Here's What You Should Know About Buying a Home in 2016

Many people have at least once dreamed or thought of the type of a home they would like to live in at certain points in their lives. For a potential home-buyer who would wish to own a home in 2016, there will be a considerably large number of homes to consider. Additionally, most of these homes will be sold at relatively competitive prices. Thus, the following are some of the things one ought to know when purchasing a home in 2016:

1. Right-size the home's down payment

A potential home-buyer should consider paying more than 20% of the total cost of the home that sellers often require. Such a strategy would be beneficial in an excessively competitive market that may emerge in the coming year. The extra payment for a down payment also assures the home-seller that the owner will be in a position to secure a mortgage if the asking price of the home supersedes the appraised price.

2. Benefits from tax breaks

In many states, tax laws are increasingly favoring homeowners. For that reason, buying a home in 2016 not only means securing a house, but also qualifying for a marvelous tax break. For instance, tax laws in many states allow homeowners to deduct every monthly interest payable on a home loan, except when the home's worth is more than a million.

3. Have a savvy broker

While typical brokers will inform potential homeowners of all the things they ought to know before buying a home, not every advice given is trustworthy. Thus, a potential home owner in 2016 should have a well-known agent to gather all the necessary information before settling for a home. A savvy broker has up-to-date information on market trends, and unseen factors affecting prices of homes. He or she may inform a potential homeowner of the hidden prices that a home seller would charge.

4. Price of homes are stabilizing

Due to the increasing demand for homes in the past few years, home prices have been skyrocketing steadily. However, the current market trends show that the prices are currently reaching a level playing ground no matter the stiff competition in the housing markets. Therefore, a person interested in owning a home in 2016 will be able to bargain for a fair price from sellers.

5. Interest rates for a home loan are still low

Many people who are unable to purchase homes from their pockets often opt of loans. However, home loans have been attracting at least 20% interest on any home loans. These high interest rates have always been the sole reason that people avoid opting for a home loan. Fortunately, many potential homeowners in 2016 will be free from such hefty loan rates as many the loans have currently reduced up to nearly 4%.

Conclusion

2016 will be the best year for one to purchase a home. The will come with attractive deals that will see many people securing worthy homes at relatively cheaper prices as compared to the previous years. For that reason, any potential home-buyer should contemplate owing a home in 2016 with a huge potential for financial savings.

Gender in Society

Essay Prompt-In this unit of readings, we have explored our culture's views, expectations, and stereotypes related to gender. In the essay, discuss how these views, expectations and stereotypes can impact our relationships, contribute to our expectations of ourselves and others, and/or place limitation on individuals. The evidence/support should be based on a least one of the class readings (3 readings attached) as well as your own experiences and observations. Include quotes from writings.

 Essay Prompt-In this unit of readings, we have explored our culture's views, expectations, and stereotypes related to gender. In the essay, discuss how these views, expectations and stereotypes can impact our relationships, contribute to our expectations of ourselves and others, and/or place limitation on individuals. The evidence/support should be based on a least one of the class readings (3 readings attached) as well as your own experiences and observations. Include quotes from writings.

Essay Prompt-In this unit of readings, we have explored our culture's views, expectations, and stereotypes related to gender. In the essay, discuss how these views, expectations and stereotypes can impact our relationships, contribute to our expectations of ourselves and others, and/or place limitation on individuals. The evidence/support should be based on a least one of the class readings (3 readings attached) as well as your own experiences and observations. Include quotes from writings.

Link between Ebola, Nursing and Medical Anthropology

Use 5 Ebola news trends or topics presented by NPR, identify and analyze topics in which medical anthropology topics, nursing topics and news on Ebola intersect.  That is, how does medical anthropology and nursing  inform our understanding of the Ebola crisis and efforts to end it?  How can news on NPR concerning the Ebola crisis help us better understand the course material and knowledge you have gained from your major?  How can nations that have recorded cases of Ebola and the rest of the globe better prepare socially, culturally, medically, financially, and politically for another outbreak of Ebola or another virus crisis? ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT AND TALK ABOUT LINKS BETWEEN EBOLA CRISIS FROM NPR STORES, AND MEDICAL ANTHROPLOGY AND THESE NURSING TOPICS EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE, STERILE TECHNIQUE, CULTURAL COMPETENCY, HANDWASHING IMPORTANCE, 

Use 5 Ebola news trends or topics presented by NPR, identify and analyze topics in which medical anthropology topics, nursing topicsand news on Ebola intersect.  That is, how doesmedical anthropology and nursing  inform our understanding of the Ebola crisis and efforts to end it?  How can news on NPR concerning the Ebola crisis help us better understand the course material and knowledge you have gained from your major?  How can nations that have recorded cases of Ebola and the rest of the globe better prepare socially, culturally, medically, financially, and politically for another outbreak of Ebola or another virus crisis? ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT AND TALK ABOUT LINKS BETWEEN EBOLA CRISIS FROM NPR STORES, AND MEDICAL ANTHROPLOGY AND THESE NURSING TOPICS EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE, STERILE TECHNIQUE, CULTURAL COMPETENCY, HANDWASHING IMPORTANCE,



APA Paper. 8 pages. 5 references. Completed. Request for a download link below via comment. I will gladly share.

Instructional design and delivery of training

Instructional design and delivery of training in the future must be done faster and more efficiently.  How can this be done? What are some techniques to accomplish this goal?

Instructional design and delivery of training in the future must be done faster and more efficiently.  How can this be done? What are some techniques to accomplish this goal?

Instructional design and delivery of training in the future must be done faster and more efficiently.  How can this be done? What are some techniques to accomplish this goal?

What are Hofstede's five cultural dimensions and what are their implications for training?

What are Hofstede's five cultural dimensions and what are their implications for training?

What are Hofstede's five cultural dimensions and what are their implications for training?

What are Hofstede's five cultural dimensions and what are their implications for training?


Thank You. Available Paper.

Reproduction and Animal Behavior

Reproduction and Animal Behavior

Reproduction: Explain why asexually reproducing organisms are generally found in environments that do not change very much through time, while sexually reproducing organisms are very successful in environments that change dramatically through time.

Animal Behavior: How does an animal’s behavior aid survival and reproduction? Provide an example to illustrate your comments

Reproduction: Explain why asexually reproducing organisms are generally found in environments that do not change very much through time, while sexually reproducing organisms are very successful in environments that change dramatically through time.

Animal Behavior: How does an animal’s behavior aid survival and reproduction? Provide an example to illustrate your comments

Describe the role of double helix in complimentary base pairing in DNA replication

Describe the role of double helix in complimentary base pairing in DNA replication

Describe the role of double helix in complimentary base pairing in DNA replication. What does it mean when we say that the two strands of DNA in the double helix are antiparallel? What would the end of the double helix look like if the strands were parallel?



Describe the role of double helix in complimentary base pairing in DNA replication. What does it mean when we say that the two strands of DNA in the double helix are antiparallel? What would the end of the double helix look like if the strands were parallel?


Biology. Request Paper.

Compare and contrast DNA and RNA

Compare and contrast DNA and RNA

Compare and contrast DNA and RNA. Discuss why humans did not evolve with one central repository of DNA, but rather it is replicated throughout the body?


Compare and contrast DNA and RNA. Discuss why humans did not evolve with one central repository of DNA, but rather it is replicated throughout the body?


Biology. Suggest a Writeup.

List and detail several advantages of using new technologies in training and development.

List and detail several advantages of using new technologies in training and development.

 

12 font (Times New Roman), double spaced, 500+ words in length.  Paper must discuss/answer the following (please use upload as one of the reference sources):
List and detail several advantages of using new technologies in training and development.


12 font (Times New Roman), double spaced, 500+ words in length.  Paper must discuss/answer the following (please use upload as one of the reference sources):
List and detail several advantages of using new technologies in training and development.

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with.

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with.
Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with.

Write a 350- to 700-word rebuttal to the article using valid arguments and supporting data. In the rebuttal, offer an analysis in which you do the following:

Analyze the reliability, credibility, and validity of the data used by the author.
Identify any logical fallacies in the argument.

Format your rebuttal consistent with APA guidelines.
Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with.

Write a 350- to 700-word rebuttal to the article using valid arguments and supporting data. In the rebuttal, offer an analysis in which you do the following:

Analyze the reliability, credibility, and validity of the data used by the author.
Identify any logical fallacies in the argument.

Format your rebuttal consistent with APA guidelines.

And More Essay to Come soon!!

Discuss the different phases of the cell cycle. At which part of the cell cycle would you expect that a change in regulation could result in cancer?

Discuss the different phases of the cell cycle. At which part of the cell cycle would you expect that a change in regulation could result in cancer?

Discuss the different phases of the cell cycle. At which part of the cell cycle would you expect that a change in regulation could result in cancer? How is the cancer cell cycle different from a normal cell cycle? Provide a rationale for your answer.


Discuss the different phases of the cell cycle. At which part of the cell cycle would you expect that a change in regulation could result in cancer? How is the cancer cell cycle different from a normal cell cycle? Provide a rationale for your answer.




Request for this resource and essay. I will offer a great help to you.

Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

View essay. 2 pages APA.

Concerns in shutting down a project

Identify the concerns that arise when shutting down a project.  Examine which are the easiest and the most difficult to address

Identify the concerns that arise when shutting down a project.  Examine which are the easiest and the most difficult to address


Available two page essay

Describe Management Information Systems (MIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) and differentiate between them.

Describe Management Information Systems (MIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) and differentiate between them.

 

 12 font (Times New Roman), double spaced, 500+ words in length.  Paper must discuss/answer the following:  

Describe Management Information Systems (MIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) and differentiate between them.

Available Essay. Request.

What is the diffrence between a policy and a procedure?

What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?

• What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?

• How do regulations affect network policies?

• Why does keeping good records help in managing your network?

• What type of information is shown on a wiring diagram? How does this differ from a network diagram?

  • What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?
  • How do regulations affect network policies?
  • Why does keeping good records help in managing your network?
  • What type of information is shown on a wiring diagram? How does this differ from a network diagram?
  
  Available essay. APA Format 2 pages. Request.
  

   

   

Explain Tay-Sachs disease and provide a discussion of the information you would share with the couple about Tay-Sachs and possible implications for future children.

Explain Tay-Sachs disease. Imagine you are a genetic counselor working with a couple who have just had a child who is suffering from Tay-Sachs disease. Neither parent has been tested for Tay-Sachs disease nor have there been any previous cases of Tay-Sachs in either family. Explain Tay-Sachs disease and provide a discussion of the information you would share with the couple about Tay-Sachs and possible implications for future children.

Explain Tay-Sachs disease. Imagine you are a genetic counselor working with a couple who have just had a child who is suffering from Tay-Sachs disease. Neither parent has been tested for Tay-Sachs disease nor have there been any previous cases of Tay-Sachs in either family. Explain Tay-Sachs disease and provide a discussion of the information you would share with the couple about Tay-Sachs and possible implications for future children.

This essay is available. Two pages. At an affordable price. Request for it in comment  section.

Use of Information Technology in Logistical Operations of Wal-Mart

Introduction

In line with its key objective of low consumer prices, Wal-Mart made aggressive investments in available information technology (IT) systems for the retail market earlier than its market rivals did. Notably, in the year 1969, Wal-Mart was amongst the first retailers to track their inventory with the assistance of computers. Subsequently, the company adopted the use of bar codes when making sales in the year 1980. The next technology that Wal-Mart utilized after the bar codes is the electronic data interchange (EDI) that improves  its coordination and data exchange procedure with its suppliers. The combination of these information technology devices, and introduction of wireless scanning guns into its data processing systems have been facilitating quick monitoring of sales at every store of the company. These massive investments in information technology have been significantly supportive to the company’s logistical operations as IT allows quick reduction of inventory and boosts both its labor productivity and capital.

Information Technology at Walmart

            It is arguable that Wal-Mart is always strategic when making investments in technological devices and applications. It mainly focuses on IT applications and devices that would directly assist it in achieving low consumer prices, which is its main value proposition. For instance, Wal-Mart made an investment in Retail link program, which is a program capable of directly capturing data on sales giving real-time stock quotations to vendors. Wal-Mart utilizes the efficiency and dependability of the Retail link program to increase sales in its various stores using micro merchandising. The Program also assists Wal-Mart to monitor its stocks efficiently and eliminates the chances of under-stocking in every store. A well-managed product stores and stocks ensures that the company’s logistical processes are up and going; hence, leading to consumer satisfaction.

Another important investment that Wal-Mart has made in information technology is establishment of an intricate satellite network. Wal-Mart’s satellite network provides a link that connects point of sales terminals in every store of the company. The principal concept behind the design of the satellite network was provision of information on inventory status and real-time sales information to the company’s sales force, customers, and managers. Manufacturers and suppliers in the company’s supply chain are able to synchronize the projections of their demands through a replenishment and forecasting scheme. With the help of the satellite network, a point of sale system at the store, and central database, it is possible to connect every link in Wal-Mart’s supply chain. The tracking of customer demands and purchases ensures that the supply chain offers the customers an opportunity to pull goods to stores instead of reliance on the company’s workforce to push them on the shelves.

  Wal-Mart has also been using radio frequency identification tags (RFID). RFID has numerical codes that after scanning from any distance, allows for tracking pallets of goods that are moving in the supply chain system. Wal-Mart has been encouraging its suppliers to utilize the RFID technology since both the suppliers and Wal-Mart must normally handle an inventory. Another information technology worth mentioning is the smart tags. Information on a smart tag is readable using a handled scanner. Wal-Mart’s employees use the smart tags in determining goods that need replacement thereby, ensuring an up-to-date inventory in all stores of Wal-Mart.

Therefore, it is palpable that Wal-Mart utilizes information technology efficiently in its logistical operations. The use of technology like RFID leads to quick scanning of product information that are moving along the supply chain even when they are distances away from the point of distribution. The linkage of point of sales in every store of the company makes it easier to process customer demands and quotations as well as efficient monitoring of stock. The use of technology to quicken and improve most activities is crucial to the general improvement of its supply chain.

Republican vs. Democrat Stand On the Following Issues

Introduction

The Republican and the Democratic parties dominate the political landscape in the United States. However, the ideals and philosophies of these two parties are significantly different. This paper highlights the political positions and policies of the parties regarding the issues below.  

Raising the Minimum Wage

Republicans are against the idea of increasing the minimum wage with the justification that besides inflating prices, it will increase the rate of unemployment in the United States. Subsequently, inflated prices will affect businesses negatively. They hold that free markets should be responsible for setting the minimum wage. On the other hand, Democrats support increase of the minimum wage arguing that it will help workers, especially those in entry-level positions. Moreover, Democrats react to Republicans arguments by emphasizing that there is little evidence to prove that increasing the minimum wage will increase the rate of unemployment or inflation in America.    

Raising the Debt Limit

In the view of the Democrats, majority of the Republicans are hampering the process of lifting the debt limit relentlessly and recklessly. Democrats support increasing the debt limit with the rationalization that it is a way to prevent the US from defaulting on its spending obligations. The Republicans have always held that they would lift America’s legal debt limit only in the event of deep spending cuts, especially to entitlement programs. However, a number of Republicans have been supporting the issue of increasing the debt limit with the hope that it will grant American people a chance to rein in their deficits and debts. It is the hope of these Republicans that increasing the debt limit will be fundamental in changing the way that the US federal government uses tax dollars of the American people.        

A Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants

Democrats generally support provision of a path to citizenship for deserving illegal immigrants. Nevertheless, Democrats do not believe that every undocumented immigrant deserves amnesty. Rather, the illegal immigrants should satisfactorily clear their background check, pay taxes, and work hard towards earning their citizenship. Additionally, Democrats greatly wish to change current laws on immigration with the argument that these laws undermines the US values, and don not serve US security. Republicans, on the contrary, believe that illegal immigrants deserve strong repercussions. They hold that American citizens who either help these illegal migrants to obtain falsified documentation or offer them employment equally deserve strong repercussions. According to the Republicans, undocumented immigrants have little value to the United States and impede development in every aspect of the nation.

School Vouchers

Democrats are against school vouchers arguing that the United States requires accountability from public academic institutions. According to the Democratic Party, it is necessary for public schools to have the freedom of designing their curriculum in accordance with set educational standards. Democrats believe that public schools should be in a position to compete for learners and hold accountability for student results. Democrats consider that private school vouchers exhaust resources in public schools, thereby, handing over the well-deserved tax dollars of the public to private schools. Conversely, Republicans standby school vouchers arguing that it is an opportunity for underprivileged American parents, who perceive certain public schools as inappropriate for their children, to send their children to private schools that the law allows.

A Cap and Trade System for Regulating Carbon Emissions

Congressional Democrats as well as President Obama have been pushing for the cap and trade policies for regulation of carbon emissions. Democrats view the cap-and-trade system as a market-based procedure for addressing climate change. The system would set rational caps on greenhouse gas emissions from carbon and other emitters, and offer industries with credits that are tradable. According to Democrats, trade in these credits empowers industries deploy new and effective technologies and energy resources that reduce environment pollution. The nation would also be able to utilize energy resources in a way that produces substantial environmental and financial benefits. On the contrary, the Republicans have been against the cap-and-trade system considering it as a job-killing overreach of the government. However, some Republican presidential candidates have supported the cap-and-trade system in past campaign periods. For instance, John McCain, a Republican candidate, supported the cap-and-trade system in his 2007 during his presidential campaigns.  

Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma

The current governor of Oklahoma, Marry Fallin, is a Republican. She has staunchly rejected expansion of Medicaid in the state of Oklahoma. The governor has also given no proposal for an optional model that the state could use to expand insurance coverage for Oklahoma residents who fall under low-income category. On the other hand, Oklahoma Democratic Party supports expansion of Medicaid in the state. Oklahoma Democrats have petitioned the governor’s decision of not permitting expansion of Medicaid in the state.

The democrats believe that expanding Medicaid program in Oklahoma will provide effective healthcare to the state’s residents and, consequently, enhance their health and quality of life. Moreover, democrats hold that expansion of Medicaid will save Oklahoma millions of dollars since funding of the Medicaid program is a responsibility of the federal government. Furthermore, expanding Medicaid in the state will lead to considerable economic benefits. It will create numerous new jobs with high pay to Oklahoma residents. Consequently, the new jobs will generate a new pack of tax revenue for both the state and county governments.

Was the American Civil War an Irrepressible Conflict or Not?

Introduction

Numerous interpretations try to explain why the Civil War started. These interpretations generally fall into two main categories of thought: blundering generation and irrepressible conflict. In the view of the blundering generation interpretations, a “blundering generation” of leaders seemingly made several misjudgments and mistakes that created extremism; thus, gradually leading to the Civil War. Conversely, the irrepressible conflict interpretations hold that the South and the North were totally transforming different communities, especially on the issue of slavery. Hence, they could not co-exist in one geographical setting leading to the Civil War. This paper holds that the American Civil War was an irrepressible conflict considering that neither the South nor the North was ready to compromise on the issue of slavery. Conflicting ideas on the issue of slavery catalyzed other minor differences between the South and the North like economic and social difference; hence, collectively triggering the war.

The Civil War 

Slavery was one of the main reasons for the Civil war of the 1860s. The Southern states needed slaves to work in their vast cotton farms amid firm opposition from the Northern states. The Northern states owned many mills and factories that white workers had dominated. The two sides never agreed on how to tackle the slavery issue, and made continuous compromises on this topic. The first compromise was the Missouri Comprise, which commenced in 1820. It banned any act of slavery in the ex-Louisiana Territory. Consequently, Maine earned a free state entrance to the Union while Missouri entered as a slave state. The Missouri Compromise restricted the Southern states from taking their property into these states and indicated some sort of victory for the Northern states. However, this anxious compromise made a foundation for a series of subsequent confrontations. A number of Acts followed in 1850 with the aim of settling various disputes over slavery expansion. Entrance of California to the Union, with the status of a free state, brought imbalance between free states and slave states in the senate. The imbalance favored the free states.

With the aim of pleasing the Southern states, the Union approved New Mexico and Utah’s applications for popular sovereignty. Surprisingly, the South still felt dissatisfied leading to the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act. The justification behind the resolutions on Utah and New Mexico was that other free states would still emerge from the South in coming years. After the Fugitive Slave Act, the hopes of Southern secessionists foundered. Additionally, unionist contenders defeated secessionist candidates in the 1851-52 Southern states election. This proved that a section of the Southerners had begun supporting the Union. The division among the Southern states and their support for the Union clearly indicates that the Civil War was irrepressible, and compromise was necessary for securing unity and peace.  

Eventually, the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise; thus, affirming that slavery was a critical issue, and needed appropriate addressing. As introduced by Senator Stephen Douglas, the bill created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska from the region west of Missouri. Although Northern states supported the bill, the Southern states had little interest in the bill, as the new territories would join the Union as free states due to the Missouri Compromise. Since Douglas needed the support of the Southern states in passing the bill, it appeared that he had no choice, but to amend the bill to allow Southern states to extend slavery in these new states. However, he believed in popular sovereignty, and decided that the people of Kansas and Nebraska would decide on their own whether to legalize or illegalize slavery in their states. He hoped that his decision would win him the support of the South. However, several issues arose as both the North and the South showed interest in influencing popular sovereignty. President Pierce made a substantial individual error in appointing a pro-slaver, Andrew Reeder, as the governor of Kansas. In the first election on the issue of whether Kansas should join the US as a slave state or a free state, several pro-slavers from Missouri voted illegally after crossing the border.

Consequently, the voting fraud tarnished the idea of popular sovereignty. The legislature met at Lecompton, and passed several strict laws on pro-slavery. For instance, assisting a fugitive slave would constitute a capital offence. Events turned worst after a pro-slavery posse consisting of southerners ‘sacked’ Lawrence in an attempt to arrest anti-slavery leaders. Lawrence was a centre for anti-slavery settlers. After the sacking of Lawrence, John Brown and other abolitionists murdered five pro-slavers who were living at Pottawatomie Creek. It led to a chain of tit-for-tat murders or the ‘Bleeding Kansas’. Evidently, if President Pierce had neither appointed the pro-slaver as Kansas governor nor supported the Lecompton Legislature, these aggressive political confrontations would have not occurred. Again, even with the appointment of governor John Geary to fix the situation, the tensions were already beyond containment. This situation of Nebraska and Kansas is a perfect example of conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions on issue the issue of slavery that is exaggerated by blundering politicians.  

Furthermore, Buchanan and the supreme court judges also made poor decisions in the Dred Scott case; hence, demonstrating that it would be possible to prevent the Civil War if politicians never made these grave political miscalculations, or showed weak leadership skills. Dred Scott, a slave, claimed he was a free person as he was living in Illinois, which is a free territory. His case had eventually reached the Supreme. The Supreme Court differed with Scott on three separate accounts. Firstly, Scott was slave, not a citizen; hence, had no right for suing his slave master in a federal court. Secondly, since Scott was a Missouri resident, Illinois law was irrelevant to his case. Finally, merely living in a free state could not free a slave. The court affirmed that blacks, whether free or slaves, had no right of becoming US citizens. According to the court, the Missouri Compromise was also not within the precincts of the constitution. The verdict aroused dissatisfaction in the North, especially after claims from Republican leaders that Buchanan influenced the verdict. Although the situation likely portrays a political failure, sectional tension was already imminent regardless of whichever verdict of the court could have made. Moreover, it is arguable that President Buchanan’s ‘hidden’ support for slavery might have led to the court’s controversial verdict.  The election of Lincoln and the emergence of the Republican Party in the North also stirred the secession of the South, spread disillusionment, consequently causing conflict. The Republican Party arose in 1854, and it firmly opposed slavery. The party proposed for a powerful and effective federal government that would support industrialization in the North. Due to the sudden and steady growth of the party, it is arguable that significant economic and social differences existed between the south and the north. Lincoln was a Republican candidate, and his election was mainly due to his promise of peace during his campaign. Lincoln’s election campaign concerned the Southerners in two ways. Firstly, the Southern states believed that North would tax them heavily through elevated tariffs. Secondly, it was obvious that the Republican Party was a regional party that was purely representing the North. Therefore, the South was convinced that the Republican party would only serve its own interest. Lincoln ascended to the presidency in 1860. In December that same year, the Southern States started seceding beginning with South Carolina. Lincoln and a number of Republicans perceived events occurring in the Southern states as a continuance of conspiracy for slave power. Many Northerners thought that the secession was just a mere bluff, or that extremist minorities might have held power despite majority wish. Nevertheless, even with retrospection, it is impossible to determine the best action that Lincoln would have accomplished to changed the situation before his election. The social and economic disparities between the North and the South, and the varying views on the issue of slavery were excessive for political compromises.

The Fort Sumter problem was responsible for triggering the commencement of the Civil War. Lincoln sent unarmed ships to resupply basic commodities to Fort Sumter. Hence, the Confederacy fired the first shots, and this marked the beginning of the Civil War. Sending unarmed ships to the base of the Confederacy is an indication that Lincoln was ready to risk the possibility of war if it was what it would take to preserve peace in the nation. Fort Sumter surrendered on 13 April 1861 after the relief team arrived late, and was too small to change events. Possibly, the events at Fort Sumter served to indicate that the Civil War was a war of aggression of the South since they fired the first shot. On the other hand, one could argue that since Fort Sumter is in the South, it was rightfully theirs, and, so, the war with the North was not necessary. It is true that the South fired the first shot, but the pressure from the North worsened the situation. Although the south fired the first shots, tension came from the north. Therefore, the Civil War came not just because of aggression from the South or the North, but might have been from accumulated tension and pressure due to the mistakes and misjudgments from either side. After the Fort Sumter incident, some states like Virginia decided to support the Confederacy.          

As stated previously, various interpretations try to justify whether the civil war was an irrepressible conflict. Progressives like Charles Beard view the war as a contest between industrialization and agriculture, and not between freedom and slavery. Revisionists argue that sectional conflicts between the South and the North were indisputably influential. They hold that blundering politicians brought the war by their action of failing to come to compromises, for instance, the Crittenden proposal failure.

Conclusion

Despite the weight of these arguments, the above discussions clearly demonstrate that slavery was the chief cause of the Civil War. The need to expand slavery polarized America. Slavery led to the rise of issues like the Kansas-Nebraska Act or the Missouri Compromise, subsequently, threatened the Union. Additionally, the Northerners agreed to support the Republican party after being convinced of the South’s conspiracy for slave power. It is also worth noting that though the Confederacy claimed protection of the rights of states as a justification for its actions, this right was merely the need to preserve slavery in the South, and this created the conflict. With these fundamental disparities, secession was inevitable as well as the Civil War. Hence, the American Civil War was an impressible conflict.

Che Guevara

INTRODUCTION

            All over the world, when one hears the term colonialism, what comes to the mind is a time when European powers established colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Some of the renowned European powers of the period between the sixteenth century and the mid twentieth century included France, Britain, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Russia. It was during this same period that the World War I and World War II occurred; hence, the term colonialism is associated with histories of many nations. Even though during the colonial period there were uneven relationships between the colony and the colonial power, both the indigenous people and the colonists have a reputation for being historical heroes during their times. One could argue that the colonists were great heroes due to their persistent focus on expanding their colonies despite local resistance. Conversely, the indigenous people, especially their leaders, were heroes due to their determined opposition against the colonial powers’ ambition of grabbing their land.

            Che Guevara was one of the heroes during his time that opposed colonialism, and fought for both political and economic freedom in Cuba and other countries. His active role in the Cuba Revolution was fundamental in ensuring the liberation of Cubans from the then dictatorial president of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista. Taking place between 1953 and 1959, the Cuba Revolution led to considerable international and domestic repercussions for Cuba. For instance, it distorted the relationship between the United States and Cuba; hence; forcing the US to impose an embargo against Cuba. Moreover, immediately after the conclusion of the revolution, the government that Fidel Castro formed commenced political consolidation and nationalization of banks and other economic resources, which transformed the civil society and economy of Cuba. However, it is worth noting that the role that Guevara played in the Cuban revolution contributed ideologies for various revolutionary movements that took place in many countries. The purpose of this paper is to expatiate on the life of Guevara through an incisive focus on his ideas, personal life, achievements, failures, and execution.

 PERSONAL LIFE

           Guevara was born on 14 June 1928 in Argentina’s city of Rosario. He was born in a middle class family that had a great concern for social equality, especially the need to ensure that poor and disadvantage people get a fair treatment in the society. Guevara’s parents had five children and Guevara was the eldest child in the family. Even though he originated from a middle class family, that status did not deter his willingness and ambitions of fighting for the rights of the poor and the oppressed. Guevara’s father was a veteran of the Spanish civil war, and often had several meetings with his fellow veterans from the war in his home. Therefore, Guevara got a perfect alignment for politics during his boyhood.

Motorcycle Journey

 In his years as a medicine student at the University of Buenos Aires, Guevara developed a hobby for travel with the aim of exploring the world. He travelled through the whole of Latin America in twenty days using his motorcycle. When he finally returned to Buenos Aires, he was a completely different person. His perception of Latin America was that it was not a combination of different countries, but a solitary entity that needed a liberation strategy. The hunger, poverty, and diseases that he witnessed during the travel radicalized him. In every country that he travelled through, he observed that the government had little concern for serving its people. Most of these governments were subjecting their citizens to either oppression or abject poverty, particularly in Latin America. These experiences made Guevara to leave his career in medicine, and to engage in revolutionary war through active participation in politics.

Guatemala and the land reform

 From his travel of throughout South America, Guevara concluded that the United States was capitalistically exploiting Latin America. Consequently, he engaged in the social reforms of Guatemala in 1953 under the leadership of Jacobo Arbenz who was Guatemala’s president at that time. In the Guatemala social reform, the newly democratically elected president aimed at ending the system in which private companies and individuals owned large tracts of land, leaving many people in Guatemala homeless. Besides other social reforms, Guevara assisted the president to enact a land reform that required expropriation and redistribution of all large tracts of uncultivated land to the landless peasants. After the success of this reform, Guevara decided to stay in Guatemala with the objective of perfecting himself and accomplishing all that was necessary for him to be a real revolutionary.

The success of the social reform in Guatemala, and the insurrection of the Unit Fruit Company motivated Guevara’s political ideologies. He decided to continue the guerilla warfare against oppressive rule in other countries. Later, he also helped in insurrecting governments in Cuba and Congo before his tragedy in Bolivia. The Cuban revolution played a significant role in sharpening his hit and run strategies of guerilla war. Helping Fidel Castro to overthrow the government of Batista in Cuba offered him an opportunity to attain effective and adequate military training. Obviously, he would not be in a position to arrange and steer guerilla warfare against governments that have with military soldiers if he had no prior military training and survival tactics.    

Arrest and Execution 

Guevara arrived in Bolivia in 1966 with the aim of arranging a revolutionary war against Bolivia’s government. He formed highly trained and equipped guerilla groups that, evidently, would have thwarted Bolivia’s poorly equipped and scantily trained military. In fact, in the early months of 1967, his guerilla groups defeated some Bolivian army at a brief encounter at a mountainous region of Camiri city. Unfortunately, Guevara mission of insurrecting Bolivia’s government was not successful. The Special Forces of the US army assisted the Bolivian army in dealing with Guevara’s guerilla groups. On 7 October 1967, a Cuban exile, who was a CIA operative, located Guevara’s guerilla camp and informed the Bolivian Special Forces. Consequently, the Bolivian Special Forces attacked Guevara’s campsite, wounded him, and took him prisoner. On 9 October 1967, Rene Barrientos, who was the Bolivian President, ordered the execution of Guevara despite the request of the United States government to have Guevara interrogated further in Panama. Guevara’s executioner was Mario Teran, who was a Bolivian army sergeant, and he shot the iconic cultural hero nine times.

GUEVARA AND THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

            After his motorcycle journey throughout South America, the cases of exploitation and oppression of the poor and the high levels of poverty deeply troubled Guevara. Hence, he decided that he would fight for the freedom of these people. In 1955, he befriended Fidel Castro who was a Cuban revolutionary leader, and the dual became the leaders behind the success of the Cuban Revolution. 

A bloody confrontation

 Guevara and Castro trained soldiers with the aim of overthrowing the government of Batista in Cuba. The troops that were loyal to Castro formed the 26th of July Movement. On 25 November 1956, this movement left for Cuba onboard a Granma to fulfill their first assault mission. However, Batista sent his troops and killed most of them immediately they landed in Cuba. It was such an unfortunate event for Castro and Guevara since only twenty-two out of the eighty-two of them survived. The remaining guerilla soldiers established their base at the top of Sierra Maestra hills. At the mountains, Castro and Guevara continued training and recruiting their guerilla troops secretly. Local rebels supported them with food supplies and other necessary goods.

A strategy for popularity 

 After a few months, troops of the 26th of July Movement started raiding camps of Batista’s army and killing the soldiers mercilessly. These successful raids were crucial to the guerilla troops as they managed to stock diverse weapons; thus, guaranteeing constant victories in their subsequent raids. Ultimately, the guerilla troops took control of all the regions around Sierra Maestra hills. They then redistributed the land among all the local residents equally. This was a good strategy as they demonstrated to these peasants that they were fighting for their freedom and for social equality. Consequently, Guevara and Castro received support from these peasants in fighting the Batista troops.

In just a couple of months, Guevara’s popularity rose suddenly and several catholic priests, students, and peasants joined his troop of guerillas. Batista’s government became very furious at the growing popularity of the guerilla army. Therefore, Batista publicly executed anybody affiliated with any of the guerilla troops. This act infuriated most Cubans and increased their support for the revolutionary army. Hence, several people continued to join the revolution through recruitment in either Castro’s or Guevara’s group. The revolutionary army mostly consisted of the oppressed and the poor. However, by the year 1958, the powerful middle class and national bodies representing social workers, doctors, accountants, and lawyers backed and supported the guerillas. The guerillas fought bravely and defeated the government army on several offensives.

The Battle of Las Mercedes 

 In the 1958 Battle of Las Mercedes, Guevara played a key role in thwarting the plans of Batista government of destroying Castro’s army. The Battle of Las Mercedes marked the final war of Operation Verano after the Battle of La Plata. Operation Verano was a 1958 summer offensive that the Batista government designed with the aim of crushing Castro’s guerilla army. The Batista government formed the Operation Verano in response to the rising fame of the guerillas as discussed above. In the Battle of Las Mercedes, Cuban army general wanted to lure the guerillas, which were under the command of Rene Latour, into a location that could allow the government army to surround and kill them. After the column that Latour led reached that location, they ambushed some retreating soldiers, but were not aware that the Cuban General was coming with another column of Cuban soldiers behind them. As the battle continued, Guevara and his troops blocked and ambushed another 1500 Cuban troops that the Cuban general had anticipated to add to the battle zone. Hence, the Batista government lost the war again.

As the battle continued, Guevara gradually became very conversant with the tactics of hit and run assaults; hence, he could lead the guerilla to attack Batista’s army, and then disappear into the countryside to escape any counterattack by the Batista army. The war between the two troops continued, and intensified towards the end of December 1958. Guevara led a group of troops towards the city of Havana, for the last stand of the revolution wars. During this time, he was mostly travelling with his columns of soldiers at night to avoid any unexpected ambush from the Batista army. He managed to command his guerilla troops into a series of tactical victories, except for Santa Clara city. As it appears, most of the battles that Guevara’s men fought were very dangerous; hence, one could describe his guerilla groups as a ‘suicide squad’. In a number of days when Guevara and his men were preparing for the last battle of capturing Santa Clara, they, at times, run out of bullets and guns, including complete overrun and surrounding by Batista’s army. However, he finally managed to capture Santa Clara. This braver character indicates that Guevara was a survivor and he never gave up owing to the fact that his guerilla squad was approximately a tenth of the number of Batista’s soldiers.

           The war at Santa Clara was the final battle of the Cuban Revolution, and it marked victory for Guevara and Castro’s revolutionary army. This battle took place in December 1958, and it involved a chain of events that Guevara had tactically organized with the sole purpose of capturing the city of Santa Clara. After Guevara had declared that the last troops of the Batista army had surrendered, it took only twelve hours before General Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba. He took a plane at Havana and headed for the Dominican Republic. Fidel Castro officially assumed control of Havana and the country on 8 January 1959, with Guevara being the La Cabana Fortress prison commander.

 MARXIST IDEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

 The ideas of Karl Marx, a political philosopher, played a crucial role in shaping the revolutionary movements of Guevara. Marx had the ability to interpret historical events and predict what would most likely occur in politics. Moreover, Marx held that people should not only interpret and predict events that take place in the world. Rather, they should do whatever is necessary to shape future events. He believed that people should design the environment to suit them, but not the environment to determine how people live. Based on his analysis of past historical events, Marx predicted a society whose main defining feature would be class struggle. He explained if capitalists have the ability to make enormous profits, they would engage in various gluttonous activities that would eventually incite war. For instance, replacement of industrial workers with machines like robots would raise the rate of unemployment leading to poverty. On the other hand, high levels of unemployment would result into low wages for workers, as workers would be excessive as compared to labor demand. In the broad picture, Marxist was trying to explain that as the number of unemployed individuals increase in a society, in addition to numerous low-income workers, societies would majorly comprise of poverty, hunger, and diseases. At the end of the day, rebellion and war between the capitalists and the unemployed class would be inevitable, and could most probably lead to the creation of a socialist economy.

Marx’s ideas were instrumental to Guevara’s revolutionary wars. As he travelled from one county to another in the entire South America, the common cases of poverty, hunger, and diseases that he witnessed convinced him that the then governments in South America were undoubtedly fulfilling what Marxist had envisioned. In the view of Guevara, the fact that governments and a few affluent members of these governments were oppressing the poor was an indication of a capitalistic theory. Accordingly, he decided that for him and his supporters to shape human destiny and reduce the covetousness nature of these governments, war against the governments was the most effective way. Guevara also understood and maintained that he alone could not liberate these people from their governments, but needed their support to achieve that objective. This was the reason for his decision to form alliances with other Marxist Leninists and revolutionaries like Fidel Castro and Raul Castro. Moreover, Guevara’s revolutionary wars had a great influence from Marxists idea that capitalist system would not only oppress the common people, but would lead to alienation of these people from the goods that they produced. 

ACHIEVEMENTS

 Pursued medicine

Guevara joined the University of Buenos Aires in 1948 with the aim of pursuing his dream course of Medicine. The fact that he grew up while taking care of his sick grandmother who mysteriously passed away after sometime, informed his decision to pursue medicine as a career in his higher education. He hoped to help people prevent or cope with diseases and other minor social issues. His father’s leftist leaning influenced and bolstered his affinity for the oppressed, the sick, and the poor. His later choice of engaging in revolutionary wars also proves his support for social equality. It is during the course of pursing medicine that he developed an interest to travel and explore the world. After learning that most governments in South America, especially Latin America were oppressing their citizens, he came back to Argentina with the mind of a revolutionary and a military theorist. However, he continued his studies and attained a medical degree in 1953. This achievement officially made him Dr. Ernesto Guevara.

Despite his medical degree achievement, his travel through Latin America and South America totally changed his mind on his career choice. He wanted to help people in all these countries in fighting and preventing hunger, diseases, and poverty. Consequently, he decided to prioritize on politics and revolutionary wars instead medical profession. Additionally, it is worth noting that his guerilla warfare to insurrect governments could not offer him a chance to continue practicing medicine, as he mostly had to hide and recruit guerilla soldiers. In 1954, he worked for just a few months in New Mexico’s general hospital before his decision to fight for the rights of the oppressed and the poor in revolutionary wars.

Participated in various sport activities 

By age twelve, Guevara was already taking parts in local chess tournaments after learning how to play chess from his father. This made him very popular in his local neighborhood and set a firm foundation for his political ambitions. Guevara also participated and excelled in other sport activities like athletics and rugby. His success in playing rugby at the University of Buenos Aires earned him the epithet “Fuser”. This nickname was due to his aggressive and raging style of play. It is also noteworthy that Guevara participated and excelled in all these sport activities despite suffering from acute asthma in his early life; a condition that he ultimately fought.

Literary and intellectual interests 

 Guevara had a stunning passion for poetry during his adolescence, and he extended that passion for literary works to the rest of his life. Another reason to consider that greatly influenced his enthusiasm and eclecticism in reading is the available of more than three thousand books in his home. Some of the renowned authors whose literary works he enjoyed included Karl Marx, Emilio Salgari, and Robert Frost. At his older ages, Guevara had a strong interest in writers from Latin America. He categorically catalogued the ideas of these authors into his personal handwritten notebooks of definitions, philosophies, and concepts of powerful intellectuals. At school, Guevara’s favorite subjects were philosophy, political science, engineering, mathematics, history, archaeology, and sociology. Thus, this large volume of information that Guevara exposed himself to, made him a well read, and an intellectual being. 

 Accomplished Writer 

Travelling gradually become Guevara’s most-favored hobby as his hunger for exploring the world to understand people’s problems intensified. The more he visited various nations, the more he learned of their miseries and problems that prevailing governments indirectly or directly inflicted on them. Therefore, it is noticeable that travelling immensely contributed to Guevara’s political career, including formation of guerilla militants. In addition, during his periods of travel through Latin America, the rest of South America, and finally in Africa, he experienced various important events that he continuously recorded. An example of an event that he recorded is his motorcycle journey across South America. In the course of this journey, Guevara recorded every challenge and achievement that he experienced along the way in his diary. His diaries are the basis of the book Motorcycle Diaries that has had a large number of sales throughout America. Hence, it is justifiable to assert that Guevara was an accomplished writer.

Guevara’s role in Fidel Castro’s government

  Fidel Castro and Guevara were great companions during the Cuban revolution. Therefore, at the end of the revolution, Fidel awarded him sumptuously with worthy government posts. After Fidel had taken control of Havana on 8 January 1959, Guevara officially assumed the role of a commander in the prison of La Cabana Fortress. This was his first position in Fidel Castro’s government, whereby his responsibility was to organize revolutionary justice against people that the government perceived as war criminals, informants, or traitors.

His second position in Fidel Castro’s government was being a minister of industries. In the course of his term as the minister of industries, Guevara confiscated land that US corporations owned in Cuba, and redistributed it to the people. This was a continuation of his support for social equality and equitable distribution of natural resources. Guevara also served as finance minister as well as National Bank President. Under these leadership capacities, Guevara nationalized businesses, banks, and factories with the aim of eliminating social inequalities. He also engaged the government to provide employment facilities, healthcare, and housing to Cubans. In 1960, Guevara visited the Soviet Union and China, and instigated the Cuba-Soviet relations. After a couple of years, Guevara resigned from his duties in the government, and continued with his revolutionary work overseas.   

Guevara’s marvelous contribution to education 

Apart from the land reforms that he successfully implemented in Cuba, Guevara emphasized on the significance of literacy for all people. He engaged on establishing educational institutes and schools in both urban and rural areas. This was an effort to enhance the level of literacy in Cuba. He argued that it was imperative for the government to train teachers and other educators to ensure that they are competent enough to fulfill their task of transforming illiterate individuals into literate people. Another role that Guevara played in enhancing literacy is making higher education accessible globally. During Guevara’s rule, the rate of literacy in Cuba escalated from sixty percent to ninety six percent.

GUEVARA’S FAILURES

          People have been criticizing Che Guevara, considering him an enemy of the people for relying on wars to fight for freedom. Seemingly, the argument here is that even though setting people free from poverty and government oppression was a good move, the option of guerilla warfare was indisputably inappropriate. On the other hand, the United States government was supporting most of the governments even with military personnel. Hence, Guevara was certain that the only path for freedom was through guerilla warfare. However, the wars led to death of many people including civilians, governments’ military personnel, as well as the guerilla soldiers. For instance, the Cuba revolution alone led to the death of approximately five thousand people. Another instance is the death of the 26th of July Movement troops when they were trying to climb to the top of Sierra Maestra mountains before being attacked and killed by government troops. Of all the eighty-two members of the movement, only twenty-two survived and made it to the top of the mountain. Moreover, Guevara also died in the course of guerilla warfare in Bolivia. As a suggestion, Guevara could have involved these governments in peaceful negotiations before resorting to guerilla warfare.

Secondly, Guevara never seemed to care about the consequences of his guerilla wars on both the people that he was fighting for and the national economy. Guevara’s guerilla troops were highly trained, and had effective military equipment. Hence, most governments had no option, but to dedicate huge portions of national funds in equipping and training military soldiers who could successfully engage Guevara’s guerilla soldiers. Consequently, these governments dedicated minimal funds for economic growth and developments. Apparently, these governments could go to an extent of taxing their citizens heavily in a bid to collect sufficient funds for running the governments. Moreover, Guevara destroyed several properties and justified his actions by asserting that “the life of a single human being is worth a million times more than all the property of the richest man on earth”.

Lastly, Guevara’s failure at Bolivia was mainly due to the approach that he gave the battle. In the battle of Santa Clara, Guevara’s guerilla troops defeated the government’s troops despite the fact that the government’s military soldiers were approximately ten times the number of Guevara’s guerilla soldiers. However, the battle at Bolivia never proved that much a success for Guevara. His failure at Bolivia is partly because he was expecting cooperation and assistance from the local rebels and the Bolivian Community Party in organizing a revolution against the Bolivian government. However, neither of these groups supported his revolutionary plans in Bolivia. Moreover, he never checked the shortwave radio transmitters that Cuba had given him. He later realized that the radio transmitter was faulty; hence, he could not contact his Cuban guerilla troops. Consequently, he could not get back up from the guerilla troops in Cuba; thus, leaving him and his fifty guerilla soldiers at Bolivia stranded and isolated. At the end of the day, the Bolivian government troops located his guerilla campsite, attacked them, and captured him.

CONCLUSION

            In summary, the foregoing discussions demonstrate that Guevara’s rebellious nature and acts of revolution were decisive in the demise of imperialism and in the adoption of socialism in Cuba as well as other South American and African countries. His inexorable work has earned him a countercultural symbol of revolution and rebellion. In his relatively short life, Guevara managed to serve humanity under diverse profiles like that of a guerilla leader, an author, a doctor, military theorist, and a diplomat. At an early life, Guevara witnessed how poverty, hunger, and diseases afflicted the lives of people. These hardships and sneering living conditions, that the poor were experiencing, inspired and propelled him to fight for social equality and human freedom. Furthermore, his motorcycle journey throughout South America still exposed him to coming close to the poverty and disdainful conditions of the poor’s lives; hence, his resentment and anger against the oppressive governments arose.      

            Guevara finally joined the Cuban Revolution and worked closely with Fidel Castro in an effort to insurrect Batista’s government. After the Cuban Revolution, Guevara supported several progressive plans in Cuba, and ascertained social equality throughout the country. He instituted land reforms with the aim of redistributing large tracts of land that US corporations owned to the civilians who were landless. He also represented Cuba in negotiating for economic relationships with other countries, for instance, the Soviet Union and China. Moreover, during his term as a minister of industries in Cuba, Guevara focused on improving literacy levels in Cuba. His efforts resulted into an implausible rise in literacy rate from sixty percent to ninety six percent.

On the other hand, Guevara’s contribution towards ensuring good governance remains a debatable issue. Several most-influential personalities in the world have extolled him as a hero. For instance, the late Nelson Mandela described Guevara as a motivation for anybody who loves freedom. Conversely, other people dismiss his hero-worshipping and depict him as a merciless executioner who had the guts to kill anybody who stood between him and his revolutionary objectives. Despite these varying views about Che Guevara, the fact remains that his rebellious nature and revolutionary actions have made him to become an iconic cultural idol.