Jim Downs is a 39-year-old assistant professor of history and interim director of the American Studies program at Connecticut College. As a historian, Jim Downs has spent much of his time learning about the Civil War, but it was his intention with his book Sick From Freedom to bring light to the darker history of the emancipation era in the United States, and more importantly, what he believes is the “largest biological crisis of the 19th century.” When people think about the Civil War, many people think about the military causalities, and the division created between the North and South; Jim Downs goes beneath the surface to give a deeper look at the health crisis that unfolded in the years following emancipation, and the hundreds of thousands…
The Importance of the Civil War The Civil War in 50 Objects, by Henry Holzer and the New-York Historical Society, is a collection of fifty primary sources, varying in type and format. Each of these objects is accompanied by a description of the source, as well as a story which establishes the source in the proper context in history. Through the sources Holzer shows the importance of the Civil War, especially for the people who lived through it. The Civil War transformed the United States in many ways, bringing lasting change to our nation, and establishing the war as important to everyone in the country, even up to today.…
A Review of Sick From Freedom Jim Downs, notable historian who researches the civil war and reconstruction’s effect on slaves is the author of the fascinating book Sick From Freedom. The Civil War is infamous for how disease claimed lives of more soldiers than military combat. In his book Downs exemplifies that disease and sickness actually had a more devastating effect on emancipated slaves than on soldiers. Downs encourages readers to look beyond military casualties and consider the public health crisis that faced emancipated slaves in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Estimates show that at least a fourth of the four million former slaves got sick or died between 1863 and 1870, including at least 60,000 who perished in a smallpox epidemic that began in Washington and Spread throughout the south.…
Whenever people in the 21st Century think about the Civil War, their mind always wander towards the cause and brutality of the war. Medical conditions during the war were horrendous and at time experimental. Even though, doctors at times had anesthesia and a general sense of medicine, patients were always at a risk of death. The part that people do not ponder about is what types of provisions people acted upon to keep the death count low. Clara Barton for instance was determined to keep the death count low.…
The Civil War was a devastating war that wiped out much of America’s population. The book written by James M. McPherson, What They Fought For 1861-1865, describes the views of the soldiers that fought in the war. McPherson uses letters left behind written by different civil war soldiers to portray a more round view of actions that took place on the battlegrounds. McPherson’s thesis does not present from both sides of the war what the soldiers, volunteers and enlisted men, of the Civil War had to faced, how they dealt with their emotions and experiences, the bond made between comrades, and how it affect their overall psychological, physical, and mental well-being of each combatant. This book contains diary entries from Union soldiers that were from the northern states.…
In our history, there have been countless historical periods, which have impacted our world in various ways. These historical periods involve any situations from political, social and economic events that have occurred. In this essay, I will be describing the economic, social, and political distinctions of three historical periods. The historical periods I will be discussing are The Antebellum Period, the Civil War and the Market Revolution. Furthermore, let us start by discussing the antebellum period and its political movements.…
A welfare state is defined as: “a system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.” Both the United States of American and Iceland are considered welfare states, however the role each government plays in regards to healthcare is monumentally different. The dissimilar approaches to healthcare can be explained by the regime each country follows. Iceland is a social democratic welfare state that has a high degree of de-commodification. This means that citizens of a democratic welfare state are given certain services regardless of the economic situation.…
The Civil War was a pivotal time during not only the United States's history, but the rest of the world. Advancements in industries, writing, music, the medical field, artillery and women's rights were on the rise and the outcome of the war affected so many lives, and if it had ended differently, the world would have been a divergent place. Specific advances in the medical field like new ambulance systems, or systems for transporting the wounded, would be so widespread that they would be used in the early to mid 1900s in World War I and II. The impact of new types of uniforms and the limited amount of protection they provide would be responsible for the amount of injured soldiers, and people like Jonathan Letterman, William Hammond, and Clara…
According to research done by Michael Tanner, “Since 2000, the number of people receiving Social Security disability had increased by almost 60 percent while spending had increased by 140 percent” (Tanner). This isn’t shocking for as much money is poured into the welfare system. The United States’ welfare policy needs to be reformed back to a hand up rather than the hand out it’s become. The current policies drain the economy. Compared to the rest of the world, the United States recent reforms are not up to the standard they should be for such a world power.…
War II caused major deficiency in Britain’s economic system, the welfare system was deeply affected and left in turmoil. The five giant, were issues that were raised by William Beveridge (1942), a social reformer. The reforms included were education, health, housing, poverty and employment (Ignorance, Disease, Squalor, Want and idleness. Beveridge was appointed in 1941, was fully aware of the impact the war had on the economic system. (Alcock; 2000, Rowlingson; 2008, Frazer; 2009).…
Introduction The American Civil war occurred during the years 1861 – 1865, and as stated in the article titled “The Civil War”, it “was the cauldron that created modern America. The war preserved the Union, ending the possibility of the American nation dividing into two or more separate countries, in the process altering the nations politics and government, creating a strong presidency and an increasingly important federal infrastructure” (Finkelman sec. 1) However, the American Civil War did not come without coast, as wars never do, an estimated 620,000 men lost their lives in the line of duty. One of the many, yet major causes of this war, came about through slavery; and the standpoint that the northern states took, wanting to abolish slavery,…
The introduction of modern social welfare programs was a major radical approach to social development, which unleashed dynamic forces in the evolutionary process. From a human perspective, this furthered the building of civil society in this welfare reform it also released human potential it brought a greater sense of security to the life of the working class and their participation as a political force for change. The social reforms taking place at the beginning of the 20th century where on both sides of the political spectrum the liberal and conservative governments such as the conservative Chancellor of Germany Otto von Bismarck introduced a national insurance scheme. The British took these ideas, and introduced a similar scheme under…
QUESTION ONE Identify and discuss any five microeconomic drivers of economic growth. Efficiency This is when available resources are used to a maximum potential and wasting is not an option.…
My assigned role was Cindy Chen who ages 39, living in a middle-class suburb area with 42 years old husband, Charles Chen. Our three children, namely Connie, Carl, and Chad, are age 16, 10, and 8 respectively. Charles was laid off few months ago and could not get a job due to his age. Connie was a pregnant high school sophomore girl and due in 2 months, who always spend time with her boyfriend. Carl and Chad were boys in grade school that they took care of each other.…
SUBJECT: STATE, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED TO: PROF. PUSHPENDRA KUMAR SUBMITTED BY: BHAWNA (M2014CODP004) “Social protection policies and programs are really just a form of residual social welfare and cannot address deep-seated problems of poverty.” Discuss. SOCIAL PROTECTION…