My Sense Of Self And Your Own Identity - 1346 Words

A sense of self is a general conscious awareness of your own identity. I have come to understand the term as it is what defines me and makes me one of a kind. It could be a certain look, attitude or personality trait. It could also be the way I view a certain person, thing or subject. My sense of self could even be my purpose in life, perhaps? If it is, then I would say that my sense of self is something that has changed over time and will continue to develop as I get older and my life is influenced by events, places and people. Developing my sense of self is key to living a satisfying and healthy life. My sense of self started to develop when I was a child and growing up, I was surrounded by a large family and friends while I developed†¦show more content†¦Learning to control an emotion such as anger and use it to effectively communicate and identify my needs, is helping me establish a strong sense of self. This leads me on to discuss the afore mentioned theory of attachment. An attachment theory is a theory in developmental psychology that highlights the importance of attachment in personal development. It is the ability for one person to form an emotional and physical attachment to another person which gives a sense of stability and security necessary to take risks, grow and develop as an individual. John Bowlby, a British psychologist (1907 to 1990) coined the term attachment. He was a psychiatrist and his influences were Freud, Melanie Klein and Lorenz. Bowlby’s attachment theory suggests that children come into the world biologically pre- programmed to form attachments with others as this will help them survive. Bowlby discovered upon observing children in hospitals or institutions who had been separated from their parents, went through three stages of loss, i.e. separation anxiety (threat of loss), grief and mourning (acceptance of loss) and defence (protection from loss). In the late 60’s, Bowlby established that childhood development depended greatly upon a child’s ability to form a strong relationship with at least one primary caregiver and that would usually be the

Comparing Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre Essay - 1325 Words

Authors, Jean Rhys and Charlotte Bronte constructed their novels in completely different time periods and came from different influences in writing. Jean Rhys’s fiction book, Wide Sargasso Sea is an interesting relation to Jane Eyre. The female character of Jane Eyre forms into a furiously, passionate, independent young woman. The female character of Jean Rhys’s illustration is a character that Jane will know further on as Rochester’s crazy wife who is bolted in an attic. Jean Rhys further studies this character, where as Charlotte Bronte approved that it was left explained (Thorpe 175). Antoinette, considerably like Jane, evolves in a world with minimal amount of love to offer. Both these women are taken cared of as children by†¦show more content†¦These two novels are both feminist works, although each book leads to feminist problems somewhat differently. Jane has a strong foundation in what woman deserve, as well as achieve specific goals for how she portrays her spot in society being a woman; Antoinette has no knowledge where to start to change herself. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Rhys poses the likelihood that maybe; the gap between women and men can’t be penetrated. Possibly, the unbalance is so great that Antoinette cannot have a feeling of cheerfulness and pleasure that Jane discovers near the end of the novel. Wide Sargasso Sea portrays the fluctuating position of woman in the twentieth century. Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre can single handedly be looked at as signs of feminist texts, however, Wide Sargasso Sea presents itself with more description on post-modern shape of feminism. An interesting insight into grasping the un-similarities of how Antoinette and Jane portray their roles as woman are by noticing their spiritual beliefs. Growing up, Jane would often show signs where she would leave her insecurity in the faith and power of religion. Where is God? What is God? Where is that region? Does it exist? (Pg. 84) Show me, show me the path! (Pg. 422) As Jane begins to become more of an adult, she becomes to have more ofShow MoreRelated Comparing Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte1348 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte In the novels Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, the theme of loss can be viewed as an umbrella that encompasses the absence of independence, society or community, love, and order in the lives of the two protagonists. They deal with their hardships in diverse ways. However, they both find ways to triumph over their losses and regain their independence. The women in both novels endure

Growing As A Christian Leader - 1529 Words

Me, Myself, and I: Growing as a Christian Leader Looking back over the years of helping people in their needs and helping them to reach their goals has helped me realize the potential in me for leadership. Leadership skills are not always a gift given to everyone at birth, for some like me, it is something that has to be nurtured and developed. The things that come easily to others are issues I must work at to become proficient, the skills are there, but must be coaxed and encouraged to blossom and exhort the abilities that lie within me. My teenage years were spent teaching Sunday School to the younger children and sharing the love of God with them. Working with the little ones was easy, but as they grew, my confidence did too.†¦show more content†¦Being a successful leader require you have an awareness of yourself. One must be confident of who they are and in their abilities. For me, this is something that has developed over the years. Confidence is not something I was born with but something I had to acquire. Bein g raised and consistently told what you can never accomplish or succeed in, takes a toll in a person’s self-esteem. I had to repeat to myself several times a day for years, Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV) The hardest lesson was to believe that I was of value to someone and could be used for God’s glory. I had to learn that it was not I but Christ who lived inside me who could and would stand up and make a difference. Self-awareness requires me to take stock of who I am, my strengths and my weaknesses. One of my weakness is that life has been a harsh teacher and as a result, I shut down when life gets unbearable. Confusion and confrontations are difficult for me if the situation is about me. Championing others will bring out the monster in me but never having someone to stand up for me, I would pretend the person and situation did not exist. A quote from Maya Angelou impacted my life and changed the way I had been thinking: â€Å"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do

A description of the immigrants struggle free essay sample

Immigrants often had a difficult and complicated experience when adjusting to life in America. Immigrant families had to find ways to adapt to American society. In some cases immigrants found it necessary to challenge American society. Immigrant ideals were challenged by American values that were pushed on them. Due to these as well as other hardships, immigrants from all walks of life living in America had a genuinely arduous task in adjusting to American life. One of the many hardships immigrants had to overcome was that of appalling living conditions. They did not make enough wages to afford anything remotely close to comfortable living. However, as Jacob Iris states, this does not corrupt immigrants, however it is a powerful argument for the optimists belief that the world is, after all, growing better Immigrants use their poor living conditions not as an excuse but as a lightning rod for growth and expansion. We will write a custom essay sample on A description of the immigrants struggle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They use it as a way to better themselves because they started from the bottom and are working their way up. This challenged American ideals because the majority of Americans did not think it was Seibel for people to cross social or economic boundaries. Americans also especially did not want the immigrant population to do so because Americans did not see immigrants as equals both socially and economically. Along with the poor living conditions, another factor in the economic struggle for immigrants was the lack of steady and livable wages. Often times immigrants were forced to work the most difficult and dangerous jobs while making less than desirable wages. In a private letter written back to a relative in Europe, one immigrant wrote that if dont earn SSL . 50 a day, it would not e worth thinking about America Ere in America one must work for three horses. It was a difficult task for an immigrant to earn those types of wages. Stating that one had to work for three horses in America shows that the work they were forced into was backbreaking to the point that it felt like it was the work only three horses could handle properly. All of this culminates to the complete opposite of American ideology. America was supposed to be a land Of Opportunity and easy money. The immigrants were not included in either of these because they were outsiders in the country.Perhaps the most shocking adaptation to American culture by immigrants was child labor in the sasss. Since it was rare for a male to make enough money to provide a living for his family, often times women and children were forced into work as well. For children, this meant working during the day and if possible, going to classes at night. This was detrimental to a childs health in many ways. Besides the fact that children were working in factories with dangerous machinery, they were working long hours only to have to go to class at night. This meant very little sleep.A human body, especially a evolving child, cannot function properly on such a small amount of sleep. This made it that much more dangerous to work because it was hard to focus on the task at hand due to the lack of sleep. Some immigrants were not excited or anxious to adopt American lifestyles in their homes. Many times mothers would try to control the colonization of their children. This could be done so in many ways. One way is making the children speak their native language at home. In doing so, this gives children a link to their heritage.Another way of keeping their children interested in the sat was by telling stories. Story telling encouraged children to think about where they came from and what it was like there. Thankfully for immigrants there were people that wanted to help them adjust to American life. One such person is Jane Addams. In opening the Hull House she gave immigrants a place to gather unwind from all the hard work they had been doing. The Hull House made it a much easier task to adapt to American society in numerous ways. One way is by offering classes in English.One of the biggest issues with immigrants in the workforce is the language barrier. It was difficult to get ones ideas across to a boss or manager without being able to speak any significant English. There were also vocational classes offered. With better job skills, one could hopefully raise his or her income by getting a better job. The Hull House offered children something they had never seen before, Chicago first playground. It gave kids a place to enjoy themselves and gave them a safer environment to play. Perhaps the most important thing that the Hull House offered was a place for class connection.Immigrants came to Hull House and could meet and talk to other immigrants n the same situations. In seeing that they werent alone, it made them feel not as bad about their situation in America. They could relate to each other because they were all going through similar ordeals and feeling the same way about American life. Life in America was a difficult thing for immigrants to grasp in the sasss. It was an uphill battle in trying to assimilate and adapt to American norms and values. There were many barriers standing in their way but with the help of others they were given a chance to break these barriers down.

The Lack of Feminization in Ernest Hemingway’s free essay sample

In The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway â€Å"not only contributes to the body of travel literature that offers an insider’s perspective on the lifestyle of the self-exiled writers, artists, and bon vivants who made Paris in the 1920s legendary, but also mythologizes this historic moment† (Field 36). Lady Brett Ashley is a â€Å"symbol of this post-war environment† in that her power comes from â€Å"preying on the weakness of a society devalued by the breakdown of pre-war values and ideals† (Wilentz 189). On the other hand, â€Å"Nurse Ratched—a sterile, distant, and oppressive force who psychologically castrates [her] male patients—represents Kesey’s fears of a cold war era that fosters an impotent, feminine American masculinity through a climate of fear and conformity† (Meloy 3). Kesey’s criticism of a â€Å"cold-war society that he believed fundamentally emasculated men strikes a chord in contemporary America† (4). In both Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, men are not capable of being dominant in their shattered environments; therefore, masculine qualities must ironically be found in the female characters Lady Brett Ashley and Nurse Ratched, which emphasizes the destructive atmospheres of post-war Europe and the Cold War Era. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lack of Feminization in Ernest Hemingway’s or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lady Brett Ashley is one of Hemingway’s â€Å"richest† female characters; â€Å"her personality gradually emerges as an intriguing mix of femininity and masculinity, strength and vulnerability, morality and dissolution† (Fulton 61). However, she has also been seen as â€Å"either a destroyer of men or fantasy figure—‘bitch or goddess’† (Nolan Jr. 105). Thus, as a true â€Å"Hemingwayesque protagonist†, Lady Brett Ashley â€Å"comprehends many forms of identity besides her maleness and attendant social masculinity† (Onderdonk 67). In addition to her ambiguity, as Richard Fantina described, â€Å"The ideal Hemingway woman demonstrates power and a will to dominate† (84). Although, â€Å"Traditionally, when critics comment on masochism in Hemingway they generally do so idiomatically, without touching on the sexual implications, by referring to the many physical wounds his characters suffer† (Fantina 85). For example, there comes â€Å"an emotional wounding by Brett, which Jake associates with his unmanning sexual wounding during the war† (Adair 73) and he receives â€Å"intense humiliations at the hands of the sexually peripatetic ‘new woman’† (Onderdonk 62). Both masculinity and opposition to the war exist â€Å"at the cost of marginalizing all women† (Michel 127). As Lorie Fulton mentions in her â€Å"Reading Around Jake’s Narration: Brett Ashley and The Sun Also Rises†, â€Å"The most damning critical charges against Brett, the ones that delineate her as a ‘bitch’ with devastating powers, seem rooted in one portion of the text: Jake’s aforementioned assertion that he would probably have had no problems after his injury had he not met Brett† (64). Being described as a ‘bitch’ here â€Å"implies that the condition it names is—that bad thing—to be feminized† (Onderdonk 61). While feminization is not a word Hemingway himself uses, the metaphorical representation of men acting or being treated ‘like a woman’ is a central concern of his works† (Onderdonk 70). However, â€Å"sexual difference† is â€Å"the driving force behind the novel’s other iterations of difference† in The Sun Also Rises (70). For instance, Brett Ashley â€Å"wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed skirt, and her hair brushed back like a boy’s. She started all that† (Hemingway 29-30). Whatever is meant by ‘all that,’ Brett evokes â€Å"androgyny and gender ambiguity in both physical appearance and attire† (Elliott 77). As Dolores Schmidt said in â€Å"The Great American Bitch†, â€Å"Her freedom to travel, drink, and talk like one of the chaps† is, nonetheless, ‘damned attractive’, although her ability to â€Å"dominate every man she meets dooms her to a life of unfulfillment† (902). In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, themes of â€Å"control, submission, and alienation link to gender, representing similar fears of female empowerment and a male power rendered impotent by a sterile social structure† (Meloy 5). As Daniel Vitkus explains, â€Å"The text celebrates a ‘natural’ maleness which s placed in opposition to a domineering, emasculating representation of the feminine†, much like in The Sun Also Rises (66). â€Å"As Robert Forrey points out, ‘The premise of the novel is that women ensnare, emasculate, and, in some cases, crucify men† (qtd. in Vitkus 66). In the novel’s setting, an insane asylum, â€Å"The wa rd is run by Nurse Ratched, who controls the process of turning men into machines† (Vitkus 65). This process of transforming the patients into â€Å"obedient automatons† involves the loss of their sexuality, their masculinity, and their individuality (65). The decline of the â€Å"single working woman† is apparent in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest when she becomes the â€Å"castrating bitch, and the neglectful mother, the selfish pursuer of sensual pleasures† (Alvarado 353). â€Å"Richard D. Maxwell, in ‘The Abdication of Masculinity in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ says that Ken Kesey ‘blames the loss of man’s freedom on his willingness to allow the female to take over his role, dominate him, and a consequence rob him of his masculinity† (qtd. in Alvarado 351). Nurse Ratched derives a great deal of her power from her ability to infantilize and humiliate the men—to render them sexless† (Vitkus 77). Thus, the text associates â€Å"naturalness, maleness, and sexuality: overly aggressive women are presented as a threat to all this and the cause of madness† (78-79). â€Å"The Big Nurse is described as a woman who denies her essential femaleness in order to exercise power over men† (77). The men in the ward have been â€Å"whipped† by the Big Nurse, consequentially taking away â€Å"their ability to laugh and replaced it with fear† (77). Kesey’s description in the novel itself captures both the resentment and uncertainty Nurse Ratched exudes, an obvious factor in her dominant character: Her face is smooth, calculated, and precision-made, like an expensive baby doll, skin like flesh-colored enamel, blend of white and cream and baby blue eyes, small nose, pink little nostrils—everything working together except the color on her lips and fingernails, and the size of her bosom. A mistake was made somehow in manufacturing, putting those big, womanly breasts on what would of otherwise been a perfect work, and you can see how bitter she is about it. Kesey 11) In this passage, the â€Å"satirical intentions† are clear: â€Å"Big Nurse is inhuman, this time herself rat-like, and a piece of machinery; her breasts create a confusing, bionic effect, which she wants to conceal in her stiff, starched uniform† (Gefin 98). American fiction does include, without a doubt, a long line of â€Å"negative femal e characters, from Dame Van Winkle to Margot Macomber and beyond, and Big Nurse stands out even in this infamous company† (96). Although their novels were written about forty years apart, Hemingway and Kesey both wrote novels dealing with the aftermath of war, and how it affects certain gender roles. For Hemingway, most of his characters are â€Å"truly members of the lost generation and are affected not solely by war†, but also the â€Å"political and social climate in America as well† (Schwarz 180). Likewise, Kesey’s description of the Combine is â€Å"a powerful critique of American society and the function of madness in that society† (Vitkus 65) and her ward is â€Å"a representation of an American culture that has allowed men’s sexual impulses to be repressed†.

Major General Henry Knox in the American Revolution

Major General Henry Knox in the American Revolution A key figure in the American Revolution, Henry Knox was born in Boston on July 25, 1750. He was the seventh child  of  William and Mary Knox, who had 10 children in total. When Henry was only 9 years old, his merchant captain father passed away after experiencing financial ruin. After only three years at the Boston Latin School, where Henry studied a mix of languages, history, and mathematics, the young Knox was forced to leave in order to support his mother and younger siblings. Fast Facts: Henry Knox Known For: Knox helped lead the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later served as the U.S. Secretary of War.Born: July 25, 1750 in Boston, British AmericaParents: William and Mary KnoxDied: October 25, 1806 in Thomaston, MassachusettsEducation: Boston Latin SchoolSpouse: Lucy Flucker (m. 1774–1806)Children: 13 Early Life Knox apprenticed himself to a local bookbinder named Nicholas Bowes, who helped Knox learn the trade and encouraged his reading. Bowes permitted Knox to liberally borrow from the stores inventory, and in this manner Knox became proficient in French and effectively completed his education on his own. He remained an avid reader, eventually opening his own shop, the London Book Store, at the age of 21. Knox was especially fascinated by military topics, including artillery, and he read widely on the subject. March 5th, 1770: British soldiers open fire on a crowd of Bostonians, killing five people, in what became known as the Boston massacre. Hulton Archive  / Stringer/  Getty Images The Revolution Nears A supporter of American colonial rights, Knox became involved in the Sons of Liberty and was present at the Boston Massacre in 1770. He later swore in an  affidavit that he had attempted to calm tensions that night by requesting that the British soldiers return to their quarters. Knox also testified at the trials of those involved in the incident. Two years later, he put his military studies to use by founding a militia unit called the Boston Grenadier Corps. Though he knew much about weaponry, Knox accidentally shot two fingers from his left hand while handling a shotgun in 1773. Marriage On June 16, 1774, Knox married Lucy Flucker, the daughter of the Royal Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts. The marriage was opposed by her parents, who disapproved of Knoxs revolutionary politics and attempted to entice him into joining the British Army. Knox remained a staunch patriot. Following the outbreak of the American Revolution,  he volunteered to serve with colonial forces and participated in the  Battle of Bunker Hill  on June 17, 1775. His in-laws  fled the city after it fell to American forces in 1776. Fort Ticonderoga, New York.   Purestock/Getty Images Guns of Ticonderoga Knox served with Massachusetts forces in the states Army of Observation during the opening days of the Siege of Boston. He soon came to the attention of army commander General George Washington, who was  inspecting fortifications designed by Knox near Roxbury. Washington was impressed, and the two men developed a friendly relationship. As the army desperately needed artillery, the commanding general consulted Knox for advice in November 1775. Knox proposed a plan to transport the cannon captured at Fort Ticonderoga  in New York to the siege lines around Boston. Washington was on board with the plan. After making Knox a colonel in the Continental Army, the general immediately sent him north, as winter was rapidly approaching. At Ticonderoga, Knox initially had difficulty acquiring sufficient men in the lightly populated Berkshire Mountains.  He finally assembled what he dubbed the noble train of artillery. Knox began moving 59 guns and mortars down Lake George and the Hudson River to Albany. It was a difficult trek, and several guns fell through the ice and had to be recovered. In Albany, the guns were transferred to ox-drawn sleds and pulled across Massachusetts. The 300-mile journey took Knox and his men 56 days to complete in the bitter winter weather. In Boston, Washington ordered the guns to be placed atop Dorchester Heights, overlooking the city and harbor. Rather than face bombardment, the British forces, led by General Sir William Howe, evacuated the city on March 17, 1776. New York and Philadelphia Campaigns Following the victory at Boston, Knox was sent to oversee the construction of fortifications in  Rhode Island and Connecticut. When he returned to the Continental Army, he became Washingtons chief of artillery. After the American defeats in New York that fall, Knox retreated across New Jersey with the remaining troops. As Washington devised his daring Christmas attack on Trenton, Knox was given the key role of overseeing the armys crossing of the Delaware River. With the assistance of Colonel John Glover, Knox succeeded in moving the attack force across the river in a timely fashion. He also directed the American withdrawal on December 26. For his service at Trenton, Knox was promoted to brigadier general. In early January, he saw further action at Assunpink Creek and Princeton before the army moved to winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. Taking advantage of this break from campaigning, Knox returned to Massachusetts with the goal of improving weapons production. He traveled to Springfield and established the Springfield Armory, which operated for the rest of the war and became a key producer of American weapons for almost two centuries. After he rejoined the army, Knox took part in the American defeats at Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777). At the latter, he made the ill-fated suggestion to Washington that they should capture the British-occupied home of Germantown resident Benjamin Chew, rather than bypass it. The delay gave the British badly needed time to re-establish their lines, and this contributed to the American loss. Valley Forge to Yorktown During the winter at Valley Forge, Knox helped secure needed supplies and assisted Baron von Steuben in drilling the troops. Later, the army pursued the British, who were evacuating Philadelphia, and fought them at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. In the wake of the fighting, the army moved north to take up positions around New York. Over the next two years, Knox was sent north to help obtain supplies for the army and, in 1780, served on the court-martial of British spy Major John Andre. In late 1781, Washington withdrew the majority of the army from New York to attack General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. Knoxs guns played a key role in the siege that ensued. Following the victory, Knox was promoted to major general and assigned to command American forces at West Point. During this time, he formed the Society of the Cincinnati, a fraternal organization consisting of officers who had served in the war. At the wars conclusion in 1783, Knox led his troops into New York City to take possession from the departing British. Later Life On December 23, 1783, following Washingtons resignation, Knox became the senior officer of the Continental Army. He remained so until retiring in June 1784. Knoxs retirement proved short-lived, however, as he was soon appointed Secretary of War by the Continental Congress on March 8, 1785. A staunch supporter of the new Constitution, Knox  remained in his post until becoming Secretary of War as part of George Washingtons first cabinet in 1789. As secretary, he oversaw the creation of a permanent navy, a national militia, and coastal fortifications. Knox served as Secretary of War until January 2, 1795, when he resigned to care for his family and business interests. He died on October 25, 1806, of peritonitis, three days after accidentally swallowing a chicken bone.

Nicaragua Geography, History, Climate Facts

Nicaragua Geography, History, Climate Facts Population: 5,891,199 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: ManaguaBordering Countries: Costa Rica and HondurasLand Area: 50,336 square miles (130,370 sq km)Coastline: 565 miles (910 km)Highest Point: Mogoton at 7,998 feet (2,438 m) Nicaragua is a country located in Central America to the south of Honduras and to the north of Costa Rica. It is the largest country by area in Central America and its capital and largest city is Managua. One-quarter of the countrys population lives in the city. Like many other countries in Central America, Nicaragua is known for its high levels of biodiversity and unique ecosystems. History of Nicaragua Nicaraguas name comes from its native peoples that lived there in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Their chief was named Nicarao. Europeans did not arrive in Nicaragua until 1524 when Hernandez de Cordoba founded Spanish settlements there. In 1821, Nicaragua gained its independence from Spain. Following its independence, Nicaragua underwent frequent civil wars as rival political groups struggled for power. In 1909, the United States intervened in the country after hostilities grew between Conservatives and Liberals due to plans to build a trans-isthmian canal. From 1912 to 1933, the U.S. had troops in the country to prevent hostile actions towards Americans working on the canal there. In 1933, U.S. troops left Nicaragua and Nation Guard Commander Anastasio Somoza Garcia became president in 1936. He attempted to keep strong ties with the U.S. and his two sons succeeded him in office. In 1979, there was an uprising by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and the Somoza familys time in office ended. Shortly thereafter, the FSLN formed a dictatorship under leader Daniel Ortega. The actions of Ortega and his dictatorship ended friendly relations with the U.S. and in 1981, the U.S. suspended all foreign aid to Nicaragua. In 1985, an embargo was also placed on trade between the two countries. In 1990 due to pressure from within and outside of Nicaragua, Ortegas regime agreed to hold elections in February of that year. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro won the election. During Chamorros time in office, Nicaragua moved toward creating a more democratic government, stabilizing the economy and improving human rights issues that had occurred during Ortegas time in office. In 1996, there was another election and the former mayor of Managua, Arnoldo Aleman won the presidency. Alemans presidency, however, had severe issues with corruption and in 2001, Nicaragua again held presidential elections. This time, Enrique Bolanos won the presidency and his campaign pledged to improve the economy, build jobs and end government corruption. Despite these goals,  however, subsequent Nicaraguan elections have been marred with corruption and in 2006 Daniel Ortega ​Saavdra, an FSLN candidate, was elected. Government of Nicaragua Today Nicaraguas government is considered a republic. It has an executive branch made up of a chief of state and a head of government, both of which are filled by the president and a legislative branch comprised of a unicameral National Assembly. Nicaraguas judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court. Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and two autonomous regions for local administration. Economics and Land Use in Nicaragua Nicaragua is considered the poorest country in Central America and as such, it has very high unemployment and poverty. Its economy is based mainly on agriculture and industry, with its top industrial products being food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,  and wood. Nicaraguas main crops are coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, and beans. Beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, shrimp,  and lobster are also large industries in Nicaragua.​ Geography, Climate,  and Biodiversity of Nicaragua Nicaragua is a large country located in Central America between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its terrain is mostly coastal plains that eventually rise up to interior mountains. On the Pacific side of the country, there is a narrow coastal plain that is dotted with volcanoes. The climate of Nicaragua is considered tropical in its lowlands with cool temperatures at its higher elevations. Nicaraguas capital, Managua, has warm temperatures year-round that hover around 88ËšF (31ËšC). Nicaragua is known for its biodiversity because rainforest covers 7,722 square miles (20,000 sq km) of the countrys Caribbean lowlands. As such, Nicaragua is home to large cats like the jaguar and cougar, as well as primates, insects and a plethora of different plants. More Facts About Nicaragua Nicaraguas life expectancy is 71.5 years Nicaraguas Independence Day is September 15 Spanish is the official language of Nicaragua but English and other native languages are also spoken Sources: Central Intelligence Agency. CIA - The World Factbook - Nicaragua.  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nu.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Nicaragua: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com.  infoplease.com/ipa/A0107839.htmlUnited States Department of State. Nicaragua.  state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1850.htmWikipedia.com.  Ã‚  Nicaragua - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.  Ã‚  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua.