history of america essays

history of america essays In studying the history of Americas development from a colonial nation to the modern world power of today, it is necessary to pay special attention to the several major wars the United States was involved in. These wars varied in severity ranging from minor skirmishes such as the Spanish American war, to more costly conflicts. Costly in terms of money and loss of life, the Civil War, Vietnam, and both World Wars left lasting impressions on the people who endured them. These wars often defined entire generations of Americans. More often than not, everyone alive in each of these major campaigns was somehow affected in the war. Some served in the military, some worked in the factories that made weapons, while others had relatives who actively participated in the war effort. Recently, the topic of World War II has become a hot topic for Hollywood filmmakers. Movies such as Saving Private Ryan, and The Thin Red Line used graphic scenes of violence and depictions of the hardships of the av erage soldier on the front line in ways previously unseen in prior World War II movies. The goal of the directors was to remind the younger generations of the bravery and selflessness of the soldiers who served in World War II. The soldiers in these movies were purposely portrayed as a group of men from diverse backgrounds who came together to fight for a common cause. These soldiers were also depicted as average men, not the superhuman men portrayed in earlier films, of which John Wayne is an example. Yet in these movies, these average men were the ones who committed the greatest acts of bravery. In conducting my interview, I realized that this depiction was not far off the mark. The subject of my interview was a man by the name of Richard Albert Lockyer. He is the Grandfather of my girlfriend. He lives in Brewster, Massachusetts, in a small beachfront community of fellow retirees ...

The History of the Hand Grenade

The History of the Hand Grenade A grenade is a small explosive, chemical, or gas bomb. It is used at short range, thrown by hand or launched with a grenade launcher. The resulting powerful explosion causes shockwaves and disperses high-speed fragments of the metal, which provoke shrapnel wounds. The word grenade comes from the French word for pomegranate, early grenades looked like pomegranates. Origins Grenades first came into use around the 15th century and the first inventor cannot be named. The first grenades were hollow iron balls filled with gunpowder and ignited by a slow burning wick. During the 17th  century, armies began to form specialized divisions of soldiers trained to throw grenades. These specialists were called grenadiers, and for a time were regarded as elite fighters. By the 19th century, with the increased improvement of firearms, grenades popularity decreased and largely fell out of use. They were first used extensively again during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). The hand grenades of World War I can be described as empty cans filled with gunpowder and stones, with a primitive fuse. The Australians used the tin cans from jam and their early grenades were nicknamed Jam Bombs. Mills Bomb The first safe (for the person throwing it) grenade was the Mills bomb, invented by English engineer and designer William Mills in 1915. Mills bomb incorporated some design elements of a Belgian self-igniting grenade, however, he added safety enhancements and upgraded its deadly efficiency. These changes revolutionized trench-war combat. Britain manufactured millions of Mills bombs pins during the course of World War I, popularizing the explosive device that remains one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th  century. Other Types Two other important grenade designs that emerged from the first war are the German stick grenade, a narrow explosive with sometimes troublesome pull chord that was prone to accidental detonation, and the Mk II â€Å"pineapple† grenade, designed for the U.S. military in 1918.

Sociology of war 3153 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sociology of war 3153 - Essay Example When that much time is taken in the building up of hatred, the matter of winning and losing can become the matter of life and death. Kashmir has been always the premium issue between Pakistan and India. One of the main reasons that Pakistan wants a substantial area of Kashmir is that it is one of the most vital resources of water for it. There is a huge number of Muslims in Kashmir who want to be a part of Pakistan. That is why there is an uprising of Kashmiris against the Indian army for freedom and they are oppressed by them by the use of violence. The opposition seemed to have died down in the past 10 years but now again; the protest is as stronger as ever. The world has neglected this issue so far but it must not be neglected further. Pakistan and India are nuclear powers now and an outbreak of war between them could be the beginning of a Third World War. There are many consequences that the aggravation of this conflict would entail. The involvement of China is sure as they have a claim on an area of Kashmir called Ladakh. They have been at war with India in the past on this issue3. The continuing investment of China in Pakistan is worrying India as they claim that it is â€Å"part of China’s growing encirclement of India†4. They are closing in on the completion of a naval base in Gawadar which would improve their trade and be very useful for war motives. On the other hand, the U.S is automatically drawn in the issue as they want Pakistan to employ their army on war on terror5 rather than on the Indian border. There is also confusion for Pakistan as when they see the strengthening friendship of U.S with India, it’s not clear whether U.S is their friend or an enemy. U.S wants a stable Pakistan for a stable Afghanistan but it is not likely to happen. They have sufficient influence over both Pakistan and India to do many