Unification of Germany Essay Example for Free

Unification of Germany Essay Economic success, political failure, and diplomatic tension marked the idea of a unified Germany in the period after the Napoleonic Wars. It was not clear around which power, Austria or Prussia, Germany could achieve national unification (Merriman 2010). Prussian merchants, with the support of the Prussian crown, established the customs and trade union known as the Zollverein in 1834 (AP Central German Unification 2013). The Zollverein freed trade between most of the German states, with the exception of Austria. The upper class were wary of any change that might threaten the status quo and feared the strong nationalist feeling unleashed by the revolution, the expansion of which might lead to, they reasoned, the proclamation of the equality of all citizens (Merriman 2010). Industrialists and merchants thus brought liberal politics into German nationalism. During the Revolution of 1848, liberals met in the Frankfurt Assembly and drafted a constitution modeled on the ideals of the French Revolution of 1789 (AP Central German Unification 2013). The assembly offered to share power under a constitutional monarchy and offered the crown of a unified Germany to Frederick William IV of Prussia. The Revolution of 1848 brought some liberal reforms to Prussia, such as the ability of the parliament to obstruct certain forms of taxation. However, the Prussian leadership, which was thoroughly conservative, rejected the Frankfurt constitution, preferring reform and unification directed from above. Austrias resistance of attempts to unify Germany under Prussian leadership further obstructed unification. One of the major questions concerning German unification centered on this Prussian-Austrian rivalry, which was both diplomatic and cultural. Supporters of Greater Germany insisted that Prussians and Austrians, with a common language naturally, should be part of one nation. However, proponents of Lesser Germany argued that Austria should be excluded from unification due to dynastic rivalry between the Hohenzollerns and the Hapsburgs and the cultural differences between a mostly Protestant Prussia and Catholic Austria (AP Central German Unification 2013). Figure 1 : Kaiser Wilhem I German Emperor (18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888) The Wars of German Unification The path to unification for Germany came through diplomacy and war. The French defeat at the Battle of Sedan and annexation of Alsace-Lorraine brought Bavaria into the German Confederation, and William I became the first monarch of the German Empire (AP Central German Unification 2013). In 1862, Wilhelm I of Prussia appointed Otto von Bismarck prime minister. Bismarck’s name became closely identified with the term Realpolitik, or â€Å"the politics of realism† (Muntone 2011). Bismarck was a very able man, both pragmatic and determined. Bismarck’s focus was on a united Germany with a strong monarch. Bismarck’s belief in a strong monarchy made him a political conservative and in the 1860’s he was faced with a hostile liberal majority in Parliament (Muntone 2011). Therefore, Bismarck directed the nation’s attention to foreign affairs. This would allow him to maintain control of the domestic policy, since civilian populations always accepted special government controls and restrictions during wartime. In 1864 Bismarck trumped up charges against the Danish government for their treatment of Germans living in the Danish province of Schleswig-Holstein. Prussias defeat of Denmark and annexation of Schleswig-Holstein set Prussia on a collision course with Austria for dominance of central Europe. Following the defeat of the Austrian Empire in 1866, the German states allied with Prussia, with the notable exception of Catholic Bavaria, forming the North German Confederation. In his first two wars, Bismarck balanced Russian and French concerns over the growing power of Prussia. In the former, Bismarck manipulated long-standing Russian mistrust of Austria to form an alliance. With France, Bismarck benefited from Emperor Napoleon IIIs failed campaign in Mexico, which distracted the French from European affairs. This was only temporary and the Franco-Prussian War began in 1870. Figure 2: Otto Von Bismarck Prime Minister of unified Germany The opportunity for the final step in German unification arrived in 1870. Bismarck decided to go to war with France, believing that the other German states would come to Prussia’s aid. He changed the wording of a press release so that it gave the appearance of a deliberate insult from the Prussian king to the French emperor (Muntone 2011). On reading the statement, Napoleon III immediately declared war on Prussia. As Bismarck had calculated, the southern German states allied themselves with Prussia against their common enemy, France (Muntone 2011). The war can accurately be describe as â€Å"Franco-German† rather than â€Å"Franco- Prussian† because many German states besides Prussia played a major role in defeating the French(Muntone 2011). The efficiency and superior strategy of the German military brought the French to a speedy surrender. The peace treaty gave Germany control of Alsace and Lorraine, and provided for a compensatory payment to Prussia of 5 billion francs. Although Prussia had provoked the war, France had technically been the aggressor, and at any rate was on the losing side (Muntone 2011). Figure 3: German Empire of 1871 Conclusion On January 18, 1871, Wilhelm I of Prussia was officially crowned emperor of Germany. Below is a copy of the imperial proclamation on January 18, 1871 that unified Germany as a nation: The Imperial Proclamation, January 18, 1871 Whereas the German princes and the free cities have unanimously called upon us to renew and to assume, with the restoration of the German Empire, the German imperial office, which has been empty for more than sixty years; and Whereas adequate arrangements have been provided for this in the constitution of the German Confederation;We, Wilhelm, by the grace of God King of Prussia, do herewith declare that we have considered it a duty to ur common fatherland to answer the summons of the united German princes and cities and to accept the German imperial title. In consequence, we and our successors on the throne of Prussia will henceforth bear the imperial title in all our relations and in all the business of the German Empire, and we hope to God that the German nation will be granted the ability to fashion a propitious future for the fatherland un der the symbol of its ancient glory. We assume the imperial title, conscious of the duty of protecting, with German loyalty, the rights of the Empire and of its members, of keeping the peace, and of protecting the independence of Germany, which depends in its turn upon the united strength of the people. We assume the title in the hope that the German people will be granted the ability to enjoy the reward of its ardent and self-sacrificing wars in lasting peace, within boundaries which afford the fatherland a security against renewed French aggression which has been lost for centuries. And may God grant that We and our successors on the imperial throne may at all times increase the wealth of the German Empire, not by military conquests, but by the blessings and the gifts of peace, in the realm of national prosperity, liberty, and morality. Wilhelm I, Kaiser und Konig (Halsall 1998). In a final insult to the French, the Germans held the ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Nationalism was a major force in the creation of the German Empire. Both the nobles and the common people supported unification. In contrast to the treatment given to Austria in 1866, the conditions imposed on France in 1870 and 1871 were very harsh (World History at KMLA 2008). For the following decades, the recovery of Alsace-Lorraine was a political goal of French diplomacy, and one of the roots for World War I (World History at KMLA 2008). Unification was accomplished with the approval of most, but not of all Germans. Especially in Hannover, annexed in 1866, the aversion of Prussia remained strong and Hannovers representatives in Germanys Reichstag, the Welfen, were in constant opposition (World History at KMLA 2008). The Catholic Bavarians remained skeptical of the new Empire. The army had been the most visible instrument by which unification had been achieved. In the German Empire, the defense forces were revered. The state failed to establish a mechanism ensuring state control over the army. When World War I began, military reasoning (crossing Belgium to get into France, the Schlieffen-Plan) won out over political reasoning (World History at KMLA 2008). The breach of Belgiums neutrality was the main reason for charging Germany with sole responsibility for World War I.

Video Conferencing Essay -- Communication Essays

Video Conferencing This essay will be about a communication medium called Video Conferencing (not to be confused with Web conferencing). I will explain what video conferencing is, how it works, potential uses, future impact with regards to technology as well as advantages/disadvantages with video conferencing. According to West, Donald (august 2003) â€Å"Videoconferencing Whit Paper† Videoconferencing is two way video and sound between two or more locations using video, audio and high speed digital communication connections. The development of videoconferencing started way back in 1956 with AT&T building the first picture phone test system, and it gradually evolved and in 1991 the first video/audio conference was held (HREF1). By means of video conferencing, images are digital, bits or pixel is used to represent the image. Video is accomplished by sending a sequence of digital frames, this is then received, decoded and shown at the receiving end. Both parties of the conference receive and transmit streams of digital images and voice at the same time. Common features of video conferencing systems are camera, visual display, audio system, user interface and control system, network connection and compression. The critical component in this process is the compression, referred to as CODEC. This device converts images to a digital format for transmission and decodes the received image for display. Displays are normally standard television receivers, LCD or video projectors. The use of video conferencing as an essential part of business communication has increased dramatically in recent years. The growth is expected to continue unabated according to research firm Frost & Sullivan Inc, going from 1.9 billion U.S to 5.4 billion U... ... It has been limited by the lack of bandwidth, but as that is continuously growing streaming is definitely something to be reckoned with in the near future. The most interesting technology would be Teleportec, to be in two places at once sounds very fascinating, projecting a digital image of the user to appear in a room. Although it sounds more like science-fiction, it is vaguely in use today, even though it is very expensive it would be very interesting to se how this technology develops in the future. References Videoconferencing White Paper - August 2003 by West, Donald Video conferencing report by Taylor, Moira (HREF1) http://myhome.hanafos.com/~soonjp/vchx.html (HREF2) http://www.uc.edu/ucitnow/winter_01/vctech.htm Electronic Engineering Times. David Lammers Manhasset: Apr 29, 2002. , Iss. 1216; pg. 46, 2 pgs http://gateway.proquest.com:

Full Disclosure Essay

Accounting is an information system that identifies, records, and communicates the economic events of an organization to interested users† (Kieso, Weygandt, and Warfield, 2007). Information that is relevant and important to users should be disclosed; unfortunately, some information cannot be quantified through financial data. Certain data cannot be included in the organization’s financial statements. The full disclosure principle explains how companies handle situations that cannot be explained in numerical terms but should be disclosed to the investing public. This paper will explain what is the full disclosure principle in accounting and why has disclosure increased substantially in the last 10 years. This paper will also address why full disclosure is needed and what possible consequences may occur if companies do not follow these principles. What is Full Disclosure?†The full disclosure principle calls for financial reporting of any financial facts significant enough to influence the judgment of an informed reader† (Kieso, Weygandt, and Warfield, 2007, p. 1282). For example, certain financial information does not directly influence specific journal accounts. However, these financial events may influence the future of the company’s or may influence how investors view the financial stability of the company. For example, a high-profile ongoing lawsuit may cause dramatic constraints on the company’s liabilities and assets if the company must pay high litigation fees and settlements. This type of information has a huge impact on how stable the company seems. Unfortunately, it will not be stated in the financial statements since the case has not been settled. According to the full disclosure principle, the company should disclose this type of information in the notes of the financial statements. This kind of information influences how investors rate the company’s financial stability and strategic future even though the company has not settled the case yet. Full disclosure also curbs fraudulent accounting acts that can be hidden or omitted from financial statements. Why Full Disclosure Increased Substantially in the Last 10 Years?The full disclosure principle has substantially increased within the last 10 years due to several reasons. One of the reasons is due to the wake of off-balance sheet financing made public by the Enron scandal (Kieso, Weygandt, and  Warfield, 2007). Fraudulent accounting acts made famous by the Enron scandal has prompted the industry to reinforce this principle. Consequently, the SEC called for an expanded disclosure in order to ensure that companies are disclosing all necessary information. By disclosing information that may affect users, companies comply with the increased reporting requirements recently made by the accounting profession. It also forces companies to disclose information that has the potential of having huge financial consequences to the business. Moreover, the complexity of the business environment, and the need for timely information has increased the need for full disclosure as well. As a result, the SEC enforced the full disclosure principle more fully to help monitor and control business organizations (Kieso, Weygandt, and Warfield, 2007). Why is Full Disclosure Needed?The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the public have both called for the need to disclose accurate financial information that states all contractual obligations and liabilities must be reported. In other words, full disclosure is needed to ensure that organizations are disclosing all of the necessary information to help investors, creditors, and the public make better and wiser decisions regarding their companies. Full disclosure is also needed to ensure that companies do not commit fraudulent activities like the activities that were committed within the Enron organization. Full disclosure also helps investors determine if a company is as stable as the financial statements appear to be. Possible ConsequencesFailing to disclose items in financial statements can have several possible consequences. The Enron scandal shows how company executives can be held liable for fraudulent activity. Criminal and civil liabilities may occur if executives fail to disclose financial information that may mislead investors. Another consequence is losing public trust if an organization is caught not disclosing pertinent information. A company may lose high public opinion if shareholders are led to believe that the company was more profitable than what was actually occurring. Moreover, a company may not be able to recover from bad press, litigation costs, and government fines if caught not fully disclosing financial information. The Sarbanes  Oxley Act reinforces the consequences and punishments of not fully disclosing financial information. The main goal of this act focuses on deterring fraudulent acts and cutting down on poor reporting practices. CEOs and CFOs are held personally liable for the accuracy of financial statements; a forfeit of the CEO’s bonuses or company profits may be withheld if accounting restatements are made as well (Kieso, Weygandt, and Warfield, 2007). Independent auditors must be employed to ensure that accurate information is disclosed as well. Conclusion The full disclosure principle ensures that relevant and useful financial information is reported accurately to the public. Fraudulent accounting activity has called for stricter interpretations of this principle since criminal, civil, and SEC violations may occur if full disclosure is not followed. The Sarbanes Oxley Act highlights the consequences of not fully disclosing information. These strict guidelines show how the government has responded to accounting activities that attempt to hide certain financial activities. Accounting managers must be aware of the heightened need for fully disclosing all types of financial events or information that may affect the investor’s view of the financial stability of a company. References Weygandt J., Kieso D., & Kimmel, P. (2007) Financial Accounting and Accounting Standards. Intermediate Accounting (12th edition). Kieso D., Weygandt J., & Warfield T. (2007). Full Disclosure. Intermediate Accounting (12th edition).

Ladybugs, Family Coccinellidae

Ladybugs, or ladybirds as they are also called, are neither bugs nor birds. Entomologists prefer the name lady beetle, which accurately places these lovable insects in the order Coleoptera. Whatever you call them, these well-known insects belong to the family Coccinellidae. All About Ladybugs Ladybugs share a characteristic shape—a dome-shaped back and a flat underside. Ladybug elytra display bold colors and markings, usually red, orange, or yellow with black spots. People often believe the number of spots on a ladybug tells its age, but this is not true. The markings may indicate a species of Coccinellid, although even individuals within a species can vary greatly. Ladybugs walk on short legs, which tuck away under the body. Their short antennae form a slight club at the end. The ladybugs head is almost hidden beneath a large pronotum. Ladybug mouthparts are modified for chewing. Coccinellids became known as ladybirds during the Middle Ages. The term lady references the Virgin Mary, who was often depicted in a red cloak. The 7-spot ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata) is said to represent the Virgins seven joys and seven sorrows. Classification of Lady Beetles Kingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – ColeopteraFamily - Coccinellidae The Ladybug Diet Most ladybugs are predators with ravenous appetites for aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Adult ladybugs will eat several hundred aphids before mating and laying eggs on the infested plants. Ladybug larvae feed on aphids as well. Some ladybug species prefer other pests, like mites, white flies, or scale insects. A few even feed on fungus or mildew. One small subfamily of ladybugs (Epilachninae) includes leaf-eating beetles like the Mexican bean beetle. A small number of beetles in this group are pests, but by far the majority of ladybugs are beneficial predators of pest insects. The Ladybug Life Cycle Ladybugs undergo complete metamorphosis in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Depending on the species, female ladybugs may lay up to 1,000 eggs within a few months from spring to early summer. Eggs hatch within four days. Ladybug larvae resemble tiny alligators, with elongated bodies and bumpy skin. Most species go through four larval instars. The larva attaches itself to a leaf, and pupates. Ladybug pupae are usually orange. Within 3 to 12 days, the adult emerges, ready to mate and feed. Most ladybugs overwinter as adults. They form aggregates, or clusters, and take shelter in leaf litter, under bark, or other protected places. Some species, like the Asian multicolored lady beetle, prefer to spend the winter hidden in the walls of buildings. Special Adaptations and Defenses of Ladybugs When threatened, ladybugs reflex bleed, releasing hemolymph form their leg joints. The yellow hemolymph is both toxic and foul-smelling, and effectively deters predators. The ladybugs bright colors, red and black in particular, may signal its toxicity to predators as well. Some evidence suggests that ladybugs lay infertile eggs along with fertile ones, in order to provide a food source for hatching larvae. When the natural food supply is limited, the ladybug lays a higher percentage of infertile eggs. Range and Distribution of Ladybugs The cosmopolitan ladybug can be found throughout the world. Over 450 species of ladybugs live in North America, though not all are native to the continent. Worldwide, scientists have described over 5,000 Coccinellid species.