Biography of Francisco de Miranda, Venezuelan Leader

Sebastian Francisco de Miranda (March 28, 1750–July 14, 1816) was a Venezuelan patriot, general, and traveler considered the Precursor to Simon Bolivars Liberator. A dashing, romantic figure, Miranda led one of the most fascinating lives in history. A friend of Americans such as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, he also served as a General in the French Revolution and was the lover of Catherine the Great of Russia. Although he did not live to see South America freed from Spanish rule, his contribution to the cause was considerable. Fast Facts: Francisco de Miranda Known For: Venezuelan patriot and world adventurer, revolutionary, dictator, and colleague of Simà ³n Bolà ­varBorn: March 28, 1750 in Caracas, VenezuelaParents: Sebastià ¡n de Mirando Ravelo and Francisca Antonia Rodrà ­guez de EspinosaDied: July 14,1816 in a Spanish prison outside CadizEducation: Academy of Santa Rosa, Royal and Pontifical University of CaracasSpouse: Sarah AndrewsChildren: Leandro, Francisco Early Life Francisco de Miranda (Sebastià ¡n Francisco de Miranda y Rodrà ­guez de Espinoza) was born on March 28, 1750, into the upper class of Caracas in present-day Venezuela. His father Sebastià ¡n de Mirando Ravelo was an immigrant to Caracas from the Canary Islands who set up several businesses, including a textile factory and a bakery. There he met and married Francisca Antonia Rodrà ­guez de Espinosa, who came from a wealthy Creole family. Francisco had everything he could ask for  and received a first-rate education, first from Jesuit priests and later at the Academy of Santa Rosa. In 1762, he enrolled in the Royal and Pontifical University of Caracas and did formal study in rhetoric, math, Latin, and Catholic catechism. During his youth, Francisco was in an uncomfortable position: because he was born in Venezuela, he was not accepted by the Spaniards and those children born in Spain. Creoles, however, were unkind to him because they envied the great wealth of his family. This snubbing from both sides left an impression on Francisco that would never fade. In the Spanish Military In 1772, Miranda joined the Spanish army and was commissioned as an officer. His rudeness and arrogance displeased many of his superiors and comrades, but he soon proved an able commander. He fought in Morocco, where he distinguished himself by leading a daring raid to spike enemy cannons. Later, he fought against the British in Florida and even helped send assistance to George Washington before the Battle of Yorktown. Although he proved himself time and again, he made powerful enemies, and in 1783 he narrowly escaped prison time over a trumped-up charge of selling black-market goods. He decided to go to London and petition the King of Spain from exile. Adventures in North America, Europe, and Asia He passed through the United States en route to London  and met many U.S. dignitaries, such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Paine. Revolutionary ideas began to take hold in his keen mind, and Spanish agents watched him closely in London. His petitions to the King of Spain went unanswered. He traveled around Europe, stopping in Prussia, Germany, Austria, and many other places before entering Russia. A handsome, charming man, he had torrid affairs everywhere he went, including with Catherine the Great  of Russia. Back in London in 1789, he began to try to get British support for an independence movement in South America. The French Revolution Miranda found a great deal of verbal support for his ideas, but nothing in the way of tangible aid. He crossed to France, seeking to confer with the leaders of the French Revolution about spreading the revolution to Spain. He was in Paris when the Prussians and Austrians invaded in 1792, and suddenly found himself being offered the rank of Marshal as well as a noble title to lead French forces against the invaders. He soon proved himself to be a brilliant general, defeating Austrian forces at the siege of Amberes. Although he was a superior general, he was nonetheless caught up in the paranoia and fear of The Terror of 1793-1794. He was arrested twice and twice avoided the guillotine through an impassioned defense of his actions. He was one of the very few men to come under suspicion and be exonerated. England, Marriage, and Big Plans In 1797 he left France, sneaking out while wearing a disguise, and returned to England, where his plans to liberate South America were once more met with enthusiasm but no concrete support. For all his successes, he had burned many bridges: he was wanted by the government of Spain, his life would be in danger in France, and he had alienated his continental and Russian friends by serving in the French Revolution. Help from Britain was often promised but never came through. He set himself up in style in  London  and hosted South American visitors, including young Bernardo OHiggins. While in London he met (and may have married) Sarah Andrews, the niece of portrait painter Stephen Hewson, who came from a rural Yorkshire family. They had two children, Leandro and Francisco. But he never forgot his plans of  liberation  and decided to try his luck in the United States. The 1806 Invasion He was warmly received by his friends in the United States. He met President Thomas Jefferson, who told him that the U.S. government would not support any invasion of Spanish America, but that private individuals were free to do so. Wealthy businessman Samuel Ogden agreed to finance an invasion. Three ships, the Leander,  Ambassador,  and Hindustan, were supplied, and 200 volunteers were taken from the streets of New York City for the venture. After some complications in the Caribbean and the addition of some British reinforcements, Miranda landed with some 500 men near Coro, Venezuela on August 1, 1806. They held the town of Coro for barely two weeks before word of the approach of a massive Spanish army caused them to abandon the town. Return to Venezuela Although  his 1806 invasion  had been a fiasco, events had taken on a life of their own in northern South America. Creole Patriots, led by  Simà ³n Bolà ­var  and other leaders like him, had declared provisional independence from Spain. Their actions were inspired by Napoleons invasion of Spain and detainment of the Spanish royal family. Miranda was invited to return and given a vote in the national assembly. In 1811, Miranda and Bolà ­var convinced their companions to formally declare independence outright, and the new nation even adopted the flag Miranda had used in his previous invasion. A combination of calamities doomed this government, known as the  First Venezuelan Republic. Arrest, Imprisonment, and Death By mid-1812, the young republic was staggering from royalist resistance and a devastating earthquake that had driven many over to the other side. In desperation, Republican leaders named Miranda Generalissimo, with absolute power over military decisions. This made him the first president of a breakaway Spanish republic in Latin America, although his rule did not last long. As the republic crumbled, Miranda made terms with Spanish commander Domingo Monteverde for an armistice. In the port of La Guaira, Miranda attempted to flee Venezuela before the arrival of royalist forces. Simon Bolivar and others, infuriated at Mirandas actions, arrested him and turned him over to the Spanish. Miranda was sent to a Spanish prison, where he remained until his death on July 14, 1816. Legacy Francisco de Miranda is a complicated historical figure. He was one of the greatest adventurers of all time, having escapades from Catherine the Greats bedroom to the American Revolution to escaping revolutionary France in a disguise. His life reads like a Hollywood movie script. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to the cause of South American independence and worked very hard to achieve that goal. Still, it is hard to determine how much he actually did to bring about the independence of his homeland. He left Venezuela at the age of 20 or so and traveled the world, but by the time he wanted to liberate his homeland 30 years later, his provincial countrymen had barely heard of him. His lone attempt at an invasion of liberation failed miserably. When he had the chance to lead his nation, he arranged a truce so repulsive to his fellow rebels that none other than Simon Bolivar himself handed him over to the Spanish. Mirandas contributions must be measured by another ruler. His extensive networking in Europe and the United States helped pave the way for South American independence. The leaders of these other nations, impressed as they all were by Miranda, occasionally supported South American independence movements—or at least did not oppose them. Spain would be on its own if it wanted to keep its colonies. Most telling, perhaps, is Mirandas place in the hearts of South Americans. He is named the Precursor of independence, while Simon Bolivar is the Liberator. Sort of like a John the Baptist to Bolivars Jesus, Miranda prepared the world for the delivery and liberation that was to come. South Americans today have great respect for Miranda: he has an elaborate tomb in the National Pantheon of Venezuela despite the fact that he was buried in a Spanish mass grave and his remains were never identified. Even Bolivar, the greatest hero of South American independence, is despised for turning Miranda over to the Spanish. Some consider it the most questionable moral action the Liberator undertook. Sources Harvey, Robert.  Liberators: Latin Americas Struggle for Independence  Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 2000.Racine, Karen. Francisco de Miranda: A Transatlantic Life in the Age of Revolution. Wilmington, Deleware: SR Books, 2003.

Personal Journal And Love Writing Poetry - 1161 Words

At the start of this English 1A course I ran into a few struggling problems. The first was I hadn’t written much since high school, though I do try to keep a personal journal and love writing poetry. Between having to go to work taking care of a dog maintaining a social life and attending school writing quickly became an old pastime. So, upon being told to freewrite the first day of class I froze, not remembering how to write, though I am someone who usually has plenty to say. Once I got started another problem soon arose my mind was no longer aware of how to properly write a paper. A jumble of words came up that I couldn’t remember how to spell so I would end up changing the word I was using or what I was saying. Next was punctuation I rarely know where to place: colons, hyphens, brackets, apostrophes, etc. They have tended to be a confusing part of writing throughout my entire life. 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Trade and Finance Eco372 Free Essays

International Trade and Finance Speech ECO/ 372 March 21, 2013 Good evening everyone! It is a pleasure to be here. This evening I will first briefly review the International trade and Financial state of our economy†¦.. We will write a custom essay sample on Trade and Finance Eco372 or any similar topic only for you Order Now What happens when there is a surplus of imports brought into the U. S Domestic producers competing with imports suffer from lower prices and fewer sales. They have less revenue and resource owners doing the production have less income. However, Domestic consumers enjoy lower prices! Whenever there is a surplus of products, regardless of origin, the price drops. Even to the point of selling at a loss, the holder has already paid the invoice and taxes, but still has to pay storage, the longer it holds the product the more money it costs, selling at a loss moves the product out of storage and clears the store front for another product. Take the case of car sales, do you really think that cutting $10,000 of the price of a $40K car makes sense if you can sell it for $40K. * What are the effects of international trade to GDP, domestic markets and university student’s. International Trade to GDP In order to understand international trade it is important to recognize what the effects of international trade have on the GDP, domestic markets and university students. International trade is essentially when two or more countries exchange goods and services. Many countries export their goods and services to other countries and in turn may also import goods and services from other countries into their own. There have been exceptional achievements with technology, which have made it much easier to trade on an international level. The communication, as a result of these technology advancements, has improved exponentially and it has truly simplified this process. With that being said it can be confirmed that international trade has a profound effect on the GDP, domestic markets and even university students like me. There are many countries that are rich in technology, like China and Japan, and others that have bountiful natural resources, like Iraq, that have a weighty impact on us specifically. The U. S. s one of the largest contributors to international trade and in fact our GDP is overwhelmingly impacted because we are huge import consumers. We rely heavily on products from other countries and import much more than what we export. This not only impact our GDP, thus lowering it since we are importing more than exporting, and also has an impact on our domestic markets because we. How do government choices in regards to tariffs and quotas affect international relations and trades? The government certainly makes many choices particularly when it comes to economics. The big question is how do government choices in regards to tariffs and quotas affect international relations and trade? First and foremost it is important to understand that tariffs and quotas are in place to encourage the government to make choices on how much quantity they will agree to have imported and exported and additionally the amount of taxes that will be collected in order to avoid discarding of those goods or services. Foreign investors are encourages to play a role in international trade by having exchange rates in place. There are also government policies in place that aid to avert certain goods and services from entering our country. In essence the main objective of the government and the choices that they make regarding tariffs and quotas is to do what is best for our economy to keep it stable and lucrative. What are foreign exchange rates? How are they determined? In order to understand foreign exchange rates we must ask the question of what are they and how are they determined? Because economic growth within a country is important, the government makes certain that fiscal and monetary policies are in place to ensure that this growth continues. Because there are goods and services which are traded between different countries around the world, there are foreign exchange rate payments that are required to be paid for those exchanges. This foreign exchange rate will differ from country to country. Why doesn’t the US simply restrict all goods coming in from China? Why can’t the US just minimize the amount of imports coming in from all other countries? Naturally there are many people that have asked the question of why the U. S. does not simply restrict all goods coming in from China, as an example? Why can’t the U. S. just minimize the amount of imports coming in from all other countries as well? It is difficult to restrict imports from other countries particularly in the U. S where there is a large group of consumers who are demanding goods and services from other countries. In order to satisfy the demands of people who want these goods or services from other countries the government allows for this easy trading and does earn revenue from duties and taxes on these imports. This helps to boost our own countries economy. References Colander, D. C. (2010). Macroeconomics. (8th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. United States Department of Labor. (n. d. ). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from http://www. bls. gov/eag/eag. us. htm. Trading Economics. (2012). United States Consumer Confidence. Retrieved from http://www. tradingeconomics. com/united-states/consumer-confidence. CBS NEWS. (n. d. ). US Consumer Spending Up, but Income Lags. Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/8301-500395_162-57406993/us-consumer-spending-up-but-income-lags/. Appelbaum, B. (March 2012). The New York Times: As Fed Officials Prepare to Meet, They Await Clearer Economic Signals. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2012/03/12/business/as-fed-meeting-nears-it-awaits-clearer-economic-signals. html? ref=interestrates. How to cite Trade and Finance Eco372, Papers

Hamlet and Human Nature Essay Example For Students

Hamlet and Human Nature Essay In order to rot, one must first be fresh. In order for there to be evil, there must first be good. In order to die, one must first be born. Thus, the natural state of mankind revolves, as does a garden. William Shakespeare makes this point abundantly clear in his play Hamlet. Using a minor character, Marcellus, Shakespeare proclaims, â€Å"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.† Applying this quote to human nature and the continued illusion to a garden, one could resolve that the â€Å"rotten† state of Denmark is comparable to the cyclical characteristics of man and nature. â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman.† Hamlet’s animosity towards his mother is quite understandable. From his point of view he feels betrayed and abandoned. Not only has it been less that two months since the kings body has lain with the worms, but Gertrude has in this short time period discovered another body to warm her bed. Hamlet’s feelings churn between melancholy, uneasy, and anguish. The inability to deal with his emotions is comparable to that of a gardener who has lost his determination to weed his garden. To imply frailty in the above quote also implies that if the woman/garden is treated right then benefits will be forth comings. However, the benefits must be earned, otherwise the frail flower will be over taken by the aggressive weed. Speaking of conflict, another allusion to combat is created in Act I scene i. Upon the Ghost’s entrance one is bombarded with images or war and threat. The stalking figure of the dead king Hamlet is clothed in armor. The recognition shown him, by means of Marcellus and Horation. suggests that Hamlet was often found dressed in such a manner. From the reaction it may not be too far out to assume that Denmark was in a near state of perpetual conflict. If man is to fight or be in conflict with another man most of the time then it can be presumed; he is evil, for warfare is evil. Just as the weed spreads so must the evil. Polonius summed up the ongoing resolution when he established that,â€Å"Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.† Relating this quote to the garden image, one must take notice that it slips in like the last piece of the puzzle. The ecstasy, or madness, is actuality symbolic for the wild growth in the garden. While the ‘method’ is a repeating cycle which revolves from fresh to rot. Thus bringing the madness to a close. The unweeded garden imagery Shakespeare employs is that of the wild taking over the fresh, destroying it from the inside. The ‘rot’ Marcellus mentions is indeed the same thing. Looking at all the aspects mentioned above the connection is clear. Everything changes, change is inherent. In order to die one must first be born. In order to be good there must first be evil. In order to be fresh one in the end must rot.Bibliography:shakespeare, william. HAMLET.