Why You Dont Have to Look Good on Your Resume

Why You Don’t Have to Look Good on Your Resume True or false? “A resume is supposed to make you look good.” Answer:   FALSE Well, I’ll concede, it’s only partially false.   Although you want your resume to look good and to portray your job history and accomplishments in a clear and impressive manner, it’s important not to overdo your attempts to impress your reader. The misconception that a resume is supposed to make you look good can lead to mischaracterization of job duties, inflation of accomplishments, and flowery, high-falutin language.  None of those things belong on a resume!   Stick to the truth instead. Example #1:   A client who was applying for development jobs wrote in a bullet that she “[a]ssisted in organizing” a conference.   Since I do not like to see the word “assist” on a resume (see Words to Delete from Your Resume), I asked her what exactly she did to assist.   It turns out she set up tables and provided registration assistance on the day of the conference, but had no involvement in the planning or organization of the event.   We changed the verb in her bullet to “Staffed” â€" a much more accurate description of what this applicant did. Example #2:   A client stated that she “[p]articipated in” company meetings.   In actuality, she had organized materials for the meetings and attended them.   We made her language more specific, thus accurately reflecting her activities. Why not stretch the truth just a little? First of all, I never condone lying about anything and always support acting with integrity.   Additionally, if your resume gets you an interview, you could be asked questions about absolutely anything you’ve written.   You don’t want to get caught in even the tiniest lie. I’m glad I asked my clients questions about their bullets before an interviewer did.   The first client was applying to jobs where she could easily be called upon to organize a conference; if she submitted a resume that overstated her experience in conference organization, it could lead to an embarrassing and deal-killing interview moment.   Similarly, the second client was applying to jobs that entailed numerous meetings, and familiarity with meeting protocol was required.   It was dangerous for him as well to represent his experience inaccurately. When you are creating resume bullet points, and even when you are writing your Summary of Qualifications, make sure to report your activities, qualifications and accomplishments accurately.   Without using impressive or flowery language, you can succeed in writing a resume that makes you look good by clearly and truthfully conveying your accomplishments. As in so many other things, honesty on your resume is the best policy.   Think of the most impressive thing you can truthfully report and let it speak for itself.   Follow this advice and you’ll look good without even trying. Need resume help?   Contact The Essay Expert for a free 15 minute consultation.

Common Oxoacid Compounds and Associated Anions

Oxoacids are acids that contain a hydrogen atom bonded to an oxygen atom. These acids dissociate in water by breaking this bond and forming hydronium ions and a polyatomic anion. The table below lists common oxoacids and their associated anions. Common Oxoacids and Associated Anions Oxoacid Formula Anion Anion Formula acetic acid CH3COOH acetate CH3COO- carbonic acid H2CO3 carbonate CO32- chloric acid HClO3 chlorate ClO3= chlorous acid HClO2 chlorite ClO2- hypochlorous acid HClO hypochlorite ClO- iodic acid HIO3 iodate IO3- nitric acid HNO3 nitrate NO3- nitrous acid HNO2 nitrite NO2- perchloric acid HClO4 perchlorate ClO4- phosphoric acid H3PO4 phosphate PO43- phosphorous acid H3PO3 phosphite PO33- sulfuric acid H2SO4 sulfate SO42- sulfurous acid H2SO3 sulfite SO32-

The Struggle for Self-Definition in Boys and Girls by...

The Struggle for Self-Definition in Boys and Girls When we are adolescents we see the world through our parents eyes. We struggle to define ourselves within their world, or to even break away from their world. Often, the birth of our self is defined in a moment of truth or a moment of heightened self-awareness that is the culmination of a group of events or the result of a life crisis or struggle. In literature we refer to this birth of self as an epiphany. Alice Munro writes in Boys and Girls about her own battle to define herself. She is torn between the inside world of her mother and the outside world of her father. In the beginning her fathers world prevails, but by the finale, her mothers world invades her†¦show more content†¦Yet, she is filled with the sense of being a part of something important. It seemed to me that work . . . done out of doors, and in my fathers service, was ritualistically important (113). She is contributing to the family income in her own way when each year she rakes the grass, carries w ater for the foxes, or cleans the watering dishes. Her father may be stern, but he is proud of his tom-boy. He remarks to a passing salesman, Like to have you meet my new hired man. This praise from her father fills her with delight, I turned away and raked furiously, red in the face with pleasure (112). Children need praise from their parents like they need food. Then, in the months prior to Christmas, Father slaughters the animals, skins them, and sells their pelts for the familys yearly income. He actually skins the foxes in the basement of the house where she lives. The smell of the pelting process . . . penetrated all parts of the house. The reader finds the whole process and the fact that she watches this process with her brother, Laird, repulsive at first, but she describes the process as reassuringly seasonal, like the smell of oranges and pine needles. These things are normal for her, yet in the following passage there is an under current that her fathers business is upsetting to her, although she is not fully aware of this until later in the story. We see the foreshadowing of this in the following line: WeShow MoreRelatedThe Feminist Movement By Kate Chopin And Boys And Girls By Alice Munro1231 Words   |  5 Pageseconomic rights equal to that of men. Two short stories, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin and à ¢â‚¬Å"Boys and Girls† by Alice Munro, relate experiences from female perspectives, highlighting oppression against women. The authors use different techniques to show the protagonists’ similar struggle for liberation in their male-dominated environments. While Alice Munro uses the voice of a young girl to establish the limitations women face throughout their entire life, Kate Chopin uses the â€Å"heart disease†Read MoreJourney Motif in Boys and Girls by Alice Munro Essay1270 Words   |  6 PagesAlice Munros Journey Motif in Boys and Girls Many short stories are recognized as milestones in the development of modern realist fiction. â€Å"Boys and Girls† is a short story that evokes a realistic rather than romantic view of a girl’s journey towards finding herself. This short story includes the fight for her gender, and her struggle with her identity. Also, in addition to these two defining aspects, this short story contains the realistic account of who and what she is to become. Clearly

Anomie Theory Free Essays

Right off the bat when reading the article it states that it’s the most widely read article in sociology. The author Robert K. Merton opens his paper by first challenging certain offenses that were popular in 1938. We will write a custom essay sample on Anomie Theory or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most of the theories that Merton has analyzed mentioned â€Å"biological drives†. Some of the theorists view crime as â€Å"biological drives† in which our society comes to terms with restraining it. What I found interesting, Merton doesn’t agree with other theorists, he, on the other hand, argues that a person or persons drive for crime is frequently shown to be stemmed from society itself. This is when his theory or argument splits into two parts. The article refers to his â€Å"anomie theory†. This hypothesis of his is looked to be explained why certain parts of societies have increased rates of criminal activity than let’s say, the other half of the societies in which they appear to have decreased rates of criminal activity. Merton focuses on the relative emphasis placed on this set cultural goals society has placed as well as the institutionalized norms for achieving these goals of society. It is come to know some certain places in society have a high comparative prominence which is called cultural goals. Also, to have a low corresponding value of the norms or as well some gain the achievement of goals, which increases the rate of crimes. Merton characterizes these societies by using the terms anomie or normlessness, whereas it is explained from â€Å"the goal-seeking behavior†, Merton mentions. An individual is exposed to little commands or in other words law. This turns into a repercussion for persons employing the most beneficial values including that of criminal acts in order to achieve their once again prize. The â€Å"strain† theory Merton discusses in this half of the article argues that some person and persons within a society are being exposed to â€Å"special† pressures that of criminal actions. Merton mentions that while it is urged as well as expected that people strive for financial riches, people of the lower class are prevented from achieving this goal. This leads to individuals to have pressure, but even then they can adapt to the strain or so-called pressures of values. Continuing of Merton briefly discusses why some types of individuals are more likely to respond to strain with crime than others. Merton’s strain theory has been the subject of extensive commentary and researches the evidence for his strain theory which is mixed. Certain recent tests of this theory seem to be at it’s accurate as well as the anomie theory. The anomie theory proposes that criminal activity is most seen in those who place much emphasis on cultural goals and little on the norms for achieving the goals, meaning to be successful. Before going into the article I made a note that has caught my attention about the author itself. Albert K. Cohen was a student of Robert K. Merton. I just found this to be very intriguing because some of his points or theories have been taken into account in Cohen’s articles. Cohen has a particular interest and focus of criminal societies. To narrow it down, Cohen focuses more on the lower-working-class urban gangs of 1950, during that time they were the subject of attention. Cohen in the article poses a question of: â€Å"How can we explain the origin and content of delinquent subcultures?† Since he was a student of Merton as I said before he draws some of Merton’s theory to provide his own, collective answer to the question which is often outlined throughout the article. In the first part of his theory, that is being stated in the first section of the article. Cohen provides a well-explained origin of deviant social groups. The second section applies that the theory to explain the origin and contents of man it has to be specified by gender. Cohen focuses on working-class males and urban gangs. While I was reading the parts of the article, I have noted and made some comparisons and contrasts with Merton’s strain theory. Similar to Merton, Cohen argues that â€Å"goal blockade† is what causes delinquency. Now Cohen, on the other hand, argues that lower and working class males don’t concern themselves with the goal of cultural goals. Other than the obvious of not concerning themselves with achieving this success, they would rather concern themselves with the fulfillment of making it to the higher societal class. The achievement of broader goals referred to the respect from the higher-ups in the financial success aspect of cultural goals. This was noted by Cohen to be crucial because of the difference in goals. It is said in the article that an individual can obtain financial riches through illegal activities such as theft, this is one of Merton’s adaptations of innovation. An individual can’t steal the status of a higher class, which makes perfect sense since it could lead to a huge consequence, which Cohen discusses throughout the article. The consequence is that the lower and working class often have to evolve to the goal blockade by making an alternative plan. This is how someone, an individual would gain their true success. This is also noted to be very much alike to Merton’s adaptations of criminal behavior, in which was explained that these new goals and methods are basically being replaced for the previous goals instead of the new. From reading onward I made the connection that both the lower and working class share hostility towards the middle-class persons. The hostility leads them to set up a status quo that values everything that the apparent middle class doesn’t concern itself with. Based on these very theories it is explained that the middle class values private property and respect for an individual. Now, this caught my attention because it made me question his theory. It’s suggesting that lower and working class boys don’t value such things. Also, in the theory, it gives an example of what I was questioning. The example that was given was that while gangs of some sorts value the destruction and theft of any property probably more towards private property and leading more towards aggression towards others. Cohen then goes onto the explanatory origins and contents of the criminal social group. After getting towards the end of the article it states the definite features of his hypothesis. Theorists have come to the main claim that the goals of criminal persons are not disagreeable to an idea of standard goals as Cohen has explained throughout his theory. Even though there has been a criticism the data shows and tends to often prove and support this argument. All of this information that was given by this theorist Cohen brings a fundamental contribution to criminal law. How to cite Anomie Theory, Papers

Logistics Management Woodcrafts and Antique

Question: Describe about the Logistics Management for Woodcrafts and Antique. Answer: Introduction: Background: Baan Tawai village is a famous centre of woodcrafts and antique, bespoke furniture located in the picturesque district of Chiang Mai of Thailand ("History : Baan Tawai - The Village of Handicraft", 2016). The demand for the furniture originating in this village is unparalleled and hence steps are taken to ensure that people around the world can get the desired furniture conveniently. The village has been able to satisfy the evolving preferences of customers while maintaining the essence of colonial intricacies in the designing of their furniture. Baan Tawai specializes in the production of various kinds of wood carvings and handicrafts whose fame has now extended around the globe ("History : Baan Tawai - The Village of Handicraft", 2016). Aim: In the recent years, a rising trend of demand for antique and bespoke furniture has increased in Australia particularly those which were reminiscent of colonial tropics. Australia has seen the Europeans settle in their nation in the eighteenth century ("European discovery and the colonisation of Australia | australia.gov.au", 2016). The Australians have shown a fond remembrance for the antique furniture that closely resembles those used in the colonial Australia. Records have shown that the demand of such antique furniture far exceeds the supply of the same. Hence, the Australians have relied mainly on the online stores and exported furniture from foreign countries like Thailand to satisfy their demands. The following report seeks to address the logistical issues following the establishment an online retail business along with a signature showroom in Brisbane and distribution of the goods pan Australia. The goods will be brought from Baan Tawai of Chiang Mai and exported through Bang kok to Australia. Scope: James Street in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane is a foremost location for retail and lifestyle stores. It is considered to be a hub of stores for designer wears, high end restaurants, art galleries and home ware stores. The place attracts buyers from around Brisbane and tourists are often seen hopping from one shop to another in search of unique products that can be rarely found in other areas ("James St | About", 2016). Surveys have shown that establishing a signature store of antique, colonial furniture store in James Street would reap benefits for the Company. Discussion: Retail store and Online shop order management and customer service Order management: Order management refers to those activities which exist between the placement of an order and the shipment of that order from the warehouse (Christopher, 2013). (The order management of Retail store and Online-store experiences vast differences due to certain basic differences between the two. The order management of Retail stores is generally established to handle orders coming directly from resellers and not from customers (Christopher, 2013). Conversely, the Online-stores have to handle large quantities of orders compared to Retails. Hence the warehouse of Retail stores has to handle huge amount of orders due to the bulky products while the smaller products facilitates use of smaller cases and packaging. The order management would include activities related to the order cycle which would again comprise four steps. The steps include order transmittal, order processing, order picking and assembly and order delivery. In case of both retail and online store, the time of order transmittal is narrow since it consists of direct Business to Consumer (B2C) interaction. Following the order transmittal, the seller would process the order to locate the exact position of the warehouse respective of the location of the customer. To do so, the seller needs to make an entry in the computer regarding the location of the customer and the inventory department locates the nearest warehouse to make the entire process cost effective. The accounting department keeps track of the financial transaction between the customer and the seller. Transportation would be arranged to arrange for the shipment of the products. The furniture would be exported from Baan Tawai through air cargo to the nearest warehouse. Th e requested order will be picked from the warehouse and assembled with the help of scanners and Radio-frequency identification (RFID). The order management will end with the delivery of the order to the customer (Dadzie, 2013). Customer service: Customer service refers to the satisfaction of the customers in terms of time, dependability, communication and convenience. The customer service is an important part of logistics management since it determines the loyalty of the customer (Famie Sparks, 2013). On the basis of the customer profitability analysis, the company would determine the resources that it will allocate to each segment of customers. The company will ascertain which customers will ultimately prove to be more valuable for the company. In case of the exotic furniture, the company can hold the upper class consumers to be their reliable customers as the antique furniture would not prove to be affordable for the other customers. The company also has to determine how to measure customer satisfaction after using the furniture. When the furniture provided would fail to satisfy the customers, the company must ensure easy reverse logistics that is, returning of the goods (Famie Sparks, 2013). The furniture may be lost or damaged, or it might arrive late. In case of retail store, the replacement order may be placed through calls or face to face interaction. For an online store, the complaint can be placed through mails or calls. After the order has failed, the company would provide either cash back or a suitable replacement. It is up to the company to make sure such complaints do not arrive as it leads to heavy loss for the company and may lead to loss of customer loyalty. Retail store and Online shop distributioncentre operation: The location of retail store is James Street, Brisbane and hence the distribution centre has to be located accordingly. The warehouse has to be situated nearby Fortitude valley to minimize cost of transportation. The customer places an order electronically through mobiles or computers after going through the company website showcasing the different types of furniture. The placement of the order is followed by payment of cash and then the warehouse is located nearest to the customer. The bulk of customers of this kind of furniture can be found near the posh area of James Street. With the help of software, the density of reliable customers will be determined and then the number of distribution centers would be determined (Nettstrter,2015). The distribution centre also depends upon the availability of labor market which comprises both local labor and immigrant labor. In case of immigrant labor, the visa conditions have to be kept in mind. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a list of rules and regulations and the Australian government also enlists the immigration laws ("Welcome to the Fair Work Ombudsman website", 2016) . The furniture will be imported from Thailand and hence immigrant workers will be called while handling certain intricate pieces. Brisbane is located near the Brisbane River which is well connected to the sea and hence transportation can be convened easily. Air transportation is also available for importing the furniture from Thailand since the Brisbane Airport near the warehouse. In the warehouse various steps are followed before sending the furniture to the customers. Warehouse activities consist of receiving the furniture from freights and then the condition of the furniture would be checked so as to check any damage it might have suffered during the transportation. The furniture would be checked against the bill received and then it would be stored with a stock keeping unit (SKU) number. The furniture would be sorted and stored according to the separate categories. After the warehouse is notified about a specific order, the required furniture is brought to the Marshall area for checking the order received. After the ordered furniture is checked, it is prepared (on the basis of the furniture) for packaging and then loaded on the vehicle. The kind of vehicle depends upon the kind of furniture chosen by the customer. This process of storing the furniture and then shipping to the desired location correctly is mostly dependent on the information technology (Fam ie Sparks, 2013). The warehouse keeps track of the bulk of furniture arriving from the freights and it helps in the sorting of the different kinds of furniture that have been imported from Thailand. The furniture may consist of antique beds, cupboards, tables and so on. When these shipments arrive in bulk, they are accumulated and then allocated to different parts of the warehouse after assorting them in to different groups (Pawlewski, 2013). The furniture is then sorted on the basis of its grades and quality (Pawlewski, 2013). Recently, the logistics operations have been placing emphasis on sustainability issues as the impact of logistics management has an impact on the community and environment. Lowering of sustainability in the warehouse, for instance, renders it low in terms of productivity. The warehouse activities also fall within the precincts of Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations which clarifies the responsibilities of the employers to look after the safety and securities of the workers in the warehouse. According to The News Daily, the warehousing job is one of the most dangerous jobs in Australia ("Australia's most dangerous jobs I The New Daily", 2014). Online shop physical distribution: The furniture would be imported from the village of Baan Tawai, North Thailand to Bangkok since it is the nearest harbor from the mainland. From the port of Bangkok, the maritime freight would be taken to transport the goods to Brisbane through the Port of Brisbane. Hence the transportation of the furniture takes place after passing through three important nodes the furniture hub at Bana Tawai, Bangkok and Brisbane. This International logistics involves timely and smooth interventions of the government to enable smooth flow of goods from the point of production to the point of consumption (Dekker et al., 2013). In case of furniture, the maritime freight is best suited since the load is bulky in nature and it is cost effective as well (Goerlandt Montewka 2015). The movement of furniture from the village to Bangkok would be subjected to the laws persisting in the country of Thailand. From the port of Bangkok, the transportation of furniture enters the international logistics and is subject to international laws ("Australian export and import laws - Austrade", 2016). For a proper understanding of the trade laws and regulations, a specialist who is an expert on these matters needs to be consulted to avoid delays as much as possible. As soon as the furniture enters the waters of Australia, the import and export laws of Australia will be exercised ("Australian export and import laws - Austrade", 2016). After the furniture reaches the Port of Brisbane, the trucks would be used to take the loads to the warehouse near the retail store in Fortitude Valley. This warehouse serves as storage for both the online as well as the retail store. The key point to remember in case of transportation is that it should be done at the lowest cost possible though transportation accounts for more than half of the entire transaction(Atkinson et al., 2013) . The goods also need to be carefully handled since any damage to the products may lead to reverse logistics which is costlier than the logistics involving delivering goods to customers (Dekker, 2013). Figure 1: Map showing the important roads connecting Brisbane Source: (www.aph.gov.au) As shown in the map above, Brisbane is a well connected city with its highways touching important cities of Queensland and New South Wales. While the goods are moving from one mode to another, it should be fed into the computer system of the courier facility so that the customer can trace the movement of his product. Transportation management also involves documentation of the products that are being transferred and also the bills like the freight bill that have to be paid in the process (Kunaka,2013). After the furniture is sorted and labeled regarding the shipment of the furniture to the target customers, they are again loaded in trucks to transfer them to the customers. In this second transportation also, the customers should be able to trace the furniture they have booked. The logistics does not end with the delivery of the goods to the customers; it also involves asking the customers regarding the experience and ensuring that the customer uses their service again (Lu et al.,2013). Conclusion: The logistics management is a complex process following different steps from the placement of an order till the order actually reaches the customer. The process seems smooth and convenient though it involves a number of phases to cross. The rules and regulations in a country have a significant impact on the policies of the company regarding its logistics management. At first the company needs to decide whether the goods in demand are available with them. If the products are not available then the required products can be imported from the other countries. The chosen scenario called for such an action since the supply of antique furniture was not adequate to meet the demands of the Australians. Then the prime location was chosen for the signature showroom and arrangements were made for the online business of the same. The customers would start choosing the products and place the order. It is from here that the order management begins, leading to warehouse operations and finally to the delivery of the products. What happens in between is the complex method of procuring the desired goods from the point of origin and then maintaining the international customs, the goods are transferred to the country of the customer. The goods should be handled in such a way that it does cause any transit damage to the product. References: ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2016). Abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 September 2016, from https://www.abc.net.au Atkinson, J., Bauer, J., Hunt, K., Mullins, K., Myers, M., Rensel, E., ... Taylor, R. (2013).Designing for Transportation Management and Operations: A Primer(No. FHWA-HOP-13-013). Australian export and import laws - Austrade. (2016). Austrade.gov.au. Retrieved 12 September 2016, from https://www.austrade.gov.au/International/Invest/Guide-to-investing/Running-a-business/Understanding-Australian-business-regulation/Australian-export-and-import-laws Christopher, M. (2016).Logistics supply chain management. Pearson Higher Ed. Dadzie, K. Q. (2013). Management education for physical distribution and logistics.International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management. Dekker, R., Fleischmann, M., Inderfurth, K., van Wassenhove, L. N. (Eds.). (2013).Reverse logistics: quantitative models for closed-loop supply chains. Springer Science Business Media. European discovery and the colonisation of Australia (2016).Australia.gov.au. Retrieved 12 September 2016, fromhttps://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/european-discovery-and-colonisation Fernie, J., Sparks, L. (2014).Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Goerlandt, F., Montewka, J. (2015). Maritime transportation risk analysis: review and analysis in light of some foundational issues.Reliability Engineering System Safety,138, 115-134. History : Baan Tawai - The Village of Handicraft. (2016).Ban-tawai.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016, fromhttps://www.ban-tawai.com/history.php Home Parliament of Australia. (2016). Aph.gov.au. Retrieved 13 September 2016, from https://www.aph.gov.au James St | About. (2016).Jamesst.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2016, fromhttps://www.jamesst.com.au/about/ John Wiley Sons. Kunaka, C., Antoci, M. A., Sez, S. (2013). Trade dimensions of logistics services: a proposal for trade agreements.Journal of World Trade,47(4), 925-950. Lu, W., McFarlane, D., Giannikas, V., Zhang, Q. (2016). An algorithm for dynamic order-picking in warehouse operations.European Journal of Operational Research,248(1), 107-122. Nettstrter, A., Geien, T., Witthaut, M., Ebel, D., Schoneboom, J. (2015). Logistics Software Systems and Functions: An Overview of ERP, WMS, TMS and SCM Systems. InCloud Computing for Logistics(pp. 1-11). Springer International Publishing. Pawlewski, P. (2015, June). DES/ABS approach to simulate warehouse operations. InInternational Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems(pp. 115-125). Springer International Publishing.

Communism in Russia essays

Communism in Russia essays Communism is a form of government where a society works toward the benefit of the community. When Russia rebelled against the monarchy held by the Czar, Lenin established communism as the new form of government. After his death, they appointed two new leaders: Lenins faithful follower Joseph Stalin and Lenins most liked candidate Leon Trotsky. But this was a bad choice for the Russians as one of these two leaders was corrupt. Because of this, communism in Russia failed. Communism works in theory, but it has yet to be proven. No country that has established a communistic government except us Smurfs. When Russia was a monarchy (power held by a king and queen and successors are next of kin), several underground factions grouped and contemplated a revolution. The leader: Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov (a.ka. Lenin). When the revolution over took the Czar, Lenin declared Russia a communistic country. This then lead to organization of private enterprises that would benefit the whole country of Russia. Of the many leaders under Lenin, two stuck out the most in the crowd, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. When Lenin started to suffer from cerebral hemorrhage 5 years after the takeover, people started to look for a successor. Leon Trotsky, a man of charismatic qualities, was the obvious candidate, but likewise Joseph Stalin was rapidly gaining control of the organizational levers. Before he lost his ability to speak, Lenin invited Trotsky to open an attack on Stalin. But Trotsky chose to bide by his time and possibly contemplating an alliance with Stalin. Stalin moved rapidly to consolidate his hold on the party organization and Central committee. Amongst this, Trotsky lost most of his opportunity for establishing himself as Lenins successor. He later recalled the reason for his failure was out of reluctance to assert himself while Lenin was still dying. Stalin had gained all this...

Zebulon Pike and His Expeditions to the West

Zebulon Pike and His Expeditions to the West The soldier and explorer Zebulon Pike is remembered for two expeditions he led to explore territory acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. It is often assumed he climbed Pikes Peak, the Colorado mountain named for him. He did not reach the peaks summit, though he did explore in its vicinity on one of his expeditions. In some ways, Pikes western voyages are second only to Lewis and Clark. Yet his efforts have always been overshadowed by nagging questions about the motivations for his journeys. What was he trying to accomplish by trekking around in the previously unexplored West? Was he a spy? Did he have secret orders to provoke a war with Spain? Was he simply an adventurous Army officer seeking adventure while filling in the map? Or was he actually intent on trying to expand the limits of his nations boundaries? Mission to Explore Western Territories Zebulon Pike was born in New Jersey on January 5, 1779, the son of an officer in the U.S. Army. When he was a teenager Zebulon Pike entered the army as a cadet, and when he was 20 years old he was given an officers commission as a lieutenant. Pike was posted at several outposts on the western frontier. And in 1805 the commander of the U.S. Army, General James Wilkinson, gave Pike the assignment of traveling northward up the Mississippi River from St. Louis to find the rivers source. It would later be revealed that General Wilkinson harbored dubious loyalties. Wilkinson was commanding the U.S. Army. Yet he was also secretly receiving payments from Spain, which at the time had vast holdings along the southwest frontier. The first expedition on which Wilkinson dispatched Pike, to find the source of the Mississippi River in 1805, may have had an ulterior motive. It is suspected that Wilkinson may have been hoping to provoke a conflict with Britain, which at the time controlled Canada. Pikes First Western Expedition Pike, leading a party of 20 soldiers, left St. Louis in August 1805. He traveled into present-day Minnesota, spending a winter among the Sioux. Pike arranged a treaty with the Sioux and mapped much of the region. When winter arrived, he pressed forward with a few men and determined that Lake Leech was the source of the great river. He was wrong, Lake Itasca is the actual source of the Mississippi. There were suspicions that Wilkinson didnt really care what the real source of the river was, as his real interest was to sent a probe northward to see how the British would react. After Pike returned to St. Louis in 1806, General Wilkinson had another assignment for him. Pikes Second Western Expedition The second expedition led by Zebulon Pike remains puzzling after more than two centuries. Pike was sent westward, again by General Wilkinson, and the purpose of the expedition remains mysterious. The ostensible reason Wilkinson sent Pike into the West was to explore the sources of the Red River and the Arkansas River. And, as the United States had recently acquired the Louisiana Purchase from France, Pike was apparently supposed to explore and report on the lands in the southwestern portion of the purchase. Pike began his mission by acquiring supplies in St. Louis, and word of his upcoming expedition leaked out. A detachment of Spanish troops was assigned to shadow Pike as he moved westward, and perhaps even stop him from traveling. After leaving St. Louis on July 15, 1806, with Spanish cavalry apparently shadowing him from a distance, Pike traveled to the area of present-day Pueblo, Colorado. He tried and failed to climb the mountain that would later be named for him, Pikes Peak. Zebulon Pike Headed for Spanish Territory Pike, after exploring in the mountains, turned southward and led his men toward Spanish territory. A detachment of Spanish troops found Pike and his men living in a crude fort they had built of cottonwood trees on the banks of the Rio Grande. When challenged by the Spanish soldiers, Pike explained that he believed he was camping along the Red River, within territory belonging to the United States. The Spanish assured him he was on the Rio Grande. Pike lowered the American flag flying over the fort. At that point, the Spanish invited Pike to accompany them to Mexico, and Pike and his men were escorted to Santa Fe. Pike was questioned by the Spanish. He stuck to his story that he believed he had been exploring within American territory. Pike was treated well by the Spanish, who transported him and his men onward to Chihuahua and eventually released them to return to the United States. In the summer of 1807, the Spanish escorted him to Louisiana, where he was released, safely back on American soil. Zebulon Pike Returned to American Under a Cloud of Suspicion By the time Zebulon Pike returned to the United States, things had changed dramatically. An alleged plot devised by Aaron Burr to seize American territory and set up a separate nation in the Southwest had been uncovered. Burr, the former vice-president, and killer of Alexander Hamilton had been charged with treason. Also implicated in the alleged plot was General James Wilkinson, the man who had sent Zebulon Pike on his expeditions. To the public and many in the government, it appeared that Pike may have played some  shadowy role in the Burr conspiracy. Was Pike really a spy for Wilkinson and Burr? Was he trying to provoke the Spanish in some way? Or was he secretly cooperating with the Spanish in some plot against his own country? Instead of returning as a heroic explorer, Pike was forced to clear his name. After he proclaimed his innocence, government officials concluded that Pike had acted loyally. He resumed his military career and even wrote a book based on his explorations. As for Aaron Burr, he was charged with treason but acquitted at a trail at which General Wilkinson testified. Zebulon Pike Became a War Hero Zebulon Pike was promoted to major in 1808. With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Pike was promoted to general. General Zebulon Pike commanded American troops attacking York (now Toronto), Canada in the spring of 1813. Pike was leading the assault on the heavily defended town and the withdrawing British blew up a powder magazine during their retreat. Pike was struck by a piece of stone which broke his back. He was carried to an American ship, where he died on April 27, 1813. His troops had succeeded in capturing the town, and a captured British flag was placed under his head just before he died. The Legacy of Zebulon Pike Considering his heroic actions in the War of 1812, Zebulon Pike was remembered as a military hero. And in the 1850s settlers and prospectors in Colorado began calling the mountain he encountered Pikes Peak, a name which stuck. Yet the questions about his expeditions still remain. There are numerous theories about why Pike was sent into the West, and whether his explorations were really missions of espionage.