The Restoration Under Charles II Essay -- Essays Papers

The Restoration Under Charles II Generally, the English people had a great celebration when Charles II returned to the throne in May of 1660.1 Many believed that restoring the monarchy was the only way to secure constitutional rights. In fact, there was an expectation that bringing back the king would return life to the way it was before 1642 and the rule of Cromwell. Charles II was responsible for improving the government for the people. However, despite some achievements, the king was not very successful in creating a stronger and more effective monarchy. He was dependent on his advisors and other parts of the government from the very beginning of his reign. There were constant conflicts between the king and Parliament over religious issues. When Charles II finally did gain some independence, he still did not accomplish much to improve the monarchy. Overall, the government was very inconsistent during the 1660s and 1670s, and the people became disillusioned with the monarchy. The king did not hold all of the responsibility for what happened to the government, though. The people should have taken charge and worked for a change in the system. The rule of Charles II helped show the English citizens that they could not rely on the government so much, but they needed to take more of the power into their own hands and become more autonomous. Edward Hyde Clarendon From the very beginning, Charles was determined to establish himself as a constitutional leader. Also, his advisors wanted to make sure that the new monarchy followed the law, so the people could begin to trust the government again.2 The most influential of these advisors was Edward Hyde Clarendon. For the most part, Charles foll... ...688 (Totowa: Rowman and Littlefield, 1979), 8-10. 3. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 12. 4. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 21. 5. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 13. 6. J. R. Jones, ed., Liberty Secured? Britain Before and After 1688 (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1992), 138-140. 7. Jones, Liberty Secured, 130. 8. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 15. 9. J. R. Jones, Charles II: Royal Politician (London: Allen and Unwin, 1987), 60-62. 10. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 10. 11. Jones, Royal Politician, 74-75. 12. Jones, Royal Politician, 79. 13. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 15. 14. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 19-20. 15. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 10-11. 16. Jones, Royal Politician, 162-163. 17. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 21. 18. Jones, Royal Politician, 187. 19. Jones, Restored Monarchy, 23. 20. Harris, 37.

Nick in the opening chapter of “The Great Gatsby” Essay

Nick Carraway is the narrator of â€Å"The Great Gatsby†. He begins the novel by talking about himself: he says that he is very tolerant, and has a tendency to reserve judgment. The opening paragraphs teach us a lot about Nick and his attitude toward Gatsby and others. Nick introduces himself to us as a young man from the Midwest who has come East to learn. He tells us that he’s tolerant, inclined to reserve judgment about people, and a good listener. People tell him their secrets because they admire and trust him. If you read closely, you’ll see that Nick has an uncertain feeling toward Gatsby, almost as if he himself (who knows the story and its ending) doesnt know what to expect. From the novel’s opening paragraph onward, this will continue create tension in Nick’s narrative. He both loves Gatsby and is critical of him. He hates Gatsby’s crass and vulgar attitude, but he also admires the man for his aspirations. Specifically, Gatsbys â€Å"romantic readiness,† and his â€Å"extraordinary gift for hope.†The reader realises that Gatsby presented, and still presents, a challenge or opposition to the way in which Nick is accustomed to thinking about the world. It is clear from the story’s opening moments that Gatsby is not quite how he appears on the outside. Despite being vulgar, Nick describes Gatsby’s personality as â€Å"gorgeous.†The novel’s characters are obsessed by class and privilege. Its the high-class lives that intrigue the common man, an idea which continues today with the footballers wives culture. Our first view of Tom Buchanan shows a powerful man standing in riding clothes with his legs apart on his front porch. The riding clothes are a classic symbol or high-status. Tom exploits his status. He is horrible, completely lacking positive aspects. His wife describes him as a â€Å"big, hulking physical specimen,† and he seems to use his size to dominate others. The fact that Daisy chooses to comment on his size rather than personality insinuates that there is nothing good about his personality to comment on. We are ushered into the living room with its â€Å"frosted wedding cake† ceiling, its wine coloured rug, and its enormous sofa on which are seated two women in white. They are Jordan Baker and Tom’s wife, Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald controls the whole scene through his use of colours. White and gold suggest a combination of beauty, cleanliness, innocence and wealth. Underneath this picturesque surface there is something wrong. Jordan is bored and unamused.  She yawns a few times. There is something slightly unpleasant about the atmosphere. The telephone rings, and Tom is called from the room to answer it. When Daisy follows him out, Jordan Baker confides to Nick that the call is from Tom’s woman in New York. Daisy Buchanan stands in contrast to her husband. She is frail and shy, and actually doesnt seem completely shallow. She laughs at every opportunity. This makes me wonder if its an awkward laugh, perhaps she doesnt feel she belongs there? Though she remarks that everything is in decline, she does so only in order to seem to agree with her husband. The visual purity of Daisy and Jordan stands in contrast to their actual decadence and corruption. Nick arrives home, and gets his first glimpse of Gatsby. Gatsby is standing on the lawn, stretching out â€Å"his arms toward the dark water in a curious way.† Nick believes that he can see Gatsby trembling. As Nick looks out at the water, he can see â€Å"†¦nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.† Bibliography -F Scott Fitzgerald, ‘The Great Gatsby’ Ch. 1

Theodore Roosevelt And The Progressive Party - 987 Words

In 1912, the Progressive Party formed to support Theodore Roosevelt in his attempt to be elected for a third presidential term (O Toole par. 7, 11). The party was formed after the Republican National Convention repudiated the nomination of Roosevelt (Bardes, Shelley, and Schmidt 251). Furthermore, this resulted in Roosevelt splitting the Republican vote between him and William Howard Taft and gave Democrat Woodrow Wilson an advantage (Bardes, Shelley, and Schmidt). The Progressive Party took a platform that was new and innovative for the time period in which it began. To understand the the start of the Progressive Party one must acknowledge its political platform, the outcome of the presidential election between Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, and the outcome and end of the Progressive Party. After failing to receive the nomination, those who supported Roosevelt had to develop another strategy for his campaign. To run as a third party member, Roosevelt would continue to require financia l support. James Chance, professor of government and public law at Bard College, claims that, Roosevelt was assured that he would have the financial backing he would need . . . when his financial supporters, George Perkins and millionaire publisher Frank Munsey, met with him . . . At that moment the Progressive Party was born (120-121). Following this meeting, all that was left before the Progressive Party would have a nominee was for Roosevelt to accept. He responded saying, I shall acceptShow MoreRelatedTheodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Party Essay1877 Words   |  8 Pagesthe creation of a third party called the Progressive Party. It was also known as the â€Å"Bull Moose Party.† Some of the programs and policies that are still in existence today were created by The Progressive Party who reached their peak during the 1912 Presidential election (Milkis, p. 30). 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Progressivism became a loosely connected movement of legislation, ideas, and people striving to improve theRead MoreAndrew Jackson And Theadore Roosevelt Essay1169 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt were two men with very many things in common. They both were Presidents in the United States of America at some point in time. They each have served many years as some sort of governor with Jackson being the military governor of Florida and Roosevelt being the governor of New York. Roosevelt and Jackson were major influences towards this country. But even with those similarities between them they were two men with differences. One was a big military man while