The Differences Between American And Hispanic Culture Essay

Latino Americans are facing issues with their identity because of their ethnic and racial backgrounds due to our education institutions in America. These issues result in a separation of their American and Latino culture creating two different identities but not enough of American or Latino identity to fully feel part of either culture. This paper will be addressing the differences between American and Latino culture. American culture is an individualistic culture in which everyone tries to be unique from one another and more successful. Success in the American culture typically means being wealthy. Americans make decisions based off of their own personal needs unlike Latino culture. Latino culture is based off of collectivism where the family is the most important aspect in their lives. Latinos are more likely to make decisions based off of the best interest of their families not necessarily themselves. The primary language Americans speak is English whereas Latino Americans typically speak Spanish. One thing that both cultures share is the importance of a good education. Sociologists have been studying the effects of education on Latino Americans and to their findings there are physical and conceptual issues which include: language barriers, issues with educators and peers which cause issues within their identity development and ultimately creating this separation of cultures which can effect Latino Americans success in school. While there are other factors that may beShow MoreRelatedSimilarities And Differences Of The Hispanic And American Culture1295 Words   |  6 PagesHispanic vs American Culture Culture is the overall moral belief, customs, language, and attitudes a person is brought and raised into. Daily, we are exposed to diverse and different cultures everyday which allow us to learn the different values and traditions each culture possess. The importance of observing and learning different customs is beneficial because it can help us better adapt and prevent misunderstandings when we communicate and interact with others. Hispanics and Americans are twoRead More Compare and Contrast Hispanic Culture and American Culture Essay example1403 Words   |  6 PagesCompare and Contrast Between Hispanic Culture and American Culture I. Introduction The Hispanic population has experienced an incredible growth in the past decade in the United States of America. In 2006 it was estimated that the Hispanic cover 11 % of the population in North America. Their Origin is in Mexico and the few Spanish speaking countries in the Caribbean. American culture is derived from people who originated from the European nations like Italy and the Great Britain. Cultural identityRead MoreHispanic Cultures And The United States Of America1325 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction Hispanic cultures and population has experienced an immense growth in the past decade in the United States of America. In 2010 it is estimated that Hispanics cover 16 % of the population in The United States of America. A significant majority of Hispanics origin is in Mexico and the few Spanish speaking countries in the Caribbean. American culture is based from people who came from the European countries like Italy and the Great Britain. Cultural diversity is very important for everyRead MoreHispanics And Whites Communication Patterns1271 Words   |  6 PagesHispanics and Whites Communication Patterns Communication involves more than exchanging words between people. Gestures, postures, facial expressions and even eye contacts are important during communication. Both verbal and nonverbal cues are important during communication and can help a person understand the speaker or listener’s emotions, attitudes or status. Understanding the existence of various cultures is necessary since different cultures have varying ways of communication (Lustig KoesterRead MoreHispanic American Diversity1211 Words   |  5 Pagesamong American’s is that all Hispanics are alike. They have the same cultural backgrounds and speak the same language. This could not be further from the truth. In actuality there is great diversity among different Latin ethnic groups. Hispanic Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Columbians all have different cultural and historic back grounds that identify them as separate ethnic groups. Hispanic Americans are Americans of Spanish-speaking descent. Many Hispanic Americans are the descendants of MexicanRead MoreHeritage Assessment1611 Words   |  7 PagesInfluence of Heritage on Current Culture Evaluation of how family subscribes to these traditions and practices is offered in detail, while offering insight and/or reflection.It is essential for nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to each and every patient in order to establish repor and maintain a safe working relationship with each individual. To provide culturally sensitive care to a nurses patient’s he or she must first assess their own beliefs, values, and culture at large. The nurse can doRead MoreHeritage Assessment Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual’s heritage varies between different cultures and consists of determination of one’s ethnic, religious, and cultural background (Spector, 2009). The heritage assessment tool helps healthcare professionals evaluate someone’s physical, mental, and spiritual beliefs which in turn helps with determining traditional health methods such as health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration. It also helps in opening a pat hway for effective communication between the patient and health careRead MoreThe Issue of Immigration: The Hispanic-American Diversity1456 Words   |  6 Pagesacrimony among Americans today with a great deal of the focus being directed toward individuals identified with Hispanic cultures (Guittierrez, 2006). There is a misconception among many Americans that all Hispanic cultures are identical in religion, linguistic, political, social, and family conventions and this misconception too often leads to biases and prejudices that create barriers. In reality, there are a many similarities between Hispanic groups but there are also many differences that characterizeRead MoreMinorities Affected By Civil And Equal Rights965 Words   |  4 PagesFear of Losing a Culture’ is an auto-biographical essay written by Richard Rodriguez. Both of these literary works have a shared theme of change and social conflict. However, both works were written at different times in history. There ar e similarities as well as differences between the two works. The shared theme of change for these two works is the change that is taking place in America concerning black Americans and civil rights in â€Å"The Times They Are A-Changin† and Latin Americans and equal rightsRead MoreHealth Disparities Within Dekalb County1709 Words   |  7 PagesGeorgia and its reflection on the state impacts the health and well-being of its communities today as it relates to cultures and institutions. The population of African Americans is higher in Georgia than in the United States because of the transatlantic slave trade, which brought an abundance of African Americans to the state by force. The history of slavery still impacts African Americans today and causes many health disparities that can be seen around the world not only in Georgia. The obvious and

How I Was Socialized Growing Up - 878 Words

The way that I was socialized growing up was through my interactions different people of different races due to my military affiliation and being transferred to different locations every three years and more recently storytelling from both my parents about things they both went through while my dad was away. They instilled some of that storytelling into me and I used that technique to tell some of my experiences. Furthermore, most of my life revolved around the military and religion. Those two aspects are what keep my family together and those were the main forces that shape my siblings and I growing up. When I was around five or six years old, my family was stationed in El Paso, Texas after my dad came back from overseas. The church that my family attended every Sunday was the Church of God and Christ. The Church of God and Christ is where southerners say all of the â€Å"holy-rollers† attended or the overzealous Christians attended. My parents were not really holy-rollers themselves, but we attended this church because my dad wanted my family to attend to gain a sense of God and know about Christianity because he always attended church as a child while he was growing up in Mississippi and that helped him as he developed. He wanted my mother, sister, and I to be exposed to Christianity as well, especially my mom since she did not really attend church during her childhood. Furthermore, my first memory of attending the Church of God and Christ is the day that my dad was baptized.Show MoreRelatedEssay on what is the sociological perspective (imagination)691 Words   |  3 Pag esrelationship to the individual. First I will discuss how individuals are socialized. Next I will point out societal structures role in that socialization. Finally I will discuss how the sociological perspective allows us to view different inequalities in the world. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;While growing up we rarely think about why we do things the way that we do, and make the decisions that we make. From infancy we are socialized, meaning that we are trained how to exist within our social environmentRead MoreCoconut or Mexican-American?1099 Words   |  4 PagesCoconut or Mexican-American? The white board scribbled in blue marker with the letters â€Å"T.A.G† was the only thing in the room besides the perfect rows of desks as I walked towards my assigned seat at beginning of my fourth grade year. â€Å"Everyday at 11:30 you will be taken out of class and brought to this room. You are all here because you are at a more advanced level in math than your classmates. You are TAG students, Talented and Gifted. This is a little more challenging work, but it will prepareRead MoreGrowing Up As A Haitian American1461 Words   |  6 Pagesresponsibilities and care for any children/dependents (Lofquist et al., 2012). Growing up as a Haitian American, my ideas of what it means to be a family have been greatly influenced by my cultures and my religion. The Haitian culture greatly emphasizes family relationships and familial responsibility. I saw that my parents, although in another country, maintained contact with their family members in Haiti and often aided them financially. I also obtained ideas about families through my American culture. AlthoughRead MoreGender Socialization : The Constitutional And Unfolding Of Individuals As Boys Or Girls Essay1183 Words   |  5 Pagesan example , I have interviewed two people from different generations and asked questions about their experiences and beliefs about masculinity and femininity role. Although there were similar answers, it is evident that gender is socialized differently between generations. The understanding of gender socialization is manipulated differently; however, there are similar beliefs throughout different ages of life. The first person I interviewed was Ron, a male born in 1942 that grew up in MississippiRead MoreChildren s Gender Development And Family Studies Professional991 Words   |  4 PagesFor the first reflection paper assignment, the â€Å"How Would You†¦?† question located on page 168 presents the question that is discussed in this paper. This particular question states, â€Å"As a human development and family studies professional, how would you describe the ways in which parents influence their children’s notions of gender roles?† (Santrock, 2015, p. 168). Parents play a major role in their children’s gender development. Fathers and mothers are also â€Å"psychologically important to their children’sRead MoreUniversal Healthcare: Political And Social Obstacles Essay1595 Words   |  7 Pagesdelivering timely, effective, and affordable health care. This next presidential election might take the country in a new direction in terms of how our med ical system is run. In fact â€Å"socialized medicine† has been mentioned numerous times in the current presidential debates. This is not the first time in American history that this issue has been brought up, in fact universal health care has encountered many social and political roadblocks, but it seems as if it will soon be feasible for America toRead MoreGender Socialization : The Real World1442 Words   |  6 PagesFrom the beginning of one’s life, male or female, each is to be socialized differently due to gender given at birth. Both men and women base the standards of their behavior on the assumptions of what is culturally socialized for their considered role (male or female). â€Å"Doing gender† is a concept that was developed by sociologist Candace West and Don Zimmerman. Doing gender is when one has to alter their behavior to be able to live up to the expectations of what is considered socially acceptable forRead MoreHow We Become The Person That We Are989 Words   |  4 Pages Many different fields throughout history have studied the ongoing question of how we become the person that we are. The question usually lies between whether nature has molded us and whether we have been nurtured in a specific way. For many centuries, the answer has been answered repeatedly. In Newman’s text he says that the structural-functionalists insist that the task of any society is to produce members who’s behaviors, desires, and goals coordinate with those of the society. It’s also importantRead MoreHow Gender Roles Affect The Physical And Emotional Heath Of Parents And Families1099 Words   |  5 Pagesand have throughout our history. Gender roles are a set of societal norms dictating the types of behaviors which are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for people based on their actual or perceived gender. In this paper I will address how gender roles negatively impacts the physical and emotional heath of parents and families, and recommend solutions to the problem. Women in contemporary American society see their role as provider as part of their obligation. Almost seventy-oneRead MoreGender Socialization : Gender And Gender1040 Words   |  5 Pagesforces that influence our gender construction through a system of reward and punishment. throughout my life, I have been taught to be a women by family and through society, all that at some point supported the goals I had for myself or created obstacles by challenging my own ideas of what meant to be a strong women. Gender socialization is the process by which individuals are taught how to socially behave in accordance with their assigned gender, which is assigned at birth based on their biological

Tv Representation of Families and Society †1950s to Present Free Essays

The television shows from 1950 to the present are connected in many ways. The characters showed in the 1950s television show called Leave It To Beaver all have white coloured skin and portrayed as a happy, perfect family. As the decades increased, the nuclear families turned into blended families, and the television shows started to have coloured characters. We will write a custom essay sample on Tv Representation of Families and Society – 1950s to Present or any similar topic only for you Order Now The families started to have problems and social situations. The viewer sees the conflicts inside the family begin as the years progress. For example, in the 2000’s we examined a television show called Arrested Development.The show portrays the characters as if they are troubled and have problems. The children do not listen to their parents but instead have their own path in life, and their father is in jail. The representations of families changed according to society. In the 1950s, society acted traditionally, and old-fashioned. Therefore, the families portrayed in television were traditional, old-fashioned, obedient, and responsible. However, as the years progressed, society changed. The people became more free, open-minded, united, and dysfunctional.However, even though there are many differences between the television shows from the decades, there are still similarities between them. Even though society changes through time, families are still connected through love, support, care and responsibilities. In my family, we always stick together, support each other’s choices and love every person unconditionally. The television show that I can most relate to is The Crosby Show for many reasons. The Crosby Show has a humorous father, and a caring and loving mother who are both hard working, siblings who fight but still love playing and music.The female teenager called Denise is independent, likes boys, music, wants an education, but still has fun which is alot like myself. The family had the same values as mine, such as education is important in the household, being healthy, and having a respectful and honest relationship with everyone. However, the past television show which I least relate to is called The Brady Bunch. It is a blended family which consists of a father who is an architect, a mother who stays home, a family nanny, and six children. The parents act romantic, loving and do not raise their voice or argue. The children behave properly nd do not have their independent voice nor their freedom. My family is not perfect like The Brady Bunch but we are a loving family with modern values and morals. The past television shows I have examined demonstrated morals, and values in families. In my opinion, the most realistic TV show about a family in the past was the Cosby Show. The Cosby Show was the only TV show that had a normal family. Both the parents had a successful job, the children have morals and optimistic values, and the family is always positive and humorous. The children have normal problems at their age, they care about education and social standards.They make it seem as if everyone is equal and fair, and everyone has their own opinions not just following every action. On the other hand, the TV show which had a dysfunctional and least unrealistic family was Married With Children. This family was chaotic, uncontrolled, and they have dysfunctional values. The mother does not think straight and wants control over her husband. The father on the other hand, gives away his money without an opinion, and does not give authority to the children. The children do not care about school, nor health. They cannot be controlled and handled by the parents very well.Half the time, the parents do not even know where their children are. In my opinion this is not healthy nor a stable environment for the children to grow up in. Overall, families in general are represented in TV shows by how society is acting in that specific year. For example, in the 1950s families were behaving properly and according to the rules. They had perfect hygienic appearances and they were precise about everything they did. They had a daily routine including work, chores, school, healthy food, doing homework, speaking politely, and the husband was the man of the house. In the 1960s, they begin to blend a family together and the viewer begins to see a small change. The children start to argue and disagree with many things, the father is still the only one working and still the man of the house. The family begins to have arguments and situations but learn how to solve it by communication. In the 1970s, the children begin to think more modernly and start to think for themselves. The parents are older and the children are younger. The children begin to wonder; my parents are older and they do not understand me.The values of the children are liberal while the parents are more conservative. In the 1980s, the families begin to show humour, choices, and diversity. The shows begin to have dark coloured skinned characters, and freedom of speech. The children begin to engage in extra curriculum activities and have their separate social lives. The parents are strict but still loving, and the family thinks modern and up to date but the husband is still the man of the house. In the 1990s, the families represented in the TV show, become disoriented, their values are mixed up, eat unhealthy, and do not follow any morals or rules.The parents do not seem to care or worry about their children. The children begin to disrespect their parents and not pay attention to the rules. In the 2000’s, the family is more dysfunctional, and less sophisticated. The children are rebelling against their parents and their father is in jail. Basically, as the years progress, the values and morals of society changes thus, changing the morals in families. Report On The Image Of American Society In Films Representations of the American society in films changed throughout 1950s to the present. American society revolves around the typical American family.The family structure has changed dramatically over the years. In the early years, the family was represented as a perfect family structure that acted politely, sophisticated and came together as a family. The family communicated with each other and spent valuable time as one. They sat down together as a family and bonded. As the years increased, the morals and values began to get lost in time through technology. Family keeps everyone together and responsible but without an authority figure inside the family, the family will start lose their bond.Throughout the years, the husband was the authoritarian man figure, however, as years progressed from the 1970s to the present, allowed women an amount of independence to express their freedom by getting a chance to support their families and to receive an amount of responsibility. The films demonstrated that the families in the past had morals and values but decreased throughout the years. However, families still have honesty and unity to live by these days and no one can take that away from them. American’s society has a wide view on people based on the present life experiences.American films from the 1950s to the present have families based on the expectations of society at that moment. The past American film that I can most relate to is The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club is a movie from the 1980s about a group of different teenagers stuck in detention. These teenagers all have different personalities and hang out with different people. In the present society, I do not stick myself with one â€Å"crew† or â€Å"clique†. I pay attention to different kinds of people, with unique social standards and diverse appearances. The teenagers all come together and help each other and put aside their differences.The American film which I least relate to is called The Fight Club. This American movie about society got society all wrong. Society is not that cruel, guilty, and violent. The entire film is about a depressed man who meets another man who is played by Brad Pitt and form a fighting club for the men who need confidence and never fought in their lives. The two men lose their jobs, homes, and health and begin to live in a broken down house and rebel against the law. They lose themselves inside the money they earn and the fights they fight. They do not understand the true meaning of life.In my point of view, I cannot relate to those men fighting and rebelling against society. American society creates films based on the American population’s beliefs and moral values. America’s most realistic form of society in a film is Saturday Night Fever. This film toke society’s fashion, fads, slang, and the realistic view of society at that moment and brought it to life. John Travolta played a young adult who worked part time, but still made his own decisions and worked hard for what he wanted. He had an extra curriculum activity which was dancing, and that was special for him. He worked hard, and he devoted himself to his passion.In civilization, human beings work hard to become someone that’s treated with respect. His family was not always beside him and supporting him but they got around like a normal loving family. He has freedom of speech and is involved with everyone around him. In that moment in society, the director got the exact moments, and social events precisely into the films. In my opinion, the least realistic film that was brought to the public based on the public was The Fight Club. The Fight Club did indeed touch people and made people want to fight to prove themselves worthy, however, society is much better and efficient than that. If one works hard, then the hard work will be paid off correctly and they will become a winner on their own. One cannot achieve greatness and success over one fight. One has to work hard, believe in themselves and have hope. Society is not weak and does not fight because they need confidence. In reality, people challenge themselves and earn their life and living in a proper educated manner. Overall, American society in general are represented according to the community’s actions, feelings, and moral values. The world begins to think less old fashioned and the directors understand that. Young adults are changing the future as we know it. Society is going to act accordingly to modern young adults’ opinions and attitudes. The films represent the positive views on society. They demonstrate the modern experiences and attitudes that the director places in the movies. Technology is taking over our world and has a huge impact in the movies. Directors try to catch the attention of their audiences but placing modern attractions into the movies. The films try to be what the society is at that moment so that people will want to see the movie and think that it is the coolest and top movie that there is. Modern Representation of Families in Society A modern Canadian society is represented through a TV show called Degrassi: The Next Generation. This TV show is about young adults in a high school trying to fit in, living through every day situations, and trying to understand life. The TV show focuses on many different life situations and unique kinds of people. These characters face various challenges such as poor self image, sex, AIDS, cheating, death and suicide, depression, bullying, homophobia, racism, eating disorders, peer pressure, child abuse, sexual identity, gang violence, self-injury, teenage pregnancy, and drug abuse.These are all topics that teens experience in high school, and there is no sugar-coating. In my point of view, this realistically relates most to the young adults and the adults in the show, also face daily modern situations such as divorce, abuse, economic problems, and identity issues. Degrassi is not for everyone, mainly because it’s an honest account what it’s like to be a teen in a society which values cliques and confrontation over truth and real growth. Teenagers in society are beginning to learn their purpose in life and try to create their existence in society a worthy one.They believe that they can change the world and put their education towards a worthy cause. In the show, there are many cases of modern problems which demonstrate to the public that those are the situations that need to be changed. For example, teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy is high in America. 1 in 20 young females will become pregnant before they graduate high school. Teenagers need to realize that they do not live in a Barbie perfect world but have complications to face. With this TV show, teenagers, and young adults can realize the world issues out there and can fix them before they get out of hand. The audience gets a warning of the real world and chance for them to redeem themselves. The TV show is like a window into the modern world. The audience seems weak and confused on their path in life but if they get an opportunity to see the outcome of their actions, (such as having sex which can lead to pregnancy) they can learn what not to do. Television is a part in our modern society and media survives on the audience’s remarks.Basically, people enjoy watching what they can relate to or what they are interested in. This show is important to society in general for the Canadian community. The issues portrayed in the television show is the most realistic representation of modern society. It is based on real life stories and events that happened. It is important that television portrays the real society at that moment because people start to act according to them. For example, ideas and themes become main stream in society so do they become more common on television.Women would never sleep in the same bed as her husband on television. This is because at the time â€Å"Leave it to Beaver† was being aired, it was a social taboo to talk about sex, or sexuality, even between married couples. Today, we have shows about single moms and sexuality is openly displayed by characters on TV. This shows a change in our cultures values and how we need to be completely and clearly informed every moment we get in our lives so we can learn from TV characters’ mistakes. How to cite Tv Representation of Families and Society – 1950s to Present, Papers

Peace Treaties and Feather Pens free essay sample

Can words and ideas take the place of guns and bombs? Can peace treaties and beautiful feather pens take the place of wars and casualties? Like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas K. Gandhi, I believed, conflicts can truly be settled with words and ideas. In addition, I believe that conflicts can truly be settled with a handshake, high-five, hug, or kiss. There have been many wars have been won through the use of artillery. But then there have been many wars that have been prevented with just simple words, ideas, and nonviolent actions. History has changed so much in these short years because of those simple words, ideas, and nonviolent actions. If history can be changed and conflicts overcome with peaceful ways why not take this route to achieve lasting peace. Many people when thinking of â€Å"peaceful people†, imagine hippies, peace signs, tye-dyed t-shirts, and colorful vans. Then there’s Woodstock with its psychedelic music, and the sunflowers in everyone’s hair. We will write a custom essay sample on Peace Treaties and Feather Pens or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But when I think of â€Å"peaceful people† I think of the firm believers and activists who accomplished the great movements throughout all of history by using nonviolent acts and peaceful protests to overcome the wars of unrighteousness. Mohandas Gandhi states: Of war, too, I need say nothing. It has always been more or less chronic since the rise of the Roman Empire; but there is now undoubtedly a disinclination for war among all civilized peoples†¦.We need not be afraid of ideals or of reducing them to practice even to the uttermost. Ours will only then be a truly spiritual nation when we shall show more truth than gold, greater fearlessness than pomp of power and wealth, greater charity than love of self. (338) He was able to lead his country with nonstop peaceful nonviolent actions that gained them the freedom that they deserved. Freedom? it is what everyone deserves and wants. But that freedom is not freedom without peace. That was what the Civil Rights Movement was all aboutto be free to live in peace with one another. With only street marches, sit-ins, and their voices, the people in this movement and now today there is freedom hand in hand with peace. One such â€Å"peaceful person† who helped greatly to begin and succeed in this movement was Martin Luther King, Jr. In his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, King speaks of peaceful actions and their rewards, â€Å"Over the last few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. So I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends†(216). King wanted peace for his people so he fought for that with words and peaceful demonstrations such as sit-ins, marches, and of course his â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech. His words support his movement— the retaliation that was afflicted on the peaceful protesters did not come to what the retaliators believed was a moral endsegregation was terminated. Margaret Mead, Warfare: An Invention? Not a Biological Necessity, seems to agree with Kings logic, â€Å"There is a way of behaving which is known to a given people and labeled as an appropriate form of behavior† (277). Mead would agree with King that what the retaliators did to the peaceful protestors was not appropriate behavior and not the way of behaving. The way of behaving was in favor of the peaceful protestors and still even today labeled as appropriate behavior. The question is rather words and ideas can take the place of guns and bombs. Do words and ideas or guns and bombs cause deaths? Guns and bombs both cause death and are used in wars. In every single war in American history lives were loston both sides. In the early wars there were just guns then cannons and now atomic bombs which all contributed too many deaths. Those weapons are only used in war and words are never spoken in war unless to command the death of another human being. As Mead states, â€Å"warfaremen engaged in it and killed one another in the course of a war because killing is what is done in wars† (277). Mead wrote these words around the time of World War II. One may wonder if some words and ideas were exchangedmaybe even the signing of a Peace Treaty with a feather penperhaps an atomic bomb would have never been dropped and many lives spared. Just one word, idea, or peaceful action could have prevented such devastation. As a Japanese writer, Kenzaburo Oe agree s to a great extent. In his written work, The Unsurrendered People, he gives the readers a vision and front row seat of the very same devastation mentioned. Readers are able connect with Oe by recognizing him, through his words, as a true witness: â€Å"The recovery effort has continued for two decades, and continues even now.The atomic destruction of Hiroshima was the worst ‘deluge’ of the twentieth century.the twentieth century has become afflicted with cancer? the possession of nuclear weapons by various nations? for which there is no known cure†(290,291). All this could have been prevented, if words and ideas were discussed and exchanged and in turn opening up a new route that would have saved many lives. War itself is just revenge in the participants’ eyes. In the Leviathan, Hobbes writes, â€Å"For it can never be that Warre shall preserve life, and Peace destroy it† (110). War is fought with the intention of killing the life God has put on th is earth. There’s no other goal, purpose, or ending when it comes to war and only if peace is made will it end. Many may say that a war is necessary to preserve the lives of a country but still lives are being destroyed in another country. Hobbes goes on to say, â€Å"Evil: From whence arise Disputes, Controversies, and at last WarAnd consequently all men agree on this, that Peace is Good, and therefore also the way, or means of Peace, whichare Justice, Gratitude, Modesty, Equity, Mercyare good, that is to say Morall Vertues† (111). By only punishing the ones responsible for initiating war justice is achieved then allows the innocent lives to show gratitude for evading war and destruction. Being modest in the good decision made brings the equity from the ones that the war was evaded returning good for good. Lastly, mercy is given to all, no deaths are mourned and in turn making stronger alliances while bringing peace throughout. Without Peace we would not be able to do many of the things we do today. How can we function with chaos, hatred, anarchy, and war? No happiness would or can come from that. Would our families and love ones be safe? Would we have to keep looking over our shoulders and in turn not know the path we take? In Jean Bethke Elshtain’s, What Is a Just War? it states, â€Å"None of the goods that human beings cherish, including the free exercise of religion, can flourish without a measure of civic peace and security† (294). We would be at each other’s throat more than we are now if there weren’t those â€Å"peaceful people† that used words and ideas rather than guns and bombs. We would not even be human. Elshtain continues, â€Å"Without civic peace? a basic framework of settled law and simple, everyday order? human life descends to its most primitive level. By primitive I mean rudimentary, the bare minimum? we struggle just to stay alive† (295). Ours eyes and minds would focus only on how to keep breathing. Paranoia and suicide would walk this eartha dog-eat-dog world. Every man for himself. Not even unpeaceful words muttered just guns and bombs snatching life after meaningless life. This is the definition for war and the exact opposite is peace. Maybejust maybe there’s a small flicker of hope. Peace Treaties and Feather Pens seem to have slowly reemerged. Peace signs are everywhere now, more musicals are being made, high waisted clothing is back in style, and more â€Å"singing about your feelings† music seems to be at the top of the charts. Little gestures that are not recognized immediately but are the giant steps toward words and ideas and those oh so missed Peace Treaties and Feather Pens. But there’s the one gesture that receives recognition every time—Give [peace] and you shall receive [peace]. This notion is similar to the words and actions that King expressed. There is now peace among the people because of the peaceful words and ideas shown. No guns and bombs were used to achieve this great success and now that â€Å"war† is finished. The war that we now face could, should, and can be settled with words and ideasfrom looking at history in reality, peace seems to conquer all.

Fashion Brand Report

Introduction /Event Background To begin with, a brand is a commodity, service or a company characteristic that distinguishes it from other commodities or companies; it is the name or a symbol that identifies one product or services from the others in the market.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Fashion Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Big brand names have been developed over the years to create the right identity and market it effectively. A product brand is the result of all the efforts and ingredients put in the product and presented in its name that helps the buyer easily recall and recognize it. It also helps the sellers increase the market reach, thereby minimizing on the marketing costs of the product (Randall, 2000). The Pure Fashion trade fair is, perhaps, the most attended trade fair in London, and its main feature is the exhibition of the latest fashion brands. The event attracts more and more par ticipants as its popularity rises. The British Council oversees the growth and development of fashion industry in London. In 2009, there was a spectacular twist in the fashion fair in that both the Council and the trade show were celebrating their 25th Anniversary. It must be noted that there is a high level of competence in this event. With over 1000 designs being exhibited, this trade fair appealed to traders, buyers and all other stakeholders. Here, emphasis is given to the latest fashion discoveries as there is increased attention to innovativeness and creativity. The event is held with high esteem at Somserset House located on the Strand (London Fashion Week Dates n.d.). The display of style at the trade fair gives participants a feeling of endless partying. Observations from the London Fashion Week The London Fashion Week brings out a combination of style, art, creativity and the use of technology, especially in sales and marketing (Saviolo, 2002).Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This year, apart from bringing together the best brands, the fair attracted some of the worlds well known designers, such as Matthew Williamson, Kinder Aggugini, Mulberry, Vivienne Westwood, Nicole Farhi, Jaeger, and Paul Smith, among others (The Londoner’s Guide to London 2012). One of the key things to note is that its main targets are buyers and sellers Also, in this year’s event, models portraying some of the most sophisticated designs went the catwalks a number of times each day. One of the conspicuous shows put up in this category was the set of Jewelry showcased by Catherine Parr and Inouà ¯toosh (Pure London 2012 – Accessories Scene Fashion Show 2012). They put up an unbeatable jewelry that included a set of well cut skull necklaces that were enlightened with bold and bright colors. It was the kind of outfit that reveals a strong fashion stateme nt (Saviolo, 2002) There was also the introduction of diamond sets that had been creatively blended with gold and silver pieces. An Italian leathered bag and luxurious gloves by Ruby were significantly prominent as well. There was also the maiden entry by Lulu Guinness with what was introduced as the Becksondergaar (Mestrovic, 2012). The catwalk did not fail in presenting well-rehearsed choreographic showcases. A fashion show in any modernized or developing market may be incomplete without the WSGN report. It was notable that organizations were furnished with almost customized reports on their products where demonstrations of their market dominance and prospects were discussed (Mears, 2011). This underlined the important role of WSGN as a market researcher and observer in the fashion industry. Range Inspiration Having been in the fashion business for over 40 years, Quicksilver became one of the most reliable mid-to-high end contemporary womenswear company. The designers at Quicksilv er have a keen eye for creative, authentic, innovative and classy products; this made them a household name in the UK and greatly revered in other parts of the world as well. According to Quicksilver (2012), the company’s origins can be traced back to two Torquay Locals, John Law and Alan Green, who in 1969, saw a market opportunity in the making and sale of boardshorts (surfing garment), thus turning their home garage into a â€Å"factory†.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Fashion Brand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The name Quicksilver was inspired by Alan Green’s wife, Barbara, who while reading a novel, came across the name Quicksilver used to describe something that seemed â€Å"elusive, liquid, mercurial, changing readily†; according to her, it sounded more-or-less similar to what Alan and John were trying to do with their baby company (Quicksilver, 2012). Quicksilver (2012) states another version of brand’s name’s origin; ancient Alchemists used this word to refer to the difficult, yet worthy process of turning base metals into gold. This is the reason why the company painstakingly strives to engage in the worthy process of turning good fabric into extraordinary fashionable products. One of the major turning points for Quicksilver came in 1973 when John and Alan decided to officially open a company based on the increased demand for Boardshorts. Soon, their products were available in Australia with several top surfers rocking the Quicksilver board shorts. The company was licensed in the USA in 1976 and in Europe in 1984. By 1995, the company was already realizing revenues as high as $174 million, and in 2004, the revenues hit the prestigious $1 billion mark. The company’s revenues continue to go up (Quicksilver, 2012). Quicksilver greatly benefits from many professional sportsmen and women using their products in their endeavors. Th eir sports stars are Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen (surfing champions in 1975), and Jeff Hakman (legendary surfer in 1976). Notably, Quicksilver mostly specializes in clothing related to the outdoor sports lifestyle with their products cutting across all genders and age-groups. This is the reason why the company is popularly visited by the young and elderly. Moreover, their price-friendliness has been able to offer the company huge competitive advantage over other market players; no wander, its revenues keep growing. Over the years, Quicksilver has been able to team up with various fashion houses and general business corporations in a myriad of ventures ranging from those done to increase their revenues to some that were done for Charity.Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A good example of such ventures is the â€Å"Wave of Compassion† charity group which was specifically launched in 2004 to assist victims of the tragic Tsunami (Quicksilver, 2012). Other than mobilizing for funds to assist the victims, the Wave of Compassion is reported to work together with local communities in sending medical equipment, food, clothing and even doctors to assist the communities that are in need (Quicksilver, 2012). Today, Quicksilver offers a wide range of products, including accessories, footwear, eyewear, complete clothing collections and watches, among others (Quicksilver, 2012). It would not be far-fetched to say that people should expect a lot more from Quicksilver in years to come. Fashion Communication The process model It is indisputable that individuals prefer the clothing that speaks for itself. Fashion communication models attempt to explain this by arguing that the way someone presents himself/herself in terms of clothing sends a message which may be termed as non verbal. It is viewed as nonverbal because without one making any statements in this direction, a person is still able to categorize and even classify the bearer of the fashionable piece (Nicholson, Clarke Blakemore, 2002). Based on the above reason, there is a very pronounced connection between fashion communication models and the consumer of any given fashion product, It is widely believed that communication follows a certain process in which a message comes from the originator and is passed from one person to another through the various mediums. In the same way, fashion can be interpreted to send an intentional message. The process will, therefore, begin with the designer who then places it in a store where a customer who intends to pass a certain message through this particular garment will pick it (Roshumba O’Connor, 1999). It, thus, means that in this case, the medium of communication will be the garment that the messenger is putting on. There is almo st no argument that by looking at fashion as a way of sending a message; it will be looked at also as a way of influencing customer trends and tastes (Decker, 2009). Debate would rise as to who is the real source of the message, whether it is the designer or the garment wearer? On the one hand, this is not an easy question to answer, but it appears both the designer and the consumer come from the same school of thought. Indeed, the fact that they are brought together by the garment is a clear indication that there is a common or shared opinion between them. The semiotic model The semiotic model reverses the communication process in that the message precedes the communicating process. This means that before a particular style of clothing is preferred over another, there is a premeditated process that has a clearly outlined message. Unlike the process model where the design comes before the message, the wearer does not land on a garment by default because they intend to send a stateme nt through the garment chose. An example can be driven from the sporting activity in several countries (Fernie, 1997) It is observed that the fans come out during matches dressed in colors and garments that represent the teams they support. By doing so, they have already sent a strong indication as to where they belong to as far as the match is concerned. In this regard, the Semiotic model can be said to have elements of influencing customer trends by season or moments. People choose to wear what they put on because they are conscious of what others will make out of it (Belmonte, 2012). Fashion and Cultural Attributes Another school of thought bases its ideologies on the argument that fashion and way of dressing represent a certain culture or allegiance to particular customs and practices (Bean Bidner, 2005). This model fronts the idea that just as a society brings forward its practices though dance, artifacts and institutions, it is also possible to bring out beliefs and values th rough fashion, clothing and design. In this case, a group of people who share the same values will put on resembling clothe patterns either partially or fully. The Muslim society can be a good example in this regard. More often, one will require not be introduced to a Muslim by name, but the mode of dressing may send a strong, message concerning his beliefs. Fashion here is seen to play a critical role in representing the society just like other forms of art. Another interesting presentation of fashion is when it is a way of building fences and bridges. The idea is that a particular mode of dressing sends a signal that tells one whether it is healthy to interact or it is better to keep a distance. In this category, we may cite the combat clothes worn by the police, particularly when there are riots. These clothes show how far they can and should go. Conclusion To a certain extent, it may seem that both the label and the consumer are out to send a set of messages. This is demonstrate d by the thought that sometimes, the designer will intend to pass a certain message using his garment, but the consumer picks the same garment for a completely different reason. If this happens, the message of the designer will be seen to be passed but not clearly explained. There might also be a scenario where the wearer of the garment may choose it for the same reason it was intended. This is quite common in a situation where clothes are picked for selected events. In this case, the message of the designer coincides with what the wearer had in mind when purchasing the garment (Belmonte, 2012). For Quicksilver, the â€Å"demanding outdoor sports lifestyle† sold at mid-to-high end prices is their style (Quicksilver, 2011). On the one hand, this is a strong statement that may be interpreted to mean there is an emphasis on durability and quality, while on the other hand, it will be meant to say that these garments are for those who can truly afford them. At the same time, the w earer will make a statement of being wealth and having a discreet style. Such statements are made alongside a touch of class in such a way that a garment may send more than one message. However, there cannot be one particular way of defining what message the consumer intends to pass. Similarly, there is no direct definition as to the message being passed across by the designer. In other words, the definitions that an observer may come up with will be seen to be right according to their own standards. List of References Bean, E. Bidner, J. 2005, Complete guide for models: Inside advice from industry pros. Lark Books, Bloomsbury. Belmonte, M. M. 2012, Fil-Brit kid models for American fashion brand. Web. Decker, C. 2009, Economics and the enforcement of European competition law. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Glos. Fernie, J., Moore, C., Lawrie, A Hallsworth, A 1997, â€Å"The internationalisation of the high fashion brand: the case of central London†, Journal of Product and Brand Management, vol.6 no.3, pp. 151 – 162. London Fashion Week Dates. Web. Mears, A. 2011, Pricing beauty: The making of a fashion model: University Of California Press, Berkeley. Mestrovic, A. 2012, Fall 2012 London fashion week: Burberry prorsum. Web. Nicholson, M., Clarke, I. Blakemore, M. 2002, ‘One brand, three ways to shop: situational variables and multichannel consumer behaviour’, International Review of Retail, Distribution Consumer Research, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 131-148. Pure London 2012 – Accessories Scene Fashion Show,  2012, media release. Web. Quicksilver, 2012, About us. Web. Randall, G. 2000, Branding: a practical guide to planning your strategy. Kogan Page Publishers, London. Roshumba, W. O’Connor, A. M. 1999, The complete idiot’s guide to being a model. Alpha Books, Indianapolis. Saviolo, S. 2002, Brand and identity management in fashion companies. DIR, Research Division SDA BOCCONI Working Paper No. 02-66. The London er’s Guide to London 2012, â€Å"London Fashion Week – View London†. Web. This report on Fashion Brand was written and submitted by user Cayson P. 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. You can donate your paper here.

A Guide to Dantes 9 Circles of Hell

A Guide to Dantes 9 Circles of Hell Dante’s Inferno (14th C) is the first part of a three-part epic poem, followed by and Paradiso. Those approaching the La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) for the first time might benefit from a brief structural description. This first part is Dante’s journey through the nine circles of Hell, guided by the poet Virgil.  At the beginning of the story, a woman, Beatrice, calls for an angel to bring Virgil to guide and aid Dante in his journey so that no harm will befall him. The nine circles of Hell, in order of entrance and of severity   Limbo: Where those who never knew Christ exist. Dante encounters ​Ovid, Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Julius Caesar and more here.  Lust: Self-explanatory.  Dante encounters Achilles, Paris, Tristan, Cleopatra, Dido, and others here.Gluttony:  Where those who over-indulge exist.  Dante encounters ordinary people (i.e. not characters from the epic poems or gods from mythology) here.  Boccaccio takes one of these characters, Ciacco, and later incorporates him into The Decameron (14th C).Greed: Self-explanatory. Dante encounters more ordinary people, but also the guardian of the circle, Pluto.  Virgil discusses the nation of â€Å"Fortune† but they do not directly interact with any inhabitants of this circle (the first time they pass through a circle without speaking to anyone – a comment on Dante’s opinion of Greed as a higher sin).Anger: Dante and Virgil are threatened by the Furies when they try to enter through the walls  of Dis (Satan). This is a  further progression in Dante’s evaluation of the nature of sin; he also begins to question himself and his own life, realizing his actions/nature could lead him to this permanent torture.   Heresy: Rejection of religious and/or political â€Å"norms.†Ã‚  Dante encounters Farinata  degli  Uberti, a military leader and an aristocrat tried to win the Italian throne, convicted of heresy in 1283. Dante also meets Epicurus, Pope Anastasius II, and Emperor Frederick II.  Violence:  This is the first circle to be further segmented into sub-circles or rings. There are three of them, the Outer, Middle, and Inner rings, and each ring houses different types of violent criminals.  The first are those who were violent against people and property, such as Attila the Hun.  Centaurs guard this Outer Ring and shoot its inhabitants with arrows.  The Middle Ring consists of those who commit violence against themselves (suicide).  These sinners are perpetually eaten by Harpies.  The Inner Ring is made up of the blasphemers, or those who are violent against God and nature. One of these sinners is  Brunetto  Latini, a sodomite, who was Dante’s own mentor (n ote that Dante speaks kindly to him). The usurers are also here, as are those who blasphemed not just against â€Å"God† but also the gods, such as Capaneus, who blasphemed against Zeus. Fraud: This circle is distinguished from its predecessors by its being made up of those who consciously and willingly commit fraud.  Within the 8th  circle, there is another called the Malebolge  (â€Å"Evil Pockets†) which houses 10 separate Bolgias  (â€Å"ditches†). In these exist different types of frauds, including: Panderers/Seducers (1), Flatterers (2), Simoniacs  (those who sell ecclesiastical preferment) (3), Sorcerers/Astrologers/False Prophets (4), Barrators  (corrupt politicians) (5), Hypocrites (6), Thieves (7), False Counsellors/Advisers (8), Schismatics (those who separate religions to form new ones) (9), and Alchemists/Counterfeiters, Perjurers, Impersonators, etc. (10).  Each of these Bolgias  is guarded by different demons, and the inhabitants suffer different punishments, such as the Simoniacs who are stood head-first in stone bowls and forced to endure flames upon their feet.Treachery:  The deepest circle of Hell, where Satan reside s.  As with the last two circles, this one is further divided, this time into four rounds. The first is Caina, named after the Biblical Cain who murdered his own brother.  This round is for traitors to kindred (family).  The second is named Antenora  and comes from Antenor of Troy who betrayed the Greeks.  This round is reserved for political/national traitors. The third is Ptolomaea (for Ptolemy son of Abubus) who is known for inviting Simon Maccabaeus and his sons to dinner and then murdering them.  This round is for hosts who betray their guests; they are punished more harshly because of the traditional belief that having guests means entering into a voluntary relationship (unlike the relationships with family and country, which we are born into); thus, betraying a relationship you willingly enter is considered more despicable.  The fourth round is Judecca, after Judas Iscariot who betrayed Christ. This is the round reserved for traitors to their lords/benefactors/m asters. As in the previous circle, the subdivisions each have their own demons and punishments. The Center of Hell After making their way through all nine circles of Hell, Dante and Virgil reach the center of Hell. Here they meet Satan, who is described as a three-headed beast.  Each mouth is busy eating a specific person – the left mouth is eating Brutus, the right is eating Cassius, and the center mouth is eating Judas Iscariot.  Brutus and Cassius are those who betrayed and caused the murder of Julius Caesar.  Judas did the same to Jesus Christ.  These are the ultimate sinners, in Dante’s opinion, as they consciously committed acts of treachery against their lords, who were appointed by God.

Travel Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Travel Motivation - Essay Example With the changes in the structure of the society, more purchasing power in the hands of the people, rightly associated with more stress, tourism worldwide has grown beyond proportions. It is now declared as an industry like any other industry. Motivation has always been an important consideration in the field of tourism (Pearce & Lee, 2005). Motivation is seen as the driving force behind all actions. Travel motivation is challenging because of the different human needs. The purpose of travel is no more just business or pleasure. The tourist visitation patterns and the result of a destination choice pattern are influenced by the tourists’ motives and backgrounds. Tourist motivation can be defined "as the global integrating network of biological and cultural forces which gives value and direction to travel choices, behavior and experience" (Pearce, Morrison & Rutledge, 1998 cited by Espinoza). A desire for novelty and difference, the curiosity to remove the myths about exotic pl aces gives tourism a boost. Tourism ranges from Jerusalem to Bangkok and shapes politics, creates identities, and manufactures history. Today we hear of spiritual tourism, health tourism, nature tourism, casino tourism, sex tourism, dark or grief tourism, sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, space tourism and heritage tourism. This paper will discuss how different forms of tourism have come into existence to meet different needs of the tourists especially in the context of New York as a tourist destination. Market segmentation in the tourism industry is based on travel motivation factors. A study conducted on Switzerland as a destination revealed that the number of leisure trips that any person undertook and the duration of the trips have reduced. These have been related to significant time constraints in certain segments of the traveling public. This is an indication that Switzerland’s travel market has entered the maturity stage. It also demonstrates that

The Game Theory and Long Run Marginal Cost in Microeconomics Term Paper

The Game Theory and Long Run Marginal Cost in Microeconomics - Term Paper Example The mathematical analysis of these situations is called game theory and was originally developed by Von Neumann and Morgenstern in 1944. As the subject develops, it has gained acceptance, particularly in business, politics and with the military. In 1994 the Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded to Harsanyi, Nash, and Selten for their contributions to Game Theory. The second part of the paper involves the study of the long run marginal cost. The long-run marginal cost curve indicates the change in total cost resulting from a change in production when all inputs including capital and plant size are variable. This paper discusses the different cases of long-run cost curve with the categories of returns to scale. Here we only consider two person’s zero-sum games. These are games with two players normally called A and B wherein any play of the game the amount of As gain equals the amount of Bs loss (so the sum of both players gains is zero). We refer to As gain and Bs loss throughout the theory but naturally, B can win games so As "gain" is not always positive. Our object is to find the best strategy for each player. By a "best strategy" we mean that if A (say) deviates from this strategy then B can adapt Bs strategy to gain more than if A stuck to the best strategy. Pure Strategies: To solve the game we first of all look for a pure strategy. This occurs when the best strategy for each player is to choose the same option for all plays of the game. If there is a pure strategy, A plays i  and B play j (say), then the ijth element (the payoff to A per play) is called a saddle point. Mixed Strategies and Dominance: If there is no pure strategy then we look for a mixed strategy which means each player mixes their options in certain proportions. Solving the game means determining these proportions in this case.

Human Obesity is not Caused Merely by a Weak Will Essay

Human Obesity is not Caused Merely by a Weak Will - Essay Example The UK government in its Foresight programme (2007) recorded a rapid rise in the number of overweight and obese people in Britain, and at an average estimate predicted that by 2050 more than 50% of the UK adult population would become overweight or obese (Foresight, 2007, 5). The recent spurt in global obesity has led to the derivation of a number of factors related to environmental determinants of this epidemic, amongst which eating habits driven by food marketing and reduction in physical activities due to technological advancement, are considered the two major causes (the ‘Big Two’). Despite the popularity amongst of these two factors, it is necessary that other causal factors of obesity are also identified, since an overall understanding of all probable factors are necessary, in order to control this global health hazard.   Discussion Mechanisms that control human appetite or regulates feeding pattern For appropriate regulation of body weight, there must be a good coordination between intake of food and energy output. The current global epidemic of overweight and obesity is owing to the fact that energy requirements of a human are very near to his/her BMI, thus, allowing it to be easily crossed, making it necessary to focus on appetite control. This function of controlling feeding or appetite is performed by hypothalamus, located between pituitary and thalamus in the brain (Legg and Booth, 1994). Neuron clusters are present within the hypothalamus and one such cluster (arcuate nucleus), forms to be the appetite centre. The arcuate nucleus controls the hormones and metabolites through the vagus nerve, while regulating metabolism through the coordination of adipose tissue, intestines, kidneys, and liver activities. Hypothalamus, which controls feeding while coordinating it with appropriate amount of energy expenditure by the body is, therefore, indirectly responsible for maintaining body weight, by balancing physical activities with the amount the food to be eaten (Logue, 2004). Appetite centre is comprised of primary neurons (that control hormonal and metabolite levels), and secondary neurons that after receiving information from the primary neurons, regulate body functions. The primary neurons have cells that can stimulate hunger via production of agouti-related peptide or AgRP and neuropeptide or NPY. It is also comprised of cells that can supress hunger by production of proopiomelanocortin or POMC. Therefore, either activation of AgRP or NPY or stopping the production of POMC can bring about a feeling of hunger (Smith, 1998). Various hormones play major roles in control feeding via the appetite centre. One such hormone is ghrelin, which activates NPY/AgRP and stimulates hunger. The arcuate nucleus also reacts to the hormones leptin and insulin, and here it is seen that insulin suppresses appetite by stopping AgRP or NPY producing neurons and by activating POMC producing neurons. Leptin levels respond to the levels of body fat, and observations reveal that there is an increase in circulating levels of leptin within obese individuals (Schwartz and Morton, 2002). Leptin may suppress appetite by activating inhibitory neurons; however, the arcuate nucleus may also become leptin-resistant. Individuals who are overweight or obese are often seen to possess high levels of leptin, but arcuate nucleus often fails to respond to such high levels. Aberration in the

Satows Perception of the Meiji Revolution

Satows Perception of the Meiji Revolution Between 1853 and 1868, Japanese society underwent a profound and violent societal, economic, and cultural upheaval, the likes of which it had not seen in over 200 years. The ruling military government of Japan, the clan-pure Tokugawa Shogunate and its ancient feudal system of governance, disintegrated under internal pressure to reform to meet the challenges of the Industrial Age, embodied by foreign interests, particularly that of the United States and England, which used the threat of their military and technological superiority to force the Japanese to accept trade agreements. In doing so, the Shogunate wrote its final chapter and set the state for a return to power of the Emperor, a quasi-religious position which since the 1600s had been relegated to ceremonial duties as the spiritual godfather of Japan, while the Shogunate and its samurai warrior culture administered the country’s affairs. TheBritish Empire of the time was preoccupied initially with wars with Russia and China, but observed with keen interest the initial rumblings of discontent and reform within Japan, precipitated by the bold moves of the United States to establish relations with Japan. Once the British wars had been concluded and Americans had done the proverbial dirty advance work of opening Japan up, the British established their own presence within Japan as it underwent a rapid societal metamorphosis. Over time, various representatives of foreign governments, most notably the eminent British interpreter and diplomat Ernest Satow, went beyond active interest to active involveme nt in the internal affairs of the Japanese transformation from Tokugawa Shogunate rule to restoration of the power of the Emperor, known as the Meiji revolution. Some of this involvement was self-serving and destructive; some of it was noble, altruistic, and reflected a genuine appreciation and compassion for the Japanese and their unique, noble, and astonishingly complex culture. As with most chapters in history, it is often difficult to discern in retrospect where altruism and self-interest intersected and diverged; the history of Japan’swrenching introduction into the modern age is particularly messy, but only more fascinating for being as such. In order to explore this era, some chronological narrative is of course required, but a strictly linear structure is not necessarily the most effective way to approach the issues. Therefore, this dissertation will alternate between historical narrative and cultural explication, sometimes moving backwards and forwards in time, and indulging in anecdotal tangents as well as delvings into the personal histories of some of the players in question, all in hopes of painting a full and complex picture of the interlocking forces – Japanese, American, and British, which turned this tiny country upside down in the short space of 15 years and set the stage for its rise to global power. (A full investigation of the Japanese relations with Russia, China, and the Dutch could easily comprise a dissertation of its own, but we will limit most of our focus here to the often tragic, but often edifying interaction of the Japanese with the two aforementioned Western powers.) Lastly, it is importan t to note that no exploration of Japan’s relations with the West during the Tokugama Shogunate /Meiji Revolution era, or any era for that matter, is complete without dwelling occasionally in details of Japanese culture, which are alternately arcane and compelling. Such moments will be interwoven with the historical narratives and observations as required. In 1854, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened up Japan economically and culturally to the West for the first time. Up until this point in time, ancient Japanese law forbade trade with any foreign nations other than China and the Dutch, the latter of which were allowed to visit Japan twice a year to do business solely at the port of Nagasaki; even then, the foreigners’ presence was confined to the small island of Deshima. The signing of the treaty was a momentous occasion for both the United States and Japan, but it was not necessarily an egalitarian or mutually beneficial agreement, nor did both parties come to the signing ceremony of their own free will.Commodore Matthew Perry, representing the United States, essentially forced the Japanese into signing the treaty by virtue of the threat of his heavily armed four-warship fleet which arrived in Edo Bay (Tokyo’sharbor; Tokyo was known as Edo during Tokugawa Shogunate dynasty) – a port forbidden to foreigners in July 1853 and refused to depart until the Japanese consented to enter into a trade and peace agreement between the two nations. Perry was acting under orders from the highest authority in the United States, his Commander in Chief, President Millard Fillmore. Perry arrived bearing a letter fromPresident Fillmore to Emperor KÃ…Â mei (who reigned from 1831-1867 and was the 121st imperial ruler of Japan). The letter was an eager one, and contained several passages full of obsequious language: I entertain the kindest feelings toward your majestys person and government, and that I have no other object in sending [CommodorePerry] to Japan but to propose to your imperial majesty that the UnitedStates and Japan should live in friendship and have cornmercial intercourse with each other†¦ The Constitution and laws of the UnitedStates forbid all interference with the religious or political concerns of other nations. I have particularly charged Commodore Perry to abstain from every act which could possibly disturb the tranquility of your imperial majestys dominions†¦ We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial majestys acceptance of a few presents. They are of no great value in themselves, but some of them may serve as specimens of the articles manufactured in the United States, and they are intended as tokens of our sincere and respectful friendship.(Fillmore, 1852) However, the letter also contained notable amounts of braggadocioregarding the economic and technological might at the disposal of theUnited States: The [territories of the United States of America reach from ocean to ocean, and our Territory of Oregon and State of California lie directly opposite to the dominions of your imperial majesty. Our steamships can go from California to Japan in eighteen days†¦ Our great State of California produces about sixty millions of dollars in gold every year, besides silver, quicksilver, precious stones, and many other valuable article†¦ America, which is sometimes called the New World, was first discovered and settled by the Europeans. For a long time, there were but a few people, and they were poor. They have now become quite numerous; their commerce is very extensive. (Fillmore, 1852) The subtext was clear. Though polite and solicitous to almost comic fault, Fillmore made it clear that it was in Japan’s best interests to cooperate with the United States in opening itself up to foreign trade, or Japan might meet the same fate as Mexico, which the United States had obliterated and territorially eviscerated in a warning just four years prior to Perry’s visit to Japan. To punctuate the subtext of his letter, Fillmore did not send Perry across thePacific Ocean in a yacht armed only with flowers; Perry sailed into Yedo Bay with an unmistakable symbol of United States might, his state-of-the-art mini-fleet. Why the particular interest in Japan, a relatively small nation? Itwas strategically located, a gateway to the Far East, and influence over/in, and/or control of Japan would greatly expand American’smilitary and economic power. Japan was also a nation of important natural resources that could be used to feed the hungry monster of theWest’s burgeoning Industrial Revolution. As samurai scholar MarcelThach notes, â€Å"after the colonization of China, the Western Powers America in particular turned their eye towards Japan and saw a country rich with coal deposits, one which they could colonize and exploit as they had China and other East Asian nations such as India.†(Thach, 2002) The Japanese were initially unmoved by President Fillmore’s letter, leaving Commodore Perry to stew in the harbor with the expectation that he would simply tire and go home. This was not to be the case, however, as Perry quickly saw fit to turn up the proverbial heat on the Japanese by sending a letter of his own to the Emperor. In it, Perry reiterated some of the niceties expressed by President Fillmore, but then delivered some language of a level of candor to which the Japanese were not accustomed: [I] hope that the Japanese government will see the necessity of averting unfriendly collision between the two nations, by responding favourably to the propositions of amity, which are now made in all sincerity†¦ Many of the large ships-of-war destined to visit Japan have not yet arrived in these seas, though they are hourly expected; and the undersigned, as an evidence of his friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller ones, designing, should it become necessary, to return to Edo in the ensuing spring with a much larger force. (Perry, 7 July 1853) The Japanese remained unmoved, provoking Commodore Perry’s temper. Diplomatic subtleties were abandoned, and on July 14, 1853, he delivered an imperious admonishment accusing the Japanese of a sin against God, in effect, and threatened to fire upon the harbor:You have †¦ acted against divine principles and your sin cannot be greater than it is†¦ If you are still to disagree we would then take up arms and inquire into the sin against the divine principles†¦When one considers such an occasion†¦ one will realize the victory will naturally ours. (Perry, 14 July 1853) At this juncture, the virulent and ingrained xenophobia of the Japanese culture was forced to yield to common sense. The Japanese had no navy to speak of, and though Perry’s four ships were unlikely to comprise enough force to cause the Japanese to comply, the threat of an imminent arrival of a bona fide armada induced the Japanese to capitulate and sign the treaty of Kanagawa. (In the wake of the capitulation, the Japanese dispatched an order to their Dutch trading partners to commission the building of a warship, which was named theKanrin-maru and was 49 meters in length, with 12 canons and three masts. It was delivered somewhat belatedly in 1857, but was put to good use as a military training vessel.) It is important to pause here to explicate the amorphous term â€Å"the Japanese.† At the time of Perry’s arrival in Tokyo, Japan was indeed technically ruled by an Emperor, but he was largely a spiritual and traditional figurehead who wielded minimal political power. The locus of decision-making was controlled by a chief shà ´gun (which in Japanese means â€Å"great general†), a direct descendent of Tokugawa leyasu, who in1603 defeated rival warlords to bring a semblance of organizational coherence to a Japanese society dominated by the fractious conflicts between feudal warlords. (In fact, the Tokugawa Shogunate, as the organization came to be known, ruled in relative peace for the next 250 years in what was called the Edo Period, after the ancient name for the city of Tokyo.) From 1603 on, the chief shà ´gun henceforth always carried the Tokugawa clan title, and maintained power by executing rivals and replacing them with family members and trusted allies, w ho were forbidden to marry outside the Tokugawa clan and allowed to rule their individual local dominions with a relatively free and arbitrary hand as long as they loyally served the chief shà ´gun. Furthermore, all other shà ´guns and feudal lords were forced to attend a grand gathering in Tokyo / Edo every other year under the watchful eye of the Tokugawas hà ´gun, where loyalties were reinforced and tested, and suspected traitors ferreted out. Additionally, other lords were required to keep heirs or wives in Tokyo while they were administering to their duties in their respective feudal domains, which was another powerful tool of the Tokugawa clan to maintain its control. A strict hierarchical caste system had also established by the Tokugawa Shogunate; atop this pyramid was the infamous warrior class of the samurai, the subjects of much awe and reverence among Western cultures. Below the samurai were farmers, artisans, and traders. Meanwhile, the Emperor himself resided in Kyoto, accompanied by a few servants and bureaucrats to tend to his ceremonial needs, but he exercised virtually no governing power at all. It was under this repressive cloak that the xenophobic culture ofJapan was cultivated and its restrictive trade policies enacted into law. The third in the Tokugawa shà ´gun lineage, Tokugawa Iemitsu, established the rules forbidding almost all foreign trade and interaction. Only inbound trading ships were permitted, and of the visitors, the Dutch and the Chinese were the only ones allowed. This was not merely an exercise in preserving Japanese culture purity, however. Tokugawa Iemitsu was keenly concerned with maintaining his clans power over the opposing feudal warlords, and he knew that cultural, religious, military, and economic influences from other countries could destabilize the already precarious balance of power.The economic and cultural modernization and maturation within the large cities was, by the 19th century, starting to create conflict within the caste system, which began to teeter under the weight of its own stubborn antiquity. This was the complex environment into which Commodore Perry sailed his four ships in July 1853: a paranoid, secretive, and warlike culture steeped in Byzantine traditions but also militarily and technologically steeped in the past, and thus unable to defend its sovereignty. The forced signing of the treaty was the beginning of a long road of resentment towards the United States and the West that culminated in Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In the immediate meantime, however, the Treaty of Kanagawa was finally signed on March 31, 1854 after Commodore Perry’s return toJapan. It stipulated that the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate would be opened to American ships seeking supplies, that American sailors who had been shipwrecked would be rescued and well-treated, and agreed that an American consulate would be established in Shimoda for the purposes of negotiating a further and more comprehensive trade agreement. This treaty was the beginning of a succession of agreements forced upon the Japanese that brought about a great influx of foreign investment, trade, and business into Japan, but the economic effects of this phenomenon were not all salutary. One such deleterious effect was massive inflation of the Japanese currency. The caste system under the Tokugawa Shogunate mandated a rigid system of taxation on the peasantry; the taxes were fixed and not fairly tied to inflation or other economic vagaries, and thus the taxe s gathered by the rulingshà ´guns fell steeply in the wake of the Treaty of Kanagawa, causing ironic clashes between the well-to-do working class and their rulers.Arguably better warriors than macro-economists, the shà ´gun were unable to curtail this inflation, and the resultant economic instability and hardships inflicted on the Japanese people caused a popular unrest that could not be quelled for very long, and fact led to civil war. By1867, the Shogunate had been overthrown in what became known as the Meiji Rebellion, which restored the Emperor to true power beyond the ceremonial, and brought about a thorough reform of the organization of Japanese government and society. One of the intermediary steps on the way to the weakening of the Shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor’s rule was another treaty between the United States, The Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between theUnited States and Japan, better known historically as the Treaty of Townsend Harris, named after the persistent American diplomat who persuaded the Japanese to sign it. As alluded to previously, the Treaty of Kanagawa had stipulated the creation of an American Consulate in Japan, which would open up negotiations on the specifics of trade negotiation. President Franklin Pierce, who had replaced President Fillmore in March 1853, dispatched Townsend Harris from New York in November 1855 to establish the Consulate and coax the Japanese into actual trade, not simply the intent to trade. Harris arrived in Shimoda in August 1856, having cannily brought along a Dutch-speaking secretary and interpreter named Henry Heuksen to facilitate the difficult and delicate nuances of discourse with the Japanese.However, the Japanese, in a typical stalling maneuver, asked Harris to leave and return in a year. He refused; the Japanese asked him to proceed to Nagasaki, which he declined to do; then, in a final – and rather creative – attempt to rid themselves of Harris, they asked him to write a letter back to the President James Buchanan (who had succeeded Pierce in the November 1856 election) requesting a cancellation of his diplomatic mission. The indefatigable Harris refused this request as well, and eventually the Japanese allowed him to set up an office at the port of Shimoda. Nonetheless, they continued to stonewall Harris by referring any request or question, whether trivial or consequential, to the Emperor’s palace in Edo.Harris demanded an audience with the shà ´gun in the capital, but over a year passed before Harris received permission to travel to Edo. Harris did not sit idly by, however; he used the intervening time to cultivate favor and good will with the powers-that-were in Shimoda, the local members of the Tokugawa bafuku. (Bafuku is a Japanese word loosely translated to mean â€Å"tent government† and is an arm, during this historical period, of the Tokugawa Shogunate) Harris was well aware that the British had paid a visit to the Japanese in 1854 that did not go well and left a bitter taste in the proverbial mouths of both parties. The British, mired in a conflict with the Russians that led to the Crimean War (1854-1856) had dispatched Sir James Stirling fromChina in 1855 to request that the Japanese deny Russian ships access to their ports and attempt to secure some sort of initial trade understanding with the Japanese. Stirling did conclude a treaty, but it was hopelessly vague and of limited utility, in part because of an incompetent translator (a hitch keenly noted by Harris) and was sent on his way. The British l urched from the Crimean War to the Second OpiumWar with China in 1856, distracting them from immediate focus on Japan,but Harris correctly surmised it would only be a matter of time before the British turned their attention to Japan again, and used it, albeit with some fictional license, as leverage in his negotiations against the Japanese. Despite managing to offend the chief shogun, the aged TokugawaIesada, and his Court by wearing shoes during his visit to the Palace in Edo in December 1857, Harris’ otherwise impeccable statesmanship impressed the Shogunate sufficiently that they gave their blessing for the treaty negotiations, and they gave permission for Bakufu GrandCouncillor Hotta Masayoshi, with whom Harris had been negotiating, to continue working with Harris to complete the treaty. Harris immediately set to work convincing Masayoshi with a combination of exaltations of American good intentions and fears of an inevitable British arrival on Japanese soil which would demand treaty terms far less generous than that ‘suggested’ by the American. Specifically, Harris preyed on the fears of the Japanese that the only thing standing between Japan and the imperial pressure of the British was their soon-to-be-concluded war against China. The Japanese had long heldChina in a place of cultural reverence in the Far East and had been profoundly shocked at the relative ease with which the French and British were defeating the Chinese in the Second Opium War. Aware of this, naturally, Harris used it to his advantage. In his December 12, 1857 audience with Masayoshi, Harris had this to say: On my way to Japan I met the English governor of Hong-Kong, JohnBowring, who told me that he was about to be appointed an ambassador to go to Japan, and I have received four letters from him since my arrival in Japan. Our conversation was of course private, but in his letters he discusses Japanese Government matters. He says he intends to bring with him a larger fleet than the Japanese have ever seen, and anchor at Yedo, {Edo] where the discussions will be carried on. He says also that Yedo is the only place to hold consultation with the Japanese; that his object is, first, to get permission for a minister or agent of England to reside in Yedo, and, secondly, to get permission to carry on free trade at several places in Japan. If these two things are not granted war will be declared at once. The sending of this ambassador he says is delayed by the war in China. He said he would be in Yedo in the third month, but he has been detained by the war. (Harris, 1857) In another dramatic touch, Harris also asserted that the British intended to addict the entirety of the Japanese population to opium: It appears that the English think the Japanese are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also. If a man use opium once he cannot stop it, and it becomes a life-long habit to use opium; hence the English want to introduce it into Japan. The President of theUnited States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war. (Harris, 1857) What Harris neglected to mention was that in truth, the British were loathe to try to force an opening into Japan at this particular juncture in time. They had squandered vast military and political capital in pursuit of their war with China, and there was domestic unrest to contend with as well: Despite popular perceptions of British imperialism at this period, official British policy was in fact against the use of force in opening up Japan and British Ministers were mindful of humanitarian considerations that might lead to criticism in Parliament. They instructed British representatives to avoid provocative acts and the threat or use of force. (Cortazzi, 1999) Nonetheless, Harris then went on to claim that the United States had studiously avoided joining Britain in the war against China, despite the fact that newly elected President Buchanan was a veteran diplomat and former Secretary of State who, in his former diplomatic position,and now, as President-elect, was actively working towards mending old grievances with Britain. Harris suggested that if the Japanese come to mutually satisfactory terms with the United States, particularly with respect to the issue of opium trade – Harris suggested that the Japanese could burn any opium which American traders might bring to ports in the future – then in effect, the United States would form a defacto protective buffer between Japan and the European powers, and at the very least, treaty terms with Britain or France could be no worse for the Japanese than the benevolent terms of a treaty with the UnitedStates. In fact, the treaty proposed (in Article II) that in any dispute between Ja pan and European powers, the United States president would serve as mediator. Hotta Masayoshi was no fool, and despite the fact that the Shogunate had responded to Commodore Perry’s presence by commissioning military vessels from its Dutch trading partners, Masayoshi knew the Japanese had little choice at this particular juncture in time but to accede toHarris’ terms. Negotiations on Treaty of Townsend Harris were concluded in February 1858 and the treaty was signed on July 29, 1858.(Ironically, Commodore Perry died in New York City the same day.)Harris, never one to miss an opportunity for some patriotic public relations, ensured that the treaty was stipulated to take effect on July 4, 1859, on American Independence Day. Little did the Japanese know that they had taken another ominous step towards the erosion of their own cultural-economic independence. The treaty provided for the opening of four additional ports to American trading ships: Kanagawa and Nagasaki, on July 4, 1859;Niigata, on the January 1, 1860; and Hyogo, on the January 1, 1863; the port of Shimoda would be closed to American beginning in January 1860.Starting on July 4, 1862, Americans would also be allowed to take up residence in Edo. It provided for tariffs to be applied to American goods imported into Japan and exported to the United States, and forbade the trade of opium between the Unites States and Japan. The tariffs – unsurprisingly favored imported American products with a five percent tax on most goods and raw materials. The treaty stipulated that this tariff was fixed until the treaty came up for revision and renegotiation in 1872, sowing the seeds for the economic instability, alluded to above, that led to the downfall of the Shogunate. In particularly surprising concession, the treaty stipulated that Americans in Japan would be allowed free exerc ise of their religious beliefs, which extended to permission to construct places of worship. This was a significant break with Japanese tradition, which had long been steeped with animosity towardsChristianity. In fact, Christianity was essentially forbidden, andHarris had taken a considerable personal risk by making a show of his Christian beliefs when he visited the Shogunate in Edo in 1858.Despite a clause in the treaty that seemed to forbid Christian proselytizing (â€Å"The Americans and Japanese shall not do anything that may be calculated to excite religious animosity† (Article VII), the influx of Christianity into the Japanese homeland was deeply offensive to many traditionalist and contributed to the erosion of support for the Shogunate. Another interesting stipulation of the treaty is that diplomatic envoys from Japan would be sent to the United States for the purposes of cultural exchange and for a ‘formal’ treaty-signing ceremony. Three Japanese were selected for the journey: Shimmi Masaoki, the senior ambassador, who was only 35 years of age; Oguri Tadamasu, who carried the title of ‘official inspector’ for the diplomatic mission; andMurgaki Norimasa, who kept a detailed diary of the delegation’s visit.Each were samurai warriors, consistent with the ruling class from which they came, and knew next to nothing of American culture or the peculiarities of Western culture, much less the American government;for example, the Japanese found it bizarre that the Americans had gone through three elected leaders in a peaceful transition of power between the time Commodore Perry had paid his infamous visit and the Japanese delegation left to visit the United States. In an attempt to show stren gth and regal power, the three Japanese did not travel alone –their party numbered 77, including six cooks, 51 guards and servants, three doctors, and three interpreters. It was quite a showcase: On February 13, 1860, the ambassadors and their staff sailed from Yokohama with 50 tons of Japanese baggage (including the treaty in its special box), 100,000 readily negotiable Mexican dollars, and a large supply of Japanese food. Appropriately, perhaps, the vessel that carried them from Japan to San Francisco was the navy frigate Powhatan, one of the steam-powered paddle-wheelers Perry had employed inopening Japan. (Finn, 2002) The America into which the Japanese were received in May 1860, was teetering on the precipice of a civil war which would forever alter its destiny, mirroring the dark seeds of revolution which were germinating back home in Japan. To say that the Japanese experienced culture shock was an understatement; it was a precursor to the shocks that would reverberate through Japanese culture in their homeland due to the floodgates of external Western cultural influence that were being opened by the Harris Townsend Treaty that the Japanese envoys signed with President Buchanan on May 18. Upon their return home in November 1860, the Japanese delegation was greeted coolly, as the elements in the Shogunate that had approved the treaty had begun to fall from favor. Murgaki Norimasa and ShimmiMasaoki received promotions but were soon forced into retirement.Oguri Tadamasu went on to become a powerful military leader for theShogunate, but he refused to accept their downfall and the eventual re-ascension of the Emperor; he and his son were executed in 1868. The interior map of Japanese political and cultural power was a tumultuous mess by the time the delegation returned to Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate had splintered into two warring factions due to the controversy regarding the signings of the two treaties with the UnitedStates and fears of imminent meddling by the British into Japanese affairs. Tokugawa Iesada had become an old and infirm man and was barely able to carry out his duties during the negotiations over the Townsend Harris Treaty. Compounding the fractious debate over whether or not to agree to the treaty was a struggle brewing over who would succeed Iesada, as Iesada had no natural heir. The two leading contenders were Tokugawa Yoshinobu (aka Keiki), and a 12-year old boy, the Daimyo of Kii. In an attempt to solidify the ebbing power of the Tokugawa clan and to end the debate over the the treaty signings, the latter of which he had brokered, Hotta Masayoshi broke with precedent and traveled to Kyoto to visit Emperor Komei to seek his approval for the Harris Treaty and for the ascension of the Daimyo of Kii to head the Shogunate. Unfortunately for Hotta, his gamble backfired. TheEmperor communicated his unhappiness with the treaties and refused to offer his support for Tokugawa Yoshinobu / Keiki. Hotta was humiliated and was replaced in April 1858 by Ii Naosuke, who was appointedTokugawa Regent, making him the effective military leader of Japan and head of the shogun council. Ii immediately approved the Townsend Harris Treaty, effectively snubbing the Emperor, which caused a widespread rebellion amongst Imperial Japanese loyalists who literally revered the Emperor as a god and who viewed action against his wishes to be a mortal sin.Undaunted, Ii then proceeded to arbitrarily appointed the boy Daimyo of Kii as the Shogunate heir, spawning a massive rebellion. Those who opposed his sanctioning of the Treaty and/or his appointment of theShogunate heir were executed en masse, in a bloodbath dubbed the AnseiPurge. Being of tender age, naturally, the Daimyo of Kii – who assumed the name Tokugawa Iemochi was unable to assert his sovereign will or assume his duties, leaving Ii firmly entrenched in power, or so he thought. His rule did not last long; he was beheaded by anti-foreigner, pro-Emperor elements in March 1860. After Ii was assassinated, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who had been Tokugawa Iemochi’searlier rival for the position of Shogun, assumed eff ective control of the Shogunate by assuming a position of power similar to the one held by Ii and Hotta before him. After Tokugawa Iemochi’s death in 1866, Tokugawa Yoshinobu assumed the official ceremonial title and power of Shogun. He was to be the fifteenth and last Shogun in Japanese history. Certainly, the arrival of the Americans and the treaties they forced upon the Shogunate were a leading cause of their downfall, but the Shogunate was already weakening under its own antiquated weight by the time Commodore Perry arrived in Japan in 1853. Though very stable and consistent, the philosophy and structure of the Shogunate government was change-averse to a fault; it was 200 years old, and had simply outlived its usefulness: The simple concept of the division of classes into rulers, warriors and commoners had little relation to Japan of the 19th century with its teeming cities, rich merchants, restless samurai, and discontent peasantry†¦ Despite the division of the land into a large number of feudal fiefs, the people had developed a strong sense of national consciousness. The growth of nationalism and the development of a modern commercial economy had made Japan ready for the more efficient political forms of the modern nation. (Norman, 1940) To some degree, the nationalism of the Japanese was reflective of the psychology of isolation, i.e., the Japanese,