The Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas

The Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas The Texas Revolution (1835–1836) was a political and military insurrection by settlers and inhabitants of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Texas against the Mexican government. Mexican forces under General Santa Anna attempted to crush the rebellion  and had victories at the legendary Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of Coleto Creek, but in the end, they were defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto and forced to leave Texas. The revolution was successful, as the present-day US state of Texas broke off from Mexico and Coahuila and formed the Republic of Texas. The Settlement of Texas In the 1820s, Mexico wished to attract settlers to the vast, sparsely populated State of Coahuila y Texas, which consisted of the present-day Mexican State of Coahuila as well as the US State of Texas. American settlers were eager to go, as the land was plentiful and good for farming and ranching, but Mexican citizens were reluctant to relocate to a backwater province. Mexico reluctantly allowed Americans to settle there, provided they became Mexican citizens and converted to Catholicism. Many took advantage of colonization projects, such as the one led by Stephen F. Austin, while others simply came to Texas and squatted on vacant land. Unrest and Discontent The settlers soon chafed under Mexican rule. Mexico had just won its independence from Spain in 1821, and there was much chaos and infighting in Mexico City as liberals and conservatives struggled for power. Most Texas settlers approved of the Mexican constitution of 1824, which granted many freedoms to states (as opposed to federal control). This constitution was later rescinded, angering the Texans (and many Mexicans as well). The settlers also wanted to split from Coahuila and form a state in Texas. The Texan settlers were initially offered tax breaks which were later taken away, causing further discontent. Texas Breaks from Mexico By 1835, troubles in Texas had reached a boiling point. Tensions were always high between Mexicans and American settlers, and the unstable government in Mexico City made things that much worse. Stephen F. Austin, long a believer in staying loyal to Mexico, was jailed without charges for a year and a half: when he was finally released, even he was in favor of independence. Many Tejanos (Texan-born Mexicans) were in favor of independence: some would go on to fight valiantly at the Alamo and other battles. The Battle of Gonzales The first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired on October 2, 1835, in the town of Gonzales. The Mexican authorities in Texas, nervous about the increased hostility with the Texans, decided to disarm them. A small squad of Mexican soldiers was sent to Gonzales to retrieve a cannon stationed there to fight off Indian attacks. The Texans in the town did not allow the Mexicans entry: after a tense standoff, the Texans fired on the Mexicans. The Mexicans swiftly retreated, and in the whole battle there was but one casualty on the Mexican side. But the war had begun and there was no going back for the Texans. The Siege of San Antonio With the outbreak of hostilities, Mexico began making preparations for a massive punitive expedition north, to be led by President/General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna. The Texans knew they had to move quickly to consolidate their gains. The rebels, led by Austin, marched on San Antonio (then more commonly referred to as Bà ©xar). They laid siege for two months, during which time they fought off a Mexican sally at the Battle of Concepcià ³n. In early December, the Texans attacked the city. Mexican General Martà ­n Perfecto de Cos conceded defeat and surrendered: by December 12 all Mexican forces had left the city. The Alamo and Goliad The Mexican army arrived in Texas, and in late February laid siege to the Alamo, a fortified old mission in San Antonio. Some 200 defenders, among them William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett, held out to the last: the Alamo was overrun on March 6, 1836, and all within were slain. Less than a month later, about 350 rebellious Texans were captured in battle and then executed days later: this was known as the ​Goliad Massacre. These twin setbacks seemed to spell doom for the nascent rebellion. Meanwhile, on March 2, a congress of elected Texans officially declared Texas independent from Mexico. The Battle of San Jacinto After the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna assumed he had beaten the Texans and divided his army. Texan General Sam Houston caught up to Santa Anna on the banks of the San Jacinto River. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, Houston attacked. Surprise was complete and the attack turned first into a rout, then into a massacre. Half of Santa Annas men were killed and most of the others were taken prisoner, including Santa Anna himself. Santa Anna signed papers ordering all Mexican forces out of Texas and recognizing the independence of Texas. The Republic of Texas Mexico would make several half-hearted attempts to re-take Texas, but after all Mexican forces left Texas following San Jacinto, they never had a realistic chance of re-conquering their former territory. Sam Houston became the first President of Texas: he would serve as Governor and Senator later when Texas accepted statehood. Texas was a republic for almost ten years, a time which was marked by many troubles, including tension with Mexico and the US and difficult relations with local Indian tribes. Nevertheless, this period of independence is looked back upon with great pride by modern Texans. Texas Statehood Even before Texas split from Mexico in 1835, there were those in Texas and the USA that were in favor of statehood in the USA. Once Texas became independent, there were repeated calls for annexation. It wasnt so simple, however. Mexico had made it clear that while it was forced to tolerate an independent Texas, annexation would likely lead to war (in fact, the US annexation was a factor in the outbreak of the 1846-1848 Mexican-American War). Other sticking points included whether slavery would be legal in Texas and the federal assumptions of Texas debts, which were considerable. These difficulties were overcome and Texas became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. Resources and Further Reading Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004.Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.

36 Adjectives Describing Light

36 Adjectives Describing Light 36 Adjectives Describing Light 36 Adjectives Describing Light By Mark Nichol A bright constellation of adjectives referring to various qualities of light, or other phenomena related to light, is brought to light in the list below. Quite a few of them, from lucent to lustrous (and even illuminating), stem from the Latin word lucere, meaning â€Å"to shine,† while many others begin with the consonant gl-, betraying their descent from a proto-Germanic word with the same meaning. 1. Aureate: brilliantly golden; also, grandiloquent 2. Blinding: so bright as to obscure vision 3. Coruscating: flashing, or sparkling; also, brilliant or showy 4. Crepuscular: dim, or resembling twilight; also, said of animals active during twilight 5. Dappled: marked by spotted or patchy light; also, marks of this kind on a surface 6. Fluorescent: giving off light produced by another source of illumination 7. Glancing: intermittently flashing or gleaming 8. Gleaming: shining, radiant 9. Glimmering: faintly or unsteadily shining 10. Glinting: see gleaming; also, appearing briefly, or glancing briefly 11. Glistening: see lustrous 12. Glistering: see glittering 13. Glittering: flashing or sparkling; also brilliantly and/or superficially attractive or appealing 14. Glossy: bright on the surface; also, artificially opulent or sophisticated 15. Illuminating: bright or shining; also, highlighted or made clear 16. Incandescent: warm, glowing 17. Iridescent: rainbow colored 18. Lucent: bright, clear, or shining 19. Lucid: see lucent; also, easy to understand 20. Lucifugal: shunning light, as in the case of nocturnal animals 21. Lucifugous: see lucifugal 22. Luminescent: shining by chemical or physiological means 23. Luminous: full of light 24. Lustrous: smooth, evenly lit; also, brilliant or eminent 25. Opaque: blocking light; also, obtuse, or difficult to understand 26. Opalescent: see iridescent 27. Penumbral: partially shaded 28. Phosphorescent: continuing to glow after removal of a light source 29. Prismatic: brilliant, or resembling colors formed by passing light through a prism 30. Radiant: glowing, or radiating light 31. Resplendent: brilliant or glowing 32. Scintillating: sparking, or sparkling; also, brilliant, as said of personality 33. Shimmering: soft or wavering light or reflection 34. Spangling: see glittering 35. Spectral: made by a range of colors of the spectrum; also, ghostly 36. Translucent: diffused, or transparent Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About TalkingList of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and AdultsHow to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

Nursing Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nursing Leadership - Essay Example As the patient fell from the bed and broke his arm, the nurse and hospital were liable for damages. This paper aims to identify nursing policies that were not followed so as to prevent such a scenario from occurring. Firstly, nursing leadership and managerial qualities in regards to the present situation shall be outlined. Secondly, issues of nursing accountability shall be detailed. Next, the concept of team-work as pertains to the scenario shall be highlighted. Following, the topics of clinical governance, as well as teaching and facilitating of nurses in general, shall be outlined as relevant to the present scenario. Some of the areas that leadership and management incorporate are finances, business focus, information management, and marketing (Baker, 2000a; Kelly-Hayes, 2003). When a patient falls from a bed because procedures have not been followed, it is clear that nursing leadership and management training is lacking. In the current scenario, additional costs were created within the hospital to care for the patient, in regards to the broken limb, as well as consultation with attorney's to establish their legal obligations, and in administration costs to report the incident, and to process ongoing documentation relevant to the complaint made by the family. From the point of view of nursing being a business, the scenario i... The information management that was lacking was that the nurse did not have available protocols to compare her patient care to. In regards to marketing, the hospital as well as the nurse has provisioned the patient and family with an image of being incompetent and neglectful in their care for the patient.Recent studies point to a distinct lack of leadership qualities amongst nurses in general, and attribute this to a lack of training in the area (Laukkanen, 2005). Unfortunately, this is a waste of resources as nurses are in key position to influence hospital care policies, as well as state and national legislation (Sullivan, 2001). It is contended that student nurses need to be encouraged to develop their leadership and managerial skills, as well as their clinical skills (Baker, 200b). For example, a more salient awareness of cost-containment issues could have motivated the hospital to have set protocols for the bed-care of elderly patients (Antrobus, 1999). Additionally, the use of job re-design amongst the nursing staff could have provided the hospital with a critical evaluation of the sequential tasks of each job a nurse undertakes, and provided solutions for combining tasks to improve patient care (e.g., saying goodnight/see you later to a patient also includes the action of the hands checking the bed-rail is up) (Sullivan, 2001).Quality management important to nursing as it allows for an evaluation of the outcomes of practices. In turn, this style of management provides for a preventative approach to nursing that identifies potential problems quickly, and facilitates research into viable alternative solutions (Belcher, 2000; Hendel & Steinmann, 2002). As such,

Kitchenware Products Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Kitchenware Products - Essay Example The study results shows that the new product has great chances of recording high sells and profits within the target market. Nevertheless, this success is possible only if the company considers what is needed most by the customers. It was found that most customers would be looking at the overall superiority of the new product. Leo Wahl established the Kitchenware Products Company in the year 1919. Since inception, the company has been a leader in the production of quality kitchen utensils mainly from stainless steel. In addition, the company has been a major producer of simple electrical appliances for kitchen use. Currently, the Kitchenware Products Company operates within an organizational tradition of superior customer service, innovation, and superior quality. Wahl keeps on changing to a new and a better ways of effectively meeting the needs of their customers. With such efforts and frequent changes, the company ensured that products are continuously developed to meet the needs of the current modern households as it is required in product development processes (Bhote, 1996). Wahl is a brand with a global presence and trust. This brand is based on the company’s founder, Leo Wahl. As at now, the company operates in an estimated 165 countries throughout the world. The company is currently consider ing the manufacturing and marketing of a new product; a new type of curving knife. The company has done a general approximation, and the results indicate that 40,000 units of the new product will be sold during the first year. This sales quantity is projected to increase by an average of 10% in the preceding years. The variable costs for every production unit have been approximated in three ways. The variable cost of; a raw material per unit is 3.00, packaging is 0.90 per unit, distribution is 1.00 per unit, and direct labor is 2.00 per unit. The value of currency is in pounds. The company has

Epistemological Turn in European Scientific Rationality :: Science Essays

Epistemological Turn in European Scientific Rationality ABSTRACT: If the 17th century could be considered the century of the reformation of science, the present century is one of counterreformation in every sense of the word. The ideology of this century can be seen in the titanic efforts to complete the development of science which foundation was laid in the 17th and 18th centuries, in the outright failures, and in attempts at reconstructing the foundation (e.g., Hilbert's formalization program, GÃ ¶del's incompleteness theorem, Charlier's theory of a hierarchic universe, Fridman's evolutionary cosmology, Newton's mechanics, relativistic and/or quantum mechanics in physics, the logical turn of the Vienna circle and epistemological anarchism in methodology). Our task is to reveal the essence of the turning points in 20th century science and to determine at least the general outlines, if not the cause, of the new type of rationality that is replacing the old one. I will focus on the history of cosmology, or rather on its three paradigms t hat have succeeded each other in this century: Newtonian, Fridmanian and the inflationary paradigms. By outlining the problem, I will pose a possible solution from clarifying changes in the value orientations, ideals and norms of scientific research to their possible generalization. If the 17th century could be considered the century of the reformation of science, the present century is one of counterreformation in every sense of the word. Ever since the turn of the century, the same ideology has been in existence: titanic efforts to complete the development of the science whose foundation was laid in the 17th and 18th centuries and outright failures followed by the reconstruction of the foundation. There are many exemples, some of them very striking: Hilbert's formalisation program and Godel's incompleteness theorem in mathematics, Charlier's theory of a hierarchic universe and Fridman's theory of the evolutionary universe in cosmology, Newton's mechanics and relativistic and quantum mechanics in physics, and finally, the logical program of the Vienna circle and epistemological anarchism in methodology. Our task is to reveal the essence of the turning points in 20th centuries science history and to try to determine at least the general outlines, if not the cause, of the new type of rationality that is succeeding (or has already succeeded) the old one. Needless to say, we are obviously unable to embrace all branches of knowledge ; therefore, we will confine ourselves to the history of cosmology, or rather to its three paradigms that successively prevailed in this century : Newtonian, Fridman's and inflationary.

Bladder Cancer

BLADDER CANCER Bladder cancer is the growth of malignant cells in the urinary bladder. Most forms of bladder cancer start in the superficial layer of the transitional epithelium, and most often affect the transitional cells. It may also be called transitional cell carcinoma or even urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma is also a term used for transitional cell cancer in the renal pelvis, ureters, and urethra. Bladder cancer is a relatively common disease. It is the fourth leading cancer among men (following prostate, lung, colorectal cancers), and the tenth leading cancer among women; occurring in men about three times more often than women. Like most types of cancer, bladder cancer usually involves epithelial cells, in this case, the transitional epithelium that lines the urinary bladder. Constant repetitive damage to the epithelium causes the mature cells to die. This stimulates rapid replication in the basal layer, and soon new colonies of immature cells migrate to the surface. These new cells are easily disrupted by genetic mutations and may become malignant growths that cause bleeding into the bladder. The causes of bladder cancer vary according to medical history and geographical location. People who have had pelvic radiation for other problems and people who have had chronic infections, bladder stones, or catheter use are at an increased risk for developing bladder cancer. In Africa, Asia, and South America, bladder cancer is associated with a specific parasitic infection, called Schistosoma haematobium. In the United States and industrial countries, most cases of bladder cancer are directly related to more controllable factors. The transitional epithelium of the bladder seems to be particularly susceptible to damage from environmental toxins. Several genetic mutations that limit the body’s ability to slow down tumor growth or invasion have been linked to bladder cancer. These mutations are frequently triggered by exposure to carcinogenic substances. About half of bladder cancer cases are believed to be related to cigarette smoking. Other contributing factors include exposure to aromatic chemicals used in dry cleaning fluid, hairdressing chemicals, and textile and rubber industries. The earliest most dependable sign of bladder cancer is hematuria (blood in the urine). The urine of a bladder cancer patient is often noticeably reddened or rust colored, although the patient has no particular pain in the early stages of the disease. If the tumors continue to grow and invade deeper layers of the bladder, secondary symptoms may develop. These are the result of mechanical pressure, including the bladder irritability (painful urination, increased frequency of urinating, reduced urine output) and compression on the rectum, pelvic lymph nodes, and any other structures that may be in the way. In order to diagnose bladder cancer, urine samples may be tested to look for shedding cancer cells, and a digital rectal exam (or a pelvic exam if the patient is a woman) provides information about tumors. Other diagnostic techniques include using dye to stain the urine and make the bladder easy to radiograph. Specific markers for bladder cancer have recently been identified, but tests to find them are not yet consistently accurate or widely available. However, continued development in this area show a promising future toward the early detection and treatment of this disease. How to treat bladder cancer depends on the stage at diagnosis. Surgeons can use a small wire loop at the end of a cystoscope to remove abnormal tissue, or another tool may be used to burn the tumor away with electricity. More invasive surgeries may remove part or the entire bladder, and if signs of pelvic metastasis are present, other tissues as well. Urine flow may be routed out of the body through a stoma, or a variety of surgeries have been developed to form artificial bladders from parts of the large or small intestine. In addition to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may be used in the battle against bladder cancer. More than 70% of bladder cancer diagnoses are made when the cells affect only superficial layers of tissue. Of course, this is excellent news because the survival rate for cancers caught early is much better than for cancers caught in stage three or later. Even so, bladder cancer has an unusual habit of growing in several places at once, so although it may be possible to catch one or two tumors, any invisible third, fourth, and fifth tumors may not become symptomatic for another several months. This means that the reoccurrence rate for bladder cancer is surprisingly high; up to 80% percent of bladder cancer patients have at least one reoccurrence. The relation between bladder cancer and carcinogenic substances is one of the most clearly demonstrated links between environmental exposures and cancer. The good news is the bladder cancer is probably a completely preventable disease, if exposure to the carcinogenic substances is limited or eradicated. References Bladder Cancer. (2008). Retrieved 30 January, 2009, from Mayo Clinic Foundation for Medical Education and Research Web site: http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/bladder-cancer/DS00177 General Information about Bladder Cancer. (2008). Retrieved 30 January, 2009, from National Cancer Institute Web site: http://www. cancer. gov/cancertopics/types/bladder Health Information: Bladder Cancer. (2008). Retrieved 30 January, 2009, from University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinic Authority Web site: http://apps. uwhealth. org/health/adam/hie/1/000486. htm

Serial Killers Jack The Ripper - 1546 Words

There are many serial killers that live in infamy as household names such as, Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy, to name a few. These killers, and others, are well known today for their actions and will forever live, known as serial killers. However, there are a few cases where the killer is never actually caught. Often the cases grow cold and the victims, are quickly forgotten. There is a very special and bizarre case that sticks out from the others and because of this many do remember. The case, almost as old as modern policing itself, is simply remembered by name coined for the killer, Jack the Ripper. What makes Jack the Ripper such a mystery is the fact that he was never caught. The five murders carried out by Jack the Ripper were located at Whitechapel. Whitechapel is a small town in London which was stricken with poverty. Families lived in very small single room houses. These houses were cramped with as many as nine family members per room. Overcrowding led to miserable living conditions in and out of houses. Many people threw out their trash and waste onto the street and the lack of a sanitation and sewer system also led to dangerous living conditions. For the families that could not afford the single room houses there was another option, lodging houses. Every night almost eight thousand people refuged in these lodging houses. When staying at these lodging houses families were often forced to sleep in a single room with many other families. TheShow MoreRelatedEnglish Serial Killers: Jack the Ripper1449 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Research Paper One-hundred twenty-five years ago England saw its first serial killer, Jack the Ripper. His mysterious identity and evasion from the police intrigues people who enjoy learning about the criminal acts of infamous serial killers. There was poverty in this time in London and was having trouble with the overcrowding of people. Jack the Ripper has a very distinctive style of killing and all his victims were all killed a certain way. He was never caught because of the lack of technologyRead MoreEssay Jack the Ripper1209 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Jack the Ripper† Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer, whom some believe never even existed at all. From August to November 1888, Jack the Ripper terrorized the East End of London by being responsible for the death and mutilation of at least seven female prostitutes. The destitute East End is also known as the White Chapel district of London, England. A few of the prostitutes were targeted as they were leaving brothels in and around the White Chapel district. Jack the Ripper seemedRead MoreWhy Were the Police Unable to Catch Jack the Ripper?1412 Words   |  6 Pagesthe police unable to catch Jack the Ripper? 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When the murder victims were found the press and the detectives could never put a name with the crime. Jack the Ripper is a mythic figure comparable with Frankenstein and Dracula. The Rippers first three murdered whores, in 1888, were believed to be by the same person. These murdered victims all seemed to occur around the ParishRead MoreMurder Is An Interesting Topic. Everyone Wants To Know1563 Words   |  7 Pagesthough is serial killers. They kill over three people, and no one knows why. Serial Killers are some of the most mysterious and misunderstood criminals in law enforcement. Jack the Ripper Five female prostitutes left the world in 1888, due to an unidentified killer known as Jack the Ripper( â€Å"Jack the Ripper Biography†).Jack the Ripper was never caught and was considered to be a person with medical knowledge with the expertise that he used to remove organs from his victims. Jack the Ripper killed womenRead MoreBlack And White : Victorian Crime Scenes And The Ripper Photographs931 Words   |  4 PagesAnwer, M. 2014. Murder in black and white: Victorian crime scenes and the Ripper photographs. Victorian Studies 56.3:433-441 This article focuses on an extensive analysis of the photographs of the Jack the Ripper’s, a 19th century serial killer, victims and how they are taken in a way which wrongs the victims. The author uses many sources to provide evidence for her argument. She has an obvious bias and tries to describe the negative effects of Victorian post-mortem photography on the way the victimsRead MoreEssay about Summary for Jack the Ripper840 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Hunt for Jack the Ripper† Jack the Ripper was said to be the first serial killer in the modern sense. In the article â€Å"The Hunt for Jack the Ripper,† William D. Rubinstein’s main idea is to explain and examined some of the murder victims, and possible suspects for Jack the Ripper. Rubinstein goes into great detail to try and define who the ripper actually was, but this is still an unsolved mystery in history. Rubinstein’s main ideas are the different possibilities for Jack the Ripper; however thereRead MoreThe Reasons Behind Polices Inability To Catch Jack The Ripper980 Words   |  4 PagesThe Reasons Behind Polices Inability To Catch Jack The Ripper Jack The Ripper was never caught, and his identity remains a mystery to this day. The police were unable to catch Jack The Ripper and solve the mystery of the Whit Chapel murders because of several reasons. The first reason is the police themselves. In London, there were two police forces. The Metropolitan police and the City Of London police. The murders took place in both of the jurisdictions. The police