Wizard of Id

WIZARD OF ID "Arise, O Wizard of Id. Your majesty, the crowd is waiting for to deliver your message." I, the Wizard of Id, the aging king of the Akunamatata, slowly opened his sleepy eyes, woke up that new year's morning, realizing that another year had just past. I dragged the fact that I had to wake so early just to deliver a stupid new years message to a bunch of nitwitted idiots. Sigh. I didn't have the choice. I stroked the white patch of hair on my head, climbed out of bed, put on my Sunday's best and proceeded to the royal towel balcony. The drums rolled and the trumpets blared. Embedded within the trumpets and drums was the crashing of rotten eggs and the loud jeering of the peasants. The smell of it was good enough to make me puke from a thousand meters. Then walking past was worried Sir Elton John. He reported the chaotic situation outside which made me tremble. "Who's warming up the peasants before my speech?" I stammered. I was relieved to know that my most faithful advisor, Sir Rooney was on his duty. I was confident that he would do a good job. After all he was liked by all, young and old. " Good that should deplete most of their rotten eggs." I held onto my speech draft and waited until the crowed quieted down Once again, the drums rolled and the trumpets blared, to announce my majestic arrival. "The king will now deliver his most profound 'new year's

  • Word count: 711
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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How far do you agree with the view that Hoover simply extended the agonies of the Depression?

How far do you agree with the view that 'Hoover simply extended the agonies of the Depression'? Explain your answer, using your own knowledge of the issues related to this controversy. On the one hand, Hoover's interventions mitigated the depression. Hoover has historically said to have "stepped up federal construction, urged state and local governments to accelerate spending", this indicates that he did try and ease the depression and that he did not lead America into a further and dire situation. Hoover even cut his own/state officials' pay by 20% to provide revenue for recovery measures. This shows that Hoover was sympathetic towards the American's suffering in the Depression, hence by reducing his own wages showed his willingness to help America during a time of economic difficulty. In support of this, the USA supreme court have been quoted to say that Hoover "started more public works schemes than had been done by the previous 40 presidents". The emphasis on "more public works schemes" suggests that Hoover was not reluctant to help, and he wanted to ease America during times of hardship. Furthermore, Hoover secures an additional $500 million from Congress in 1931, to help agencies around the USA to provide relief. In hindsight, it is clear that Hoover did much to try and ease America through the depression, but whether his aid was in time or consistent is arguable.

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Why was Progress for Racial Equality so slow in the years 1945-1955?

Why was Progress for Racial Equality so slow in the years 1945-1955? Any progress for racial equality during the period of 1945-1955 faced a series of problems, both through the Government and legal means and the American public, slowing down and limiting its affect overall during this time period. Any effect of measures for racial equality were also limited for the same reasons, making the development of racial equality on the whole incredibly slow. Presidents of America during this time period played their own part in slowing down progress. Truman (1945-53) in principle may not have been racist man that does not mean however that his stance on civil rights was in favour of racial equality. His attitude towards their plight was seemingly ignorant and his own awareness for his need for the southern vote made him wary to bring about change. His committee on civil rights in 1946 outlined only basic requirements for all Americans but even that failed to pass congress. Eisenhower (1953-61) contributed to the progress of racial equality during this period even less. His intervention in the state of Arkansas on the issue of Little Rock can be seen as progress as Federal Government interfered with states on the issue of racial equality but it was clearly not enough for the cause and attitudes like this of top politicians slowed down any progress in the development overall. Any

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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To what extent was the attack on Pearl Harbor a Surprise to President Roosevelt?

To what extent was the attack on Pearl Harbor a Surprise to President Roosevelt? Cassandra Stewart Mrs. Green Pre-IB Government 5/10/04 1519 words A. Plan of Investigation To what extent was the attack on Pearl Harbor a surprise to President Roosevelt? On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and left the Unites States in shock. The aim of this investigation is to determine if the US Government knew in advance that the Japanese had planned to attack Pearl Harbor. The investigation will cover the warning signs that were ignored, delays by US officials that led to the attack, and Roosevelt's deliberate withholding of information from officials at Pearl Harbor. An analysis of these sections should reveal whether the attack was a surprise. The research will come from books dealing with Pearl Harbor. B. Summary of Evidence . Delays in preparation * US officials decoded the 14th part of message at a leisurely pace (Willmott 20) * After the 14th part of the message was decoded, there were delays sending for secretary Hull who would deliver the message to officials at Pearl Harbor (Willmott 21). * It was a Sunday and few aircraft were manned, crews were ashore, ammunition for guns locked up and military planes were parked wing to wing (Alger

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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The Eisenhower years saw significant improvement for the African Americans

"The Eisenhower years saw significant improvement for the African Americans." To what extent do you agree with this statement? Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected Republican president of the United States of America in 1953. His presidency (1952-1961) saw changes taking place all over the world, a growing nuclear arms race, the height of communist fears in America, the beginning of the great space race and in 1961 Eisenhower became the first U.S. President to be forced out of office. At the same time in America the Black Civil Rights movement many would argue was digging its feet into the ground. Many historians would argue that the Eisenhower years saw a significant improvement for African- Americans. Harvard Sitkoff said that the 1950's were the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, insinuating that the 1950's were a significant period for the African-American civil rights movement. On the other hand other historians would argue that the Civil Rights Movement had already begun before Eisenhower's presidency began and that during his terms progress was actually limited. Despite the ongoing debate there is good evidence that there was improvement for the African Americans. Improvement in the political and legal system can be seen throughout the Eisenhower years. Firstly the Brown ruling of 1956 saw Oliver Brown supported by the NAACP appeal to the Supreme Court over the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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To what extent was King the most significant civil rights leader ?

To what extent was King the most significant leader of the African American quest for equal rights 1865 - 1992 Martin Luther King is probably the most famous civil rights leader ever, his message having permeated through national divides and survived the tests of time. His name is usually the first to come to mind when the topic of the African American struggle for civil rights in mentioned, but despite this many other key figures played an integral part in the successes of the movement, and we cannot be sure if the results would have ever been the same without all of them. King rose to fame on the back of his first major victory. In 1955 Buses in Montgomery Alabama were segregated with whites getting the best seats, yet despite this over 75% of the revenue for the bus companies came from Afro-Americans. Rosa Parks, an African American woman refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man despite the demands of the bus driver. The local community took up her case and a full scale boycott soon started. It was the newly appointed Minister of a local Church who came to lead this boycott, Martin Luther King. 381 days later and the boycott finished with the supreme court deciding that the Brown ruling of a 1954 should apply to busses as well, and as a result be de-segregated. This was a massive victory for the local black community in Montgomery, but perhaps even more

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Development of The Civil Right Movement's Tactics

In what ways did the campaign methods used by the Civil Rights movement in the southern states of the USA change and develop in the 1950's and the early 1960's . During the early 1950's the Civil Rights movement started challenging de jure segregation in the South by legal means through organisations like the National Association of the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) .Realizing that the deep rooted nature of racism needed a more direct attack. The movement, guided by the peaceful principles of Martin Luther King, opted for non-violent direct action. As the movement gained experience it learned to manipulate the media, create situations where the federal government was forced into action and that mass action equals concessions .The broadening of the movement to include the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Non-violent Coordination Committee (SNCC) revitalized it with a range of tactics ,from boycotts and sit-ins to marches and open challenges to segregation. Momentum gathered and the movement reached the height of it's watermark in the early 1960's. Several legal cases such as the case of Brown V Board of education of Topeka were brought to the Supreme Court by leading black lawyer Thurgood Marshall , who argued that segregation was unconstitutional, with the support of the NAACP. The case of Brown V Board declared the integration

  • Word count: 1505
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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How effective was the early civil rights movement in advancing Black Civil Rights in the period 1880-1945?

"How effective was the early civil rights movement in advancing Black Civil Rights in the period 1880-1945?" The 13th Amendment was passed by the Senate in 1884 and put into practice on December 6th 1865. The amendment abolished slavery in the United States, making President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation part on the US constitution as it was previously based on was powers and therefore, did not abolish slavery in Border States, these being; Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia. This new ruling meant that anti-abolitionists had to accept the end of slavery. However, this did not mean that freed slaves had the same opportunities and rights as whites, in the South "black codes" were quickly implemented. These laws limited the human rights and civil liberties of African Americas thus keeping them inferior. They continued to emphasise the superior position held by whites it society, this was highlighted particularly in the state of Texas as Texans feared that without the codes blacks would not work. In reaction to the Black Codes the 14th amendment was passed in 1868. This stated that all free men shall be protected and enjoy equal treatment under the law. The idea was to protect the African American population, making them citizens thus forcing the federal Government to be responsible for them. If rights were denied by any States, the State in question

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Why was there an economic boom in the 1920s ?

Why was there an economic boom in the 1920s ? There was an economic boom in the 1920s as there were many factors playing a part and working together, causing the boom to be self generating. These factors where resources, impact of First World War, technological change, Mass- production, Mass Marketing, Credit, Confidence and the policies of the Republican Presidents. These are the many reasons there was an economic boom in the 1920s. One of the main reasons there was an economic boom was the fact that the USA had a great store of natural resources, like coal, wood, iron, minerals, oil and land, meaning that not only the USA had such a great natural resources that they could use in trade, but also it helped America to become a great industrial power and proving a sound basis for further expansion. The impact of the First world war also played a huge part in the economic boom, as during the war America supplied Europe with many goods and had taken over overseas European markets, with in some area the USA industry was now the world leader, e.g. chemicals. The war hastened technological change which the US industry seized on. To link with the First war world is Technological change, the fact that the war helps speed up the changes. Plastics like Bakelite were developed effectively for the first time and were used in new household products. There were also other technological

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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Who was the President of United States during the Civil War? What/how was his childhood? What were the things that led the president to become the president of the United States? How did he affect the U.S.?

Frederick Douglass Academy Sofia Mohammed Class 805 January 2, 2003 Research Paper #1 Topic- Who was the President of United States during the Civil War? What/how was his childhood? What were the things that led the president to become the president of the United States? How did he affect the U.S.? Abraham Lincoln was born on Sunday, February 12, 1809 in a log cabin near Hodgenville Kentucky. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Abraham was names after his grandfather. Thomas Lincoln was a carpenter and farmer. Both parents of Abraham were members of a Baptist congregation which got separated from another church because of the opposition of slavery. At age seven, the family moved to Southern Indiana. Abraham went to school for a period of time in Kentucky and in Indiana. He attended school with his older sister Sarah and younger brother Thomas who died in his early age. In 1818, Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of Milk Sickness. Milk Sickness is a disease caught from drinking milk from a cow which got poisoned by a white snakeroot. Thomas Lincoln remarried the next year to Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln. She brought three kids of her own into the family. Abraham loved his step mother as well as reading. He preferred reading than working in t he fields and his relationship with his father (who was just the opposite) became difficult. Abraham's older sister

  • Word count: 1182
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: History
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