The American Constitution, A Staple Of Modern Democracy.

The American Constitution, a staple of modern democracy. The shining jewel of how a country is supposed to be run effectively. In the 220+ years that this country has been founded, the powers of the federal government have grown exponentially. The Framers, influential white men from the original 13 colonies(minus Rhode Island), consisted of those who wanted a strong central government and those for strong state rights. Together, through a series of compromises, the Framers created the original unamend Constitution. Once sent out to the states for ratification, it was sent back to include the civil liberties that every citizen has, The Bill of Rights. After four years, the Constitution was ratified, and became the law of the new†¦show more content†¦The Articles failed to lead the country through war debts, multistate and international trade agreements, and Shay’s Rebellion. Like any war, the American Revolution was very expensive to have, especially on their own turf. The country borrowed money from the richer states in the form of war bonds, and when it was time to pay up, the country did not have the money, and defaulted on repayment. Congress did have the ability to create coin, but no ability to back it up. Plus, without having access to tax (the states kept rejecting Congress’s proposal), there was no way to raise revenue. After the war was over, multiple states made trade agreements with different, and at times, conflicting countries. This was a dangerous game, because as states in the same ‘unified’ country, a foreign entity may see one state trading with a country that they do not associate with, and another state may miss out on that trade opportunity that might benefit the country as a whole. The catalyst that brought the entire Articles down is Shay’s Rebellion. 1500 farmers marched to the Massachusetts capital to ensure the state does not close their mortgages, and the state government was too broke to must er up an army. After the other states refusal to help, Massachusetts had to use private funds to pay an army to put it down. All in all the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, which led the Founders having to come together(O’Connor 32-34).Show MoreRelatedInnovation on American Soil 865 Words   |  4 Pagescreative and forward-thinking might. With many of the most commonly used pieces of technology having their origins in the United States, it is safe to say that every generation of America has changed the world with their brilliant minds. Innovating on American soil actually began long before America did. â€Å"On March 6, 1646, Joseph Jenckes received the first mechanical patent in North America. Issued by the General Court of Massachusetts, it protected his mill for manufacturing scythes† (â€Å"US Patent History†)Read MoreAge Of Enlightenment755 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States of America and France, encouraging the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment brought about a new age of philosophical and intellectual thinkers, such as John Locke, which helped shape and influence modern government and politics. John Locke is recognized as the father of classical liberalism, introducing the Two Treatises of Government, Social Contract, and private property, which formed the basis for the constitutions in westernized democratic powers such as the UnitedRead MoreThe Importance Of Freedom In America1256 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom has been present in American literature and American history ever since this country was formed. Ever since the colonists declared independence from England, freedom has been the staple of America and it continues to be as many people leave their homes and come to our country just to seek it. The Declaration of Independence started the need for freedom and later documents such as What Is The Fourth of July to a Negro continued the prospect of everyone deserving freedom in America. EveryoneRead MoreRacism And Discrimination : America s Justice System1301 Words   |  6 Pagesvictim to. America s justice system by our constitution intends to provide justice for all; however, I believe that racial profiling continues to deter from that goal because of its negative inflictions by our structural law enforcement, society, and cultural upbringing. Native American, Caucasians, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic is all vastly discriminated when we as people, consider race as a viable indicator of weakness. Native Americans are seen as people whose pre-Columbian ancestorsRead MoreIslam : A Threat Of America And The Western World2353 Words   |  10 PagesThis paper also discusses the history of Islam, its founding, what it it teaches, and how the religion has affected the world since its origin. The paper goes on to show incompatibilities that Islam has with the western world, whether that may be democracy or individual rights. Further, the dangers of Islamic immigration to the western world is made clear. Especially how immigration has changed and what that means in terms of the morals and values of the immigrants. This paper goes on to compare IslamRead MoreApush: Chapters 1-5 Study Guide1946 Words   |  8 Pagesof the native Americans [book our documents] Early settlements in North America - prior to Columbus [generalization of what they were like] Influence of horses on Native Americans Chesapeake the Lower South: Early settlement conditions – disease ridden small settlements originally established for the discovery of gold and profit. Not intended to become long term and inhabited by mainly young single men with few women or families. Jamestown relationship with Native Americans before De LaRead MoreHugo Chavez and Venezuela Essay1210 Words   |  5 PagesVenezuela’s political prospects changed in 1999 when Hugo Chavez became president. Starting his presidency, Chavez created a new constitution for Venezuela, and the country’s name was changed to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Since then, the country had a total change as it underwent a system of socialism, as the oil company and many other private businesses were nationalized. In this socialist system, revenues generated from the oil industry were invested in social programs to helpRead MorePolitical Dynasty2453 Words   |  10 Pageshave wielded some influence in their communities, and patronage politics was a common undertaking. After the  Philippine-American War, the  United States  colonial authorities took under their wings these  Illustrados  to join the democratic process. During this period, family names such as  Cojuangcos,  Lopezes,  Marcoses,  Osmeà ±as  and  Aquinos  became household names. The 1987  Constitution of the Philippines  states in Article II Section 26,  The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for publicRead MoreThe Age of Enlightenment Essay2088 Words   |  9 Pageschallenged the inequality between the kings and their people, and tried to establish a sound system of ethics. The ideas behind the Enlightenment were shared through multiple media such as literature and art, and those ideas provided the framework for the American and French Revolutions, as well as giving rise to multiple genres of art such as the Rococo and Neoclassical styles along with the Romanticist style that went against Enlightenment ideals. One reason as to why the Enlightenment came about accordingRead MoreThe Electoral College Should Be Abolished2593 Words   |  11 PagesEvery 4 years, our country makes an incredibly important decision. We vote for the person who will represent the US in all domestic and international affairs; The President. Currently, we have many troops in Iraq fighting to help them establish a democracy. We are giving the citizens a right to vote, a privilege that many people claim we are lucky to have. In actuality, how democratic is our system overall? What many people dont realize or care to face, is we dont directly vote for our president

Drunk Driving Persuasive Speech Essay - 629 Words

Kendra Lopez Comms 101 7/22/2012 Prof. Perkins Persuasive Speech I. Attention 1. You tube video clip, â€Å"Dedicated to Loved Ones Lost† 2. Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2011.) II. Central Thesis Drunk driving is an epidemic that continues to have severe and life threatening consequences for those involved, if we simply take a few steps against drunk driving we can help decrease this epidemic. III. Body A. Need: Drunk driving occurs everyday, and many lives are taken because of one person choice. 1. Every 52 minutes on average, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash (10,288 people in total in 2012).†¦show more content†¦1. We all need to make a conscience effect to plan ahead. 2. Stop letting people drive drunk because you think someone else is going to say something. 3. Never let anyone leave your house drunk because you are responsible for that person’s actions when they cant make them. IV. Conclusion In conclusion we have learned about some of the statistics that play apart in drunk driving. We have talked about ways that us as individuals can make to help prevent others from drinking and driving. Everyone is always outraged about hearing about a drunk driving incident that happens, but are you going to step up and help prevent the next one that could happen or are you going to sit back and hope someone else speaks up for you. V. Sources CDC. Impaired Driving: Get the Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 23 July 2012. lt;http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Impaired_Driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.htmlgt;. Drinking and Driving.org. Drunk Driving Statistics. Drinking And Driving .Org. Drinking and Driving .org, Web. 23 July 2012. lt;http://www.drinkinganddriving.org/gt;. NHTSA. Impaired Driving. Home. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2011. Web. 23 July 2012. lt;http://www.nhtsa.gov/Impairedgt;. U.S. Department of Transportation. About Drunk Driving. MADD - About Drunk Driving. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 23Show MoreRelatedPersuasive Speech1777 Words   |  8 PagesPersuasive speech outline purpose: To persuade my audience to donate blood through the American Red Cross. Introduction: 1. Did you know that blood donated to the American Red Cross saves XXX lives per year? 2. People should give blood because it is easy and though there might be a little pain involved it is worth it because it saves so many lives and you get great snacks. Body: I. Giving blood is easy a. It only takes about an hour b. You just lay back and let the nurses do the work c. ItRead MoreEffects of Alcoholism on the Human Health and Social Life837 Words   |  3 Pageshealth and social life General purpose/objective The speech is aimed at highlighting the negative effects that excessive intake of alcohol and habitual alcoholism can have on the social aspects of a person and the health repercussions of the aforementioned behavior. The content of the speech is largely informative and in very small part persuasive for people to reconsider their drinking habits. Specific purpose The specific objective of the speech is to give informative facts about the negative effectsRead MoreEssay on Legalizing Marijuana-Persuasive Outline941 Words   |  4 PagesBilly Bob Joe Good Example Persuasive Speech Outline Purpose: To persuade my audience to: support the legalization of marijuana, because of it being able to provide many medical as well as economic benefits for the United States if legalized. Thesis Statement: Marijuana has been regarded as a harmful plant that can endanger lives and is thought to be nothing more than an extra problem to be dealt with in today’s society. However, based on its economic value and medical benefits, theRead MoreDrinking Culture and American Social Norms1318 Words   |  6 PagesSPEECH #3 – PERSUASIVE SPEECH Name: DANIEL C. DILIGENT Title: Lowering the Legal Drinking Age Specific Purpose: To argue in favor of lowering the minimum legal drinking age in the United States. Thesis Statement: I will discuss 1) the current legal drinking age, 2) the effect that this drinking age has upon American social norms, and 3) the potential benefits of a lower drinking age. I. INTRODUCTION A. Hook: Alcohol is ever-present in today’s American society. Television viewers are constantly bombardedRead MoreLowering the Drinking Age Would Reduce Tragedies and Secrets Essay1302 Words   |  6 PagesPersuasive Speech Outline I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Gordy Bailey, was an 18 year old freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder, after being at the university for only one month he joined a fraternity and had to undergo initiation where he had to drink 10 gallons on alcohol in 30 minutes. After going through this Bailey was incapacitated and was left alone to die on a sofa at the Frat house because nobody called for help. The members of the Fraternity ceased to call for helpRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline2793 Words   |  12 PagesSamples of Persuasive speech Outline SAMPLE 1 From the time we wake up in the morning to the moment we lay are head down at night, we are constantly making choices. Some take a conscious effort, some should, and some do not. Have you ever taken the time to really stop and think if you’re giving the correct amount of attention to the right choice? I’m here today to ask you to be more conscious of what you eat. I’m going to discuss health reasons, effect of food advertisements, reading foodRead MoreOutline Of A Thesis Statement3601 Words   |  15 Pagesbutts. PURPOSE 1) To catch the attention and interest of the readers so that they want to read on 2) To reveal the topic of the paragraph/essay and perhaps the manner in which it will be developed (compare/contrast, classification, definition, persuasive, etc.). It will also set the tone of the writing: serious, humorous, sarcastic, etc. METHODS 1) Start with a startling statement, fact, or statistic which will arrest the readers attention to surprise, horrify, anger, or amuse them into readingRead MoreSubliminal Advertising : Subliminal Advertisement2704 Words   |  11 Pagessubliminal ads. This does not sound like something that should happen, does it. But the truth is that if these ads were truly successful, government agencies would by now have successfully used this technique to eliminate child abuse drug addiction, drunk driving, tax evasion, etc. (Subliminal Advertising). Some psychologists are suspicious of the claims, while some are convinced fully with no doubt. Subliminal Advertising as consumers know it today was introduced in 1957 with the publication of a bookRead MoreLegal Studies Crime Notes7101 Words   |  29 Pagesto warrant a trial. If there is sufficient evidence then a trial with a judge and jury will occur. Usually heard in the district court and higher. * Summary Offences - A summary offence is a less serious charge, such as shop stealing or drink driving. These cases are heard by a magistrate in a local court, without a jury. Summary offences are brought on a charge called a ‘summons’ and carry penalties of no greater than two years in prison. All society is the victim: The criminal act is seen asRead MoreHistory of Common Law9609 Words   |  39 Pagescivil code. * Common law It is made by judges in court applying knowledge and common sense of legal precedent to the facts presented. There is no major codification of the law, and judicial precedents (= authority) are binding as opposed to persuasive. The idea of the common sense is applied in all the legal system of English law. Binding precedent relies on the legal principle of stare decisis (â€Å"to stand by things decided†) gt; judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior

Chapter 1 Owl Post Free Essays

Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. We will write a custom essay sample on Chapter 1 Owl Post or any similar topic only for you Order Now And he also happened to be a wizard. It was nearly midnight, and he was lying on his stomach in bed, the blankets drawn right over his head like a tent, a flashlight in one hand and a large leather-bound book (A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot) propped open against the pillow. Harry moved the tip of his eagle-feather quill down the page, frowning as he looked for something that would help him write his essay, ‘Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless — discuss.’ The quill paused at the top of a likely looking paragraph. Harry pushed his round glasses up the bridge of his nose, moved his flashlight closer to the book, and read: Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognizing it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame-Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught no less than forty-seven times in various disguises. Harry put his quill between his teeth and reached underneath his pillow for his inkbottle and a roll of parchment. Slowly and very carefully he unscrewed the ink bottle, dipped his quill into it, and began to write, pausing every now and then to listen, because if any of the Dursleys heard the scratching of his quill on their way to the bathroom, he’d probably find himself locked in the cupboard under the stairs for the rest of the summer. The Dursley family of Number Four, Privet Drive, was the reason that Harry never enjoyed his summer holidays. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and their son, Dudley, were Harry’s only living relatives. They were Muggles, and they had a very medieval attitude toward magic. Harry’s dead parents, who had been a witch and wizard themselves, were never mentioned under the Dursleys’ roof. For years, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had hoped that if they kept Harry as downtrodden as possible, they would be able to squash the magic out of him. To their fury, they had not been unsuccessful. These days they lived in terror of anyone finding out that Harry had spent most of the last two years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The most they could do, however, was to lock away Harry’s spell books, wand, cauldron, and broomstick at the start of the summer break, and forbid him to talk to the neighbors. This separation from his spell books had been a real problem for Harry, because his teachers at Hogwarts had given him a lot of holiday work. One of the essays, a particularly nasty one about shrinking potions, was for Harry’s least favorite teacher, Professor Snape, who would be delighted to have an excuse to give Harry detention for a month. Harry had therefore seized his chance in the first week of the holidays. While Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley had gone out into the front garden to admire Uncle Vernon’s new company car (in very loud voices, so that the rest of the street would notice it too), Harry had crept downstairs, picked the lock on the cupboard under the stairs, grabbed some of his books, and hidden them in his bedroom. As long as he didn’t leave spots of ink on the sheets, the Dursleys need never know that he was studying magic by night. Harry was particularly keen to avoid trouble with his aunt and uncle at the moment, as they were already in an especially bad mood with him, all because he’d received a telephone call from a fellow wizard one week into the school vacation. Ron Weasley, who was one of Harry’s best friends at Hogwarts, came from a whole family of wizards. This meant that he knew a lot of things Harry didn’t, but had never used a telephone before. Most unluckily, it had been Uncle Vernon who had answered the call. â€Å"Vernon Dursley speaking.† Harry, who happened to be in the room at the time, froze as he heard Ron’s voice answer. â€Å"HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I — WANT — TO — TALK — TO — HARRY — POTTER!† Ron was yelling so loudly that Uncle Vernon jumped and held the receiver a foot away from his ear, staring at it with an expression of mingled fury and alarm. â€Å"WHO IS THIS?† he roared in the direction of the mouthpiece. â€Å"WHO ARE YOU?† â€Å"RON — WEASLEY!† Ron bellowed back, as though he and Uncle Vernon were speaking from opposite ends of a football field. â€Å"I’M — A — FRIEND — OF — HARRY’S — FROM — SCHOOL –â€Å" Uncle Vernon’s small eyes swiveled around to Harry, who was rooted to the spot. â€Å"THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE!† he roared, now holding the receiver at arm’s length, as though frightened it might explode. â€Å"I DON’T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! DON’T YOU COME NEAR MY FAMILY!† And he threw the receiver back onto the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider. The fight that had followed had been one of the worst ever. â€Å"HOW DARE YOU GIVE THIS NUMBER TO PEOPLE LIKE — PEOPLE LIKE YOU!† Uncle Vernon had roared, spraying Harry with spit. Ron obviously realized that he’d gotten Harry into trouble, because he hadn’t called again. Harry’s other best friend from Hogwarts, Hermione Granger, hadn’t been in touch either. Harry suspected that Ron had warned Hermione not to call, which was a pity, because Hermione, the cleverest witch in Harry’s year, had Muggle parents, knew perfectly well how to use a telephone, and would probably have had enough sense not to say that she went to Hogwarts. So Harry had had no word from any of his wizarding friends for five long weeks, and this summer was turning out to be almost as bad as the last one. There was just one very small improvement — after swearing that he wouldn’t use her to send letters to any of his friends, Harry had been allowed to let his owl, Hedwig, out at night. Uncle Vernon had given in because of the racket Hedwig made if she was locked in her cage all the time. Harry finished writing about Wendelin the Weird and paused to listen again. The silence in the dark house was broken only by the distant, grunting snores of his enormous cousin, Dudley. It must be very late, Harry thought. His eyes were itching with tiredness. Perhaps he’d finish this essay tomorrow night†¦ He replaced the top of the ink bottle; pulled an old pillowcase from under his bed; put the flashlight, A History of Magic, his essay, quill, and ink inside it; got out of bed; and hid the lot under a loose floorboard under his bed. Then he stood up, stretched, and checked the time on the luminous alarm clock on his bedside table. It was one o’clock in the morning. Harry’s stomach gave a funny jolt. He had been thirteen years old, without realizing it, for a whole hour. Yet another unusual thing about Harry was how little he looked forward to his birthdays. He had never received a birthday card in his life. The Dursleys had completely ignored his last two birthdays, and he had no reason to suppose they would remember this one. Harry walked across the dark room, past Hedwig’s large, empty cage, to the open window. He leaned on the sill, the cool night air pleasant on his face after a long time under the blankets. Hedwig had been absent for two nights now. Harry wasn’t worried about her: she’d been gone this long before. But he hoped she’d be back soon — she was the only living creature in this house who didn’t flinch at the sight of him. Harry, though still rather small and skinny for his age, had grown a few inches over the last year. His jet-black hair, however, was just as it always had been — stubbornly untidy, whatever he did to it. The eyes behind his glasses were bright green, and on his forehead, clearly visible through his hair, was a thin scar, shaped like a bolt of lightning. Of all the unusual things about Harry, this scar was the most extraordinary of all. It was not, as the Dursleys had pretended for ten years, a souvenir of the car crash that had killed Harry’s parents, because Lily and James Potter had not died in a car crash. They had been murdered, murdered by the most feared Dark wizard for a hundred years, Lord Voldemort. Harry had escaped from the same attack with nothing more than a scar on his forehead, where Voldemort’s curse, instead of killing him, had rebounded upon its originator. Barely alive, Voldemort had fled†¦ But Harry had come face-to-face with him at Hogwarts. Remembering their last meeting as he stood at the dark window, Harry had to admit he was lucky even to have reached his thirteenth birthday. He scanned the starry sky for a sign of Hedwig, perhaps soaring back to him with a dead mouse dangling from her beak, expecting praise. Gazing absently over the rooftops, it was a few seconds before Harry realized what he was seeing. Silhouetted against the golden moon, and growing larger every moment, was a large, strangely lopsided creature, and it was flapping in Harry’s direction. He stood quite still, watching it sink lower and lower. For a split second he hesitated, his hand on the window latch, wondering whether to slam it shut. But then the bizarre creature soared over one of the street lamps of Privet Drive, and Harry, realizing what it was, leapt aside. Through the window soared three owls, two of them holding up the third, which appeared to be unconscious. They landed with a soft flump on Harry’s bed, and the middle owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. There was a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognized the unconscious owl at once — his name was Errol, and he belonged to the Weasley family. Harry dashed to the bed, untied the cords around Errol’s legs, took off the parcel, and then carried Errol to Hedwig’s cage. Errol opened one bleary eye, gave a feeble hoot of thanks, and began to gulp some water. Harry turned back to the remaining owls. One of them, the large snowy female, was his own Hedwig. She, too, was carrying a parcel and looked extremely pleased with herself. She gave Harry an affectionate nip with her beak as he removed her burden, then flew across the room to join Errol. Harry didn’t recognize the third owl, a handsome tawny one, but he knew at once where it had come from, because in addition to a third package, it was carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts crest. When Harry relieved this owl of its burden, it ruffled its feathers importantly, stretched its wings, and took off through the window into the night. Harry sat down on his bed and grabbed Errol’s package, ripped off the brown paper, and discovered a present wrapped in gold and his first ever birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, he opened the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out — a letter and a newspaper clipping. The clipping had clearly come out of the wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, because the people in the black-and-white picture were moving. Harry picked up the clipping, smoothed it out, and read: MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, â€Å"We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank.† The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend. Harry scanned the moving photograph, and a grin spread across his face as he saw all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at him, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump little Mrs. Weasley; tall, balding Mr. Weasley; six sons; and one daughter, all (though the black-and-white picture didn’t show it) with flaming-red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny. Harry couldn’t think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Ron’s letter and unfolded it. Dear Harry, Happy birthday! Look, I’m really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn’t give you a hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn’t have shouted. It’s amazing here in Egypt. Bill’s taken us around all the tombs and you wouldn’t believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn’t let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who’d broken in and grown extra heads and stuff. I couldn’t believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it’s gone on this trip, but they’re going to buy me a new wand for next year. Harry remembered only too well the occasion when Ron’s old wand had snapped. It had happened when the car the two of them had been flying to Hogwarts had crashed into a tree on the school grounds. We’ll be back about a week before term starts and we’ll be going up to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there? Don’t let the Muggles get you down! Try and come to London, Ron P.S. Percy’s Head Boy. He got the letter last week. Harry glanced back at the photograph. Percy, who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian sun. Harry now turned to his present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top. There was another note from Ron beneath it. Harry — this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there’s someone untrustworthy around, it’s supposed to light up and spin. Bill says it’s rubbish sold for wizard tourists and isn’t reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn’t realize Fred and George had put beetles in his soup. Bye — Ron Harry put the Pocket Sneakoscope on his bedside table, where it stood quite still, balanced on its point, reflecting the luminous hands of his clock. He looked at it happily for a few seconds, then picked up the parcel Hedwig had brought. Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card, and a letter, this time from Hermione. Dear Harry, Ron wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Vernon. I do hope you’re all right. I’m on holiday in France at the moment and I didn’t know how I was going to send this to you — what if they’d opened it at customs? — but then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change. I bought your present by owl-order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I’ve been getting it delivered; it’s so good to keep up with what’s going on in the wizarding world), Did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet he’s learning loads. I’m really jealous — the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating. There’s some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I’ve rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I’ve found out, I hope it’s not too long — it’s two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for. Ron says he’s going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I’ll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September first! Love from Hermione P.S. Ron says Percy’s Head Boy. I’ll bet Percy’s really pleased. Ron doesn’t seem too happy about it. Harry laughed as he put Hermione’s letter aside and picked up her present. It was very heavy. Knowing Hermione, he was sure it would be a large book full of very difficult spells — but it wasn’t. His heart gave a huge bound as he ripped back the paper and saw a sleek black leather case, with silver words stamped across it, reading Broomstick Servicing Kit. â€Å"Wow, Hermione!† Harry whispered, unzipping the case to look inside. There was a large jar of Fleetwood’s High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of gleaming silver Tail-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass to clip on your broom for long journeys, and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare. Apart from his friends, the thing that Harry missed most about Hogwarts was Quidditch, the most popular sport in the magical world — highly dangerous, very exciting, and played on broomsticks. Harry happened to be a very good Quidditch player; he had been the youngest person in a century to be picked for one of the Hogwarts House teams. One of Harry’s most prized possessions was his Nimbus Two Thousand racing broom. Harry put the leather case aside and picked up his last parcel. He recognized the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at once: this was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. He tore off the top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before he could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver, and whatever was inside it snapped loudly — as though it had jaws. Harry froze. He knew that Hagrid would never send him anything dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid didn’t have a normal person’s view of what was dangerous. Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin. Harry poked the parcel nervously. It snapped loudly again. Harry reached for the lamp on his bedside table, gripped it firmly in one hand, and raised it over his head, ready to strike. Then he seized the rest of the wrapping paper in his other hand and pulled. And out fell — a book. Harry just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab. â€Å"Uh-oh,† Harry muttered. The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Harry followed it stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under his desk. Praying that the Dursleys were still fast asleep, Harry got down on his hands and knees and reached toward it. â€Å"Ouch!† The book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed to flatten it. Uncle Vernon gave a loud, sleepy grunt in the room next door. Hedwig and Errol watched interestedly as Harry clamped the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his chest of drawers, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it. The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Harry threw it down on the bed and reached for Hagrid’s card. Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! Think you might find this useful for next year. Won’t say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right. All the best, Hagrid It struck Harry as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but he put Hagrid’s card up next to Ron’s and Hermione’s, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left. Noticing that it was rather thicker than usual, Harry slit open the envelope, pulled out the first page of parchment within, and read: Dear Mr. Potter, Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King’s Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o’clock. Third years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign. A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely, Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress Harry pulled out the Hogsmeade permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. It would be wonderful to visit Hogsmeade on weekends; he knew it was an entirely wizarding village, and he had never set foot there. But how on earth was he going to persuade Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to sign the form? He looked over at the alarm clock. It was now two o’clock in the morning. Deciding that he’d worry about the Hogsmeade form when he woke up, Harry got back into bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart he’d made for himself, counting down the days left until his return to Hogwarts. Then he took off his glasses and lay down; eyes open, facing his three birthday cards. Extremely unusual though he was, at that moment Harry Potter felt just like everyone else — glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday. How to cite Chapter 1 Owl Post, Essay examples

An Analysis of the Populist Partys Premature Fall free essay sample

Many of the Alliances were statewide, and most formed in the late sasss. Eventually, using the success of minor farm groups who had won elections, the Populist Party formed from southern and western farmers. Although there was a large group of northerners that was sympathetic to the party, it still tended to vote Republican. The partys first convention, held in Omaha, Nebraska, brought in a variety of groups, including the Knights of Labor. The Peoples (Populist) party was trying to attract anyone and everyone to join its cause. General James B. Weaver of Iowa was nominated for President, and his running mate was a Confederate veteran.The partys platform was very widespread, and it bordered on socialistic. The platform included graduated income tax, national ownership of utilities, a substructures, and bimetallism. To please industrial workers, the party also advocated eight hour workdays, restriction of undesirable immigration, and it also shunned Pinker detectives. We will write a custom essay sample on An Analysis of the Populist Partys Premature Fall or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The partys main supporters were still, however, the farmers. In order to raise prices on agricultural products, it supported unlimited coinage of silver, increasing the amount of money in circulation, and also allowing the holding of agricultural products off the market in times of low prices.In the 1 asss, the amount of silver it took to make a silver dollar was actually worth more than $1 , which made coining the metal unprofitable. However, with the discovery Of a large number Of silver deposits in 1 874, it again became plausible to coin the money. However, the Coinage Act of 1873 denominated the metal and put the U. S. On the Gold Standard. This Crime of 73 infuriated inflations and silver miners, who demanded a return to bimetallism. In 1 878, the Bland-Allison Act made for the purchase of $2-4 million of silver per month, at market value.The government always bought the minimum, however, and this did very little to the economy. In 1 890, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act required 4. 5 million ounces of silver to be bought monthly, but even this was not enough to save the plummeting value of silver. As no one was happy with the compromises, Grover Cleveland repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, which reverted the country back to a gold standard, and caused the southern and western democrats to split from the party. These issues were still present for the election of 1896.The Democratic nomination for President, William Jennings Brian, was also supported by the Populists. While they feared losing their individual identity, they had no candidate of their own that could win the election. As a matter of fact, a pure populist nominee would ensure McKinley election. In an attempt to preserve the partys identity, the Populists nominated a vice-president separate from the Democrats. Although Brian managed to win the South, the Plains states, and the Rocky Mountains, McKinley pulled out the rest, and won with 271 electoral votes toBrans 176. Brian lost in the popular votes by fewer than 600,000 votes. The lost election spelled the end of the Populist party. In addition to the lost presidential election, the party also lost many local and state elections. The South divided again, because their support of blacks went against their white supremacy beliefs, which caused a great rift. In addition, the western farmers agendas were quite different from those of the southerners, which caused another split in the already wounded party. It was just a matter of time before the party faded into obscurity.