What Is a Sphere of Influence

In international relations (and history), a sphere of influence is a region within one country over which another country claims certain exclusive rights.  The degree of control exerted by the foreign power depends on the amount of military force involved in the two countries interactions, generally.   Examples of Spheres of Influence in Asian History   Famous examples of spheres of influence in Asian history include the spheres established by the British and Russians in Persia (Iran) in the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907  and the spheres within Qing China that were taken by eight different foreign nations late in the nineteenth century.  These spheres served varied purposes for the imperial powers involved, so their layout and administration differed as well. Spheres in Qing China The eight nations spheres in Qing China were designated primarily for trade purposes. Great Britain, France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United States, and Japan each had exclusive special trading rights, including low tariffs and free trade, within Chinese territory. In addition, each of the foreign powers had the right to establish a legation in Peking (now Beijing), and the citizens of these powers had extraterritorial rights while on Chinese soil. The Boxer Rebellion Many ordinary Chinese did not approve of these arrangements, and in 1900 the Boxer Rebellion broke out.  The Boxers aimed to rid Chinese soil of all foreign devils.  At first, their targets included the ethnic-Manchu Qing rulers, but the Boxers and the Qing soon joined forces against the agents of the foreign powers.  They laid siege to the foreign legations in Peking, but a joint Eight Power naval invasion force rescued the legation staff after almost two months of fighting. Spheres of Influence in Persia In contrast, when the British Empire and the Russian Empire carved out spheres of influence in Persia in 1907, they were less interested in Persia itself than in its strategic position. Britain wanted to protect its crown jewel colony, British India, from Russian expansion. Russia had already pushed south through what are now the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and seized parts of northern Persia outright. This made British officials very nervous  since Persia bordered on the Baluchistan region of British India (in what is now Pakistan). To keep the peace between themselves, the British and Russians agreed that Britain would have a sphere of influence including most of eastern Persia, while Russia would have a sphere of influence over northern Persia.  They also decided to seize many of Persias revenue sources to pay themselves back for previous loans.  Naturally, all of this was decided without consulting the Qajar rulers of Persia or any other Persian officials. Fast Forward to Today Today, the phrase sphere of influence has lost some of its punch. Real estate agents and retail malls use the term to designate the neighborhoods from which they draw most of their customers or in which they do most of their business. Sources and Further Reading Hast, Susanna. Spheres of Influence in International Relations: History, Theory and Politics. Milton Park UK: Routledge, 2016.  White, Craig Howard. Sphere of Influence, Star of Empire: American Renaissance Cosmos, Volume 1. Madison: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992.Icenhower, Brian. SOI: Building a Real Estate Agents Sphere of Influence. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018.

Legalizing Marijuana Speech Essay - 1350 Words

Problem Outline: Weed Country Thesis: There is a significant amount of attention in today’s world on weather or not to legalize marijuana. The prohibition of marijuana is holding up the improvement of social and economic developments. Introduction I. [Attention-Getter] Would you want the government limiting how much coffee you can drink or how much cheesecake you’re allowed to eat? According to Dr. Paul Phinney, president-elect of the California medical association has found these types of foods to be just as addictive if not more than marijuana. a. According to this same website, â€Å"Its only when you abuse the drug that problems start to occur.† But isnt abuse of almost any bad substance a problem? If you abuse alcohol,†¦show more content†¦We’re talking about a living organism that governments designate as an illegal substance. Marijuana has been found to suppress cancer, reduce blood pressure, treat glaucoma, alleviate pain and even inhibit HIV. a. Every day a new study comes out saying that marijuana is this wonder drug, says Dr. Ziva Cooper. b. Joe Messerli of Balancedpolitics.org, states, â€Å"There are a number of medical benefits of marijuana, most notably in the treatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Others believe it helps in the treatment of depression unlike alcohol.† c. The prohibition of marijuana is keeping these patients from treatment. This is also preventing scientist from doing research that could possibly find cures for many of today’s diseases. [TRANSITION: The prohibition of marijuana is not only stopping the medical benefits, but also resources that could be made from hemp. II. [Topic Statement] First, hemp fibers from the stalks of the Cannabis plant have countless uses. a. According to a June 10, 2009 The News Tribune article by Ian Barry, â€Å"Hemp can be made into rope, clothing, and paper.† i. As a fiber source, hemp could be used in everything from textiles to automotive composites. The fiber is also gaining popularity as insulation. ii. Prohibition of marijuana is holding back the production of these resources. b. In addition, the prohibition is keeping marijuana from being ourShow MoreRelatedDebate On Legalization Of Marijuana1384 Words   |  6 PagesArgumentative Speech Yakob Kassa Topic: Legalization of marijuana General Purpose: To argue Specific Purpose: To argue that all states in the Unites States of America should legalize marijuana. Thesis Statement: Marijuana should be legalized in all states because, (1) it benefits the health of citizens; (2) it benefits states financially; and (3) it will decrease the health risk of citizens. Introduction I. Marijuana prohibition applies to everyone that lives in the United States regardless ofRead MoreEssay on Legalizing Marijuana-Persuasive Outline941 Words   |  4 PagesBilly Bob Joe Good Example Persuasive Speech Outline Purpose: To persuade my audience to: support the legalization of marijuana, because of it being able to provide many medical as well as economic benefits for the United States if legalized. Thesis Statement: Marijuana has been regarded as a harmful plant that can endanger lives and is thought to be nothing more than an extra problem to be dealt with in today’s society. However, based on its economic value and medical benefits, theRead More Legalization of Marijuana Essay1051 Words   |  5 PagesLegalization of Marijuana Take A Closer Look Those who oppose legalizing marijuana tell us that legalizing it would be seriously detrimental. Are they looking at the facts? Or do they just believe the same myths that our parents created when they were trying to stop us from becoming drug addicts? Letrsquos take a closer look at the facts. Violence surrounding drug dealing would be lessened by legalizing marijuana because small time drug dealers would essentially be forced out of businessRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1202 Words   |  5 PagesAnyone who smokes marijuana is known to be stoners, hippies, or delinquents. With all the stereotypes, it is becoming harder to accept the facts about the substance. Legalizing weed would change our society in positive ways. Marijuana should be legalized in all states because of its medical, economical, and law enforcement benefits. Medically, marijuana can help with quite a few things. Diseases like Parkinson’s, when elderly shake uncontrollably, can be completely cured by the high THC level foundRead MoreMedical Marijuana As A Treatment Option1733 Words   |  7 Pages INFORMATION SPEECH OUTLINE WORKSHEET Speech Title: Medical Marijuana as a Treatment Option Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the benefits of medical marijuana and why it should remain legal I. Introduction (Your goal here is to draw us into your speech...) A. Attention Material (This step helps us focus our attention on you and your message. It is suggested that you begin with a story, quote, statistic, definition, use of suspense, etc. Never begin with, Hi I am ___ and today IRead MoreLegalizing Marijuana For Recreational Use1362 Words   |  6 Pageslegalize marijuana for recreational use. Similar to the age limitation set for buying and consuming alcohol and smoking of tobacco products, Colorado has set the age limit for recreational use for adults who are at least twenty-one years of age and over to use an ounce of this drug. According to the drugabuse.gov website, the drug marijuana is defined as a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant. After two years of legalizing marijuana, ColoradoRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreEssay on Speech on Legalization of Marijuana in Brazil870 Words   |  4 PagesSpeech on Legalization of Marijuana in Brazil Good morning class mates. Today I am going to discuss the legalization of marijuana in Brazil. I strongly believe marijuana should be legalized. I am not here to encourage anyone to use or not use marijuana. Yet I do believe that many current problems may and can be solved by its legalization. Marijuana is the most popular drug in Brazil after tobacco and alcohol. Discrimination is the reason why marijuana has stillRead MoreDifferences and Similarities in the Arguments for Legalizing Marijuana1302 Words   |  6 Pagesfor Legalizing Marijuana The legalization of marijuana has become a mainstream issue that the nation has become highly concerned about in recent years. Lately more and more conservative opposers have begun to change their minds, realizing the benefits of marijuana. Debate followers go as far as saying that it is no longer a question of if marijuana will be legalized, but when. The shift in viewpoints is due to the increasing awareness of some of the positive effects legalizing marijuana couldRead MoreEssay Astonishing Statistics of Marijuana Use in Minors1539 Words   |  7 Pagesmillion Americans ages 12 and over have reported to using marijuana at least once within the previous year. That number alone is an astonishing statistic on marijuana users. Although marijuana has been a drug with increasing popularity especially throughout the past couple of years due to the legalization in some states. In November of 2012 history was made when Washington and Colorado both legalized marijuana for recreational use. Although marijuana is considered to be a Schedule 1 drug, which means it

Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence free essay sample

When one thinks of the Revolutionary War, images of brave men fighting for the liberty of themselves and their country come to mind. What is less commonly recognized is the courageous, and equally important, action of American women in the struggle for independence. Revolutionary Mothers, by Carol Berkin, highlights the significance of the role of women and the women’s bravery that helped secure independence from Britain. The countless women that aided in the fight for independence truly embodied the American spirit of the late 1700s, possessed traits that say a great deal about American ideals, and easily fulfill the definition of a hero. As the late 1700s approached, so did an era of rebellion; and as the men of American society grew wilder and more ambitious, so did the women. Before the Revolutionary period, in the 17th century, women’s role in American society was to maintain a successful home. In the early and mid 18th century, women were now expected to be well mannered â€Å"gentle women† in addition to maintaining their homes and families. In the late 18th century, however, women’s role changed from simple housewifery to being a surrogate husband, protector, and often, a war hero. As the American Revolution spread through America, the spirit of the people grew strong, fierce, and patriotic. The actions and ideas of American women, as illustrated in Revolutionary Mothers, truly encompasses this fiery spirit. For example, a few of the many brave women with the passion of Americans at the time include a thirteen year old girl named Anna Green Winslow that identified herself as a Daughter of Liberty, Two women named Sarah Franklin Bache and Ester Reed that organized the biggest fundraiser ever to support colonial troops, and Sally Saint Claire, that posed as a man and ought, undetected, next to her husband in the war until her death in 1782. These courageous women, along with innumerable others, were able to overcome American societies previous stereotypes of a woman’s role and included themselves in America’s new free spirit. The women discussed by Berkin in Revolutionary Mothers all possess many similar traits and attributes. For example, due to th e quickly intensifying war for independence, women were forced to become both physically and emotionally stronger than they previously were. They were physically strong because they now needed to tend to the family farms and labor while their husbands were fighting in the war, and emotionally strong because they faced the perils of a home-front war every day and did not crumble under the pressure. For example, Abigail Adams, the wife of a member of Continental Congress, John Adams, took pride in her strength during her husband’s absence, and Martha Bratton, who blew up her own house so the approaching Loyalists would not acquire the ammunition hidden there. The women of the Revolution were also extremely brave and appeared to be undaunted by the dangers of the war, which revealed a great deal about American ideals and values at the time. The seemingly fearless behavior of women and the acceptance of their new roles in society showed the American desire for unity and the appreciation of bravery and strength during the fight for independence. In the dictionary, a hero is defined as a â€Å"person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. The women of the Revolution unquestionably suit this definition. With a war being fought on many of the American’s front lawns, courageous and surprising acts were inevitable. Women exhibited a great deal of bravery; They defended their homes, destroyed property to prevent the enemy from obtaining it, harbored fugitives, killed or wounded invaders, impersonated men to fight in battles, and faced desperate choices in the home-fro nt war. These women that traded every thing they once knew to fight for the cause of independence were certainly heroes. For example, Sarah Osbourne, who did not let the perils of battle stop her from carrying much needed food and drinks to soldiers; Martha Washington, who made frequent long trips to her husband’s troops to raise morale; Lydia Darragh, who saved George Washington’s life by spying on a British meeting; and Mammy Kate, a slave that saved her master from Loyalists’ captivity by carrying him out of a building hidden in a laundry basket. These few heroes are not even a fraction of the immense number of women that helped win the war. In conclusion, women in the time of America’s Revolutionary War played a huge part in the victory of America over Britain. Despite the numerous women who remained loyal to Britain, who were still brave for standing up for what they believe in, the female Partiots aided in the fight for independence every day. Daring, spirited, fearless, and valiant, these women were forced to overcome their former roles of housewives and mothers to become impromptu husbands and fathers. Many women were carried out heroic acts, like being successful spies, saboteurs, messangers, and even soldiers that helped win the Revolution. However, even the women that did not do such drastic things were still heroic in the eyes of the Revolutionaries. For example, the women that simply stayed at home to maintain their houses, families, and family businesses while their husbands were away fighting the war were still heroic. Despite the fact that women, at the time, were only considered to be â€Å"fulfilling their obligations to their husbands,† women played a significant role in the struggle for independence to preserve their own freedom, as well as the well-being of their country, America.