Comparison of Hinduism and Buddhism Essay - 772 Words

Comparison of two Religions Religion has been a practice of many cultures from the beginning of time. Research two different religions, and determine what the origins of the religions are. Find out what is similar, and what is different about the two religions, that you choose. Analyze the two different religions and discuss. Origin of Hinduism The origin of Hinduism is a mystery, because there is no founder for this religion. This religion developed over four thousand years ago. There is no author for this religions scared literature. This religion is believed to originate around 2000 B.C. on the continent of India. This religion is considered one of the longest surviving religions. The first people to practice this religious belief are†¦show more content†¦Both religions believe in detachment leaving the outside world, and rethink past life to enter spiritual life (Fisher, 2014). Contrast Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism is a religion that was not founded by a person. Buddhism is actually founded by a person. The founder is Buddha. Hinduism follows the Vedas. These are Hindu scriptures, and Buddhism does not follow these scriptures. Buddhism does not believe that Hindu gods are as powerful as Buddha. They do not look up to them like they do Buddha. These two religions have different goals in life. Buddhism goal is to overcome sorrow. While Hindus believe that there are four main goals that they should live by: Kama, Dharma, Artha, and Moksha (Fisher, 2014). Hinduism Religious Practices One religious practice the Hindus have is Cattle Veneration. This is a practice where cattle are honored and treated with love and resect. This is done to show respect to the cattle they are treated as a sacred animal. Because of this ritual cows are no longer killed or sacrificed. Even non-vegetarians do not eat beef they consume fish or goat. Fast food restaurants do not serve beef. Another religious practice that the Hindus have is for a select few that can achieve this type of enlightenment. Suddi is reserved for people who are able to achieve this level. This is usually passed from teacher to his highest ranking student. This usually requires specialized training.Show MoreRelatedIslam, Hinduism, Buddhism And Christianity Comparison1025 Words   |  5 PagesPractices of Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity Comparison Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity developed centuries ago and have been practiced since then to today. Groups of people who practice these religions are bound to the conventional norms, beliefs, cultures and way of life of each. Each religion has a particular faith in a supreme being (Woodhead, Partridge Kawanami, 2016). Muslims believe in Allah, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, Hindus believe inRead MoreHinduism vs. Buddhism Essay627 Words   |  3 PagesHinduism and Buddhism are two of the most interesting religions in the world. To date, people still practice these religions in varying parts of the world. Although originating from the country of India, some have difficulty in differentiating between the two. Although Hinduism and Buddhism share many similarities, they are also different. What is Hinduism? Hinduism, the largest of the eastern religion and one of the oldest in the world. (Curry). Hinduism denotes the religions of majority ofRead MoreHind uism Vs. Buddhism970 Words   |  4 PagesHinduism and Buddhism are two of the most interesting religions in the world. To date, people still practice these religions in varying parts of the world especially in India. Although originating from Ancient India, some have difficulty in differentiating between the two. Hinduism and Buddhism share many similarities and also differ immensely. What is Hinduism? Hinduism, often referred to as Sanatana Dharma is the largest of the eastern religion and one of the oldest in the world. â€Å"HinduismRead MoreHinduism And Taoism802 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast: Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism. Both Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism in religious context compare through origin, philosophy, and their social structures including their outlook on women. These three religious show south east Asian roots, cultural beliefs, and social conflicts and solutions. The origin and expansion of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism are similar in that all of them were created in south east region of Asia and that they each expanded through the silk road inRead More Hinduism Essay841 Words   |  4 Pages-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 19, 1997 By Jordan Bruins Buddhism/Hinduism Comparison Report Hinduism is the oldest known religion and is very rich with literally hundreds of gods, symbolistic rituals and beliefs. It is believed to have been established around 1500 B.C. but no one person founded Hinduism as it evolved over a long period of time. Buddhism on the other hand has a definite founder, Siddhartha Gautama who is otherwise known as the Buddha orRead MoreComparing Karma, Reincarnation, Rebirth, Moksha, and Nirvana644 Words   |  3 PagesDescribe the difference between Karma, Reincarnation, Rebirth, Moksha, and Nirvana in relation to both Hinduism and Buddhism. Karma is the connotation of causality that past actions influence future events. This is the same for both Buddhism and Hinduism. Both also believe in an endless cycle of births known as endless cycle of births, known as samsara. and release from this cycle of rebirths. Hindus believe in an everlasting soul (atman) that is reincarnated almost intact from birth to birth,Read MoreThe Goals of Hinduism and Buddhism Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pages2. Hinduism and Buddhism are traditions that originated from the Vedic sacrifice practice, and they share a common foundation in their view of existence. What are the similarities, and very importantly, the differences in their respective focuses and goals? Also included in this topic: For a time, Buddhism became a dominant tradition in much of India, but then Hinduism rose to become the dominant tradition. There are relatively few Buddhists in India today, especially in comparison to the numberRead MoreHinduism And Buddhism : Diversity And World Cultures1021 Words   |  5 Pages8/12/2015 Introduction I have chosen Hinduism and Buddhism as the two religions for this assignment. With religion being such an intricate part of many cultures, I found these religions most interesting due to their similarity. Both of these religions originated in the subcontinent of India, these religions have had an awkward relationship that can be compared to Christianity and Judaism. The belief is that Buddhism is an off shoot of the Hindu religion. My goal is to addressRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism863 Words   |  4 PagesPHIL 2120 Paper #1 Xinyang Wang Comparison of Permanence between Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism and Buddhism have common origins in the Ganges culture of northern India around 500 BCE. We have to admit that they share a lot of similarities, but also involve tons of differences. For example, as Hinduism claims that Atman is Brahman, Buddhism reject the existence of Atman. Hindus think that the way to becoming enlightened is to union with God, but Buddhists pursue a throughout understanding of theRead MoreBuddhism Vs Hinduism : Hinduism1573 Words   |  7 PagesBuddhism vs Hinduism Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that are very open and tolerant of all people. They are religons that believe in acceptance of all and open-mindedness of other religons. Hinduism is the oldest religion on the planet that has been well established and still has a large following. To put it into perspective if religons were under 100 years old Hinduism would be 80 and Judaism and Christianity would still be in their 20s or 30s. Buddhism is also a long-standing religion

10 Facts About Ornithomimus, the Bird Mimic Dinosaur

Accuracy in Epic of Gilgamesh and The Hebrew Bible Essay

There is much debate over the historical accuracy of the Hebrew Bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Some claim that to understand a work of literature requires extensive knowledge of the background of this work. The contrary position is that a work of literature can be interpreted solely on it’s content. The meaning of the term classical literature is that it can be applied during any period of time, it is eternal. Yet the conditions surrounding the author might still be of interest to the reader, and of importance to the work. As with many cases, the truth is somewhere in between the two extremes. Both sides have valid arguments about the importance of historicity. To say that historicity is of the utmost importance may seem extreme.†¦show more content†¦As a real person, the fact that He lived and dies for their sins takes on a great significance. Many devote their lives to serving others the way Jesus did in the New Testament. In this case, it is easy to see how it would be greatly important that Jesus be an accurate historical figure. As a fictional character, His life and death have meaning within the story, but would not be likely to inspire the great actions that people take trying to follow His example. This is only one extreme instance in which the historical accuracy of a work would have great importance. The stories of many human beings, including those in Gilgamesh and The Bible may inspire people to have similar courage. Even if these characters are mortal human beings, that human beings could act out of such courage and love may give readers faith that they too may be able to be as courageous. Depending on the reader, the historical accuracy may seem of no importance at all. If a work of literature is good enough, one gets quite involved in the story line, and the characters become real. Regardless of the time or place, ones involvement in the work may supersede all history surrounding it. The question of the importance of historicity aside, there can be little harm done in pondering the accuracy of a work. The Hebrew Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh have come under close scrutinyShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between Gilgamesh And Noah818 Words   |  4 Pagesancient texts so similar to each other? It appears as if each text corresponds to the Bible. There is the Enuma Elish compared to the creation story, the Laws of Hammurapi compared to the last four books of the Pentateuch, and the Confusion of Tongues compared to the Tower of Babel. However, I will focus on the Epic of Gilgamesh, comparing and contrasting it to the Biblical narrative of Noah. While both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Biblical narrative of Noah explore a global flood, there are key differencesRead MoreAp World History Midterm Review2054 Words   |  9 Pagessuccesses lent material weight to the idea that Homers Iliad and Virgils Aeneid reflect actual historical events. Gilgamesh the fourth king of Uruk (Early Dynastic II, first dynasty of Uruk), ruling 126 years, according to the Sumerian king list. He was said to be contemporary with some of the earliest archaeologically-known figures, placing his reign ca. 2500 BC. Iliad an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set in the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of Ilium by

The Epidemiology of Tuberculosis free essay sample

The purpose of this paper is to discuss tuberculosis (TB), provide a clinical description, and discuss the determinants of health in relation to TB and the role and tasks of the community health nurse in regards to the disease. Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium that usually affects the victim’s lungs and is spread through the air. TB spreads from one community or country to another as people travel or through immigration to new areas. Today’s modern world of travel makes health and healthcare a global issue. Although TB rates are decreasing in the United States, the disease is becoming more common in many parts of the world. In addition, the prevalence of drug-resistant TB is increasing worldwide. (Herchline, 2013) Persons can become infected by inhaling the TB germs when someone else sneezes, coughs or even spits. Once infected with the germ, there is a 10% chance of the TB becoming active causing illness. Persons with active TB will have symptoms like a cough with possible sputum or blood, fever, chest pains, weakness, night sweats and weight loss. These symptoms can be mild for months which often delays treatment and results in exposure to others. Persons with compromised immune systems have a greater chance of the TB becoming active and causing illness. Tuberculosis can be cured with treatment and can be prevented as well. Places where humans are in close contact are the most high risk areas. Slums, prisons and jails, or even hospitals are examples of high risk environments. Persons who live with or interact with someone who has active TB, those who live in nursing homes or homeless shelters, immigrants from countries with high TB incidence rates, alcoholics and intravenous drug users, Persons with HIV or AIDs and persons who come into contact with high risk groups are more at risk for TB. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that tuberculosis (TB) deaths are second only to (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDs) from a single infectious agent. They point out that 1. 3 million died from TB in 2012 and that 95% of deaths from TB occur in low and middle income countries. The WHO indicates that TB is the cause of death for 25% of persons with HIV and that all countries surveyed have multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). (WHO, 2013) Analyzing the natural history of a disease involves the use of the epidemiological triangle (Smith 166) The epidemiological triangle consists of a susceptible person or host, the environment and the causative agent. We can visualize this triangle as a closed system that becomes open and vulnerable when there is a change in any of the triangles sides, or factors. The change in one of the factors may cause a change to occur in the person’s balance of health. Person or host consideration includes current health or history of health issues, where and how the person lives, genetic predisposition, immune system, the body’s defenses and the person’s behaviors. All are examined for potential to health changes. The environment refers to anything that is not a part of self for the person. This could be other persons or animals that the person comes into contact with. Examples of causative agents that potentially have an impact on a person’s health include genetic or psychological factors, chemicals, nutrition or physical and biological factors. Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks. (Healthy People. gov, 2013) Health begins at home and extends to all areas that we live, work, play and socialize. It is important to live a healthy life by eating healthy meals, regularly exercising, receiving immunizations and screening tests, and having healthcare available to us when we are sick. Our health is also partly determined by our access to economic and social opportunities. Available resources and support systems that we have access to influence health as well, safety in the areas we live and work in, the quality of the education we get, whether or not we breathe clean air, eat healthy food and drink clean water impacts our health. The health of a population is often determined by the circumstances in which people live, which are conditioned by social policies and economic forces that are usually beyond an individual’s control (CSDH, 2008). Nearly one third of the worlds population is infected with TB. It is a leading infectious cause of death worldwide, causing more than 2 million deaths each year (CDC, 2011f). (Smith 195) Controlling the spread of TB is globally important because transmission to others can cause devastating consequences of transference to anyone the infected one is around including healthcare workers. Treatment of TB can be lengthy and require supervision of compliance. Some TB strains are drug resistant and very expensive to treat. Exposure can occur in clinics where the sick are waiting for healthcare. Nurses have been a part of controlling community disease but initially were responsible only for prevention through cleanliness and fresh air. Hygiene education was and still is a primary role for the nurse in controlling communicable diseases. The modern community health nurse has responsibilities in primary prevention methods. Duties include immunizations, prophylactic measures for risk reduction for persons who have had exposure when a method is available for the disease, and education. Immunization includes education and monitoring the patient for 15 to 20 minutes following the vaccine in case there is a reaction. Written documentation is provided to the patient’s records and is also kept for the clinic or organization providing the vaccination is kept to comply with the National Vaccine Compensation Act. Nurses also work to increase the public’s awareness of risks and behavior modification. Instructing care providers on how to properly eliminate bacteria or viral agents and self-protective measures is important in preventing the spread of disease. Secondary prevention is used in identifying disease as early as possible to optimize treatment effectiveness and achieve the best outcome for the patient. Early treatment also serves to prevent the disease from spreading to others. Antibiotics are one type of secondary prevention. Other secondary prevention measures are contact tracing and follow up. Screening and case finding is done by community health nurses acting as case finders to identify new cases of a disease and provide treatment as soon as possible. Follow up on persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease beginning with those with the most intimate contact is performed by the community health nurse. The most intimate contact is considered level I; level II and III are those with decreasing levels of contact. With confirmation of illness, the community nurse may administer or observe the administration of medication and educate, oversee treatment and provide support for care providers. In some cases, the nurse may be tasked with monitoring compliance with treatment and obligated to initiate legal action or even act as a witness during court proceedings when encountering a noncompliant patient. Tertiary prevention is the prevention of dysfunction after an illness. Because resolution of most communicable disease happens quickly, tertiary prevention is less often a part of the community nurses role. Health care delivery systems can work together in a variety of ways by sharing information and best practices as well as committing to research and development of treatments. Eliminating tuberculosis will require financial support and shared information technology. Policies that contain and treat communicable illnesses are important as well. There is renewed focus and cooperation among countries and other organizations. Working together will decrease the risk of all. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is working to eliminate TB in the United States through maintaining control of the disease, accelerating the decline, developing tools for diagnosis as well as treatments. They have engaged in global efforts to prevent and control TB and worked to mobilize support through leadership contacts in high risk groups. The CDC also monitors their efforts progress. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is investing in the development of better vaccinations and more effective drug treatments. They also focus on creation of new diagnostic tools, new approaches in control through reimbursement, improving access and efficiency and reducing costs. The foundation also advocates for political commitment and funding, creating partnerships between governments, institutions and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The Stop TB Partnership works through the World Health Organization to eliminate TB. The Stop TB Partnership is leading the way to a world without tuberculosis (TB), a disease that is curable but still kills three people every minute. Founded in 2001, the Partnerships mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all who need it. (Stop TB Partnership, 2013)

1909 Uprising and 1910 Cloakmakers Strike

1909 Uprising and 1910 Cloakmakers Strike In 1909, about one-fifth of the workers mostly women working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory walked out of their jobs in a spontaneous strike in protest of working conditions. Owners Max Blanck and Isaac Harris then locked out all the workers at the factory, later hiring prostitutes to replace the strikers. Other workers again, mostly women walked out of other garment industry shops in Manhattan. The strike came to be called the Uprising of the Twenty Thousand though its now estimated that as many as 40,000 participated by its end. The  Womens Trade Union League  (WTUL), an alliance of wealthy women and working women, supported the strikers, trying to protect them from routinely being arrested by the New York police and from being beaten by management-hired thugs. The WTUL also helped organize a meeting at Cooper Union. Among those who addressed the strikers, there was American Federation of Labor (AFL) president Samuel Gompers, who endorsed the strike and called on the strikers to organize to better challenge employers to improve working conditions. A fiery speech by Clara Lemlich, who worked in a garment shop owned by Louis Leiserson and who had been beaten by thugs as the walkout began, moved the audience, and when she said, I move that we go on a general strike! she had the support of most of those there for an extended strike. Many more workers joined the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). The uprising and strike lasted a total of fourteen weeks. The ILGWU then negotiated a settlement with factory owners, in which they won some concessions on wages and working conditions. But Blanck and Harris of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory refused to sign the agreement, resuming business. 1910 Cloakmakers Strike - the Great Revolt On July 7, 1910, another large strike hit the garment factories of Manhattan, building on the Uprising of the 20,000 the previous year. About 60,000 cloakmakers left their jobs, backed by the  ILGWU  (International Ladies Garment Workers Union). The factories formed their own protective association. Both strikers and factory owners were largely Jewish.  Strikers also included many Italians.  Most of the strikers were men. At the initiation of A. Lincoln Filene, owner of the Boston-based department store, a reformer and social worker, Meyer Bloomfield, convinced both the union and the protective association to allow Louis Brandeis, then a prominent Boston-area lawyer, to oversee negotiations, and to try to get both sides to withdraw from attempts to use courts to settle the strike. The settlement led to a Joint Board of Sanitary Control being established, where labor and management agreed to cooperate in establishing standards above the legal minimums for factory working conditions, and also agreed to cooperatively monitor and enforce the standards. This strike settlement, unlike the 1909 settlement, resulted in union recognition for the ILGWU by some of the garment factories, allowed for the union to recruit workers to the factories (a union standard, not quite a union shop), and provided for disputes to be handled through arbitration rather than strikes. The settlement also established a 50 hour work week, overtime pay  and  holiday time off. Louis Brandeis was instrumental in negotiating the settlement. Samuel Gompers, head of the American Federation of Labor, called it more than a strike it was an industrial revolution because it brought the union into partnership with the textile industry in determining workers rights. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: Index of Articles Quick Overview of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireTriangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire   the fire itself1911 - Conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist FactoryAfter the Fire: identifying victims, news coverage, relief efforts, memorial, and funeral march, investigations, trialFrances Perkins and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Context: Josephine GoldmarkILGWUWomen’s Trade Union League (WTUL)

World War II Turning Points in the Pacific

World War II Turning Points in the Pacific Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and other Allied possessions around the Pacific, Japan swiftly moved to expand its empire. In Malaya, Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita executed a lightning campaign down the peninsula, forcing superior British forces to retreat to Singapore. Landing on the island on February 8, 1942, Japanese troops compelled General Arthur Percival to surrender six days later. With the fall of Singapore, 80,000 British and Indian troops were captured, joining the 50,000 taken earlier in the campaign (Map). In the Netherlands East Indies, Allied naval forces attempted make a stand at the Battle of the Java Sea on February 27. In the main battle and in actions over the next two days, the Allies lost five cruisers and five destroyers, effectively ending their naval presence in the region. Following the victory, Japanese forces occupied the islands, seizing their rich supplies of oil and rubber (Map). Invasion of the Philippines To the north, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, the Japanese, who had landed in December 1941, drove US and Filipino forces, under General Douglas MacArthur, back to the Bataan Peninsula and captured Manila. In early January, the Japanese began attacking the Allied line across Bataan. Though stubbornly defending the peninsula and inflicting heavy casualties, US and Filipino forces were slowly pushed back and supplies and ammunition began to dwindle (Map). Battle of Bataan With the US position in the Pacific crumbling, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to leave his headquarters on the fortress island of Corregidor and relocate to Australia. Departing on March 12, MacArthur turned over command of the Philippines to General Jonathan Wainwright. Arriving in Australia, MacArthur made a famous radio broadcast to the people of the Philippines in which he promised I Shall Return. On April 3, the Japanese launched a major offensive against the Allied lines on Bataan. Trapped and with his lines shattered, Major General Edward P. King surrendered his remaining 75,000 men to the Japanese on April 9. These prisoners endured the Bataan Death March which saw approximately 20,000 die (or in some cases escape) en route to POW camps elsewhere on Luzon. Fall of the Philippines With Bataan secure, the Japanese commander, Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, focused his attention on the remaining US forces on Corregidor. A small fortress island in Manila Bay, Corregidor served as the Allied headquarters in the Philippines. Japanese troops landed on the island on the night of May 5/6 and met fierce resistance. Establishing a beachhead, they were quickly reinforced and pushed the American defenders back. Later that day Wainwright asked Homma for terms and by May 8 the surrender of the Philippines was complete. Though a defeat, the valiant defense of Bataan and Corregidor bought valuable time for Allied forces in the Pacific to regroup. Bombers from Shangri-La In an effort to boost public morale, Roosevelt authorized a daring raid on the home islands of Japan. Conceived by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle and Navy Captain Francis Low, the plan called for the raiders to fly B-25 Mitchell medium bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8), bomb their targets, and then continue on to friendly bases in China. Unfortunately on April 18, 1942, Hornet was sighted by a Japanese picket boat, forcing Doolittle to launch 170 miles from the intended take-off point. As a result, the planes lacked the fuel to reach their bases in China, forcing the crews to bail out or crash their aircraft. While the damage inflicted was minimal, the raid achieved the desired morale boost. Also, it stunned the Japanese, who had believed the home islands to be invulnerable to attack. As a result, several fighter units were recalled for defensive use, preventing them from fighting at the front. When asked where the bombers took off from, Roosevelt stated that They came from our secret base at Shangri-La. The Battle of the Coral Sea With the Philippines secured, the Japanese sought to complete their conquest of New Guinea by capturing Port Moresby. In doing so they hoped to bring the US Pacific Fleets aircraft carriers into battle so that they could be destroyed. Alerted to the impending threat by decoded Japanese radio intercepts, the Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz, dispatched the carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Lexington (CV-2) to the Coral Sea to intercept the invasion force. Led by Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, this force was soon to encounter Admiral Takeo Takagis covering force consisting of the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, as well as the light carrier Shoho (Map). On May 4, Yorktown launched three strikes against the Japanese seaplane base at Tulagi, crippling its reconnaissance capabilities and sinking a destroyer. Two days later, land-based B-17 bombers spotted and unsuccessfully attacked the Japanese invasion fleet. Later that day, both carrier forces began actively searching for each other. On May 7, both fleets launched all of their aircraft, and succeeded in finding and attacking secondary units of the enemy. The Japanese heavily damaged the oiler Neosho and sunk the destroyer USS Sims. American aircraft located and sunk Shoho. Fighting resumed on May 8, with both fleets launching massive strikes against the other. Dropping out of the sky, US pilots hit Shokaku with three bombs, setting it on fire and putting it out of action. Meanwhile, the Japanese attacked Lexington, hitting it with bombs and torpedoes. Though stricken, Lexingtons crew had the ship stabilized until fire reached an aviation fuel storage area causing a massive explosion. The ship was soon abandoned and sunk to prevent capture. Yorktown was also damaged in the attack. With Shoho sunk and Shokaku badly damaged, Takagi decided to retreat, ending the threat of invasion. A strategic victory for the Allies, the Battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle fought entirely with aircraft. Yamamotos Plan Following the Battle of Coral Sea, the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, devised a plan to draw the remaining ships of the US Pacific Fleet into a battle where they could be destroyed. To do this, he planned to invade the island of Midway, 1,300 miles northwest of Hawaii. Critical to Pearl Harbors defense, Yamamoto knew the Americans would send their remaining carriers to protect the island. Believing the US to only have two carriers operational, he sailed with four, plus a large fleet of battleships and cruisers. Through the efforts of US Navy cryptanalysts, who had broken the Japanese JN-25 naval code, Nimitz was aware of the Japanese plan and dispatched the carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet, under Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, as well as the hastily repaired Yorktown, under Fletcher, to the waters north of Midway to intercept the Japanese. The Tide Turns: The Battle of Midway At 4:30 AM on June 4, the commander of the Japanese carrier force, Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, launched a series of strikes against Midway Island. Overwhelming the islands small air force, the Japanese pounded the American base. While returning to the carriers, Nagumos pilots recommended a second strike on the island. This prompted Nagumo to order his reserve aircraft, which had been armed with torpedoes, to be rearmed with bombs. As this process was underway, one of his scout planes reported locating the US carriers. Hearing this, Nagumo reversed his rearmament command in order to attack the ships. As the torpedoes were being put back on Nagumos aircraft, American planes appeared over his fleet. Using reports from their own scout planes, Fletcher and Spruance began launching aircraft around 7:00 AM. The first squadrons to reach the Japanese were the TBD Devastator torpedo bombers from Hornet and Enterprise. Attacking at low level, they did not score a hit and suffered heavy casualties. Though unsuccessful, the torpedo planes pulled down the Japanese fighter cover, which cleared the way for the American SBD Dauntless dive bombers. Striking at 10:22, they scored multiple hits, sinking the carriers Akagi, Soryu, and Kaga. In response, the remaining Japanese carrier, Hiryu, launched a counterstrike that twice disabled Yorktown. That afternoon, US dive bombers returned and sunk Hiryu to seal the victory. His carriers lost, Yamamoto abandoned the operation. Disabled, Yorktown was taken under tow, but was sunk by the submarine I-168 en route to Pearl Harbor. To the Solomons With the Japanese thrust in the central Pacific blocked, the Allies devised a plan to prevent the enemy from occupying the southern Solomon Islands and using them as bases for attacking Allied supply lines to Australia. To accomplish this goal, it was decided to land on the small islands of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tamambogo, as well as on Guadalcanal where the Japanese were building an airfield. Securing these islands would also be the first step towards isolating the main Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The task of securing the islands largely fell to the 1st Marine Division led by Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift. The Marines would be supported at sea by a task force centered on the carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), led by Fletcher, and an amphibious transport force commanded by Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner. Landing at Guadalcanal On August 7, the Marines landed on all four islands. They met fierce resistance on Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tamambogo, but were able to overwhelm the 886 defenders who fought to the last man. On Guadalcanal, the landings went largely unopposed with 11,000 Marines coming ashore. Pressing inland, they secured the airfield the next day, renaming it Henderson Field. On August 7 and 8, Japanese aircraft from Rabaul attacked the landing operations (Map). These attacks were beaten off by aircraft from Saratoga. Due to low fuel and concerned about further loss of aircraft, Fletcher decided to withdraw his task force on the night of the 8th. With his air cover removed, Turner had no choice but follow, despite the fact that less than half of the Marines equipment and supplies had been landed. That night the situation worsened when Japanese surface forces defeated and sank four Allied (3 US, 1 Australian) cruisers at the Battle of Savo Island. The Fight for Guadalcanal After consolidating their position, the Marines completed Henderson Field and established a defensive perimeter around their beachhead. On August 20, the first aircraft arrived flying in from the escort carrier USS Long Island. Dubbed the Cactus Air Force, the aircraft at Henderson would prove vital in the coming campaign. In Rabaul, Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake was tasked with retaking the island from the Americans and Japanese ground forces were routed to Guadalcanal, with Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi taking command at the front. Soon the Japanese were launching probing attacks against the Marines lines. With the Japanese bringing reinforcements to the area, the two fleets met at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on August 24-25. An American victory, the Japanese lost the light carrier Ryujo and were unable to bring their transports to Guadalcanal. On Guadalcanal, Vandegrifts Marines worked on strengthening their defenses and benefited from the arrival of additional supplies. Overhead, the aircraft of the Cactus Air Force flew daily to defend the field from Japanese bombers. Prevented from bringing transports to Guadalcanal, the Japanese began delivering troops at night using destroyers. Dubbed the Tokyo Express, this approach worked, but deprived the soldiers of all their heavy equipment. Beginning on September 7, the Japanese began attacking the Marines position in earnest. Ravaged by disease and hunger, the Marines heroically repulsed every Japanese assault. Fighting Continues Reinforced in mid-September, Vandegrift expanded and completed his defenses. Over the next several weeks, the Japanese and Marines battled back and forth, with neither side gaining an advantage. On the night of October 11/12, US ships under, Rear Admiral Norman Scott defeated the Japanese in the Battle of Cape Esperance, sinking a cruiser and three destroyers. The fighting covered the landing of US Army troops on the island and prevented reinforcements from reaching the Japanese. Two nights later, the Japanese dispatched a squadron centered on the battleships Kongo and Haruna, to cover transports heading to Guadalcanal and to bombard Henderson Field. Opening fire at 1:33 AM, the battleships struck the airfield for nearly an hour and half, destroying 48 aircraft and killing 41. On the 15th, the Cactus Air Force attacked the Japanese convoy as it unloaded, sinking three cargo ships. Guadalcanal Secured Beginning on October 23, Kawaguchi launched a major offensive against Henderson Field from the south. Two nights later, they nearly broke through Marines line, but were repulsed by Allied reserves. As the fighting was raging around Henderson Field, the fleets collided at the Battle of Santa Cruz on October 25-27. Though a tactical victory for the Japanese, having sunk Hornet, they suffered high losses among their air crews and were forced to retreat. The tide on Guadalcanal finally turned in the Allies favor following the naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 12-15. In a series of aerial and naval engagements, US forces sank two battleships, a cruiser, three destroyers, and eleven transports in exchange for two cruisers and seven destroyers. The battle gave the Allies naval superiority in the waters around Guadalcanal, allowing for massive reinforcements to land and the beginning of offensive operations. In December, the battered 1st Marine Division was withdrawn and replaced by XIV Corps. Attacking the Japanese on January 10, 1943, XIV Corps forced the enemy to evacuate the island by February 8. The six month campaign to take the island was one of the longest of the Pacific war and was the first step in pushing back the Japanese.

Political Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Political Theories - Essay Example Every society is made up of groups of individuals that have certain hopes and aspirations; every state is made of people that want to find a way to find solutions for their growing needs and desires to achieve things and make a living for themselves as well as to support their families. This however sometimes is at the cost of others and thus a proper political, social as well as economic structure needs to be set in place in order to avoid conflicts among people. A certain amount of competition and conflict is allowed because it only helps to push the psychology of a human being and help him find unique ways to do things in a better manner; however, if stretched, this can lead to the existence of a majority group that begins to gain all the benefits of resources and services. Individuals often know what is best for them and thus they come together in order to make decisions which they feel would be fit for everyone else. They think for others and often try to come up with ideas that would suit the lifestyle of most people within that particular society. This refers to rule or policy formulation on a political basis and gaining power for a purpose; in order to serve the needs of the people. However, this power sometimes may not be distributed in an even manner; causing problems within that society and having a certain section impose its influence upon the others because of the excess of power. Since the inception of the idea of democracy within a state, various theories have been developed in order to find out the best possible manner in which democracy is to be executed among the people. Some societies try their best to establish a clean political scenario within which people can live peacefully with each other, sharing resources and producing goods and s ervices in a very harmonised manner. However, within some societies, this distribution may become haywire and concentrated within the hands of a few individuals. This obviously might not be good for the general benefit of the entire state, however might help a few individuals gain a lot, thus leading to an overall growth in the entire income structure of the state. The economy is thus divided on the basis of both sociological as well as political perspectives in order to counter these issues and move towards prosperity. Political life can be measured through sociological variables and this helps to understand the class model of the society very easily. There have been a number of philosophers and thinkers who have been able to base their theories on class and model structures within a political economy. Nonetheless, the Marxian philosophy or theory of class structure of state has had the greatest impact on political sociology and his most dynamic work may be found in economics. Ever y political system is made up of individuals who react to their sociological surroundings and determine the political life. In the present day, three theories have been used greatly – the Marxist, Pluralist and the Elitist theories that deal with different (as well as similar) ideas of democracy. This paper helps to analyse the similarities as well as the differences among these three ideas, as well as the path that led up to their establishment in the modern day and age. It also aims to focus on the political system that prevails in the United Kingdom and the course that the same took over time in order to become what it is today. According to Karl Marx, people entered into social relationships with one another; their conduct was largely determined by the way they behaved around each other as well as the reactions to the actions of other people in their surroundings. People moulded their beliefs and ideas according to the needs and wants of the people within their external e nvironment and thus the political system was loosely based on the economic scenario of demand and supply. Marx’s theory talked considerably about competition and conflict that was created due to economic production; he said that men and women could only be free within a society