UNIT TWO - Personality - Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia in 1856 as the son of a Presbyterian minister. After graduation from Princeton (at the time called the College of New Jersey) and the University of Virginia Law School, Wilson earned his doctorate and began his career. In 1885 he married Ellen Louise Axson. His career quickly progressed as a professor of political science and in 1902 became the president of Princeton.

He was persuaded to run for Governor of New Jersey in 1910 and won. In 1912 he was nominated for President at the Democratic Convention and campaigned for the "New Freedom" program which pushed for individualism and rights. Wilson was able to put three major pieces of legislation through Congress: a lower on tariff, the Federal Reserve Act and a commission to prohibit unfair business practices. After, he continued to push through new laws in 1916. In 1916 he won a re-election very closely.

On April 2nd, 1917 Wilson asked Congress fro a declaration of war on Germany. Because of massive American effort the balance was tipped in favor of the Allies. He went before Congress again in January of 1918 to enunciate American war aims.

After the Germans signed the Armistice in the following November Wilson went to Paris to attempt to bring an enduring peace. He commented on the Versailles Treaty to the Senate "Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?" but in the 1918 election the treaty failed by seven votes.

Against his doctors' warnings he made a national tour pushing for the public sentiment for the treaty. Because of the stress and fatigue this put on him he suffered a stroke and almost died. He was nursed by his second wife until he died in 1924.

From what I've learned about Wilson, it seems as if he was one of the less egoistical U.S. presidents and cared for the world as well as his country. He seems to push for things that were just as important then as they are today and the North American society can reflect upon the changes he made to laws for the better. Overall I think he was a pretty good guy.

UNIT TWO - Inventions - The Pop-Up Toaster

Toasting bread began as a method of prolonging the life of bread. Toasting bread was very common in Roman times where the name toast comes from. "Tostum" is the Latin word for scorching or burning bread.

The first electric toaster was invented by Crompton and Co. in 1893 and re-invented in 1909 in the United States. These toaster only toasted one side of the bread at a time and someone had to take the half toasted bread out, flip it over and put it back in. These toaster also didn't turn off so that same person who flipped the bread got to wait and judge if the toast was ready or not then turn off the toaster. The toaster was improved when Llyod Copeman and his wife introduced the toaster with an automatic bread turner in 1913.

In 1919 Charles Strite patented a toaster which ejects the toast after toasting it. In 1929 the Waters Genter Company redesigned Strite's toaster and introduced the Model 1-A-1 Toastermaster which was the first automatic toaster to pop-up and toast bread on both sides at the same time. The toaster had a heating element you would set on a timer and once the timer went off the toast would pop-up.

I think the toaster is a great invention. With toast you can have a variety of sandwiches and breakfast ideas. It give the regular and boring slice of bread a new take on life in a crunchy new form. Although not an invention to change the human race it is something yummy in your tummy.

UNIT TWO - Events - The Easter Rising

Early in 1914 Carsonite Volunteers with British sympathizers help ran large cargo of arms into Ireland. The British Government immediately prohibited the importation of arms into Ireland for fear the Nationalists would secure weapons that could be used against them.

The Irish then began to organize illegal shipments to Howth from the European continent. This was for a planned rising on Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday the Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin.

The Easter Monday Rising had no military prospects of success. There was the slight chance the Germans would break through England's defenses and allow help to be sent before the rising was crushed.

On Easter Monday morning, April 24, 1916 the Dublin battalions paraded with full arms and a day rations. just after noon, the General Post Office, the Four Courts, three railway terminals and other important points circling the center of Dublin were rushed and occupied. It was announced the establishment of the provisional government of the Irish Republic. Over night many other points of the city was taken over by rebels and by morning they controlled most of Dublin.

The British fought back on Tuesday when reinforcements arrived. Martial law was proclaimed in Ireland. The fighting in Dublin steadily removed the Irish from their positions. On April 29th the post office came under violent attack. The British soon realised they would not be able to conquer the Irish and that afternoon they surrender unconditionally.

The British leaders of the counter offense were put on trial when they arrived home in Britain. Most were executed, shot dead.

It is fair for Ireland to be its own country. There was no need for the British to want to control them and the organization of the Rising should that the Irish were able to do things on their own. The Irish knew that they could be their own country and if the Rising didn't occur then, it may have been more violent when it did later on.