Tuesday, July 21, 2020

What Do Editors Read

What Do Editors Read Editors know a good book when they see one. They’re experienced (that is, overworked) readers, deluged with manuscripts from  hopeful writers and their agents. They battle  perpetual eyestrain. And they regularly dip into the slush-pile abyss and make it back aliveâ€"sometimes with a truly great book in their hands. Youve heard  what librarians read. Now, I’ve asked some stellar editors to tell us what books they’re excited about right now. Jeffrey Yang | New Directions Publishing and New York Review Books What I’m reading now:  Poems of Osip Mandelstam, selected and translated by Peter France,  Last Words from Montmartre  by Qiu Miaojin,  Great Guns by Farnoosh Fathi, Second Childhood by Fanny Howe, Capital by Thomas Piketty. Whats on my to-be-read list: Cat Town  by Sakutaro Hagiwara,  Spontaneous Particulars  by Susan Howe, Thinking Its Presence by Dorothy Wang, The Play of Time by Janet Hoskins, Wings of the Dove by Henry James. How I choose my next book: Either whatevers under editorial consideration at work or whatever Im editing next; or pulling from a growing stack of books I have outside of my publishing jobsâ€"i.e., usually the book chooses me and I just blindly obey. Whats your favorite book to recommend? Depends on the conversation and who Im talking to, but Ive given away many copies of Inger Christensens Alphabet. But if Im talking detective books itd be anything by Leonardo Sciascia. â€" Anitra Budd | Coffee House Press What I’m reading now:  Echos Bones by Samuel Beckett and S by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst Whats on my to-be-read list: Id most immediately like to dig in to Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi, Reasons She Goes to the Woods by Deborah K. Davies, Missing by Sam Hawken, and The Brunist Day of Wrath by Robert Coover. How I choose my next book: I keep a running list of titles I want to read in whatever bookmarking app Im using at the time (right now its Evernote). When Im looking for the next book, I check my list for the book that best fits my mood, available time, etcetera. My ideas about what to read next come from all sorts of places: reviews, friends recommendations, trips for work (I found out about several of my current to-be-read titles at this years London Book Fair, for example). Favorite book to recommend:  The Impossibly by Laird Hunt. When people tell me theyre not fans of experimental literature, this is the book I recommend. Its also the book that really made me fall for Coffee House back when I was an intern, so its very dear to my heart. â€" Clara Platter | NYU Press What I’m reading now: I read exclusively nonfiction for work so my pleasure reading is always fiction. Right now I am reading an amazing book called Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi which a friend gave me. Its beautifully written, but I think the reason for the gift is that its about a dwarf, and I am extremely tall! So, there you go. Opposites attract? I am also reading Bad News by Edward St. Aubyn after reading a profile about the writers life in The New Yorker. Its an extremely funny account of a three-day drug binge in Manhattan. I think I am most attracted in my fiction reading to the wildly unfamiliar. Whats on my to-be-read list: I just got Lucky Jim from the used bookstore. I havent read any Maya Angelou since middle school so maybe one of her books? How I choose my next book: Either by scouring reviews or browsing the tables at the Strand and looking for a gem. Favorite book to recommend:  The Secret History by Donna Tartt. â€" Jeff Shotts | Graywolf Press What I’m reading now:  With my older son, we have just finished C. S. Lewis’s  The Magician’s Nephew, arguably the best of  The Chronicles of Narnia. Rebecca Solnit coincidentally references  The Magician’s Nephew  in her marvelous  The Faraway Nearby, which I have waited and waited to read until this summer. And I’m reading  a lot  of manuscript submissions, including those for the latest Graywolf Nonfiction Prize. Whats on my to-be-read list:  My older son has pulled out C. S. Lewis’s  The Last Battle, and slipped a bookmark at the title page. I hope to read soon Anne Carson’s latest,  The Albertine Workout, and Lydia Davis’s  Can’t and Won’t. I am excited to read Marlon James’s new novel,  A Brief History of Seven Killings, when it comes out this fall. And those many manuscript submissions . . . How I choose my next book:  I listen to writers, colleagues at Graywolf, and other editors, and I read a lot of reviews. I listen to booksellers most of all, what they are reading and getting excited about and recommending. But let’s face it, our two boys choose most of what my wife and I read. Favorite book to recommend:  The book I have most recommended over the last five years is Eula Biss’s essay collection  Notes from No Man’s Land, an astonishing achievement of new nonfiction writing. The book I have most recommended over the last five months is Leslie Jamison’s essay collection  The Empathy Exams, which so brilliantly and movingly provides spaces for broad and humane conversation. ____________________ Expand your literary horizons with New Books!, a weekly newsletter spotlighting 3-5 exciting new releases, hand-picked by our very own Liberty Hardy. Sign up now!   Save

Friday, May 22, 2020

Essay on Vaccines The Best Choice for Our Children

There has long been a debate about whether or not parents should take part in the recommended vaccination schedule for their children. Many parents worry about what they do not know about the vaccines. This can include concepts such as what is in the vaccine and how the vaccines themselves, or giving multiple vaccines within a short span of time, affects their children. How combination vaccines such as DTAP and MMRV affect their children’s immune systems or other body systems could be another worry of parents. Today, newborns and young children are routinely vaccinated according to an immunization schedule established in 1995 by the CDC, AAP, and AAFP (Children’s, 2013). While the many benefits of immunizations are consistently†¦show more content†¦A number of combination vaccinations such as MMR, MMRV, and DTP have also been developed (Children’s, 2013; Klein et al., 2010). These allowed for children to be immunized against more diseases than the number of needle sticks they received. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2013), with the addition of so many new vaccines, a young child’s immunization schedule has become significantly more complicated than it has ever been before. As reported by the CDC (2014), children from birth to 6 years of age receive vaccinations against at least ten different diseases, with some vaccinations requiring more than one administration in order to attempt to ensure full immunity. With this wide number of vaccinations, some given within seconds or minutes of each other and others having two or more vaccines mixed into one injection, the chance that adverse events could have a significantly negative impact on the young children receiving the vaccines is a definite possibility despite all of the research already conducted on vaccines and their safety (Ellenberg, 2001). The many benefits of immunizations have long been known. Before the creation of vaccinations, t he only way to develop immunity to a disease was to contract and survive it. In regard to the cost of vaccination versus that of treatment of an illness, according to the National Institute of Allergy andShow MoreRelatedVaccination Is The Best For A Parent Than The Health Of Their Child Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagesparent. These diseases are vaccine-preventable, and are very rare thanks to successful vaccination programs. However, the number of parents refusing to vaccinate their children is on the rise, and is most likely the cause of the resurgence of these diseases (Phadke, Bednarcyzk, Salmon, Omer, 2016). Many medical professionals and scientists consider vaccination one of the greatest medical achievements in modern civilization. Research shows that vaccination is the best way to protect your child fromRead MoreWhy Vaccination Is Necessary For Our Public Health And Public Safety ( Plotkin 1-15 )1323 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscovering vaccines, to possibility cure or remove a disease. However, there are many concerns when it comes to vaccinations; are they okay for the body and/or will vaccines cause our bodies harm? Or are vaccines okay to get, and do they work? State laws are pushing to make vaccines a requirement. Because of these laws being passed, many argue that they are being forced in getting their children vaccinated. People should be able to have the freedom to choose if they want their children to be vaccinatedRead MoreThe Importance Of Securing Your Child Safe852 Words   |  4 Pageswhatever is best for your child. With that being said, you know the importance of securing your young child in a car seat, or installing baby gates in front of stairs and other ways to provide safety for your young child. Or protecting them from a common cold, a high fever, stomach flu, which affects our society and individuals when their immune system is compromised. Do you know that as parents you also choose a more complicated way of protecting your young child? This is through the choice of weatherRead MoreThe Importance Of Being Vaccination1119 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Caldwell Erik Bean ENG102 July 16, 2017 The Importance of Being Vaccinated It is human nature to want to understand the risks of vaccinations, especially when the benefits of that vaccine are invisible. It will never be known how many times people might be exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease, and how it could affect the immune system. There is sufficient data to help adults, and parents, weigh out the pros and cons of getting vaccinated. The benefits of preventing a disease with a vaccinationRead MoreChildhood Vaccinations Should Be Mandatory Essay1607 Words   |  7 Pagesthreats, there were 159 measles incidents arising from this occurrence (â€Å"Measles† 373). Considering this outbreak, it is not unexpected that the role of vaccination would come to the forefront. The CDC is presently advocating 29 vaccinations for children through the age of six years old (â€Å"2016 Recommended Immunizations† 1). However, each state respectively establishes the laws for vaccination and corresponding exemptions. For comparison purposes, in the earl y 1970’s, only three vaccinations wereRead MoreThe, Pro, And The Pro Choice1378 Words   |  6 Pages(CDC, 2016). The utilitarian approach is one that focuses on the net good created by a choice and uses that good to justify it as ethical (Sheng, 1991). There are two sides of this debate, the â€Å"pro-mandate† and the â€Å"pro-choice† and both will be discussed. I will argue using the pro-mandate utilitarian approach that all children, without medical exemption, should be required by the government to get the MMR vaccine, because vaccinations play a crucial role in public health and saving lives. FirstRead MoreThe Importance Of Vaccinations For Children With Added Protection803 Words   |  4 Pageswith infants and young children have been tussling with this proverbial question for several decades now. With the advent of the internet and the World Wide Web, parents have been bombarded with a plethora of information about pros and cons of vaccines from all kinds of sources, some creditable, and some are not. To the non-scientific community, these conflicting information can create problems in the decision making process; thus, forcing parents to make the wrong choices and putting their offspringRead MoreEssay Vaccinations Should Be Mandatory For All Children1534 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst set of vaccines, vaccines that people are now claiming are dangerous. Research shows that vaccination rates fell. MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine rates dropped from 93.5% to 90.6%, tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria rates dropped from 87.2% to 85.4% in 2009. (Kluger) Why are vaccination rates dropping so significantly? Pediatrician Dr. Robert Frenck says â€Å"Very articulate, very good-looking movie stars or personalities †¦ are giving out information about how bad vaccines are,† PeopleRead MoreShould Parents Have The Free Choice?983 Words   |  4 Pagesforcing American families to take vaccines against their will. Parents that do not take action and don’t provide their children with the â€Å"proper† vaccines can be fined or go to jail. This issue has been an ongoing problem, however, now in many states the government is not even allowing any type of exemption. I disagree with the government and I think that parents should have the free choice as to what vaccines they think is right for their children, being that vaccines don’t always work and they canRead MoreVaccination Informed Parental Choice : Vaccination Essay1614 Words   |  7 PagesVaccination†¦Informed Parental Choice The recent measles outbreak occurring at Disneyland in December 2014 became widespread news and rekindled an ongoing debate of childhood vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is the United States government agency responsible for the protection of Americans from health threats, there were 159 incidents of measles arising from this outbreak (â€Å"Morbidity and Mortality† 373). Considering this outbreak, it is not unexpected

Thursday, May 7, 2020

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Essay

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph. From the first pages of Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as vengeful, proud, and petty. As the book progresses, the image of Achilles as a spiteful child is sharpened dramatically. Towards the end of the epic; however, Achilles begins to exhibit qualities that are considered heroic even in today’s society. Once his loyal and trusted friend Patroclus dies, Achilles undergoes a drastic change in character. When he confronts the true horror of death, Achilles puts aside his immature†¦show more content†¦Even this early in the epic, it is difficult to believe Achilles would ever settle for a long life without glory. Somewhat later in the epic; however, this is precisely what Achilles intends to do. When Agamemnon sends an embassy to entreat the swift runner, Achilles tells them: â€Å"...two fates bear me on to the day of death. If I hold out here and lay siege to Troy, My journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, My pride, my glory dies... True, but the life that’s left me will be long, The stroke of death will not come on me quickly.† (9.499-505) Achilles then proceeds to urge the rest of the Greeks to sail home and abandon the war in Troy. Although this seems to imply that Achilles has given up his youthful brashness, he also mercilessly insults Agamemnon in the same book. His refusal to let go of his anger and his concern for his own future indicate a more adolescent or young adult viewpoint, rather than his previous childishness. The three ambassadors, Odysseus, Telamonian Ajax, and Phoenix, all appeal to Achilles to release his anger, implying that they look at him as a youth raging at worldly injustices. When Odysseus tells Achilles â€Å"Fail us now? What grief it will be to you / through all the years to come. No remedy, / no way to cure the damage once it’s done† (9.301-3), and when heShow MoreRelatedGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pages  Athena  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  goddesses  in  Greek   mythology.  Athena  (known  as  Minerva  in  Roman  mythology)  was  protector  of  numerous  Greek  cities,  especially   Athens,  and  was  associated  with  industry,  art,  wisdom,  and  warfare.  In  the  two  major  epics  of  Greek  antiquity,  the   Iliad  and  the  Odyssey,  Athena  fought  on  the  side  of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  War   and  aided  Odysseus  in  his  return   home  from  the  war.  The  Greeks  dedicated  numerous  buildings  and  shrines  to  Athena,  including  the  prominent   temple  in  Athens,  the  ParthenonRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 Pageswife of Menelaus and the cause of the Trojan War. Helens portrayal is more striking than that of Menelaus. She is back with Menelaus at Sparta, happy and at peace, having learned from her sufferings. The tenderness which she possesses in The Iliad is turned to new purposes here in The Odyssey. Antinous - the most vociferous and proud of the suitors. He plots Telemachus death and often leads the suitors in their mistreatment of Odysseus and his household. Eurymachus - another outspoken

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Essay

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph. From the first pages of Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as vengeful, proud, and petty. As the book progresses, the image of Achilles as a spiteful child is sharpened dramatically. Towards the end of the epic; however, Achilles begins to exhibit qualities that are considered heroic even in today’s society. Once his loyal and trusted friend Patroclus dies, Achilles undergoes a drastic change in character. When he confronts the true horror of death, Achilles puts aside his immature†¦show more content†¦Even this early in the epic, it is difficult to believe Achilles would ever settle for a long life without glory. Somewhat later in the epic; however, this is precisely what Achilles intends to do. When Agamemnon sends an embassy to entreat the swift runner, Achilles tells them: â€Å"...two fates bear me on to the day of death. If I hold out here and lay siege to Troy, My journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, My pride, my glory dies... True, but the life that’s left me will be long, The stroke of death will not come on me quickly.† (9.499-505) Achilles then proceeds to urge the rest of the Greeks to sail home and abandon the war in Troy. Although this seems to imply that Achilles has given up his youthful brashness, he also mercilessly insults Agamemnon in the same book. His refusal to let go of his anger and his concern for his own future indicate a more adolescent or young adult viewpoint, rather than his previous childishness. The three ambassadors, Odysseus, Telamonian Ajax, and Phoenix, all appeal to Achilles to release his anger, implying that they look at him as a youth raging at worldly injustices. When Odysseus tells Achilles â€Å"Fail us now? What grief it will be to you / through all the years to come. No remedy, / no way to cure the damage once it’s done† (9.301-3), and when heShow MoreRelatedGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pages  Athena  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  goddesses  in  Greek   mythology.  Athena  (known  as  Minerva  in  Roman  mythology)  was  protector  of  numerous  Greek  cities,  especially   Athens,  and  was  associated  with  industry,  art,  wisdom,  and  warfare.  In  the  two  major  epics  of  Greek  antiquity,  the   Iliad  and  the  Odyssey,  Athena  fought  on  the  side  of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  War   and  aided  Odysseus  in  his  return   home  from  the  war.  The  Greeks  dedicated  numerous  buildings  and  shrines  to  Athena,  including  the  prominent   temple  in  Athens,  the  ParthenonRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 Pageswife of Menelaus and the cause of the Trojan War. Helens portrayal is more striking than that of Menelaus. She is back with Menelaus at Sparta, happy and at peace, having learned from her sufferings. The tenderness which she possesses in The Iliad is turned to new purposes here in The Odyssey. Antinous - the most vociferous and proud of the suitors. He plots Telemachus death and often leads the suitors in their mistreatment of Odysseus and his household. Eurymachus - another outspoken

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Essay

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph. From the first pages of Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as vengeful, proud, and petty. As the book progresses, the image of Achilles as a spiteful child is sharpened dramatically. Towards the end of the epic; however, Achilles begins to exhibit qualities that are considered heroic even in today’s society. Once his loyal and trusted friend Patroclus dies, Achilles undergoes a drastic change in character. When he confronts the true horror of death, Achilles puts aside his immature†¦show more content†¦Even this early in the epic, it is difficult to believe Achilles would ever settle for a long life without glory. Somewhat later in the epic; however, this is precisely what Achilles intends to do. When Agamemnon sends an embassy to entreat the swift runner, Achilles tells them: â€Å"...two fates bear me on to the day of death. If I hold out here and lay siege to Troy, My journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, My pride, my glory dies... True, but the life that’s left me will be long, The stroke of death will not come on me quickly.† (9.499-505) Achilles then proceeds to urge the rest of the Greeks to sail home and abandon the war in Troy. Although this seems to imply that Achilles has given up his youthful brashness, he also mercilessly insults Agamemnon in the same book. His refusal to let go of his anger and his concern for his own future indicate a more adolescent or young adult viewpoint, rather than his previous childishness. The three ambassadors, Odysseus, Telamonian Ajax, and Phoenix, all appeal to Achilles to release his anger, implying that they look at him as a youth raging at worldly injustices. When Odysseus tells Achilles â€Å"Fail us now? What grief it will be to you / through all the years to come. No remedy, / no way to cure the damage once it’s done† (9.301-3), and when heShow MoreRelatedGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pages  Athena  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  goddesses  in  Greek   mythology.  Athena  (known  as  Minerva  in  Roman  mythology)  was  protector  of  numerous  Greek  cities,  especially   Athens,  and  was  associated  with  industry,  art,  wisdom,  and  warfare.  In  the  two  major  epics  of  Greek  antiquity,  the   Iliad  and  the  Odyssey,  Athena  fought  on  the  side  of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  War   and  aided  Odysseus  in  his  return   home  from  the  war.  The  Greeks  dedicated  numerous  buildings  and  shrines  to  Athena,  including  the  prominent   temple  in  Athens,  the  ParthenonRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 Pageswife of Menelaus and the cause of the Trojan War. Helens portrayal is more striking than that of Menelaus. She is back with Menelaus at Sparta, happy and at peace, having learned from her sufferings. The tenderness which she possesses in The Iliad is turned to new purposes here in The Odyssey. Antinous - the most vociferous and proud of the suitors. He plots Telemachus death and often leads the suitors in their mistreatment of Odysseus and his household. Eurymachus - another outspoken

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Life and Music Free Essays

Music is as diverse as the people listening to its many different genres. My wife and I are just two of the millions of people around the world who listen to music almost everyday. However, my wife and I have a lot of differences when it comes to music although I can say that we share the same passion for it ever since when we were still at a young age. We will write a custom essay sample on Life and Music or any similar topic only for you Order Now For my part, learning music was at first an academic task because it was part of a class that I had to take during my earlier days in school. There was simply no chance for me to enjoy music as people should. When I was ten years old, I bought my first AM transistor from my classmate. It was the first time in my life when I got the chance to enjoy the music of the Beatles and other bands playing country music at the time. That moment in my life opened the windows of my imagination inasmuch as it sparked a great deal of musical interest on my part. From then on, I simply just could not have enough of music and I was stuck with the pleasure of listening to tunes over the radio. My wife has a strong cultural influence coming from the Philippines because she, too, is a Filipino. I recall my wife telling me that she always watched â€Å"An Evening with Pilita Corales† together with her parents when she was still young. Pilita Corales is considered as the Queen of â€Å"Kundiman†Ã¢â‚¬â€traditional love songs written and sung in Filipino language—in the Philippines. If my wife was fond of watching that show way back then, I was fond of watching â€Å"Lawrence Welk† on the television together with my father and mother. Apparently, our differences in our earliest exposures to music hold one reason why my wife and I still have differences today in terms of music. It is interesting to know that despite the fact that my wife lived in a country that is perhaps one of the most culturally rich countries in the world, she enjoyed spending time in the playground than doing folk dances which often involved materials that were indigenously available. Those dances, as she recounted, were always played to the rhythm of local music which, at that time in her life, never seemed important to her. She was too young in fact that she found it more fun to play in the school’s playground than to spend some of her idle time listening to local music and performing local dances. I had the same experience when I was still as young as my wife during her childhood days. The only difference, perhaps, was that I was doubly busy or I had a tougher time at school for I did not only have to learn English but I also had to study music as part of the school curriculum. I had to catch up with my school work and so I barely had the time to realize the pleasure of listening to music and enjoying what it had to offer beyond sensory experience. Today, things have changed a lot—and for the better. Fortunately, my wife and I soon learned and appreciated music in our lives. In fact, my wife and I began to watch musical plays like â€Å"Annie†, â€Å"The Lion King†, â€Å"Blue Man Group†, â€Å"Tarzan†, â€Å"Mama Mia† and â€Å"Miss Saigon† soon after we got married. Perhaps it was the moment in our lives when we realized that we shared one thing in common after all—the love for music. Each time we are able to watch a musical play, we always love the live performance due to the outpouring emotions that one can feel before a stage of actors and actresses giving justice to a number of different melodies and rhythms that can not be easily heard beyond every performance night. Max Weber understood music as â€Å"a deeply meaningful part of a society’s culture† (Turley, 2001, p. 635), which is perhaps why sooner or later people will begin to realize the importance or the role of music in their lives, regardless of whether or not the music they are listening to is indigenous or foreign. That being the case, it is easy to see why people can relate music; music touches our inner soul and reaches for the depths of our being that we oftentimes find difficult to express, let alone reach. For me, music helps us remember a lot of things simply because music holds memories. As I see it, music expresses feelings even if there are no words to it and it also raises our level of thinking about freedom. Howard Gardner even categorized our abilities to appreciate and even produce music as part of multiple human intelligences (Pfeifer Scheier, 1999), which makes sense to say that it is crucial for human beings to have an ear for music. Doing so can broaden our mental horizons and enable us to appreciate life even more. While my wife enjoys listening to the music of the Monkees, Carpenters, Beatles and Michael Jackson as much as I do, I still try to go beyond the sheer pleasure of listening to their music. I teach art and I try to incorporate music into my profession. As much as possible, I try to play music whenever I have my art class so that my students will be able to express their feelings more whenever they hold their brushes and begin painting images with beautiful colors. The way I see it, music is so strong it can evoke our inner feelings and give us the inspiration to make stunning artworks. Because music can stir our emotions and our memories, music can push art students and artists to greater lengths. In general, music helps people unlock the rarely touched parts of their being (Grant, 2003, p. 173). I cannot imagine my life and my wife’s life without music as it has already been an integral part of who we are. Music helps my wife and I remember a lot of things about our past and our culture. It also helps us appreciate our lives and our marriage better each day without having the need to force ourselves to listen to music. How to cite Life and Music, Essays

Sunday, April 26, 2020

World War I Essays - World War I, French Third Republic,

World War I The Causes of the War OK, in a nutshell, World War I's cause went as far back as the early 1800s. People controlled by other nations began to evolve people's feelings of nationalism. The French Revolution of 1789 brought a new feeling to the word Nationalism. People who spoke French, German, Italian, ext. felt that they should have a separate government in a country where everyone spoke the same language. Unfortunately, we can't please everyone and this demand they had was something impossible that could be done. As time passed people began to establish war cults or military alliances. The members from these groups would discriminate and verbally abuse the people, which didn't speak their language. Warmongers criticized at foreign ways of doing things. Sometimes newspaper stories help spread publicity. Some German leaders strongly urged commercial & political expansion to the east, mostly in Asia. II- Military Alliances Military alliances were another of the many causes of World War I. When the German Empire was united in 1871, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck hoped for a period of international peace. He looked for allies to support Germany. It was then that in 1882 Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy signed a treaty called, " The Triple Alliance." The treaty was made to protect them from attacks from France or Russia. Germany & Italy feared France & Austria-Hungary feared Russia. The three members of the alliance formed a powerful block in central Europe. Unfortunately, Austria-Hungary & Italy were not very friendly. They argued mostly over land and/or territory that Italy thought they should have. So, both countries competed to see who would take control of the Adriatic Sea first. When the war broke out in 1914, Italy didn't keep their word about the contract they had agreed to in the treaty. It turns out they had made a secret treaty with France in 1902. As a result of that they had to remain neutral then declared war on Austria-Hungary. After the Triple Alliance formed, the rest of the countries in Europe saw that they were at a disadvantage. The disadvantage was that if there ever was an international crisis, Great Britain, France & Russia would have to fight for themselves but the Triple Alliance would have the advantage of acting together as one. Then in 1894, France signed a defensive alliance with Russia. Then only by itself was Great Britain. Soon after they faced naval rivalry & growing mercenary with Germany. In 1904, Great Britain & France reached a cordial understanding or how you would say in French, "Entente Cordial." By the terms in the agreement, they settled all the disagreements they had about almost anything & everything. Most important being colonies. Both nations became partners. Then France succeeded in bringing Britain and Russia together. In 1907 the two nations signed the Anglo-Russian Entente," it was kind of like the cordial agreement that linked France, Russia & Great Britain was called "The Triple Entente." Men, Battlefronts & Strategy I- Strategy of the War The chief of the German general staff Count Alfred Von Schlieffen planned a very little simple strategy in 1905 and changed it in 1912. His plan was that German armies were to crush France in a campaign by going through Belgium, which was neutral. Now, the Germans were planning to crush Russia, then planned to make Britain surrender. Then they would sweep into Asia & yes, they would try and conquer them too. This guy expected a 2 front war & planned that Austria-Hungary and some small German force in East Prussia would take the eastern front. But no. The Allied strategy called for attacks by the French armies in Lorraine upon the start of the war. OK, so the plan was that. On the Eastern front it would be Russia trying to invade Germany through East Prussia and attack Austria-Hungary in Galicia. They hoped to strike westward at Germany while the Allied Armies went east. The War I- The US enters WWI (1917, 4th year) Early in 1917, the Central Powers, which consisted of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany & the Ottoman Empire, were at a strong position. They had in control Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, most of Belgium & Northern France. Then, yes, the USA entered the war. And so the tables began to turn in favor of the Allies. Germany unrestricted Submarine welfare so this caused the US to join the Allies. The news of the outbreak of the war in 1914 had surprised many Americans. As a result, President Woodrow Wilson had declared that "the US would