How did the English attempt to recoup their losses from the French and Indian War?

The English doubled their debt as a result of the French and Indian War. They did not feel that the colonists were sharing the burden of management and protection of the colonies. England decided that it was time for the colonists to ante up. Laws were in place for decades that would have guaranteed that the colonists were paying their fair share of taxes. The problem was, that the colonists simply ignored them. They smuggled...

The English doubled their debt as a result of the French and Indian War. They did not feel that the colonists were sharing the burden of management and protection of the colonies. England decided that it was time for the colonists to ante up. Laws were in place for decades that would have guaranteed that the colonists were paying their fair share of taxes. The problem was, that the colonists simply ignored them. They smuggled goods to the colonies to avoid taxation as an example.  The colonists even traded with France when England was involved in the war with them.  

The British were too preoccupied with war to worry about enforcement of their laws for the colonies. The British decided to start enforcing the laws in an effort to pay off some of their debt. Parliament created the Sugar Act and Stamp Act in an attempt to raise money. They decided that they would be more active in enforcing the laws and kept troops in the colonies. These attempts to recoup losses from the French and Indian War obviously caused the tensions that led to the Revolutionary War. 

Why did some people favor King George's ideas during the Revolutionary War?

Some people had good reasons for supporting King George’s ideas during the Revolutionary War. There were people who were very loyal to Great Britain. These people agreed with his ideas. They believed the British had the right to run the colonies any way they wanted because they were Britain’s colonies. These people couldn’t imagine any scenario where they would go against their beloved King. Thus, they supported his ideas unconditionally.

Other people supported King George’s...

Some people had good reasons for supporting King George’s ideas during the Revolutionary War. There were people who were very loyal to Great Britain. These people agreed with his ideas. They believed the British had the right to run the colonies any way they wanted because they were Britain’s colonies. These people couldn’t imagine any scenario where they would go against their beloved King. Thus, they supported his ideas unconditionally.

Other people supported King George’s ideas because they either worked for the British government or their jobs depended on the British staying in control of the colonies. These people knew their livelihood depended on the British continuing to operate the colonies. They were concerned about what would happen to them and their jobs if the colonists won the Revolutionary War.

Some people supported King George’s ideas for religious reasons. King George was the head of the Anglican Church or the Church of England. These people couldn’t do anything to go against their religious leader.

Finally, there were people who supported King George’s ideas because they feared what would happen if the colonists won the Revolutionary War. These people believed there would chaos and disorder in the colonies. They knew that if Great Britain remained in charge of the colonies, there wouldn’t be disorder in the colonies. Some people had many reasons for supporting the ideas of King George.

List some details that describe the historical time period.

A couple of specific details that show accuracy in regards to the time period have to do with the character of Will and his Uncle Jed.  These two characters are the central focus of the damage the Civil War caused in the United States of America in the late nineteenth century.

First, let us look at the character of Will.  One specific example of an accurate historical detail is the landscape as Will travels back...

A couple of specific details that show accuracy in regards to the time period have to do with the character of Will and his Uncle Jed.  These two characters are the central focus of the damage the Civil War caused in the United States of America in the late nineteenth century.

First, let us look at the character of Will.  One specific example of an accurate historical detail is the landscape as Will travels back home.  As Will travels through the South, he sees plantation after plantation burned and "blackened."  This is the remains of the Civil War, for sure.  Will also sees grave after grave and graveyard after graveyard.  This specific historical detail shows that many people were killed.  Perhaps the most devastating detail that rings true to history is that Will has lost his entire family (as many people did during this war).

Another character that easily shows portrays accurate historical detail is Uncle Jed.  Uncle Jed's situation shows how the ruin of cattle herds can affect a family's entire livelihood.  Uncle Jed's cattle was taken by the troops in order to support "the cause" of the war.  Uncle Jed struggles through the rest of the book to make up for this loss in order to support his family.

In conclusion, we can also be more general in regards to the problems the Civil War caused (also accurately portrayed in Reeder's novel). There is great loss and damage caused by the Civil War, specifically loss in the ideals of loyalty, friendships, families, pride, and wealth.

Can you suggest a few ways to reform democracy?

Democracies often seem to be embroiled in one conflict or another. This impression is at least partly due to the relative freedom of speech, both among private citizens and the media. Problems get a lot of airplay—because they can. In a less permissive state, the media wouldn't discuss such things, and citizens would be wary of doing so themselves, so problems would remain under the surface.

The following are few commonly debated issues in many...

Democracies often seem to be embroiled in one conflict or another. This impression is at least partly due to the relative freedom of speech, both among private citizens and the media. Problems get a lot of airplay—because they can. In a less permissive state, the media wouldn't discuss such things, and citizens would be wary of doing so themselves, so problems would remain under the surface.

The following are few commonly debated issues in many democracies.

Replace the electoral college with popular vote:

The electoral college is a source of frequent confusion and much frustration among voters. Many voters wish that, instead of granting electoral votes based on state population, elections  could be won by a count of the overall popular vote.

Term limits for members of Congress:

The president can serve only two terms. Representatives and senators can serve over and over again. Some believe this leads to an inability of the legislative branch to overcome its inaction. 

Increase presidential power to get around gridlock:

In recent years there has been little action on many issues because the legislative and executive branches are held by competing parties. Making more actions permissible under executive order would help get more done. However, it would certainly enrage the opposing party. Most constitutionalists don't like this idea, believing it would violate the Constitution. 

Require a balanced budget:

Many feel that the greatest danger to America's future is the growing deficit. Despite this danger, the government has not been able to balance the budget, mostly out of a fear of losing support in their districts. A law would force the government to act in a more fiscally responsible way. The problem is getting the same politicians who won't balance the budget in the first place to vote for a law that would force them to do so. 

List three changes in transportation in the 1700s and explain each. It is for the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Improvements in transportation in the 1700s made it easier for manufacturers to transport goods.  Factories during the Industrial Revolution in Britain produced mass amounts of goods, such as textiles.  They produced much more than was needed within the immediate areas around the factories.  Manufacturers needed to transport goods throughout Britain.  With improvements in transportation, shipping goods became more practical and efficient.

Goods could be transported by horse and wagon.  Wagons became larger in size during...

Improvements in transportation in the 1700s made it easier for manufacturers to transport goods.  Factories during the Industrial Revolution in Britain produced mass amounts of goods, such as textiles.  They produced much more than was needed within the immediate areas around the factories.  Manufacturers needed to transport goods throughout Britain.  With improvements in transportation, shipping goods became more practical and efficient.

Goods could be transported by horse and wagon.  Wagons became larger in size during the 18th century.  Innovations in wagon parts (such as axels and wheels) also made it so that stagecoaches could travel at faster speeds, delivering goods in less time.

Turnpike trusts were established to fund roads and road maintenance.  Prior to the establishment of turnpike trusts, roads often fell into disrepair.  This made travel difficult and slow.  Turnpike roads were better maintained, and this made for easier travel.

Ships and boats were also used to transport goods in the 18th century.  More rivers were made navigable and sailing vessels improved.  Issues of property rights along rivers were addressed, making more waterways accessible to the public.  Many towns and cities were not along rivers, and therefore could not send or receive goods by boat.  This problem was addressed by the building of canals.  The design of the ships improved, and they were made larger to hold more goods.  Docks and loading areas were also developed to receive and load more goods.

What are some quotes from Lord of the Flies that show Piggy "the fat boy" being bullied and having low self esteem?

Piggy asked no names. He was intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the offhand authority in Merridew’s voice. He shrank to the other side of Ralph and busied himself with his glasses.

Piggy was intimidated by Jack and showed this by avoiding him. He was not confident enough to ask Jack and his team for their names. He considered himself inferior compared to the other older boys who had just arrived.

“You’re talking too much,” said Jack Merridew. “Shut up, Fatty.”

Laughter arose.

Jack bullied Piggy by calling him names and disrespecting him. He made negative remarks about Piggy’s weight whenever he tried to state his opinion. Jack made Piggy the object of ridicule among his peers.

“We don’t want you,” said Jack, flatly. “Three’s enough.”

When Piggy wanted to join Ralph on the expedition, Jack was mean to him and harshly dismissed him. Jack did all this not knowing it was Piggy’s idea that brought all the boys together in the first place.

“I got the conch–”

Jack turned fiercely.

“You shut up!”

Piggy wilted.

In another instance, Jack sought to humiliate Piggy by dismissing him. Piggy’s self esteem had waned and he was unable to speak up against the attacks by Jack.

He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach. Piggy sat down with a grunt. Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious with humiliation. “You would, would you? Fatty!” Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy’s head. Piggy’s glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror: “My specs!”

Jack physically attacked Piggy, when he asked about the signal fire that was left unattended and was eventually extinguished when they needed it most.

“He hates me. I dunno why. If he could do what he wanted—you’re all right, he respects you."

Piggy was afraid of Jack because he knew Jack did not respect him like he did Ralph.

Piggy was constantly bullied by Jack from the first time they met. Jack did not like Piggy and always took the opportunity to embarrass him.

In what ways is Buddy's cousin like a child in A Christmas Memory?

Buddy, the story's narrator (modeled upon Truman Capote himself, since this is a memoir of his own childhood), describes his cousin vividly and says she is "still a child." His physical descriptions of her combine features of someone who is both very old and very young. Her outfit is mismatched and careless, as a child might wear without an adult guiding their choices: tennis shoes, an old sweater, a "summery calico dress." She is "small...

Buddy, the story's narrator (modeled upon Truman Capote himself, since this is a memoir of his own childhood), describes his cousin vividly and says she is "still a child." His physical descriptions of her combine features of someone who is both very old and very young. Her outfit is mismatched and careless, as a child might wear without an adult guiding their choices: tennis shoes, an old sweater, a "summery calico dress." She is "small and sprightly" and has "white shorn hair" and a "craggy" face "not unlike Lincoln's," but her face also looks "delicate" and "finely boned," and her eyes are "timid." 

The two of them share a special bond, like childhood friends. Buddy describes their relationship to the other relatives in the house by making the two of them seem like children who must live reluctantly with adults: "though they have power over us, and frequently make us cry, we are not, on the whole, too much aware of them. We are each other's best friend."

When the two of them must go and buy ingredients using the Fruitcake Fund, they are excited like small children: "Silently, wallowing in the pleasures of conspiracy, we take the bead purse from its secret place and spill its contents on the scrap quilt."

Throughout the story, the friendship of Buddy and his cousin is described in ways to emphasize his view of her as his best childhood friend, and their closeness was clearly due in part to her own childlike nature.