Labor Relations Essays - Labour Relations, Trade Unions,

Labor Relations This paper will attempt to discuss the cost and benefit of trade unionism, as it exists in the United States. To understand the pros and cons, it is important to understand the environment in which trade unionism developed and the needs they attempted to satisfy. It will discuss the evolution of Trade Unionism through the centuries. From that understanding we can discuss the topic as it relates to our current environment. Historians agree that American Unionism started in the early 19th Century. These early organizations were formed along the lines of Craft. Daniel Mills explains, in Labor Relations, Crafts people worked for themselves, or in small shops. They were often in conflict with customers or merchants which they supplied. (35) These associations were formed to protect their craft, rather than as a collective bargaining union. In the mid 19th Century, America was in the middle of the industrial revolution. We were becoming an urban industrial society. Immigration was becoming a great source of labor supply. These large manufacturing enterprises, exploiting workers without regards to human cost, were ripe for National Union Organization. Jerry Borenstein states in his work, Unions In Transition, They were often loosely organized associations, which were quite short-lived and likely to disappear under hostile pressure from employers and government. (15) The unions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were formed largely to protect basic human dignity in the work place. Unions addressed basic concerns regarding safety issues, length of work day and wage. They were largely unsuccessful due to the public perception of unions as Socialistic as well as anti American. People viewed trade unions as being disruptive to the flow of free trade. It was only during the 1930's that trade unions, as we know them today, were created and accepted. With the passing of the Wagner Act of 1935, formal, legal protection was now afforded Trade Unions in America. Trade uni ons moved from being virtually outlawed by the US Government to being the beneficiaries of their legal protection. Morgan Reynolds tells us, in his Power and Privilege, the common definition of Labor Union in the American dictionaries is an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions, through the process of collective bargaining. ( 33 ) This definition is an all encompassing one that justifies the existence of unions. Assumptions must be made by unions and the union members that these items are not being provided for by the employer and therefore require an organization, the union, to fight for them. This definition describes a Good Guy / Bad Guy relationship between worker and Employer, that I believe is too simplistic. Both Union and Management act in a checks and balance relationship that is difficult to describe. We must take specific points of concern and describe the benefits trade unio nism brings to the table. Union Approach Wages Trade unions are filling a need of the American worker just as much today as they did 30, 50 or 70 years ago. Unions historically have represented the workers who were from manufacturing, Blue Collar, job classifications. These workers are not being paid an equitable share of the profits that corporations are making. The disparity between the union worker and the management personnel is ever growing. The AFL-CIO News dated June 28, 1996 describes an incident where Steelworkers were locked out of a Common Wealth Gas plant for turning down a contract calling for more than 50 concessions while two weeks previously management was given 3 million dollars compensation. This occurred while the company was making a record 54 million dollar profit. ( 2 ). It follows, when considering the previous statement, inequities in pay are as prevalent in 1996 as they were in 1926. Unions are needed to lessen these inequities by fighting for workers wages. In Richard Freeman's, What Do Unions Do, he states, Union membership advances pay treatment for groups that are historically the least paid. There is a wider disparity in the wages of Union vs. non Union workers among the following groups. The young, who are the lowest paid, the worker with least tenure, non whites and women. (

V Kurien Bio Essay Example

V Kurien Bio Essay Example V Kurien Bio Essay V Kurien Bio Essay †¦ the leader has to set a personal example and make others understand in what ways change’ is going to be useful. I believe that professionals working in our organizations must have a clarity of thought combined with a passionate pursuit of mastery of their subject. Kurien combined vision with administrative abilities. He had an uncanny ability to influence the leaders and virtually had a free hand from all prime ministers, right from Lal Bahadur Shastri to Atal Bihari Vajpayee.Despite holding him in high esteem people never felt intimidated by the man - because he would also be sublimely human as he spoke forcefully about reaching out and helping the farmer live with respect. He would chide someone for keeping the campus lights on during the day. It was the norm at NDDB to put up notes on one-sided papers, even those that went up to the Chairman. Verghese Kurien: Father of White Revolution Biography Verghese Kurien was a renowned Indian social entrepreneur and the architect of the worlds biggest agricultural development programme.The operation took India from being a milk-deficient nation, to the largest milk producer in the world and saw the birth of AMUL, the world’s biggest cooperative dairy brand. Born a Keralite, after his masters degree, he was deputed to the Government dairy at Anand in Gujarat where he rather half-heartedly served out his bond period against the scholarship given by Govt of India. However, Enthused by the challenge of doing something for the milk farmers, he resigned from his government job and volunteered to help Shri Tribhuvandas in changing the lives of farmers and end their exploitation at the hands of middlemen.This be came a journey of a lifetime for him and he ended up making Gujarat his home. He faced innumerable challenges, ranging from interference of politicians and bureaucrats, unavailability of technology and lack of trained manpower. He saw opportunity in every crisis. He founded around 30 institutions of excellence (like GCMMF, IRMA, NDDB), which are owned by farmers and run by professionals. His work has alleviated millions out of poverty not only in India but also outside. Unlike many who would have made a personal fortune and gone unquestioned, Dr Kurien retired and lived a simple middle class existence till his end.Lessons in Leadership * He always delegated greater responsibility to his subordinates. It would surprise many to know that Kurien also saw every new Amul advertisement along with the rest - on the billboards! * He had a reputation for not dressing up his thoughts and actions in political correctness. The then Chief Minister of Rajasthan did not agree to autonomy being gi ven to the milk cooperatives and told Kurien that Rajasthan’s farmers were not as capable of managing their businesses as Gujarat’s farmers.Kurien then said that if the CM’s constituency, Jodhpur (rural), was capable of electing him, surely they could manage their own little milk businesses. * Funds became a problem when the movie Manthan was being planned. Kurien asked all the farmer members to contribute Rs 2 for the film project. The low budget film won national awards and continues to be considered as the best tool to educate farmers about cooperative movements. Learn More Autobiography: I Too Had a Dream Sources Various news articles, websites of NDDB and GCMMF

Incarceration Type and Family Intervention as Determinants of Essay

Incarceration Type and Family Intervention as Determinants of Recidivism in Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example The risk of facing harsher punishment through possible incarceration in adult prisons blossomed as a way to deter juveniles from engaging in violent crimes. Supporters of juvenile incarceration in adult prisons therefore rely on its supposed deterrent value. Despite the growing concern about juvenile violence, many opponents of the current system have continually pointed out that the risks involved in imposing adult penalties to juvenile offenders far outweigh the presumed benefits. Convicted juveniles are placed in adult correctional centers in the hope that the harsher environment would better rehabilitate them. The opposite seems to be the case. Many opponents of adult incarceration, for example, believe that it does not deter juvenile violence at all. This theory has is supported by several studies. Allard (2002), for example, found that adult correctional centers actually had a negative effect on juvenile delinquents. Compared to their counterparts who were retained in juvenile centers, transferred juvenile offenders released from adult correctional centers have been found to have a higher tendency for repeated criminal behavior. (Allard 2002) In the same study, recidivism was shown to be noticeably more significant among juvenile offenders who had been incarcerated in adult prisons. Such findings are diametrically opposed to the theory that adult punishment would lead to more effective rehabilitation for juvenile delinquents. This stand is further supported more recent work which revealed that the mental states of juveniles being sent to adult prisons did not significantly differ from those being sent to juvenile centers. This finding debunks the notion that juveniles sent to adult prisons are different from the regular juvenile delinquent, a wayward youth whose behavior already warrants harsher measures. Beyer's (2006) study of 50 juvenile delinquents that he had encountered in the course of several years as a psychologist rejected the notion of harsh punishment as the catch-all solution for juvenile crime. His study, instead, forwarded the conclusion that while juveniles sent to adult prisons have almost negligible differences from those retained in juvenile centers, the juveniles which are produced at such prisons come out harder and more prone to recidivism. We may thus logically entertain the existence of a relationship between incarceration type and recidivism or repeated criminal behavior. The truth of this statement would have weighty implications both on the juvenile criminal system as well as the legal policies that are currently being implemented in addressing juvenile violence and crime. Aside from asking ourselves whether harsher punishments are truly effective in curbing juvenile crime, we also encounter questions about alternative mechanisms. Grisso (1996), for one, points out the manifest challenges being faced today in the field of juvenile justice. New ways to discourage juvenile delinquency must be adequately examined. More importantly, Grisso (1996) offers the position that harsher prison conditions for juvenile offenders through incarceration in adult correctional facilities may actually be doing more harm than good. Social

The human cell Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

The human cell - Term Paper Example It has organelles for various functions. The chemical processes and complex interactions that occur inside the cell form the bridge between the nonliving and the living (Sherwood 2010). Inside the human body, various processes that go on synchronized to provide an efficient healthy functioning are interrelated and coupled for optimum functional output. This requires organization at various levels. In complex living beings like humans, there are many levels of organization, as opposed to single cellular organisms like bacteria. The study about the cell and its structure was revolutionized with the invention of microscope. The discovery of microscope in 16th century encouraged scientists to study these basic building blocks. It was Robert Hooke who discovered the cell in 1965 and named it Cellulae (Latin: tiny rooms) as he observed box like structures in a thin slice of cork under his microscope (Lee et al 2009). He was the first one to describe the fungus Mucor. Later Antony Van Leeuw enhoek improved the microscope and documented some initial findings about protozoa and bacteria (Gest 2004). The contributions of Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann and Rudolf Virchow lead to the development of ‘The Cell Theory’ in 1839. According to the cell theory: 1. All living things are made from one or more cells. 2. The cell is the basic unit of life. 3. All cells come from preexisting cells. Thus the cell is an essential component of the human body and this paper will explore the organization and cellular membrane of  the cell. It will also analyze the energy processes of the cells accompanied with the enzymes and the metabolic activities of the cells. ORGANIZATION OF CELLS Advances in microscopy and imaging led to further research into the cell structure. It is now established fact that cells are composed of various organelles and there are complex signaling pathways that control the expression of various molecules. The structure and composition of different cell types vary, but certain characteristics are common to all cells. Cells of similar kind together form the tissues (Marieb 2006). There are four basic types of tissues that form the entire organism, epithelium, supporting or connective tissue, muscle and nerve tissue. Organs are formed by two or more tissue types combined together for a specific function. One tissue type forms the parenchyma, the functioning part of the organ, while other tissues provide the supporting frame work, i.e. the stroma (Crowley 2007). The organization of different organs working together to perform a particular function forms the organ system, like nervous system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system and others. Finally, the different organ systems work together in an individual to maintain a state of homeostasis and optimum health functions (Ganong 2005; Guyton et al 2007). Protoplasm and Cell Membrane: The basic cellular structural components are similar in all cell types. Cells are bounded by a plasma membrane (cell membrane) and contain the fluid called protoplasm. The protoplasm is divided in clear cytoplasm and the central nucleus. The protoplasm is made up of five basic substances, water, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and electrolytes. Water is the basic fluid medium of cell and forms up to 75- 80% of its concentration. It provides a medium for the suspension of particulate matter and in which chemical reactions can take place. Proteins are the building blocks of cells and form up to 10- 20 % of cell mass. They are of two types, functional and structural. Functional proteins are the enzymes that catalyze the cell reactions. They can be present as part of the membranes or can be mobile and catalyze the reactions as

Sociological Perspectives On Education

Sociological Perspectives On Education During the nineteenth century the founding fathers of Sociology such as Marx, Comte and Durkheim, wanted to accomplish their political objectives by using scientific methods. They wanted people to be convinced of the validity of their views and felt that the best way to achieve this would be to go about this in the most effective way by means of natural science and research methods. Sociologists thus tried to explain how the social system worked. One of the main areas within a social system is education. All children between the ages of five and Sixteen are obliged to attend school, and during term time school children spend over half their waking hours in the classroom. Education in Britain is free and is provided by the welfare state, it is also compulsory, parents who do not send their child to school are breaking the law. According to sociologists in order to have a fully functioning society the members would ideally have to be educated to carry out their role within that society , or society may fall apart. This essay will include a brief look at the history of education and how it has developed into the system we now have today. This essay will also look at two sociological theories on education; Functionalist and Marxist,. Within each of these theories this essay will also highlight three main perspectives; social class, gender and ethnicity. The 1944 Education Act was a significant piece of social and welfare legislation, it required Local Education Authorities to provide state-funded education for pupils, up to the age of 15, that incorporated, to quote, instruction and training as may be desirable in view of their different ages, abilities and aptitudes. The act was devised by Conservative MP Rab Butler (1902-1982), from this came the introduction of the tripartite system which comprised of; Grammar schools for the more academic pupil, Secondary Modern schools for a more practical, non-academic style of education and Technical schools for specialist practical education. Pupils had to take an examination called the 11-Plus and the result of this indicated which type of school the child would be allocated to. Secondary education now became free for all and the school-leaving age rose to 15. The tripartite system could be seen as a way of dividing classes, as it was usually the children from more affluent families that pa ssed the 11-plus examination. (Bell, 2004; MOC; Murray, 2009). In 1965 comprehensive schooling was recommended by the Labour Government in document called the Circular 10/65. The new comprehensive system suited children of all abilities in contrast to the tripartite system. The school leaving age was raised to 16 in 1973. The comprehensive system aimed to eradicate the class divide from the British education system. (Bell, 2004; MOC; Murray, 2009). The 1988 Education Act saw the introduction to the National Curriculum. All education in state funded school was to be made the same and made sure that all school children received the same level of education. Compulsory subjects were introduced which included maths, English, science and religious education. The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) was introduced to replace O-levels and the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE). This was another way of trying to make state education classless. (Bell, 2004; MOC; Murray, 2009). Over the years theories of education have been in and out of fashion this was mostly due to which political party was in power at the time and the state of the economy as the two are very much linked. During the 1950à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s Functionalism was the dominant force within sociology. During the war the education system had been neglected and was seen as been in a pretty poor state. By the 1970s, structural tensions, inflation, economic stagnation and unemployment, meant that Marxism and other critical theories like Feminism and anti-authoritarian Liberals became far more influential. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) The education system was undemocratic, unequal and unfair. Marxists like Raymond Boudon argued that positional theory determined educational success or failure, he is well-known for his studies into of the role of education on social mobility. It was your position in the class structure that gave you an advantage, or a disadvantage, in the competitive world of education. However for Pierre Bourdieu, the working class lacked what he referred to as cultural capital; without which they were doomed to failure. Cultural capital included the valuable cultural experiences of foreign travel, museums, theatre and the possession of a sophisticated register and middle class norms and values. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) The functionalist perspective was the dominant theoretical approach in the sociology of education until the 1960s. When considering education functionalists usually ask questions such as; What are the functions of education? What part does it play in maintaining society? What are the relationships between education and other elements of our social system? A typical functionalist response to such questions sees education as transmitting societys norms and values, for example a child that learns to respect the rules at school he will learn to respect societys rules as an adult. Functionalists believe that various parts of society work together for the mutual benefit of society as a whole so therefore education and the economy go hand in hand and school is preparation for the world of work. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope, 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) Emile Durkheim was one of the founding fathers of sociology and provided the basic framework for functionalist view of education. He believed that for society to operate efficiently individuals must develop a sense of belonging to something wider than their immediate situation. The education system plays an important part of this process. In particular, the teaching of history enables children to see the link between themselves and the wider society. Talcott Parsons was an American sociologist who further developed Durkheims ideas. He argued that in modern industrial societies education performs an important socialising function. Education helps to ensure the continuity of norms and values through transmitting the culture of society to new generations. Parsons saw the school as a bridge between the family and the wider society. Within the family the childs status is fixed at birth but in wider society new status is achieved through work, friendships and relationships. (Browne, K, 200 5; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) Parsons also saw that schools prepared children for their roles in adult society through the selection process. Students are assessed and sorted in terms of their abilities and this helps to allocate them to appropriate occupations. Students are also allocated certain occupations in relation to what sex they are, typically girls would be seen as going into more stereotypically feminine roles such as secretaries, hairdressers, beauticians, nurses /care givers or homemakers; whereas boys would be seen as going into more stereotypically masculine roles such as doctors, builders, mechanics, plumbers or firemen. Boys are also seen as being more scientific than girls. However many of these roles are now being integrated by both sexes. Conversely the roles of being care-givers and homemakers are still seen as being innate in females. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) The Marxist perspective on education differs from that of the functionalist. In Marxs words the ruling class rule also as thinkers, as producers of ideas. These ideas justify their position, conceal their true source of their power and disguise their exploitation of the subject class. A French Marxist philosopher called Louis Althusser argued that no class can hold power for long simply by the use of force. The use of ideas provide a much more useful means of control. He also argued that the education system in modern times has taken over the role of the church as the main agency for ideological control. In the past people accepted their status in life and saw it as being Gods will. Nowadays however people tend to accept their status and role within society from the way in which they have been educated. The upper and middle classes are primed to become the ruling class and the owners of industry, the lower classes are primed to become the workforce. They are taught to accept their fu ture exploitation. Althusser argues that ideology in capitalist society is fundamental to social control. He sees the educational process as essentially ideological. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) For Bowles and Gintis, the education system propagated a hidden curriculum where the working classes learnt to know their place, to obey rules and were also socialised to accept that inequality was natural and inevitable. They also claim that education legitimates social inequality by broadcasting the myth that it offers everyone an equal chance. It follows that people who achieve high qualifications deserve their success. So in other words education is seen as a reward system, those who work hard and gain a good education will have access to the top jobs. Bowles and Gintis stated that Education reproduces inequality by justifying privilege and attributing poverty to personal failure. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) Both Marxists and functionalists have been criticised for seeing people as being nothing more than creatures of the social system, thus Bowles and Gintis see teachers as the agents of capital the students as its victims and their situations being shaped by factors which are out of their control. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) In modern day Britain there is a general consensus of opinion that education should be based on equal opportunities. Everyone should have an equal right to develop their abilities to the full regardless of their age, class, ethnicity or gender. However there is clear evidence that in educational terms those who have certain social characteristics are more likely to achieve better results than others, so this shows that there is a distinct relationship between social class and educational attainment. Throughout the twentieth century there is evidence to show that the higher an individuals social class, the more likely they are to have a greater number and higher level of educational qualifications. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) Gender has always been an issue in education. Should both sexes take the same subjects? Do both sexes have the same abilities and aptitude? The introduction of the 1944 Education Act was concerned with enabling free and equal education for all. However there is still a worry that discrimination against girls still takes place throughout the educational system. To feminists this is a reflection of the patriarchal nature of modern industrial society. The school curriculum has become increasingly similar for boys and girls. However, where choice is available, there is still a tendency for girls to choose some subjects and boys others. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) There is no concrete evidence within the education system to prove whether a students ethnicity has any effect on their examination results. Statistics on school leavers and their examination results are a snapshot at one point in time. Individuals may want to catch up on their education once leaving school by attending local colleges. There is evidence to show that ethnic minorities are likely to do this. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) The Swann Report (1985), officially called Education for All, was a government report advocating a multicultural education system for all schools, regardless of institutions, location, age-range or ethnicity for staff/pupils. The report provided clear data on ethnicity and educational attainment, discovering that racism had a causal effect on the educational experiences of black children in the UK. (Griffiths and Hope, 2000). The statistics shown in the Swann Report were drawn from local authorities with a high ethnic concentration. So therefore it could be said that they werent a true depiction of ethnic educational attainment throughout the whole of the country. However due to mass immigration into this country in the last five years some children who come from different ethnic backgrounds are at a disadvantage due to cultural language barriers. (Browne, K, 2005; Griffiths Hope , 2000; Haralambus Holburn, 2008) This essay included a brief look at the history of education and how it has developed into the system we now have today. It also looked at two sociological theories on education; Functionalist and Marxist. The feminist perspective was touched upon when relating education to gender. Within each of these theories essay highlighted three main perspectives; social class, gender and ethnicity. To conclude there are still many barriers to gaining a good education for some of the children in this country due to their class, social stratification, gender or ethnicity. The rich are more likely to get better grades and job opportunities. However some children / young adults may cross the divide and become better educated and move to a high class as an educated adult.

Good for Another Essay

We were in our final year in secondary school, and we were asked to pay for WAEC and NECO fees. Some paid for WAEC only, some paid for NECO only, while some paid for both. Three weeks before the closing date, me and my friend went out for break, though it was prohibited to eat your breakfast in the class but me and Ada often eat there. That day, when we went into class, we were surprise to see one of our classmate; Sarah crying. We asked her why she was crying and she told us her parent cannot afford to pay for her WAEC or NECO fees. I was touched by the way she was crying and I promise her I would pay for her, I told her I would tell my parents and I was sure they will pay for her. Me and Ada told her to wipe her tears before the rest of the student came in from break. That day, when I reached home I told my mother about it and she promised to pay for her WAEC only, that she would give me the money in two days. We all graduated from secondary school and we all made our result and almost all of us furthered our education to Universities of various types. I lost contact with Ada and Sarah since then but, you know; Life have to go on. I was at the school cafà © one day when I saw Sarah, oh my God! I can’t believe I was seeing her, we were so happy to see each other again after our life in secondary school. We talked for so long, and through our chatting I discovered her Dad was now rich, and she was studying Law. We exchanged phone numbers and hostel Numbers. We became friends again. At the end of second semester in school, I went home only to find out my father was dead, he was hit by a bus the night before the day I came home. I wept, oh my God! I did not only wept because I lost my father, I also wept that my education might stop, I wept that all my years in school might be wasted. I wept that I fell sick and was admitted at the hospital for a week. A week after I was discharged from the hospital, I heard registration for next semester will be closing in one week. I told my mother, but she told me she cannot afford the fee. I was devastated, I was afraid that my greatest fear is coming to reality. I decided to go to Sarah for help, but to my greatest surprise, she told me she wanted to use the money she had for something else. It hurts me so much that I wept right in front of her. All she could tell me was she can’t give me the money. I wept home and told my mother what Sarah told me, she could not believe this, she could not believe this was the girl she helped some years back. She told me to wipe my tears, and that life goes on. I was dropped out of school and I started apprenticeship in a salon shop not far from our house. After two years, I invested my own salon and with more effort and the help and support of my mother, my shop grew up. My salon became one of the best of the well known salon. I was in my salon one day when Ada came in, I did not even notice her. I was busy working when I heard someone call my name, I turned and saw Ada, I shouted and hugged her. Oh Goodness, I was seeing Ada again after so many years. We chatted for a while and she told me she saw Sarah, she told me Sarah was dropped out of school and arrested by the Police, that she was caught with Cocaine. I told her what happened to me, how I was dropped out of school, she was surprise that Sarah could do such a thing to me, me of all people. I told her I was well over it, and Sarah deserved all that happened to her. Though I am successful in life but, I will never forget how I was dropped out of school. I may forgive Sarah but, I will never forget what she did to me.

History of the American West

As far as history is concerned, prior to the settling of what we now, the great United States of America, minority groups of inhabitants are the first to established their living in that continent. Their lifestyle, tradition and culture are admirable as well as unique. The first inhabitants of the area are peaceful living natives of the land. However, an entry has changed everything. The phrase mentioned above seemingly denotes the vast riches accumulated in American West from the national expanse that occurred during the westward American expansion.As per history, it connotes the successive flow of riches in their area considering every line of factors such as trade, climate, events and other causation proofs that are evident even in today’s generation. Analyzing the phrases in the statement reveals claims of chain successive economic blooms, which is stated without adequate basis. However, the aggressive entry of American people over the west side has greatly affected the li vings of various inhabitants in the area.Tremendous effects of this entry have brought countless lives to experience suffrage in the early west side. The advancing foreigners tremendously hit the established communities of the native inhabitants causing massive degradation as well as damage in the land of these natives. The advances may have triggered advancement in the side of American people; however, there are those minority individuals and communities that suffered the damage of their actions. Moreover, the land filled with natural blessings has been ravaged by the suppressive citizens of America.It is, indeed, a fact that the west side during those period of time is immersed in massive content of natural resources, geographically, topographically, climatic and most of all naturally. Another fact is, the resources have brought immense conquer in the land of the natives. For the American people, the west side has become their garden flowing with milk and honey. In this essay, we shall take a glimpse back in the past and analyze the scenario that occurred before and compare it in the statement imposed by Martin Ridge.The claims of this treasury build-up are refuted in this paper. Various factors need to be considered before adhering in these false causations. Subjective narration without substantial basis cannot support this kind of claims, especially if the claim is way to opposite from what is reality. We shall analyze the pieces of this statement piece by piece, and critically scrutinize it to prove that such wordings are not even appropriate. â€Å"The history of the American West is, almost by definition, a triumphal narrative†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Starting from the first part mentioned in the statement, connoting â€Å"triumphal narrative† depicts an entry of galore, glorious moment in the history and an event that everybody looks forward. However, does this statement really cover the facts embedded in the American West? Judging the factors, such as top ographical, geographical and the natural advantages present in the place, can we still conclude the same conclusion mentioned in the statement? Crude to say but actually, the United States that we see today is very different compared before when the American people is still starting to colonize the west side.Stephen H. Long, an American explorer who explored the some areas of the Louisiana Purchase in 1819, first gave the term, â€Å"Great American Desert† to illustrate the area roughly between the 98th parallel and the Rocky Mountains. In a series of maps and journals, Long described this region as â€Å"wholly unfit for cultivation and uninhabitable for those dependent on agriculture. † Americans largely view Long's negative impression of the trans-Mississippi as a barren wasteland for decades and most did not become interested in settling there until after the Civil War.During 1803, the President Thomas Jefferson has had a secret conversation through a secret note t hat he has given to the Congress ordering for an expedition into the place west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. He has felt that a quality and smart military man with perhaps a dozen of handpicked crew can victoriously plot the entire route and do it on an estimation of roughly $2,500. Jefferson's message is regarded secret due to France ownership in that territory. If this is found by the French Government, the expedition can be branded as trespassing.This is the first view of those who seen this great desert; however, western boosters have come up with a plan in order to lure settlers in the area by promoting the â€Å"The Myth of the garden. † In addition, during this period, France has offered a piece of territory in the west side, which is the whole Louisiana Territory, for $15,000,000. That same year, President Tomas Jefferson has his mind patched up and agreed to take the offer. Surprisingly, after an overnight, United States grew by about one million sq uare miles, from the Mississippi to the Rockies and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.This event has greatly caused widening in the part of the America. During the late 1800’s, around 1870s and 1880s, climatic changes have begun to occur in this arid wasteland. This has encouraged the inhabitants to settle and stay put in this area. American settlers have started rampaging, packing up their luggage and migrated in the land of â€Å"Mythical West Garden†. This became the start of the native’s nightmare. The native settlers during this period are Indians and other minority groups; however, they have been driven away from their homelands by the aggressive and domineering Americans.The stampede has occupied 430 million acres of land, which is actually twice the size of the nation. Furthermore, these settlers carved out ten new states until the three western-based commercial â€Å"empires† are established. Around 1865 and 1890 the American settlers have began their territorial rerouting and their way of income have been through mining, especially gold and silver; farming; and the cattle industry. During the westward expansion, widespread beliefs, activities, and objects influenced the daily existence of western emigrants. Moreover, the American settlers discovered the wide resources present in this area.The long protected forests and the divine natural up-springs are all tarnished by the American advancement and modernization. Mining and deforestation has become two of the most devastating hazards accompanied by the advancement. The natural resources of the native Indians are greatly mistreated by the Americans. The trees are cut down in order to be replaced by the houses, establishments, and ranches for the American community. Homeland of the natives, and their territories have been pushed away without being considered by the Americans until, major forests and natural resources are greatly damaged and reduced.In the end, the original fo restry respected by the ancestors of Indian cultures and traditions have been tarnished and destroyed by the advancing colonizers. During the same year and time, Cowboys have been popularized. The estimate of 35,000 males has entered the profession of being a cowboy. 25% of them are black, 12% are Mexican and majority of them are White Americans, 63%. The herding of domesticated animals have lead into territorial overtake since, ranch requires these land hectares in order to place their animals. In the end, the space between Indians and American has grown smaller, particularly in the side of the Indians.Because of this continuous threat, reckless advances and cruelty of American colonizers, the North America’s Indian forces started their civil war with the Americans. Around 1865, the Indian people have fought fiercely using their axes, bow and arrows and spears. However, they are still no match from the gunpowders and advance tools of the Americans. In the end, large reductio n from their population occurred. This event has caused the forces of Indians to be weak and fragile. Many of their women have become slave workers for the Americans. Some have been persecuted and disregarded.In the end, the Indians have become useless human beings. In 1860s, the Western Frontier has emerged and their definite aim is to transform the savagery of civilians battling over territories, towards a decent, moral and civilized individuals. The frontier reproduces American democracy and individualism – the frontier requires Americans to develop new institutions and â€Å"free land makes free men. † The frontier migration targets the expanse of territory as well as accumulation of riches; however, savagery and conflicts have become the exchange of such actions.Racial oppression not only for the Indians but also towards other cultural backgrounds occurs. The race of Hispanics, Blacks and Chinese has been greatly looked down by the Whites. The Hispanics during tho se times are traders as well Chinese, and these people are considered low class merchants; hence, the treatment pattern for these people as also low class. Degradation, racial and social discrimination are also the biggest issues during this period. The blacks, aside from Indians, are the ones who suffered the tremendous discriminative character of the whites. They are regarded as lowly individuals and most of them are treated as slaves.People during this time are greatly quarrelling mostly about their material properties and belongings, but little do they know that there are people being stepped aside and being ignored by their reckless actions. In the end, the effect boils down to those discriminated races and they are the ones that suffered because of the reckless and greedy actions of the Whites. One of the biggest historical events in this period is the Gold Rush, wherein the substance of interest is non-other than gold. The out-migration of non-natives following the Gold rush has given the Indians renewed numerical importance.The discovery of Gold in California and other nearby mines has lead easterners to migrate in the said are in order to have their part in this gold galore. This event has caused great multitude of immigrants coming from local and foreign lands. The situation has damaged mines; natural resources and influx of people have led into chaotic way of life. The situation of the people especially the original inhabitants of the area, which is the natives, has greatly worsened by the migratory frontiers. Going back to the statement of Martin Ridge,â€Å"The history of the American West is, almost by definition, a triumphal narrative for it traces a virtually unbroken chain of successes in national expansion† This is indeed a refutable statement. The Americans may have entered the land of Mythical Desert Garden; however, there are many people that have suffered because of their ruthless actions. It may be triumphal because they have over taken the natives, but the natural resources and the craving of their hands have been diminished. In the end, the statement remains doubtful for there are so many sacrifices that are heavier that the rewards they have taken.