New york city Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

New york city - Research Paper Example New York City is on the Atlantic seacoast. It has a challenging geography for settlement because the Hudson River dissects the boroughs, cutting them off from one another and creating the island of Manhattan. As a result, there are many bridges that connect the boroughs of New York City. The climate of the city is a Continental climate type with a hot summer. Legends tell of the Dutch settlers buying the island of Manhattan for a few strings of beads. This is part of the foundation mythology of New York City. After the British took over, the great harbor in New York caused trade to flourish. New York City became America’s biggest city in 1790 and has stayed that way ever since. The arrival of immigrants into America from Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries happened mostly in New York City. Many of them were allowed into the country through Ellis Island. Here they became United States citizens. Over the years, neighborhoods and boroughs in New York City have changed. Places that were once the homes of Jews or German immigrants are now home to immigrants from Pakistan or Vietnam. New York City is the most ethnically diverse city in the world. More languages are spoken there than any other place on earth. New York City has seen many waves of immigrants over the course of its history. The city is marked by a humid-continental climate with a hot summer. New York City enjoys seasonal changes. The seasons are distinct in regards to temperature but not with rainfall. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 31 F. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of 76 F. Rainfall is evenly distributed through the whole year, averaging between three and four inches each month (Climate Data, 2010). The Atlantic Ocean has a moderating influence on the climate of New York City but does not dominate it. Other things that affect the climate on a micro scale is the phenomenon of the urban heat island. This

Paper on Achebe's Things Fall Apart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paper on Achebe's Things Fall Apart - Essay Example Achebe’s novel seems to digress to understand the Okonkwo’s with the arrival of western missionaries’ gravity therefore; the viewer should see Okonkwo within his world’s context. Set in both the colonial and pre-colonial era, Things Fall Apart highlights differences between traditional African and Christian belief system. It depicts the lifestyle of the past traditional culture among the Nigerians and its clashes with the introduction of colonialism. It stars Okonkwo, a resilient who strived to renounce his unsuccessful father in character and way of living. Unoka who is the father of Okonkwo offered no attention to his family and he finally died poor leaving many debts to be paid while Okonkwo toiled to become a wealthy and powerful man among the people of his village as a leader, warrior and a wealthy and courageous traditionalist with three wives and had many children1. Due to these, qualities Okonkwo was elected to become the guardian of Ikemefuna. Ike mefuna is a boy given to Okonkwo by a neighbouring village, he lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife, and he developed a close relationship with Okonkwo’s oldest son. ... When Okonkwo came back to Umofia, he revolted against destroying a local church. They were held prisoner by the white administration for a while and released after payment of a ransom. The native leaders felt humiliated and greatly insulted and brought up a great uprising. Well known as an adamant warrior, Okonkwo advocated for war against the whites killing a native messenger from the colonial administration2. Realising with despair that his community will not fight to protect themselves, he ultimately committed suicide rather than be tried in a foreign colonial court. It is against the traditions for an individual to commit suicide, thus in death, he ruined his reputation and legacy. This clearly shows how the political structure of the white men and the Africans vary as the white men had court system through which they ensured justice was done by having the grieved compensated by the trouble maker and did not allow the tit for tat approach used by the Africans. Mr Brown and Revere nd Smith are white missionaries who greatly affected Christianity to the people of Umuofia. Mr Brown was a western missionary who was succeeded by Reverend Smith in Umuofia. This happened as Okonkwo was away on exile, an exile that was brought unto his due to misfiring of his gun killing the son of the elder Ezendu during the Ezendu’s funeral. The exile was meted upon the Okonkwo family to appease the gods that were irritated by the death. Brown and Smith were marvelled at the acceptance of Christianity in the village. This was due to the equality gospel they preached. Among the traditions he was against were blatant killing of some of the villagers regarded them as outcasts. Smith was a critic of