of violence to get a reaction one expects. People who resolve to use this form of revolution often hope to set a better example to the future generations (Sharp, 2003, 183). If anything is to be determined from past revolution, one note that the society as a whole tends to benefit from non-violent revolutions than from violent revolutions. I do agree that non- violent revolutions work Non violence does not explicitly imply not partaking in violence; it can also be viewed as a way in which a person can use positive action as a way of resisting oppression and to bring about transformation in the community. Mahatma Gandhi once stated â€Å"The essence of non-violent technique is that it seeks to liquidate antagonisms but not the antagonists†. This can simply be interpreted to mean that non-violent revolutions aim to change the opponent’s point of view and win them over. It is a win-win situation. Revolutionists who use this method do so in inevitably they will be able to persuade their oppressors into seeing things from their perspective and that their point of view is right. Non violent participants do not seek out to harm their oppressors in any way. On the contrary, they are willing to suffer whatever it takes in order to bring about some form of change in the society. The reason as to why non-violence has such great fascination is because it removes the absurdity of trying to make the society more just and less violent place by using violence as a tool. If people are hoping to be a great leader, then it would be expected that they set the best

The Right to Bear Arms Essay Example for Free

The Right to Bear Arms Essay Introduction Firearms restriction, generally identified as gun control, is a fervently area under discussion in and out of the political arena. Supporting groups suggest more limitations, tighter restraints and severe penalties for felony. These proponents assert that violent behavior stems from guns and gun holders, gun producers and gun supporters are to charge. Opponent groups to gun control propose that lesser limitations, superior availability of diverse types of firearms and more restrained punishments should be put in practice. Anti- The Right to Bear Arms In modern years, gun control supporters, that is, those in errand of more limitations, have developed and been privileged by the media. Some of these groups include handgun Control, Inc., the National Coalition to Ban Handguns, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Mothers Against Violence in America and the international Stop Handgun Violence. (Carter, 75) With growing media awareness with more and more school killings, supporters of gun control legislation have repeatedly detained that only federal laws can be effectual. If not, states with a small number of restrictions will persist to be fonts of guns that stream illegitimately into states with added limitations. (Edel, 76) Numerous proponents of gun restrictions have backed policy transformations on explicit sorts of firearms or components that come into view to be handy primarily for criminal intentions or purposes that masquerade abnormal risks to the community. Completely automatic weapons and short-barreled rifles and shotguns have been focus to strict directive since 1934. Entirely mechanical firearms have been expelled from personal ownership since 1986, apart from for those lawfully owned and recorded with the Secretary of the Treasury on May 19, 1986, the day the ban was approved. (Spitzer, 139) The proponents of gun control have offered a strong and solid case. Many resolutely consider that guns should be prohibited all through the country. Pro- The Right to Bear Arms Antagonists of gun control differ in their points with deference to detailed forms of control. In general, they embrace that gun control regulations do not achieve what is planned. The cluster leading the encounter in opposition to gun control is the National Rifle Association, or the NRA. The NRA began as an association to endorse the practice of target shooting. After World War II, despite the fact that the communal attitude on firearms turn out to be increasingly unenthusiastic, the NRA targeted its energies on anti-gun control. Gun control antagonists also refuse the postulation that the single lawful reason of ownership by a private citizen is entertaining. Andrews summarizes the dissimilarity in posture between Red (Republican and pro-gun) and Blue (Democrat and anti-gun) States. Andrews clarifies that numerous anti-gun control activists consider the matter from an ethical position where the gun control advocates see the subject from an erroneous interests point of view. (Andrews, p-9) Some opponents deem further that the Second Amendment comprises a right to maintain arms as a protection against potential government oppression, pointing to instances in other countries of the use of guns limitations to limit dissent and make safe unlawful government power. Whatsoever the case, the peoples leading the clash against the control and legislation against guns continue and never quit. They deem ethically and strongly that gun control is much too preventive and infringes upon rights given them by the Constitution. (Cothran, pp 13-19) Conclusion The discussion over gun control has been hard fought and concentrated. To gun control advocates, the resistance is out of touch with the times, misreads the Second Amendment, or is short of apprehension for the harms of crime and aggression. To gun control antagonists, advocates are inexperienced in their confidence in the authority of regulation to decipher social troubles, bent on enchanting the American citizen for ideological or societal reasons, or stimulated by unreasonable opposition to firearms and gun enthusiasts. Guns dont kill people, people kill people.(NRA Slogan, 1980-Present) References Andrews, Ned. Why Guns Matter. The American Enterprise 01 Sep. 2002: 9+. Carter, Gregg Lee. The Gun Control Movement. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1997 Cothran, Helen, ed. Opposing Viewpoints: Gun Control. San Diego: Green-haven Press, 2003. Edel, Wilbur. Gun Control: Threat to Liberty or Defense Against Anarchy. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1995. Spitzer, Robert J. The Politics of Gun Control. Chatham, New Jersey: Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995.

The English Major - Essential to Western Culture Essay -- College Admi

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The study of linguistics and literature is commonly joined under the head of â€Å"English,† a simplification and development of the 19th century term philology, or, â€Å"the love of words.†Ã‚   While literature is the very essence of recorded history, and the nature of language itself even older, the formal critical study of such is necessarily newer.   The field of study is referred to as â€Å"English† because that is our language, from the American custom of combining the study of literature and grammar; also, much of the world’s written literature was written in our language.   The Western tradition of recording one’s thoughts—fiction and nonfiction—has led to an examination of those thoughts critically; the comparison of the English language to other languages, and the development of it and others leads directly to the study of language as a whole.   And, of course, one of the main ways to find how a language has developed in the past is to study the evidence:   the literature of the time, so both fields come into harmony quite easily.   The study of English is not a popular major, but it is a necessary one; the complex â€Å"intellectual, aesthetic, psychological, political, social, historical, moral, and religious† ideas and the variety of subjects studied may confuse and deter many, but it is important, as these ideas shape us as humans, and these values hold true regardless of background or circumstance (â€Å"English† 1).   And most usable, perhaps, to the broad spectrum of students is the emphasis on writing in the study of English.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The ideas above are common to mankind, and, as they exist, need to be studied and better understood, and English â€Å"introduces students to new modes of thinking and constructive disruptions of commonpl... ...or those pursuing law-related jobs, for example, and the principles of good writing set forth benefit almost any liberal arts-minded person.   The ability to sound professional in a report is key in any â€Å"white collar† job.   Factor in the major’s requirement of classes in a foreign language, and the English major presents itself as attractive on a rà ©sumà ©.   In all, the English major is valuable in many ways, to many people, and is in fact essential in Western culture, in maintaining our written cultural history and heritage, and interpreting them for all. Sources Cited â€Å"English.†Ã‚   Student Central.   2001.   22 Jan 2003 â€Å"English The Pre-Professional Major.†Ã‚   22 Jan 2003 â€Å"Undergraduate Studies.†Ã‚   22 Jan 2003

Biomedical Engineering Essay

Biomedical Engineers are highly trained scientists who use engineering and life science principles to research biological aspects of animal and human life (1). Some tasks of a biomedical engineer include, developing new theories, modifying, testing, and proving existing theories, and designing health care instruments and devices or apply engineering principles to the study of human systems. Biomedical engineering has been created by advancements in technology. It is an interdisciplinary field that brings together two respected professions, biology and engineering. The profession was developed primarily after 1945, as a new technology allowed for the application of engineering principles to biology (2). Employers for biomedical engineers include hospitals, industry, research facilities of educational and medical institutions, teaching, and government regulatory agencies (1). The jobs involve working closely with life scientists, members of the medical profession, and chemists. Most work revolves around the laboratory. In biomedical engineering design, medical instruments and devices are developed. Engineers work on artificial organs and surgical lasers, for example. Engineers design and build systems that will update hospital, laboratory, and clinical procedures. They also train health care personnel in the proper use of this new equipment. Within biomedical engineering, and individual may concentrate on a particular specialty area. Some of the well-established areas are bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, systems physiology, clinical engineering, and rehabilitation engineering (2). All of these areas depend on each other in order to be successful. Biomechanics is mechanics applies to biological or medical problems. Examples include the artificial heart or kidney. Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement principles and techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease (2). â€Å"Educational requirements include a strong commitment to learning and being scientifically inclined† (1). Being able to apply knowledge in problem  solving is a large part of biomedical engineering. Becoming a biomedical engineer requires long years of schooling because a biomedical engineer needs to be an expert in the fields of engineering and biology. Being familiar with chemical, material, and electrical engineering as well as physiology and computers is important (1). Most engineers have an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering or a related field and a Ph.D. in some facet of biomedical engineering. At least a bachelor’s degree is needed in engineering to become a biomedical engineer. It usually takes four or five years to earn this degree (3). The salary scale for biomedical engineering varies with the amount of education and experience. The federal government pay scale for holders of a bachelor’s degree starts at approximately $23,000. Biomedical engineers with a master’s degree could start at about $26,000,and those with a doctorate at around $28,000. The average salary for all engineers in the federal government is $38,000 a year. Instructors earn about $26,800 and professors earn about $63,000 (1). Earnings in the private sector generally run higher than those in government or education careers (2). In the 1990’s, there were more than four thousand biomedical engineers in the United States. They are employed in all parts of the country in hospitals, colleges and universities, medical and engineering schools, federal and state agencies, and private industry. â€Å"It is expected that there will be greater need for skilled biomedical engineers through the 1990’s† (2). Prospects look particularly good in the large health care industry, which will continue to grow rapidly, primarily because people are living longer (1). New jobs will become available to biomedical research in prosthetics, artificial internal organs, computer applications, instrumentation, and other medical systems. In addition, a demand will exist for teachers to train the biomedical engineers needed to fill these positions (1). Works Cited â€Å"Biomedical Engineers.† Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. 10th ed. 1997. â€Å"Biomedical Engineers.† Careers in Engineering. Chicago: Ferguson Publishing Company, 1999. â€Å"Biomedical Engineering.† Career Information Center. Ed. Richard Lidz. 6th ed. 13 vols. New York : Simon & Schuster Macmillan, 1996.

Freaks and Geeks Paragraph

Lights, Camera, Music, Action A filmmaker needs to work extremely hard to create a piece with a strong story line, characterization, twists and a stupendous ending. How are these elements portrayed? Through the elements of media of course. In the pilot episode of â€Å"Freaks and Geeks,† it is undeniable that the use of lighting, music and camera manipulation are utilized to create pathos between the characters and the audience. Music evidently plays a grand part of setting the tone and emotion in a scene whether it is to heighten suspense, set a romantic mood or pick up the pace for an action scene.Prior to the ambush of the school bully Alan in the episode of â€Å"Freaks and Geeks,† the music slowed into a dramatic melody with heroic lyrics and an altogether â€Å"we are going into battle,† feel. This use of music is highly effective in relaying the sense of finality to the viewers, the geeks are finally going to stand up to the bully. It gives everything a ba ttle-ready atmosphere which is perfect for the before-the-fight mood.Furthermore, the use of different camera angles and distances plays a large part in creating sympathy or empathy between the viewer and character as seen when Sam struggles to ask his crush, Cindy out for the Homecoming Dance. The close-up on his face is used to allow viewers to clearly see the hesitancy in his gaze, the nervous way he bites his lip and the internal struggle to find courage and pursue his dream. Without being able to truly see his emotions, viewers would likely be less empathetic towards his cause and not root for him as strongly had the camera been so far as to not being able to see his face.Lastly, another important aspect of media elements that was used frequently throughout the episode is lighting. During the scene where Lindsay’s in Nick’s garage, the lights are dim and soft and the romantic, deep atmosphere is created. It was during this scene where Nick tells Lindsay about his dreams and his passion for drumming, the lighting creates a sense of endearment from the viewers because the lighting, plus the music, plus the camera shots all combine together to create this peaceful, cute moment that makes the viewers really want something romantic to happen.Therefore, lighting, music and camera manipulation are all used extensively throughout the episode to heighten emotion and create pathos between the characters and the viewers. Works Cited Paul Feig, S. W. (Writer), & Jake Kasdan, I. R. (Director). (1999). Pilot [Television series episode]. In Judd Apatow(Producer), Freaks and Geeks. California, USA: National Broadcasting Company.

Chicano studies essays

Chicano studies essays The daily political and social struggles of the Chicano movement in the 60s and 70s greatly impacted the forms of politics, education and civil rights for Chicanos all over the United States. However due to the changes that happened after the Chicano movement no longer do young Chicanos have a need for a demonstration or a protest. Thanks to the actions of others the civil rights of Chicanos and other minorities are now being protected by the government. The simple act of speaking up about a problem that needed to be addressed was their first step to changing the status quo. The formation of political action groups was the first step in bringing a serious problem to public eye to gain support. This is needed today for many important issues in our border community. As other parties framed their issues in a different way government agencies like the FBI and local police tried to strong arm the students, which had an impact but not enough to disintegrate the movement. Today civil rights for many Chicanos are the same and laws like the Equal Opportunity for Employment, which regulates the discrimination of minorities from race religion, age, or ethnicity. Standards for minimum wage and education have changed all over the united states as a result of the civil rights movement of the 60s and 70s. Living in a border community the integration of a majority of Chicanos in the schools is clearly seen and we are now seeing an enormous amount of young Chicanos graduating from a four year institution. Educated Chicanos are now part of our daily lives that are still fighting for help for Chicanos on the border. There are, however some issues that still need to be addressed here on the border. Issues of high school drop out rates being at an all time high here in Las Cruces. Also the presence of the colonias through out the southwest, it is true that there are people living within our border that are living in third wo...

American Civil War - American Civil War Eastern Theater 1863 to 1865

American Civil War - American Civil War Eastern Theater 1863 to 1865 Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page | Civil War 101 Grant Comes East In March 1864, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him command of all Union armies. Grant elected to turn over operational control of the western armies to Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and shifted his headquarters east to travel with Maj. Gen. George G. Meades Army of the Potomac. Leaving Sherman with orders to press the Confederate Army of Tennessee and take Atlanta, Grant sought to engage General Robert E. Lee in a decisive battle to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia. In Grants mind, this was the key to ending the war, with the capture of Richmond of secondary importance. These initiatives were to be supported by smaller campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, southern Alabama, and western Virginia. The Overland Campaign Begins the Battle of Wilderness In early May 1864, Grant began moving south with 101,000 men. Lee, whose army numbered 60,000, moved to intercept and met Grant in a dense forest known as the Wilderness. Adjacent to the 1863 Chancellorsville battlefield, the Wilderness soon became a nightmare as the soldiers fought through the dense, burning woods. While Union attacks initially drove the Confederates back, they were blunted and forced to withdrawal by the late arrival of Lt. Gen. James Longstreets corps. Assaulting the Union lines, Longstreet recovered the territory that had been lost, but was severely wounded in the fighting. After three days of the fighting, the battle had turned into a stalemate with Grant having lost 18,400 men and Lee 11,400. While Grants army had suffered more casualties, they comprised a lesser proportion of his army than Lees. As the Grants goal was to destroy Lees army, this was an acceptable outcome. On May 8, Grant ordered the army to disengage, but rather than withdrawal towards Washington, Grant ordered them to continue moving south. Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Marching southeast from the Wilderness, Grant headed for Spotsylvania Court House. Anticipating this move, Lee dispatched Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson with Longstreets corps to occupy the town. Beating the Union troops to Spotsylvania, the Confederates constructed an elaborate set of earthworks in the rough shape of an inverted horseshoe with a salient at the northern point known as the Mule Shoe. On May 10, Col. Emory Upton led a twelve regiment, spearhead attack against the Mule Shoe which broke the Confederate line. His assault went unsupported and his men were forced to withdrawal. Despite the failure, Uptons tactics were successful and were later replicated during World War I. Uptons attack alerted Lee to the weakness of the Mule Shoe section of his lines. To reinforce this area, he ordered a second line built across the salients base. Grant, realizing how close Upton had been to succeeding ordered a massive assault on the Mule Shoe for May 10. Led by Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancocks II Corps, the attack overwhelmed the Mule Shoe, capturing over 4,000 prisoners. With his army about to be split in two, Lee led Lt. Gen. Richard Ewells Second Corps into the fray. In a full day and nights fighting, they were able to retake the salient. On the 13th, Lee withdrew his men to the new line. Unable to break through, Grant responded as he did after Wilderness and continued moving his men south. North Anna Lee raced south with his army to assume a strong, fortified position along the North Anna River, always keeping his army between the Grant and Richmond. Approaching the North Anna, Grant realized that he would need to split his army to attack Lees fortifications. Unwilling to do so, he moved around Lees right flank and marched for the crossroads of Cold Harbor. Battle of Cold Harbor The first Union troops arrived at Cold Harbor on May 31 and began skirmishing with the Confederates. Over the next two days the scope of the fighting grew as the main bodies of the armies arrived on the field. Facing the Confederates over a seven mile line, Grant planned a massive assault for dawn on June 3. Firing from behind fortifications, the Confederates butchered the soldiers of the II, XVIII, and IX Corps as they attacked. In the three days of fighting, Grants army suffered over 12,000 casualties as opposed to only 2,500 for Lee. The victory at Cold Harbor was to be the last for the Army of Northern Virginia and haunted Grant for years. After the war he commented in his memoirs, I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made...no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained. The Siege of Petersburg Begins After pausing for nine days at Cold Harbor, Grant stole a march on Lee and crossed the James River. His objective was to take the strategic city of Petersburg, which would cut the supply lines to Richmond and Lees army. After hearing that Grant crossed the river, Lee rushed south. As the lead elements of the Union army approached, they were prevented from entering by Confederate forces under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. Between June 15-18, Union forces launched a series of attacks, but Grants subordinates failed to push home their assaults and only forced Beauregards men to retire to citys inner fortifications. With the full arrival of both armies, trench warfare ensued, with the two sides facing off in a precursor to World War I. In late June, Grant began a series of battles to extend the Union line west around the south side of the city, with the goal of severing the railroads one by one and overextending Lees smaller force. On July 30, in an effort to break the siege, he authorized the detonation of a mine under the center of the Lees lines. While the blast took the Confederates by surprise, they quickly rallied and beat back the mishandled follow-up assault. Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page | Civil War 101 Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page Civil War 101 Campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley In conjunction with his Overland Campaign, Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to move southwest up the Shenandoah Valley to destroy the rail and supply center of Lynchburg. Sigel began his advance but was defeated at New Market on May 15, and replaced by Maj. Gen. David Hunter. Pressing on, Hunter won a victory at the Battle of Piedmont on June 5-6. Concerned about the threat posed to his supply lines and hoping to force Grant to divert forces from Petersburg, Lee dispatched Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early with 15,000 men to the Valley. Monocacy Washington After halting Hunter at Lynchburg on June 17-18, Early swept unopposed down the Valley. Entering Maryland, he turned east to menace Washington. As he moved towards the capital, he defeated a small Union force under Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace at Monocacy on July 9. Though a defeat, Monocacy delayed Earlys advance allowing Washington to be reinforced. On July 11 and 12, Early attacked the Washington defenses at Fort Stevens with no success. On the 12th, Lincoln viewed part of the battle from the fort becoming the only sitting president to be under fire. Following his attack on Washington, Early withdrew to the Valley, burning Chambersburg, PA along the way. Sheridan in the Valley To deal with the Early, Grant dispatched his cavalry commander, Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan with an army of 40,000 men. Advancing against Early, Sheridan won victories at Winchester (September 19) and Fishers Hill (September 21-22) inflicting heavy casualties. The decisive battle of the campaign came at Cedar Creek on October 19. Launching a surprise attack at dawn, Earlys men drove the Union troops from their camps. Sheridan, who was away at a meeting in Winchester, raced back to his army and rallied the men. Counterattacking, they broke Earlys disorganized lines, routing the Confederates and forcing them to flee the field. The battle effectively ended the fighting in the Valley as both sides rejoined their larger commands at Petersburg. Election of 1864 As military operations continued, President Lincoln stood for reelection. Partnering with War Democrat Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Lincoln ran on the National Union (Republican) ticket under the slogan Dont Change Horses in the Middle of a Stream. Facing him was his old nemesis Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan who was nominated on a peace platform by the Democrats. Following Shermans capture of Atlanta and Farraguts triumph at Mobile Bay, Lincolns reelection was all but assured. His victory was a clear signal to the Confederacy that there would be no political settlement and that war would be prosecuted to end. In the election, Lincoln won 212 electoral votes to McClellans 21. Battle of Fort Stedman In January 1865, President Jefferson Davis appointed Lee to command of all Confederate armies. With the western armies decimated, this move came too late for Lee to effectively coordinate a defense of the remaining Confederate territory. The situation worsened that month when Union troops captured Fort Fisher, effectively closing the Confederacys last major port, Wilmington, NC. At Petersburg, Grant kept pressing his lines west, forcing Lee to further stretch his army. By mid-March, Lee began to consider abandoning the city and making an effort to link up with Confederate forces in North Carolina. Prior to pulling out, Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon suggested a daring attack on the Union lines with the goal of destroying their supply base at City Point and forcing Grant to shorten his lines. Gordon launched his attack on March 25 and overran Fort Stedman in the Union lines. Despite early success, his breakthrough was quickly contained and his men driven back to their own lines. Battle of Five Forks Sensing Lee was weak, Grant ordered Sheridan to attempt a move around the Confederate right flank to the west of Petersburg. To counter this move, Lee dispatched 9,200 men under Maj. Gen. George Pickett to defend the vital crossroads of Five Forks and the Southside Railroad, with orders to hold them at all hazards. On March 31, Sheridans force encountered Picketts lines and moved to attack. After some initial confusion, Sheridans men routed the Confederates, inflicting 2,950 casualties. Pickett, who was away at a shad bake when the fighting started, was relieved of his command by Lee. The Fall of Petersburg The following morning, Lee informed President Davis that Richmond and Petersburg would have to be evacuated. Later that day, Grant launched a series of massive assaults all along the Confederate lines. Breaking through in numerous places, Union forces forced the Confederates to surrender the city and flee west. With Lees army in retreat, Union troops entered Richmond on April 3, finally achieving one of their principle war goals. The next day, President Lincoln arrived to visit the fallen capital. The Road to Appomattox After occupying Petersburg, Grant began chasing Lee across Virginia with Sheridans men in the lead. Moving west and harried by Union cavalry, Lee hoped to re-supply his army before heading south to link up with forces under Gen. Joseph Johnston in North Carolina. On April 6, Sheridan was able to cut off approximately 8,000 Confederates under Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell at Saylers Creek. After some fighting the Confederates, including eight generals, surrendered. Lee, with fewer than 30,000 hungry men, hoped to reach supply trains that were waiting at Appomattox Station. This plan was dashed when Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. George A. Custer arrived in the town and burned the trains. Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page Civil War 101 Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page | Civil War 101 Meeting at Appomattox Court House While most of Lees officers favored surrender, others did not fearing that it would lead to the end of the war. Lee also sought to prevent his army from melting away to fight on as guerrillas, a move that he felt would have long term harm for the country. At 8:00 AM Lee rode out with three of his aides to make contact with Grant. Several hours of correspondence ensued which led to a cease fire and a formal request from Lee to discuss surrender terms. The home of Wilmer McLean, whose house in Manassas had served as Beauregards headquarters during the First Battle of Bull Run, was selected to host the negotiations. Lee arrived first, wearing his finest dress uniform and awaited Grant. The Union commander, who had been suffering a bad headache, arrived late, wearing a worn privates uniform with only his shoulder straps denoting his rank. Overcome by the emotion of the meeting, Grant had difficulty getting to the point, preferring to discuss his previous meeting with Lee during the Mexican-American War. Lee steering the conversation back to the surrender and Grant laid out his terms. Grants Terms of Surrender Grants terms: I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside. In addition, Grant also offered to allow the Confederates to take home their horses and mules for use in the spring planting. Lee accepted Grants generous terms and the meeting ended. As Grant rode away from the McLean house, the Union troops began to cheer. Hearing them, Grant immediately ordered it stopped, stating he did not want his men exalting over their recently defeated foe. End of the War The celebration of Lees surrender was muted by the assassination of President Lincoln on April 14 at Fords Theater in Washington. As some of Lees officers had feared, their surrender was the first of many. On April 26, Sherman accepted Johnstons surrender near Durham, NC, and the other remaining Confederate armies capitulated one by one over the next six weeks. After four years of fighting, the Civil War was finally over. Previous: War in the West, 1863-1865 Page | Civil War 101

W5A 597 SWOT Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

W5A 597 SWOT Analysis - Essay Example The strengths of an organization could include the length of time that the business has operated which increases their expertise and competencies. In addition, the knowledge, skills, proficiencies of the leaders or executive management team also poses strengths to the firm since their competencies would define the decisions and strategies that were and would be implemented. The leaders’ proficiencies in the field of endeavor that the firm is undertaking would enable application of management and leadership theories which could be considered best practices in the field of discipline. Further, the design of company policies, philosophies, or procedures also help the organization achieve the defined mission, vision, and goals in the most efficient and effective manner. As such, these strengths enable the organization to exhibit financial success, gain market leadership, as well as offer products and services that benefit their various stakeholders. Likewise, objective identification of weaknesses would provide the organization with ample time, resources, and efforts to address, correct, or turn these weaknesses into strengths, as deemed possible. Weaknesses could come in terms of lack of needed resources or competencies in product development, or application of strategies for the marketing mix. Likewise, the firm could be transcending into new markets or changing leaders and members of the executive team. As such, transition periods, changes in management profile, or re-designing policies and procedures could pose challenges that might bring weaknesses in the process. Venturing into new or unknown avenues, without appropriate historical experience or expertise, could also pose difficulties for the firm. Thus, identifying these weaknesses through the SWOT analysis would enable decision-makers to make the necessary strategies to pre-empt or correct them, as deemed necessary. Concurrently, policy makers should