Friday, March 20, 2020

A Background of the Civil War Essay

A Background of the Civil War Essay A Background of the Civil War Essay Civil War Background In the mid-19th century, while the United States was experiencing an era of tremendous growth, a fundamental economic difference existed between the country's northern and southern regions. While in the North, manufacturing and industry was well established, and agriculture was mostly limited to small-scale farms, the South's economy was based on a system of large-scale farming that depended on the labor of black slaves to grow certain crops, especially cotton and tobacco. Growing abolitionist sentiment in the North after the 1830s and northern opposition to slavery's extension into the new western territories led many southerners to fear that the existence of slavery in americaand thus the backbone of their economywas in danger. In 1854, the U.S. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which essentially opened all new territories to slavery by asserting the rule of popular sovereignty over congressional edict. Pro- and anti-slavery forces struggled violently in "Bleeding Kansas," while opposition to the act in the North led to the formation of the Republican Party, a new political entity based on the principle of opposing slavery's extension into the western territories. After the Supreme Court's ruling in the Dred Scott case (1857) confirmed the legality of slavery in the territories, the abolitionist John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry in 1859 convinced more and more southerners that their northern neighbors were bent on the destruction of the "peculiar institution" that sustained them. Lincoln's election in November 1860 was the final straw, and within three months seven southern statesSouth Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texashad seceded from the United States. Outbreak of the Civil War (1861) Even as Lincoln took office in March 1861, Confederate forces threatened the federal-held Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. On April 12, after Lincoln ordered a fleet to resupply Sumter, Confederate artillery fired the first shots of the Civil War. Sumter's commander, Major Robert Anderson, surrendered after less than two days of bombardment, leaving the fort in the hands of Confederate forces under Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Four more southern statesVirginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennesseejoined the Confederacy after Fort Sumter. Border slave states like Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland did not secede, but there was much Confederate sympathy among their citizens. Though on the surface the Civil War may have seemed a lopsided conflict, with the 23 states of the Union enjoying an enormous advantage in population, manufacturing (including arms production) and railroad construction, the Confederates had a strong military tradition, along with some of the best soldiers and commanders in the nation. They also had a cause they believed in: preserving their long-held traditions and institutions, chief among these being slavery. In the First Battle of Bull Run (known in the South as First Manassas) on July 21, 1861, 35,000 Confederate soldiers under the command of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson forced a greater number of Union forces (or Federals) to retreat towards Washington, D.C., dashing any hopes of a quick Union victory and leading Lincoln to call for 500,000 more recruits. In fact, both sides' initial call for troops had to be widened after it became clear that the war would not be a limited or short conflict. The Civil War in Virginia (1862) George B. McClellanwho replaced the aging General Winfield Scott as supreme commander of the Union Army after the first months of the warwas beloved by his troops, but his reluctance to advance frustrated Lincoln. In the spring of 1862, McClellan finally led his Army of the Potomac up the peninsula between the York and James Rivers, capturing

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

10 Dream Jobs That Come With a Huge Paycheck

10 Dream Jobs That Come With a Huge Paycheck It’s very important to pick a job that makes you happy and keeps you fulfilled. Every career expert will tell you this is what makes a satisfying career. But most people also want to be successful. And why can’t you have both? There are dream jobs out there that will make you financially comfortable and emotionally fulfilled.Here are 10 good places to start.1. Petroleum EngineerProbably not your first thought, but these jobs have a median pay of almost $110k and employees report a high satisfaction rate. These jobs are also currently in high demand.2. DentistIf you can get through all the school and training required, you might find this career to be intensely rewarding- on all fronts. Your work is part medicine, part engineering, and part artistry. The hours are good; you’re in control of your schedule. And you’re literally making people smile. Median pay? Around $130k.3. SurgeonSurgeons are extremely  well paid. Sure, they have to go through a ton of e xpensive schooling and training and licensing to get where they are, but once they’re there, they make almost $300k per year in median pay. Neurosurgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons make even more.4. PediatricianIf you’re going the medical route and feel that you really would like to work with children, then this might be a good route. Median salary is about $147k and you get the satisfaction of helping to heal the whole family. Or you could make about the same and go into Obstetrics and Gynecology- with satisfaction rates almost equal,  or even become a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife).5. AnesthesiologistOne last job in health care: anesthesiologists do crucial work in surgical settings but don’t do any of the slicing and dicing. Their median pay is nearly $300k.6. Product ManagerProduct Managers need a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or another field. They lead the teams advertising a product and liaise with the public or target audience. Youâ⠂¬â„¢ll want to make sure you’re passionate about the product first, and that you have the required experience. Average salary: about $120k.7. VP of SalesTo be the VP of anything is probably a lucrative bet- and will require a great deal of working your way up. But everyone needs to have a goal, right? You can net an average salary well over $150k and be a major part of your company.8. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)Chief Technology Officers make an average salary of about $150k. They need a Bachelor’s degree in IT or Business/Finance, but they are really instrumental in making sure a company runs smoothly.9. Account ManagerYou’ll need a Bachelor’s degree in Business or Accounting or another related field, though entry-level positions might only require an Associate’s. But if you’re meticulous and have strong finance skills, this could be a great career for you.10. Senior Software EngineerIf you’re good with computers, this could be th e gig for you. The average salary is over $90k per year, and you get to be in charge of making sure the technology in your company runs the way it’s supposed to.