Financial Futures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Futures - Essay Example And, the carry cost is the amount of interest expense paid by the investor to hold on to the commodity purchased in the futures market until the maturity of the futures contract. Many bold and daring investors would enter into an arbitrage transaction where they would invest in shares of stocks in a corporation with the hope that the company will merge or consolidate with another company in the same line of business (Bjrk 2004, 1). The following paragraphs will explain in detail how commodity futures work. Most investors would enter into a cash and carry arbitrage contract. Their main reason would be to invest in two securities that are differently priced in the market with respect to each other. Eventually, the prices of both commodities will correct itself by either increasing or decreasing per commodity. For, a correction of prices would cause a profit on one commodity and a loss on the other commodity. Equitably, both commodities will zero out thereby future losses can be avoided or diminished to a great extend. The commodities include gold, silver, coffee, sugar, oil, U.S. dollar currency, European dollar currency, Japanese Yen, French Franc, and other currencies. Also, "For as long as national currencies are in operation, and are used in day-to-day foreign trade, the demand and supply for those currencies will be affected by the size of exports and imports in those currencies" (Scobie, Buckley, and Fox 1998, 8) Further, the arbitrage investor would profit from his investments if he invests in a security and in the futures contracts. The investor would then profit if the amount he put in the commodity plus the added cost of carrying is less than the futures prices. One definite advantage of the commodities futures market is that the investors can sell a commodity like the European dollar today and then buy the same commodity, European dollar, three days from today. This is not possible in the real world outside the commodities market. A person cannot sell a product that he or she does not own. For this would entail personnel turning over to the buyer the car, house, shirt, or computer game the moment when he or she pays for the items bought (Blake 2000, 231). In terms of oil, "The oil industry, more than other energy sectors, is global in its character and operations. The geographical concentration of reserves and the vital role of oil in modern society has made it the principal commodity in international trade (Haugland, Bergesen, and Roland 1998, 54) " Also, the current pricing of Eurodollar futures and US dollar Foreign Rate Agreements (FRA) high frequency data shows that arbitrage opportunities are linked to the presence of stale FRA quotes and the oscillatory behavior of FRA quotes. And, Inter -market information flows are found to be of much shorter duration than previously reported with the futures market playing the dominant role in the information transmission process in the shorter -dated maturities. Many companies invest in short term interest rate futures and forward rate agreements for

Federal Contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Federal Contracts - Essay Example This move is extremely essential for small entrepreneurs to expand their businesses. This paper analyzes the federal act support for small businesspersons with the aim of expanding their businesses. It further provides an organizational chart that supports working with the federal contracting system. Federal Contracts under a given Business Development Program Federal government only provides support to businesspersons or prime contractors that are performing at least one active EPA contract. In addition, they must also be eligible for the award of federal contracts. The other parties who are bound to receive assistance are companies whose corporate policy is to promote, develop and implement subcontracting opportunities for the sector of socioeconomic. In order to help such small businesses that are still starting, but have a viable idea; the SBA came up with the 8(a) Business Development Program. What is the 8(a) Business Development Program? Business Development Program is assista nce program for small-disadvantaged businesspersons with bigger ideas. This program also offers a broad scope of assistance to firms under people who are economically disadvantaged. ... Business Development Program Benefits The Business Development Program assists inspiring entrepreneurs greatly since participants being able to receive sole-source contracts of roughly $4 million for goods and services. Concerning manufacturing, the participants receive a total of $6.5 million, which is to assist in establishment and expansion of already existing business. Additionally, as much as this program helps, 8(a) still assists in building of competitive advantage. This program also helps in the improvement of institutional expertise by assisting participants to take part in competitive acquisitions (Ralph & John, 1995). Firms under 8(a) program are capable of forming joint ventures that assist them in teaming up to bid contracts. This process enhances the ability of most firms to perform larger prime contracts and overcome the effects of contract bundling. It is also possible for such companies to combine and form one large contract as highlighted in the Mentor Protege Progr am. There are usually the requirements and the objectives of the 8(a) Business Development Program, which involves graduation of firms to higher notch of competitive advantage. This process assures organizations of thriving in competitive business environment. The goal of this program is to help firms maintain balance between their commercial and government businesses. As stipulated in the NAICS code, it also provides the limit on the amount of dollar value of sole-source contracts that individual participant is likely to receive while taking part in the program, which is roughly $100 million. The requirements include the following: a) Systematic evaluations b) Yearly reviews c) Business planning

Coping As A Stepmom

Coping As A Stepmom As far back as I can remember, the one thing I always wanted to be was a mom. I had dreams of being the perfect mother, giving and showing love and affection to my children and having them give that same kind of unconditional love back to me. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be. It seems God had something else in store for me, something that I wasnt totally prepared for, and that was the role of a stepmom. Helping to raise one child that is not biologically yours is difficult, imagine having three of them. Coping as a stepmom is truly a work in progress, filled with rewards and challenges, and many of those challenges have to be dealt with through understanding, compromise, and love. My adventure in becoming a stepmom began on October 29, 2005 the day I married my husband and his three children. He had been divorced from his ex-wife for four years when we finally tied the knot. When I met him in 2004, he had been a bachelor and single dad for three years. Of course, he and his kids got use to being together and doing things together, so it wasnt easy trying to fit in especially for and with the kids. They quickly let me know they had a mother and werent too interested in having another one. One challenge we had to address early on was what were the kids going to call me. When we first met, they called me Miss Sheryl, and that was okay because it was respectful. They didnt know that their father and I were really serious about each other, and had been talking about the possibility of marriage by the time I was introduced to them (which was 4 months after my husband and I started dating). Right before we got engaged, I remember saying to the kids that they should drop the Miss, and just call me by my first name. That was simple, and didnt sound so informal and unattached. The youngest at the time, 9-year-old Trey, and oldest, 13-year-old Haley, thought it was a good idea and made the change right away with no problem. On the other hand, it wasnt easy for the middle child, 10-year-old Lunden. She had the hardest time because she was not ready to let go of the idea that maybe her parents would get back together. Once the engagement was announced and wedding plans were under way, she came around. Out of the blue, she just started calling me by my first name. When the conversation came up as to what they should call me after their dad and I were married, I told them to continue calling me Sheryl. I didnt want to put any pressure on them to call me something that would make them uncomfortable. Parenting experts say in their desire to present a close-knit family image, step parents and parents often push for relationship terms as mom and dad, or mama and papa, or straight mother and father. They go on to say that for the kids, these terms could symbolize the replacement or loss of the biological parent, and instead of unifying the family, it can put up a barrier (Visher, Visher, 1982). This is certainly not what I wanted to happen. By allowing them to continue to call me by my first name, which is what they were use to and most comfortable with, the transition from dads girlfriend to wife and stepmom was seamless and painless in that respect. I know Im not their mother, and the last thing I wanted was to add to their stress level of feelin g disloyal to their mom because I was in their lives now. Speaking of their mother, the relationship between the two of us started out a little shaky. I must say this was one challenge that I didnt think would ever come to a peaceful solution, but it has to some degree. The first time Sharon and I met was awkward. My husband and I were still in the dating mode when we went to pick the kids up for a 4th of July picnic in the park. I tried to be as cordial as possible, but she wasnt having it. She gave me a quick and cold hello, and then went about her business of talking to my husband and her kids. I remember telling one of my girlfriends that I had never been treated so rudely, and that if she was going to treat me that way, I could easily reciprocate. But my girlfriend explained what Sharon was probably feeling because she herself felt the same way when she met her exs new girlfriend. Consequently, she told me to always keep the best interest of the children at the forefront. Audrey Seaton-Bacon, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Whittier, California says having your little ones see birth parents and step parent working as a team is valuable and helpful (Hunter, 2006). I have found that to be so true. When my step kids first heard that their parents and I actually sat down together to talk about them, I sensed they were shocked and relieved. My husband, his ex-wife and I try to keep the lines of communication open at all times. Author Anne Burt says this is the most important thing. She also says no matter how much dislike there may be between a biological parent and a step p arent remain respectful and never show any hostility or resentment in front of your child its important for mother and stepmother to be grown-ups (Burt, 2007). Now we all attend school plays, concerts, and other events as a family as much as we can be as a family without discomfort. A childs public events should be an opportunity for the whole family to bond (Burt, 2007). I think once my step kids mom realized that I wasnt a threat to her and she could never be replaced, she became less jealous of me and now shes even friendlier. That has been a positive for all of us. The kids love and respect her as their mom, and they give me the same as their step mom. Seaton-Bacon says its actually good for kids to develop a healthy attachment to a step parent (Hunter, 2006). We all agreed early on that when it came to the discipline issue, dad and mom would handle that. Like many stepmoms, I didnt want that responsibility for fear of resentment. On the other hand, I felt that my husband was too laid back and needed to improve in that department. It was hard for me to sit back and say nothing but I learned that was best. In one of her ten parenting tips for stepmoms, Rachelle Katz says when stepchildren misbehave, first focus your attention on your partner rather than the children. Let him know, gently and calmly, that you feel he needs to assert his authority in order to help his children grow and develop, and feel secure and protected. If he isnt capable of being a strong parent, then your life, his life, and your stepchildrens lives will suffer (Katz, 2010). This was and still is a touchy subject. No matter how gently I try to bring this to my husbands attention, he doesnt seem to take it too well. Im not giving up though, or backing down from sharing my feelings or thoughts on the matter. While trying to develop a cordial, working relationship with my step kids mom, I was also trying to find my place in the family structure. I know my husband loves me, but I had some hard truths to deal with the fact that he was married before, and that he had kids. I, too, was married before but did not have any kids. Therefore, my husband doesnt have to deal with my ex the way I have to deal with his. Extended family situations come up quite frequently, with his family or her family, and it takes a lot of patience and understanding to handle those situations. What seems to help me the most is remembering that I am his wife now, and my main role is to be my husbands wife and help mate. By doing this, I feel I have found my place. We are growing together and bonding as a family each and every day, and this process will continue for years to come. One thing that we had to do was come up with house rules that involved making changes and setting boundaries. At first, I always felt like an outsider, and I think that had a lot to do with not knowing what I was allowed to do or say in my own home. Once we established the house rules that each of us had to abide by, I was finally able to speak up, based on whether or not the rules were being followed. In her book, How to handle your husbands kids, stepmom and author Jacquelyn Fletcher says this is when she finally got some relief. One house rule for her family (and mine as well) was to keep common areas clean. Fletcher says she finally got to say, Hey guys, remember we have to take our toys upstairs. House rules (McKinnell, 2007). Just like her, I was finally able to say what I needed to say without holding back and holding it in. The new rules also helped my husband and I grow closer because we found common ground and a way to parent together. When everyone in the family knows the house rules, you and your partner can back each other up when a transgression occurs. Working together as a team is important for you as a couple and teaches children that they cant divide and conquer (Katz, 2010). As my stepchildren and I have grown closer, weve developed quality relationships. The three of them have very distinct personalities and have to be treated accordingly. Parenting experts say enjoying time with your stepchildren is a necessity. Now that theyre all teenagers, Ive found ways to hang out with each of them that they enjoy. The oldest and I go shopping together. Our tastes in clothes are very different due to our ages, but she seems to value my opinion, and asks my advice. My middle stepdaughter and I spend a lot of time just talking. She is the one that needs lots of attention, and always seems to have something on her mind that she needs to discuss, so I provide that listening ear. My 14-year-old stepson is easy. Hes very creative and outgoing. Right now he is into writing song and rap lyrics. He asks for my opinions and suggestions all the time. The fact that I show an interest in what hes writing and why hes writing it has made all the difference in our relationship. H e is always thanking me for my support. The book, The Happy Stepmother, states that in order to have a good relationship with your stepchildren, youve got to spend some quality time with them. Since quality relationships are built from one-on-one interactions, spend private time with each of your stepchildren. Find common interests and activities, such as a hobby or a sport, to do with them (Katz, 2010). It has taken some time, but we understand and accept each other without any added pressure or stress. We feel what we feel, and thats okay. Love is an emotion that cant be forced. If you love your stepchildren, thats wonderful. If you dont, thats also acceptable, as long as you provide kindness, compassion and respect to them. No more and no less should be expected of you (Katz, 2010). I found that to be so true. Once I realized that I didnt have to love my stepchildren right away, and that they didnt have to love me back right away, it was easier for us to bond. All we had to do wa s be nice, kind, and respectful to each other. Finding the right family blend in a stepfamily situation can be difficult at best. There are so many obstacles to overcome and feelings to consider, but these family units can become strong. It has taken a lot of hard work but we have built a foundation based on trust and good communication skills listening and talking to each other. We know that were different from normal or first families both structurally and emotionally. An article written in 1997 for The Coalition for Collaborative Divorce states that stepfamilies would be the most common type of family in the country by the year 2010 this year! So maybe were normal after all. And weve already taken on some of the helpful actions listed in the article to deal with common stepfamily challenges and develop a happy and successful stepfamily life. As I mentioned before, we find time to sit, talk and listen to each other about what we were feeling. Dealing with and recognizing emotions are important factors when building a strong family unit. It is wise to assume that people have good reasons for their emotions and reactions, even if the reasons are not obvious. This attitude helps build respect and trust (Aronsohn, 1997). Weve come up with a new family tradition. Once a month, we get together for the Williams Family Gathering. This includes my husbands immediate family (his mom, siblings, and their families). This is where we all come together, bring a dish or two, and rotate eating at a different home. This is quality family time that we value and look forward to doing. This simple routine allows a sense of something stable, something to count on, something this family does (Aronsohn, 1997). My step kids are always asking when and where this month. They absolutely love it, and its something that wasnt done before I came along so it really is our new tradition. This extended family togetherness is good for our immediate stepfamily. The love, care and concern thats shown when I interact with my in-laws has also helped me to build solid relationships with my step kids. In conclusion, coping as a stepmom is not the same as the role of mom. It can sometimes seem like youre on a roller coaster ride that never stops. The frustrations, misunderstandings, and hurt that are part of that ride are too much to bear at times. Stepmoms have to tread lightly and cautiously. Every situation is different and needs to be handled in its own way. Weve had our ups and downs over the last 5 years, and Im sure well have many more. But now we have a stronger foundation from which to work from. We just need to accept and address each issue as it comes up. This work in progress will continue to remind us of the valuable lessons weve learned like understanding and compromising to develop stronger, more loving, and successful relationships between us. By working together and appreciating each others role in our blended stepfamily, weve reached some common ground that seems to be working for all of us. The challenges have not come without rewards. And one of those rewards was huge for me. During a celebration for my 50th birthday this past March, my three stepchildren stood together at the podium and told our family and friends that they consider me more of a mom than a stepmom. That was music to my ears. They admitted Ive made a difference in their lives and the life of their father. When they said how much they loved and appreciated me, it brought tears to my eyes. For the first time, I felt like Im doing something right as a stepmom.

Theme of the Creator in William Blakes The Lamb and The Tiger :: essays research papers

A Creator of Innocence and Terror? Could there be a creator that has the audacity to create one creature so pure, gentle, and innocent then, in turn, create another creature of a hideous nature, so terrifying that one could be driven to insanity just by thinking upon it? In William Blake’s poems â€Å"The Lamb† and â€Å"The Tyger† he describes such a creator as this. The reader will find that there are several similarities between the two poems, but in these similarities there are also various differences. In William Blake’s poem â€Å"The Lamb† the speaker begins with the ultimate question, â€Å"Little Lamb, who made thee?/ Dost though know who made thee?/† (Blake lines 1-2). The speaker then continues to elaborate on the question in a playful, innocent, singsong manner describing the kindness and thoughtfulness that the creator put in to producing this ever so gentle lamb. The tone of this poem is soft and lulling, the tender, calm rhyme scheme puts the reader in a soothing, dreamlike state. â€Å"The words and images presented - stream, mead, delight, softest, tender and rejoice - are positive and pastoral. One can picture a lamb frolicking in the green grass†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Smith). In the second stanza the speaker restates the question, then proudly the speaker declares, â€Å"Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,/ Little Lamb I’ll tell thee!/† (Blake lines 11-12). Allusions to Christianity blossom in the poem at this point as the speaker states that the creator of this lamb is called by the same name. In Christianity, Jesus Christ is referred to as the lamb of God and/or the Sheppard, His followers are also referred to as His flock. The speaker then proceeds to state that he and the lamb are one and the same, ending the poem with â€Å"Little Lamb God bless thee./ Little Lamb God bless thee./(Blake lines 19-20) this invokes reassurance in the reader. William Blake’s poem â€Å"The Tyger† also asks the ultimate question â€Å"What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame thy fearful symmetry?/† (Blake lines 3-4). The tone of this poem is more of a horrific nature. The speaker seems as if he is trying to escape this horrendous beast, the reader can almost feel the panic and terror that the speaker seems to be going through. â€Å"Blake creates this effect by drawing on several poetic devices†(Furr). The first of these is trochaic meter, which gives the poem an underlying beat or chant like quality.

How does Hamlet deal with the revengers r&amp Essay

Revenge is defined as â€Å"retaliation for an offence or injury†; Hamlet has two main reasons for needing revenge, political and moral. Politically he has to kill Claudius for the offence of denying Hamlet, the heir to the Danish kingdom, his usurped crown. He also has a moral reason, as the â€Å"son of a dear father murdered†(II. ii. 581); he has a duty to extract revenge for the injury; and filially to protect his mother by ridding her of an incestuous and immoral marriage to a murderer. He has no doubt even to himself that he does have this dutiful role to perform,† I know my course† (II. ii. 596). To seek this revenge he would have to kill Claudius and his mother, for they are both guilty of having impure souls. But one of the very first internal conflicts Hamlet has is when the Ghost tells him â€Å"nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven†¦ † (I. iv. 85). This leaves him in great turmoil, as he can justify to himself the killing of Claudius, but not letting his mother live. He is so overcome with a sense of purity and morality, especially with concern to women, it does not seem right to him that something so tainted should be allowed to carry on in the world. He wants his perfect revenge, one that would satisfy his meticulously accomplished conscience, but he can not carry it out, so instead he declines it altogether, or at least puts it off in stages, until he can prove it to himself and can put it off no longer. He is willing to taint his own soul and so go to hell and enter a damnation possibly even worse than that in which the Ghost resides, which he tells Hamlet just to know about would, â€Å"harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, thy knotted and combini d locks to part, and each particular hair to stand on end like quills upon the fretful porpentine† (I. iv. 16). Yet he is willing to suffer all this for the sake of revenge in killing Claudius, to avenge his father, so to save his mother, to â€Å"leave her to heaven† (I. v. 86), when even he is not allowed this blessing. What he is giving up to be the dutiful son and revenge his fathers murder in comparison to what Gertrude is giving up leaves his worse off than her, even though she has been an adulterous wife. Therefore her being allowed to live on in sin is as wrong not only on her part, but also on Hamlets for allowing it to be. Hamlet knows what he is sacrificing of himself, his immortal soul, if he is to take on the revengers’ ri le. It is a heavy burden to carry, and not one that he is willing to undertake lightly, so he wants to be absolutely certain of Claudius guilt before taking action. For as certain as he is of the course of action that must be taken, the truth of the Ghosts words must be ascertained, for when Hamlet converses with him he does not know for certain if it is â€Å"a spirit of health or goblin damned, bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, be thy intents wicked or charitable† (I. iv. 40). So to affirm the facts for himself, Hamlet has the players perform the play and watches for Claudius’s reaction to his own murderous and incestuous actions being acted out before him. For Hamlet this is supposed to be a resolution, a confirmation of his suspicions before he can act, a catalyst to spur him on depending on the success of his experiment. Hamlet becomes angry and disgusted with himself; he can’t understand his own lack of passion, even after proving to himself that Claudius is guilty. He is very aware of himself not crying in the rehearsal of the play, when the players are moved to tears over the story of the â€Å"rousid vengeance† (II. ii. 486) of Pyrrhus, Priam and Hecuba. As soon as he is alone, he bursts out â€Å"O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her working all his visage waned, Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect†¦. And all for nothing† He feels miserable at his deficit, he is forced to compare himself and he comes of he worse. † What would he do had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have? †¦ Make mad the guilty and appal the free†. He again feels this lack of justified fervour when young Fortinbras goes to battle to fight and possibly to die for a land that is acknowledged to be not worth the sacrifice â€Å"we go to gain a little patch of ground that hath in it no profit but the name† (IV. iv. 18). This is again someone showing emotion and action when there is not as much reason to do so as there is for Hamlet. When he is alone he sees what Fortinbras has done as being honourable and a rebuke of his own inaction, whereas before when talking to Fortinbras’ captain, he had been cynical as to the actions they were carrying out. He analyses himself as â€Å"thinking too precisely on th’event – A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward† (IV. iv. 41). He sees his need to think things through before acting as a deplorable weakness. Even he can see hat he is being weak minded and indecisive. But even when convinced he can’t kill his uncle deliberately, in a rage he thinks he has killed him, but it was just Polonius. Having proved Claudius’ guilt, Hamlet now has to act, and yet does not act straight away, but postpones it, indicating that there are also other deeper subconscious reasons that could affect him. The death of his father at the beginning of the play and the hasty incestuous marriage of his mother upset him greatly and have led to his obsessions with death, decay, sin the body and its parts and with women, purity and the defiling of them. We can see this from speeches such as, â€Å"O that this too too sullied flesh would melt†¦ Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His cannon ‘gainst self-slaughter. † (I. ii. 129) â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman. † (I. ii. 146) â€Å"For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion – have you a daughter? † (II. ii. 181) â€Å"Or in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil† in which Hamlet is clearly fixed on purity, women, death and suicide. Claudius being a murder and committing incest and yet still having the crown of Denmark and outwardly appearing to be just, honourable and a good leader (quote? ) could explain why Hamlet often confuses the order of society in his speeches. This can be seen when he calls himself a â€Å"rogue and peasant slave† (II. ii.547) when he clearly isn’t, or when he calls himself â€Å"unpregnant† and likens himself to a â€Å"whore† in the same soliloquy, when he obviously is not. To Hamlet, Claudius is tainted and impure in mind and action, yet he is a good ruler of Denmark, a good king, and a good diplomat. He is efficient, confident, in control of affairs, in every way assured and poised. Hamlet identifies with Claudius in a way that restrains him from being able to kill him, hamlet has all the ability and the necessary desire, but Claudius has everything Hamlet wants, which leads to internal sub-conscious conflict on as well as his conscious conflicts. His mother’s ability to alter the direction of her affection from one person to another so suddenly hurts Hamlet, as having to share her with his own father was difficult enough, but at least was understandable. He is now jealous that someone else holds such high regard in her affections but at the same time is disgusted with her for loving someone else. But as his jealousy is repressed, as he doesn’t even admit to himself that he is jealous of his mother’s lovers, all he feels is a deep sense of disgust towards Gertrude that helps him deal with his rejection. Hamlet could be suffering from the theory that Freud developed, the Oedipus theory. This states that as children, young boys feel great bitterness and resentment towards their fathers for making them share their mothers affections and for having sexual relations with their mothers which the young boys also desire, and so they view their fathers as rivals that they would rather have out of the way. These thoughts are repressed as a form of defence for fear that their fathers will realise what they are thinking. To compensate for this they resolve the complex by over identifying with their fathers and adopting many of their fathers’ attitudes. This could be used to explain Hamlet’s impediment and self-frustration towards his revenge. He tries to carry out the task, but he is held back in some way, because he cannot kill a person who he recognises as so like himself in what he wants to be like and wishes he could do. His desires towards his mother have been so long repressed that they are now repulsive to him, but yet her remarrying brings those thoughts to his attention. He sees someone taking the place of his father in her affections, the place that he has long coveted. The nature of this usurper, a relative, makes the link between the two even more incestuous in Hamlet’s mind and even more connected towards him. This, coupled with the fact that Claudius is able to gain his mother’s affection by killing old Hamlet, ridding him, once again something that Hamlet has long wanted to do but repressed from himself, hinders Hamlet greatly from carrying out his revenge. When Hamlet discovers the identity of his father’s murderer his first instant reply is â€Å"O my prophetic soul! My uncle? † (I. v. 40). This does imply that unconsciously the idea had been in his mind and had suddenly been brought back to his awareness.

In What Ways Did the Polices of Mao’s Bring Change to China in the Years 1952-1969 Essay

During the first five year plan, the change was successful for China’s industry and agriculture. For China’s agriculture, it was improved by encouraging smaller co-operatives to merge together to form a larger co-operative, they pooled their land together to make bigger and more efficient farms. So that heavy industry (road and railway construction, steel production, etc) in China would be modernized, and that it could also be able to increase agricultural production. Which lead to expansion in both agriculture and industry. In industry, the Plan gave priority to the expansion of heavy industry, more especially steel, coal and machinery, and led to the setting up of many production plants, especially in the centre of China. This resulted in great expansion in heavy industry but led to the neglect of lighter, consumer industries such as cotton-making and food processing. Another event that took place was the Great Leap Forward, the change wasn’t as successful as the First Five Year Plan. As many people died from starvation and the famine during the time. The Great Leap Forward was a disaster. Over 30 million people died because of it and there were cultural and environmental damages done that will never repair. Mao never got close to the goals which he had set even though he did manage to get an increase in iron production for a couple of year. During the time of the Great Leap Forward, Industry and Agriculture played a huge part of it. As Mao created communes,which meant joining a number of small farms together in an area to form one large work place and also some were as large as 25,000 people, because Mao felt that mass labor would increase agricultural productions without the cost of modern equipment. Another change was that industry slumped because people started producing steel which was poor quality and couldn’t be used, and so furnaces took too much of China’s coal and so the trains ran out of coal. Old machines also fell apart from overuse, which meant that less time was spent on agriculture and more time was spent on producing coal. There were also huge food shortages as time was spent on producing coal. So there was famine and people had to starve, as a result many died. This lead to The Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution had a massive impact on China from 1965 to 1968, The Cultural Revolution is the name given to Mao’s attempt to reassert his beliefs in China. Mao had been less than a dynamic leader from the late 1950’s on (having suffered from the failure of his ‘Great Leap Forward campaign), and fearing that others in his own party might be taking on a leading role that weakened his power within the party and the country. The Cultural Revolution was an attempt by Mao to re-impose his authority on the party and therefore the country. As a result, many leaders were removed and Revolutionary Committees dominated by the PLA ran the country and the opponents were either killed or sent into exile. Overall, the policies had brought major change to China. Some were successful such as the First Five Year Plan, which gave China’s economy and agriculture a boom. But some like The Cultural Revolution and The Great Leap Forward, weren’t successful and was a failure, many people died throughout the reign of Chairman Mao.