Politics and English Language

Table of Contents Introduction Decline of English Language Politics and English Language Improving the Language Works Cited Introduction English language, unlike other languages, is very strict in its usage. According to Taylor (4), English language has faced a lot of transformation over time. Several factors have contributed to this evolution of this language. This scholar states that this language is the second most spoken language in the world after Chinese. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Politics and English Language specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different groups of people will speak this language differently based on their place of birth and the first language. The way words are pronounced by different individuals from different parts of the world clearly demonstrates this variation. Some of the variations are so big that one may fail to understand what another speaker is saying. This is s ometimes worsened by the fact that some people consider introducing their first language into English, creating what Meyers (3) refers to as slung. This is very common in the political language. This study focuses on the works of George Orwell about the use and misuse of the language titled â€Å"Politics and the English Language.† George Orwell has carefully analyzed the use of English language both it its written and spoken form. In this article, Orwell brings out the fact that English language is constantly deteriorating as the world globalizes. Although this is the second most spoken language in the world, it is always seen as the most important language in the world. It may be because of this reason that there has been a massive attempt by individuals from around the world to get an understanding of this language. As civilization continues around the world, the language is getting worse with each passing day. It is of concern that the society seem to be comfortable with this distortion. Orwell laments, â€Å"It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes† . He says that the society has become so accustomed to this poor language that it has become impossible to persuade them out of it. An attempt to convince people to desist from the language is like telling them to avid what is considered trendier. That is why Orwell is comparing this emerging English language to an electric light and the traditional English language to a candle. Decline of English Language It is a fact that as the world globalizes, there is increased number of people speaking this language. However, this does not mean that the language spoken in these areas are not Standard English. Advertising Looking for research paper on languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact, there has been a consistent decli ne in the standard language. This distortion of the language may be because of some little ignorance that was ignored when they first appeared in this language. According to Orwell, the effect of a distorted language seems to be the cause of further distortion of the language. This scholar says that some individuals resign to their fate. He says, â€Å"A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks.† Orwell compares a man who uses the effect of a little failure in the English language as a reason to the deterioration of both spoken and written English. An individual will consider him or herself a failure and therefore use failure as an excuse to the deterioration of spoken English. Like a drunkard, the effect will be used to compound the whole process. Orwell says that misuse of the language is common even in the media. He says that it is common to hear and read substandard language in media. The misu se of the language has become so serious that it is currently finding its way into the classrooms. This scholar says a number of ways in which individuals in various capacities are dodging the Standard English in their speech and writings exist. The report by Larkin (12) supports the argument of this scholar. This scholar says that media has been one of the leading sources of distortion of the language. This scholar says that misuse of the language is common to both the media presenters and reporters, and the people they bring to the media. This scholar brings to focus an incident that hit the headlines of many newspapers and televisions around the world. A reporter in a West African country was reporting on an accident. The reporter said, â€Å"They are in furu furu condition† to mean that the individuals spoken about were drunk. What this reporter wanted to say was that the individuals were in full full condition, which in its improved form, is still not a Standard Englis h. This incident was a perfect demonstration of how an effect can be a perfect cause of a phenomenon. Because this report was listened to over the radios, television and the print media, it became a common terms, almost a clichà © within a very short period. Instead of saying that an individual is drunk, one would say that the individual is in full condition. The expression ‘full condition’ in this case has been given a completely new meaning that did not exist before. This is what George Orwell is describing as a ‘verbal false limb’. They slowly get into the mainstream language and like cancer, the get accepted and steadily displace the traditional English expressions.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Politics and English Language specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Politics and English Language According to Orwell, there is a close link between language flaws and politics. In politics, there is always the pressure to impress the audience. One is always forced to use the power of word in order to convince the audience that he is the best. This shows that when such an individual is offered an opportunity, he will be able to tackle most of their problems. To do this, diction is very important. A politician will always try to show a mastery of language by using very complex and flowery language. Simile and metaphors become very vital, and any extra word or expression that will make the sentence more flowery is always welcome. According to Orwell, â€Å"Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption, leaves much to be desired, would serve no good purpose, a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind, are a continuous temptation, a packet of aspirins always at one’s elbow.† In traditional English, there is always a rule that one should avoid double negatives in a sentence. The phrase above does not observe this. The expression â€Å"not and unjustifiable† as it appears above is not a Standard English. This is because the sentence can be simplified further as justifiable. However, when people in authority make such statements, they become easily acceptable. They always infiltrate the academic sector first. Students who consider these leaders as their role model will start using such language without the knowledge that such expressions are not standard. This clearly demonstrates the fact that there is a direct relationship between politics and the language. According to Orwell, politics has become so entrenched in the society that â€Å"there is no such thing as keeping out of politics.† Our society is defined by politics. Orwell says that language and politics is closely connected both directly and indirectly. Orwell laments that politics a large mass of lies, folly, evasion, and hatred. Because of the evasive nature of the language, it becomes convenient for them to come up with a language that is e vasive to help hide their intention. They have to find a way of expressing statements in a way that does not reveal their real intention. The language they use become so entrenched in the society that they become part of people. According to the report by Hitchens (17), the sentiments of Orwell are valid. Politics has redefined the way some of the phrases are made. This scholar emphasizes the elusiveness and deceitful nature of politics and politicians. This scholar says that in politics, people may be forced to say statements that they do not mean. Advertising Looking for research paper on languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More At times, this scholar says that politicians are found in dilemma where they have to address an issue that is considered controversial. When a politician is faced with a situation that will demand that he makes a choice between two issues, and the choice comes with some form of consequences, the politician will always try to gamble and win both factions. To achieve this, it will force such a politician to use a language that will be pleasant to both sides. This may involve coming up with a language that will make his opinion or choice appear to appease both sides. This creates a scenario where no straightforward statements that can help express opinion of an individual exist. Improving the Language English as a language has become very common. A large number of people around the world speak it and many more are aspiring to know the language. Language is an important tool of communication. It is also a fact that languages also undergo evolution that may make them change in a way tha t reflects the current society. This is especially so as technology keeps on bringing new items and phenomenon that must find a name and an expression. However, it is important to develop the traditional language based on the emerging trends in the society. When one decides to replace the traditional expressions, words or sentences with others that crop up spontaneously, then the language will lose its meaning. An individual from the United States may not be able to communicate with another from Britain because the two speak different languages while still claiming to speak English language. To do this, it is important for an individual to avoid usage of similes and metaphors or other figurative languages that may be common in the media. An individual should also avoid using long words where short words can be used. Above all, one should avoid sentences that do not make sense even to themselves. This is the only way the language can be protected. Works Cited Bounds, Philip. Orwell and Marxism: The Political and Cultural Thinking of George Orwell. New York: I.B. Tauris, 2009. Print. Hitchens, Christopher. Why Orwell Matters. New York: Basic Books, 2003. Print. Larkin, Emma. Secret Histories: Finding George Orwell in a Burmese Teashop. New York: Penguin, 2005. Print. Meyers, Jeffery. Orwell: Wintry Conscience of a Generation. New York: W.W.Norton, 2000. Print. Taylor, Derrick. Orwell: The Life. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2003. Print. This research paper on Politics and English Language was written and submitted by user Albert Coffey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Batman vs. the Joker Essays

Batman vs. the Joker Essays Batman vs. the Joker Essay Batman vs. the Joker Essay The Oak Grove Football Stadium on Game Night Everyone has the basic psychological need of belonging and purpose. I satisfied this need by supporting my school in the Warrior Stadium every game night. It was in that stadium where I would quench my thirsts for brotherhood and companionship. It was a place of refuge for me. I could escape from drama and peer conflict, into a bigger and broader conflict between rivalries older than myself. In the Oak Grove Stadium we could all Join together In support of the team we loved ND stand united against our challengers. Whether we won or lost we did so together as a community and school. It was there that I learned some of lifes most valuable lessons. The Warrior Stadium on game night was, and still Is, a very special place to me. The band was always the first part oaf games opening ceremony. We would always line up outside the band hall and march into the stadium from there. A drum-tap-off would begin to ready the drum-line and then the booming cadence would begin and with It the band would start the march, In time and simultaneously. The feel of the hard paved road was painful for the first step but when we neared the stadium it began to get less noticeable as my mind entered a state of complete concentration. We marched In as one, never stopping to let the traffic or spectators pass through our line. The lines for the tickets led out Into the road and often as far as the parking lot. A traffic director would always halt the vehicles passing beside the stadium so nothing could interfere with our line. The gates to the field would always be ready ND open on either side of the field, awaiting the band to pass through them on both sides of the field. The drum lines booming cadence was, like our Impenetrable line. Unrelenting and the sounds from the mass of people could barely be heard. As we passed through the gates and on to the field, cheers would rumble the stadium from our supporters with pride. The opposing schools band, already seated on the visitor side, would scowl and Jeer at us as we marched. Sometime even throwing trash at us. UT we showed our pride and excellence by not reacting to their unsportsmanlike-like induct. The feel of the turf was pleasing in comparison to the rough pavement but for the small, black rubber pieces that would hop into our shoes at every step. We moved silently into position on the sidelines as the drum line ended the cadence with a final booming note. Then the whistles from the drum majors would sound, letting us know that it was time to begin the prename show. The march onto the field was one of high-tempo which would bring a heightened since of excitement to the entire structure. Finally In our spots on the field, the whistles would sound once again to signal the beginning of prename. We always began prename with the short fan-fare, followed by our prename tune. 1 OFF Ana teen our almost Ana notational anthem we De sung Dye our c lour n . Nine silence over the field and since of respect was stifling during the songs, and slowly the flag was raised by the Delta Squad. Once the choir was finished, cheers would erupt from the home side of the stadium that showed every ounce of our passion and excitement for the game which would soon begin.

ACT Prep for ESL and Bilingual Students

ACT Prep for ESL and Bilingual Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Unless a 4 year college has a test flexible policy, it requires the ACT or SAT from all its applicants. Since the ACT is meant to measure your academic skills for college classes that will be taught in English, there's no option for ACT dual language or ACT instructions in another language. ESL and bilingual students have to take the ACT for many colleges. In a lot of cases, they have to take the TOEFL or IELTS, as well, to demonstrate their English language proficiency. The ACT is a tough test for all students, and its time and verbal demands make it especially challenging for English language learners. Luckily, prepping for the ACT, once you have sufficient English language skills, can go a long way toward improving your scores. Let's go over what the ACT is all about and what you can do to get ready. What's Tested on the ACT? If you're looking for an ACT ESL or ACT in Spanish version, unfortunately you're out of luck. There's no option for ACT dual language for bilingual students. Having limited English proficiency doesn't count as a reason to get extended time, either. Only students with a documented disability may be approved for time accommodations. The ACT has four sections, all of them in English: English, Math, Reading, and Science. They always come in that order. There's also the option of taking the ACT with Writing, which adds a 30 minute essay at the end. A lot of non-native English speakers prefer the ACT to the SAT for a few reasons. One is that the essay is not required and not a part of the overall score, unlike on the current SAT. A second reason is that the ACT doesn't test as advanced, high level vocabulary as the SAT. Finally, a lot of students appreciate that the ACT has a Science section, which is more quantitative and less heavy on verbal skills. The English section tests your knowledge of grammar rules and structure. You'll have to identify and fix sentence errors within paragraphs, along with rearranging ideas for a more logical organization. The Math tests pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry and comes in one long 60 minute section. After Math is the Reading section. Reading presents passages and asks questions about main purpose, vocabulary, and inferences, among others. Finally, the Science section asks about biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences, but focuses less on facts and more on reasoning and interpretation skills within the field of natural sciences. It doesn't test very advanced content knowledge, so you may have all the scientific background you need by 9th or 10th grade. Because of the Science section's emphasis on skills of interpretation and reasoning, it's sometimes likened to the Reading section even more than to the Math. Even so, a lot of ESL students find they can score more highly on the Math and Science sections. The ACT is a time intensive, fast-paced test. You'll have to answer a lot of questions under limited time. this means you also have to have the language skills to answer questions accurately and quickly. The good news is that the test is very coachable, and preparation goes a long way. Before starting to prep, you should ask yourself, What's my English level? Am I ready to start prepping for the ACT? First step: measure your ESL level. What's Your English Level? What would you consider your level of English to be, beginner, intermediate, or advanced? Apart from your level in your classes at school, another way to measure your English skills is by taking the TOEFL. Many ACT experts agree that you aren't ready to start prepping for the ACT until you've scored between an 80 and 90 on the TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score I've seen colleges require is a 79, while an Ivy League school like Yale requires at least 100. While ACT prep is essential and can help you achieve large score improvements, you have to have enough knowledge of the language to prep effectively. Let's look at what you can do to prepare yourself at each of these three levels. If you're High Beginner or High Intermediate, you can take advice from both sections and determine which approach best applies to you. ACT Prep for Beginner English Language Learners If you're in beginner level ESL, then you're probably not ready quite yet to start prepping for the ACT or to go directly into college level courses. You should focus on improving your English language reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You can begin to familiarize yourself with what's tested on the ACT, and that way you can make sure to learn relevant information, like math terms and grammar rules. Overall, the best approach you can take at this level is to continue learning English. If you're already a senior in high school, you might consider an ESL bridge program. A lot of colleges, like UMass Boston, University of New Hampshire, and Roger Williams, offer programs for ESL students to study English before moving into the undergraduate program. Another option is enrolling in community college, which may require the TOEFL but won't ask for the ACT. You can keep improving your English there and gaining college credits. When you're ready, you can then transfer to a 4-year college. In the end, your diploma will be from the 4-year college. As a beginner ESL student, you should contine building up your vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing skills, and knowledge of English idioms. Once you approach the intermediate and high intermediate level, you can begin to do more focused prep for the ACT. Start early to give your skills time to grow. ACT Prep for Intermediate English Language Learners If you're an intermediate ELL, then you could benefit from some ACT prep, but still will have challenges with English, Reading, and, if you choose to take it, essay section. If you want a more precise measure of your readiness, you might take the TOEFL or try sample TOEFL questions to see if you make that benchmark of 80 to 90. The first step in prep should be familiarizing yourself with exactly what's tested on the ACT. What do you need to know for the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections? Find out about the types of questions, what the instructions say, and how much time you have. Eventually, learn about strategies to save time and narrow down your answer choices. As I mentioned above, ESL students typically score higher on the Math and Science sections than on the English and Reading. For these sections, you want to make sure you've learned the content, like geometry and trigonometry, as well as brush up on your math and science vocabulary. You may be a whiz at trigonometry, but if you don't understand what a question is asking, you won't be able to show it. Native and non-native English speakers prepping for the ACT should focus their prep on the areas where they need it most. If reading comprehension and essay writing are most challenging for you, then spend the most amount of time reviewing, practicing, and going over your mistakes in those sections. For the English section, study grammar rules and read as much as you can with an eye for structure and organization of ideas. Another way you can root out your strong areas and weak points is by taking official ACT practice tests. Score them and find out where you did well and where you need to improve. Most intermediate students will still have a tough time scoring highly on the ACT, as it really requires advanced English skills. Your prep can help you improve both your performance on the ACT and your English at the same time. While you prep, though, you want to make sure you're using the most effective method. Let's consider the options. Choose the method of test prep that will best get you from Point A to Point B. Methods of ACT Prep for Intermediate Students There are a few main methods of prep for the ACT: self-studying with books, classes, online prep programs like PrepScholar, and one-on-one tutoring. Of these four methods, I would only recommend the last two for intermediate ESL students, online programs and one-on-one tutoring. The ACT is a challenging test, and coming up with and sticking to a study plan is tough as well. With books, you don't know if you're tackling the material in the best way. You also will probably run into confusion and not have anyone to help clear it up. A major part of test prep is reading through answer explanations and analyzing your mistakes. If you're unsure why you made a mistake, then you won't learn for next time. Instead, you'll repeat it over and over. The problem with classes is that few are geared toward ESL students. They move at too fast a pace and don't offer a ton of individualized attention. A class could end up discouraging you more than it teaches you. With online programs and one-on-one tutoring, you have the help and explanations you need. PrepScholar's program starts with a diagnostic pre-test, and then customizes the curriculum and study plan to best meet your needs. You'll know exactly how to prep, use high quality material, and have access to lots of strategies. Plus you'll get feedback on ACT essays. Tutors can also customize curriculum for you. The best ones have experience working with ESL students. The limitation here is the cost of tutoring, the skill of the tutor, and potentially infrequent meetings. With an online program, you can access it anytime you have internet. Prep takes a lot of time, dedication, and structure to do well. If possible, you should start a year or two out and leave yourself time to take the ACT more than once. Finally, this brings us to ESL students who are in the advanced level and/or fluent. How should advanced ESL students prep for the ACT? ACT Prep for Advanced English Language Learners The ACT is a demanding test for native and non-native speakers of English. Advanced ESL students sometimes have an advantage over native English speakers, because they usually explicity study the grammar rules and conventions of English. If this sounds like you, this technical understanding can help you out a lot on the English section. As an advanced student, you should start by learning about the ACT and then taking a practice test. Score your test and find out where you need the most prep. Take the time to thoroughly understand your mistakes and find ways to fill in your gaps in knowledge. While you shouldn't leave out studying for the Math and Science sections, you probably want to focus especially on English and Reading. Outside of using ACT materials, you should read widely to continuously improve your reading comprehension and ability to understand the meaning of vocabulary words in context. ACT Word of the Day and ACT Question of the Day are also a convenient way to gradually build up your knowledge. Advanced ESL students may benefit more than intermediate students from self-studying with books and in classes, but I'd still recommend online programs or tutoring to have that extra element of support. Not only will these last two options offer you help, feedback, and a customized plan, but you'll also get, at least with PrepScholar, feedback on practice essays. ACT essay scorers are looking for as few errors as possible in grammar, structure, and spelling. If you score highly enough on the Reading and English sections, then yourcolleges might waive the TOEFL requirement. For instance, Johns Hopkins waives the TOEFL if you achieve the high ACT bilingual scores of 30+ on both sections. Check with admissions offices to make sure you understand exactly what tests are expected of you as an ESL student, even if you're already fluent and took only one ESL course in high school. Determine your target ACT scores early and start reviewing content and learning new strategies. Read on for a possible game plan for your study schedule. Make a Plan for Your ACT Prep Consider how much time you have and your budget for test prep, along with what method works best with your study style. I recommend finding that extra support, if financially possible, that comes with an online program or a qualified, experienced tutor. The extra help and explanations you'll get will be a huge help in improving your scores. Based on your English level and potential colleges, you can figure out your target scores by section and composite score. Weigh the amount of time you have against the available test dates. Remember that the fall of senior year is probably your last chance to test ahead of college deadlines. To give yourself a lot of time to prep and retest, you could take the ACT for the first time in the spring of sophomore year after studying a few hours each week throughout the year. Unless you're satisifed with your scores, you could study more intensively over the summer and take it again in the fall of junior year. Then you might have about two more chances to test, in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year. There are more test dates in between, but you shouldn't have to take the official ACT many more times than this. You'd be better served putting your time into studying and taking practice tests. This schedule might be too early if you haven't learned the algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or lab skills yet to tackle the Math and Science sections. Again, familiarize yourself with the test to know if you have the content knowledge to understand the material. All of this prep for the ACT will help you not just earn the test scores you need for college, but also further sharpen your English language and study skills. All of this will help you succeed once you reach the college level. What's Next? We have a ton of free resources for ACT prep and strategies for students at all scoring levels. Check out these guides and explore the many more articles we have to help you excel on the ACT! The 21 ACT Tips You Should Be Using Today How Science/Math People Can Do Well on ACT Reading The Ultimate Study Guide for ACT Science: Tips, Practice, and Strategies The Complete Prep Guide for ACT Reading The Full Study Guide for ACT English What ACT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Math The Best Way to Approach the ACT Reading Passage ACT Writing Tips: 15 Strategies to Raise Your Essay Score Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points?We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

MANY TIMES NOVELS,MOVIES HAVE LIFE CHANGING EFFECTS ON THEIR Movie Review

MANY TIMES NOVELS,MOVIES HAVE LIFE CHANGING EFFECTS ON THEIR AUDIENCE.EXPLAIN HOW A SPECIFIC OR NOVEL HAS HAD A POSTIVE EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE - Movie Review Example Upon being released to video, and then later DVD, many stores refused to carry it for sale or rent, including Blockbuster and Walmart. It has been my experience that most people who hold an opinion of this movie hold an opinion based upon the controversy it generated rather than the content of the film itself. Since this seems a less than progressive way to form an opinion, I decided to watch it and form an opinion based on what the movie seems to be about to me. The Last Temptation of Christ has had a lasting effect upon my life not only for its content, but as a method of showing that misinformed public opinion can have a lasting and damaging effect upon works of art that extend into time and form. The protest against the film centers around the supposedly blasphemous qualities it contains, including Jesus marrying and having children. Indeed, the film does feature a section in which Jesus marries and has children. But far from being blasphemous, these scenes highlight Jesus' sacred qualities because they take place within a vision-His last temptation on the cross. The point of the movie is that Jesus denies the temptation and accepts his mission as messiah. In other words, Jesus is heroic! Far from being blasphemous, the film is actually quite conservative in its adherence to religious dogma.

Controversy in the movie The Birth of a Nation and how it effected Essay

Controversy in the movie The Birth of a Nation and how it effected Jazz and blues for that time period - Essay Example The movie was in controversy even during its making and Griffith could release it after he took permission from the court. The NAACP even managed to have some of the movie's harshest scenes deleted particularly a scene proposing that blacks be sent back to Africa to keep the nation free from these violent and brutish forces (africanamericans.com par 5). The Birth of a Nation: Scenes that provoked protests: The controversial scenes from movie have incited racial crimes, protests and till date the screening of movie faces difficulties. The scene where a former black slave crudely proposes Fiona, A white girl and daughter of Cameron family. She turns down the proposal and runs into the forest. Gus pursues her and when the girl is trapped, seeing no way out she jumps to death to avoid being raped. The Klansmen search Gus, lynch him and leave the corpse at the doorstep of Silas Lynch. The Blacks are shown as violent, sexual miscreants in the movie, which enraged people. In yet another scene The Mulatto leader, Silas Lynch, who was governor to South, forces Elsie, the daughter of his mentor Austin Stoneman, to marry him. He traps her on her refusal and when Klansmen come to know his designs they ride to rescue her. Incidentally the rescue of Elsie is the highlight of movie as well. Here two sequences run parallel viz. Klansmen riding to rescue the girl and Lynch's military searching for Cameron boys and other Klansmen. There are other scenes where the whites of north are sheltered for 'Aryan Birthright' by Whites of south though they had been enemies earlier in the civil war (in Birth of a Nation by Griffith). The portrayal of the Klan in the movie also created a firestorm of controversy. In the movie, they are the heroes, saving their community from the violent, bloodthirsty Negroes. The movie is accused of reactivating the dormant Klan. The movie ends with the suppression of the black threat to white society by the glorified Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Which helped to subside some of America's fears about the rise of defiant, strong and sexual black men and the repeal of laws forbidding interracial marriage. The 'birth' (Shortened from full name of the movie) made many critics to Griffith's work so he made a sequel, almost equally magnificent four story epic about human intolerance titled Intolerance (1916). A group of i ndependent black filmmakers replied with director Emmett J. Scott's The Birth of a Race in 1919, A film to counterbalance the impact of Griffith's masterpiece, to show a more positive image of African-Americans, but it could not attract much public attention. Instead, black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux's first film, the feature-length The Homesteader (1919), and Within Our Gates (1919) proved more effective in rectifying the black image projected in Griffith's film (Dirk par 8). The controversies about 'The Birth of a Nation': In its absolutely idolized presentation of the KKK as heroes and Southern blacks as antisocial elements threatening to destroy the society by their violent behavior. Blacks were shown as villains and rapists. The

Movie Version of Grapes Of Wrath - The People and the Depression :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

Movie: The Grapes Of Wrath - The people and the Depression In the movie The grapes of Wrath, the Joads undergo the hit of the depression, they have to leave their farm. They go to California for jobs, but find there are few jobs, and it pays little, or at least less then what they were told. The government tried to start programs to house and employ people like the Joads. Since the people who already lived in the cities in which these developments were put didn't want them there anyway, they tried to start a riot and have the police Arrest them. Although in the movie the plan was foiled, it could have worked in many other places, or the towns folk could have just created a lynch mob, and eventually the people living in the development would leave. I believe that the economic situation of the country has a great effect on the fall, or succession of people like the Joads, but I don't believe government programs will effect them at all. For example, the great depression was a major economical event, and it greatly effected more then just people like the Joads, but programs like the public works administration which employed people for government construction projects. Another program, the Works Progress Administration, later called the Works Projects Administration was created to develop relief programs, and to keep a person's skills. From 1935- 1943, it employed 8 million people, and spent 11 billion dollars. But in 1939, there were still 9.5 million still unemployed. Another program was the Civilian Conservation Corps. Unemployed, unmarried young men were enlisted to work on conservation and resource-development projects such as soil conservation, flood control, and protection of forests and wildlife. These men were provided with food, lodging, and other necessities, and were given a small monthly salary. Another program was the CWA, the civil works administration. It employed more then 4 million workers to build and repair roads, and teach in schools, were just a couple of the jobs. Some of these programs would work temporarily, but eventually there would be no more work to do, or the government would run out of funds. All these programs were hated by some, and loved by others, and some just didn't care. The business men that were lucky enough not to lose everything, and the other employees working in the cities who still had jobs during the depression didn't like these new programs. In the movie, The Grapes Of Wrath, The towns people didn't like the government funded version of a "Hooverville".

The Alien and Sedition Acts 1798

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 challenged the Bill of Rights, but ultimately led to a new American definition of freedom of speech and the press. When John Adams succeeded George Washington as president in 1797, the Federalist Party had controlled Congress and the rest of the national government from the beginning of the new nation. Adams and the other Federalists believed that their political party was the government. The Federalists believed that once the people had elected their political leaders, no one should publicly criticize them.The Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, aimed to create a stable and secure country, safe for business and wealthy men of property. The opposition Democratic-Republican Party was bitterly opposed to the Federalists. Led by Thomas Jefferson, it tended to represent poor farmers, craftsmen, and recent immigrants. (The party was commonly referred as the Republicans or Jeffersonians. It was the forerunner of today's Democratic Party. ) In fo reign affairs, the Federalists detested the French Revolution of 1789 because it led to mob rule and confiscation of property.The Republicans supported the French Revolution for its democratic ideals. In 1794, President Washington negotiated a treaty with England to settle outstanding differences between the two countries. The resulting improvement in American-English relations angered the revolutionary French leaders, who were enemies of the English. In the election of 1796, Federalist John Adams won the most electoral votes to become president. Republican Thomas Jefferson came in second, which made him vice-president. (The 12th Amendment later changed this election method, requiring separate electoral ballots for president and vice-president.) Shortly after becoming president, Adams sent diplomats to France to smooth over the bad feelings. But three French representatives—dubbed X, Y, and Z—met secretly with the U. S. diplomats and demanded $10 million in bribes to t he French government to begin negotiations. When the Americans refused, Mr. X threatened the United States with the â€Å"power and violence of France. † News of the â€Å"XYZ Affair† enraged most Americans. Many Federalists immediately called for war against France. President Adams, however, only proposed war preparations and a land tax to pay for them.On the defensive, Republicans spoke out against the â€Å"war fever. † Neither the United States nor France ever declared war. But the Federalists increasingly accused Jefferson and the Republicans of being a traitorous â€Å"French Party. † A leading Federalist newspaper proclaimed to the nation, â€Å"He that is not for us, is against us. † ? The Alien Acts Rumors of a French invasion and enemy spies frightened many Americans. President Adams warned that foreign influence within the United States was dangerous and must be â€Å"exterminated.† The Federalist majority in Congress quickly pass ed four laws in 1798 to make the United States more secure from alien (foreign) spies and domestic traitors. Most of these laws, however, were also intended to weaken Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party. The first law, the Naturalization Act, extended the time immigrants had to live in the United States to become citizens from five to 14 years. Since most immigrants favored the Republicans, delaying their citizenship would slow the growth of Jefferson's party.The Alien Enemies Act provided that once war had been declared, all male citizens of an enemy nation could be arrested, detained, and deported. If war had broken out, this act could have expelled many of the estimated 25,000 French citizens then living in the United States. But the country did not go to war, and the law was never used. The Alien Friends Act authorized the president to deport any non-citizen suspected of plotting against the government during either wartime or peacetime. This law could have resulted in the m ass expulsion of new immigrants.The act was limited to two years, but no alien was ever deported under it. The fourth law was the Sedition Act. Its provisions seemed directly aimed at those who spoke out against the Federalists. ? The Sedition Act In general, sedition means inciting others to resist or rebel against lawful authority. In England, â€Å"seditious libel† prohibited virtually any criticism of the king or his officials. English common law held that any spoken or written words that found fault with the king's government undermined the respect of the people for his authority. The U. S.Sedition Act first outlawed conspiracies â€Å"to oppose any measure or measures of the government. † Going further, the act made it illegal for anyone to express â€Å"any false, scandalous and malicious writing† against Congress or the president. Significantly, the act did not specifically protect the vice-president who, of course, was Jefferson. Additional language pun ished any spoken or published words that had â€Å"bad intent† to â€Å"defame† the government or to cause the â€Å"hatred† of the people toward it. These definitions of sedition were more specific than those found in English common law.Even so, they were still broad enough to punish anyone who criticized the federal government, its laws, or its elected leaders. Unlike English common law, the Sedition Act allowed â€Å"the truth of the matter† to be a defense. The act also left it to the jury to decide if a defendant had â€Å"bad intent. † Penalties for different provisions of the law ranged from six months to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 (more than $100,000 in today's dollars). The Republican minority in Congress argued that sedition laws violated the First Amendment to the U. S.Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and the press. The Federalists countered by defining these freedoms in the narrow English manner. Accor ding to English law, free speech and press only applied before the expression of ideas. The government could not censor or stop someone from expressing ideas. But after the words had been spoken or printed, the government could punish people if they had maliciously defamed the king or his government. The Federalist majority in Congress passed the Sedition Act and President Adams signed it into law on July 14, 1798.It was set to expire on March 3, 1801, the last day of the first and—as it turned out—only presidential term of John Adams. ? The Attack on the Republicans Secretary of State Timothy Pickering was in charge of enforcing the Alien and Sedition Acts. He immediately began to read as many Republican newspapers as he could, looking for evidence of sedition against President Adams and Congress. In October 1798, a Vermont Republican congressman, Matthew Lyon, became the first person to be put on trial under the Sedition Act. Like most Republicans, Lyon opposed going to war against France and objected to the land tax to pay for war preparations.Lyon wrote a letter published in a Republican newspaper, criticizing President Adams for â€Å"a continued grasp for power. † He also read aloud at several public meetings a letter written by poet Joel Barlow who jokingly wondered why Congress had not ordered Adams to a madhouse. A federal grand jury indicted Lyon for intentionally stirring up hatred against President Adams. Unable to find a defense attorney for his trial, Lyon defended himself. The U. S. marshal, a Federalist appointee, assembled a jury from Vermont towns that were Federalist strongholds.Lyon attempted to prove the truth of the words he wrote and spoke, as permitted by the Sedition Act. This meant that the burden of proof was on him. Lyon had to prove the words in question were true rather than the prosecutor having to prove them false. Lyon also argued that he was only expressing his political opinions, which should not be subje ct to the truth test. The jury found Lyon guilty of expressing seditious words with â€Å"bad intent. † The judge, also a Federalist, sentenced him to four months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and court costs. Lyon ran for re-election to Congress from his jail cell and won.Vermont supporters petitioned President Adams to release and pardon him, but Adams refused. When Lyon was released from jail, he was welcomed as a hero in his Vermont hometown. He was cheered along the route he took when he journeyed to Congress. Once Lyon returned to Congress, the Federalists tried to expel him as a convicted criminal, but this effort failed. Thirteen more indictments were brought under the Sedition Act, mostly against editors and publishers of Republican newspapers. While some Republican newspapers were forced to close down, many others were intimidated not to criticize the government.One Republican was convicted of sedition for publishing a pro-Jefferson campaign pamphlet that accused Presiden t Adams of appointing corrupt judges and ambassadors. Two men were found guilty of raising a â€Å"liberty pole† and putting a sign on it that said, â€Å"Downfall to the Tyrants of America. † Another was arrested, but never tried, for circulating a petition to repeal the Alien and Sedition Acts themselves. A drunk was fined $150 for insulting President Adams. In the most bizarre case, the Federalists in the U. S. Senate formed a special committee to investigate a Republican editor, William Duane.Republicans had leaked to him a Federalist proposal to change how presidential electoral votes were counted. Duane had printed the law and written editorials denouncing it. When summoned to the Senate to face charges of writing â€Å"false, scandalous, defamatory, and malicious assertions,† he went into hiding and secretly continued writing for his newspaper. ? Elections of 1800 Although the Federalists hoped the Act would muffle the opposition, many Democratic-Republic ans still â€Å"wrote, printed, uttered and published† their criticisms of the Federalists.Indeed, they strongly criticized the act itself, and used it as one of the largest election issues. It also had enormous implications on the Federalist Party after that point, and ended up being a major contributing factor of its demise. The act expired when the term of President Adams ended in 1801. Ultimately the Acts backfired against the Federalists; while they prepared lists of aliens for deportation, and many aliens fled the country during the debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts, Adams never signed a deportation order.Twenty-five people, primarily prominent newspaper editors but also Congressman Matthew Lyon, were arrested. Of them, eleven were tried (one died while awaiting trial), and ten were convicted of sedition, often in trials before openly partisan Federalist judges. Federalists at all levels, however, were turned out of power, and, over the following years, Congress r epeatedly apologized for, or voted recompense to victims of, the enforcement of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Thomas Jefferson, who won the 1800 election, pardoned all of those that were convicted for crimes under the Alien Enemies Act and the Sedition Act.? A New Definition of Free Speech and Press The Alien and Sedition Acts provoked a debate between Republican and Federalist state legislatures over freedom of speech and the press. In a resolution he wrote for the Virginia legislature, James Madison argued that the Sedition Act attacked the â€Å"right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people. † In heavily Federalist Massachusetts, state legislators responded that a sedition law was â€Å"wise and necessary† to defend against secret attacks by foreign or domestic enemies.The Federalists in Congress issued a report accepting the old English common law definition of free speech and press. It argued that the First Ame ndment only stopped the government from censoring beforehand any speeches or writings. The government, argued the Federalists, should be able to protect itself from false and malicious words. Congressman John Nichols, a Republican from Virginia, challenged this Federalist view. He asserted that Americans must have a free flow of information to elect leaders and to judge them once they were in office.Nichols asked why government, which should be critically examined for its policies and decisions, should have the power to punish speakers and the press for informing the voters. In the end, the people settled this debate in 1800 by electing Thomas Jefferson president and a Republican majority to Congress. In his inaugural address, Jefferson confirmed the new definition of free speech and press as the right of Americans â€Å"to think freely and to. ? References- 1. Rocco Donofrio, Kathleen A. Hunter, â€Å"THE NULLIFICATION CRISIS, 1798 AND 1799†, www. nhps.net/consortium/TAHEL2 B/TAH%20Vol2B/LESSONPLANEIGHTEEN. pdf 2. Dr. Tom Ward, â€Å"We The People†, cte. rockhurst. edu/FileUploads/We%20The%20People. pdf 3. Gordon T. Belt, â€Å"The Sedition Act of 1798†, www. firstamendmentcenter. org/PDF/Sedition_Act_cases. pdf 4. Michael E. Parrish, â€Å"American Legal and Constitutional History I: Colonial era to civil War†, www. helsinki. fi/hum/renvall/pam/teaching_old/2006_autumn_legal. pdf 5. U. S. Government, â€Å"The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798† ntranet. dalton. org/hs/History/AmericanHistory/pdf_supplimental/2_09alien_and_sedition_acts. pdf