Why every child should attend all-day kindergarten Essay

Why every child should attend all-day kindergarten - Essay Example There is immense importance which is given to this subject. The basis is backed up with sufficient data and research which goes a long in establishing the fact that child development indeed owes a lot of attributes on the part of the people who are related with the child – the parents and/or its guardians. Having said that, it is also imperative to understand that children need training and education even from a very small age and this is just similar to the love and care that its parents provide day in day out. The aspects of love and training at the same time holds true for their balanced bringing up regime and this without a shadow of a doubt is a significant thing to comprehend in the related discussion. Now we move further ahead and pinpoint our essay on the issue of whether a child should attend an all-day kindergarten or not? The answer to this question is in the affirmative as the parents have to comprehend that admitting a child in an all-day kindergarten is for their own good as well as for their young ones. The kids start learning from a very young age and it is understandable that no parent would want his or her child to lag far behind the other children in the society or city for that matter. The all-day kindergarten ensures that the kids learn the basics of schooling right from the very beginning and they are taught the most basic of activities, habits and manners right from the start. This also guarantees that the parents are lessened of their responsibilities, though to a small extent since they have to look after the chores of their homes as well. On the part of the child who is being looked after and taught at the all-day kindergarten, it is made sure that he starts interacting with the young ones of his age and friends are created all this while, which when seen in the proper perspectives, is something of a healthy exercise. The all-day kindergarten makes sure that the young ones get to learn easily and in a quick manner without any such

The Psychology of Groups Essay Example for Free

The Psychology of Groups Essay In life, people have groups that they use to compare themselves to. These groups, or reference groups, serve as benchmarks that we can compare our lives to. College students in particular have a large array of these groups because their lives are at a point where they are being shaped the most. College students are on the cusp of careers, families, and they are shaping who they want to be in the future. Parents make an excellent reference group for college students because they generally have well established careers and families. Kids grow up modeling their behavior after their parents, so it is natural that they would use their parents as a reference group throughout their lives. Parents are important reference groups because the person referencing them has close emotional ties with them, and are a benchmark for success at home, and in careers. Coworkers are another important reference group as well. Coworkers are often times people well established in careers, and can serve as a good benchmark for success at work. We can use coworkers to compare how we are doing in our field of work in regard to doing the work, getting promotions, and balancing work and home life. I think the most important reference group that college students have are other college students. College is a competitive place, since the people with the highest grades get the best rank in each class. Referencing your peers is a good way to judge your progress in college, and can make you more competitive in college and later in life. In conclusion, the most important reference groups that a college student can have are parents, coworkers, and other college students. These groups serve as benchmarks for making progress in our lives, can make us more competitive, and show us how we can make ourselves better.

The Language Gap Essay -- Language Development, Mastering Language

Mastering language is an important milestone in human development. When language is developed, the world opens up and a person is able to communicate their needs and interact in a meaningful way. Psychologist Lev Vygotsky even believes language is the most important tool we have in learning. Our basic learning skills are taught to us through an "informal education system consisting of parents, other grown-ups, peers and even the media" (Sigelman, C. & Rider, E., 2009, pg. 277). Formal education then takes over, teaching the language skills necessary to read, write and problem solve. Both formal and informal education play a large part in development and when one of these is compromised language development can suffer. Infancy and early childhood are an important time in language development. Infants are unable to say meaningful words in the first 10 to 13 months of their lives, however this does not mean they are doing nothing these months. Infants are using this time to listen to the speech that is going on around them, absorbing these words and sounds for use at a later point in their development. According to research infants are able to distinguish between phonemes, or the building blocks of words. These are sounds like b, p, and t. Infants also display evidence that they understand word segmentation, and understand a sentence is not one long word, but a string of several words put together. They are also sensitive to the intonation of language as well. This is the variations in pitch, speed and loudness used when we talk, so "before they ever speak a word, infants are†¦sensitive to the fact that speech falls between clauses, phrases, and words rather than in the middle of these i mportant language units" (Sigel... ...o find time to interact with their children if they are having to work all day to support their family. A solution to this problem might be to provide financial support to these parents so one of them would be able to work a part-time job. This would give these parents more time to interact with their children, with out devastating their finances. When the children are able to enter pre-school programs then the assistance could end and the parent could return to full time employment. Informal and formal education, are important parts of a child's language development. Often, the children of underprivileged families experience deficiencies in their informal education, putting them behind their privileged peers when they enter kindergarten. This is why support programs and programs to educate underprivileged mothers and their children are so important.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Fourteen

After five years at Belgrave, Grace had become, if not accustomed, then at least aware of just what could be accomplished with a bit of prestige and a great deal of money. Nonetheless, even she was amazed at how quickly their travel plans fell into place. Within three days a private yacht had been reserved to ferry them from Liverpool to Dublin and then wait at the dock – for as long as necessary, apparently – until they were ready to return to England. One of Thomas's secretaries had been dispatched to Ireland to arrange for their stay. Grace had felt nothing but pity for the poor man as he was forced to listen to – and then repeat, twice – the dowager's copious and highly detailed instructions. She herself was used to the dowager's ways, but the secretary, accustomed to dealing with a far more reasonable employer, looked nearly ready to cry. Only the best of inns would do for such a traveling party, and of course they would expect the finest set of rooms in each establishment. If the rooms were already reserved, the innkeepers would have to make arrangements to place the other travelers elsewhere. The dowager told Grace that she liked to send someone ahead in cases like these. It was only polite to give the innkeepers a bit of notice so they could find alternate accommodations for their other guests. Grace thought it would have been more polite not to give the boot to people whose only crime was to reserve a room prior to the dowager, but all she could do was offer the poor secretary a sympathetic smile. The dowager wasn't going to change her ways, and besides, she'd already launched into her next set of instructions, which pertained to cleanliness, food, and the preferred dimensions of hand towels. Grace spent her days dashing about the castle, preparing for the voyage and passing along important messages, since the other three inhabitants seemed determined to avoid one another. The dowager was as surly and rude as ever, but now there was an underlying layer of giddiness that Grace found disconcerting. The dowager was excited about the upcoming journey. It was enough to leave even the most experienced of companions uneasy; the dowager was never excited about anything. Pleased, yes; satisfied, often (although un satisfied was a far more frequent emotion). But excited? Grace had never witnessed it. It was odd, because the dowager did not seem to like Mr. Audley very well, and it was clear that she respected him not at all. And as for Mr. Audley – he returned the sentiment in spades. He was much like Thomas in that regard. It seemed to Grace that the two men might have been fast friends had they not met under such strained circumstances. But while Thomas's dealings with the dowager were frank and direct, Mr. Audley was much more sly. He was always provoking the dowager when in her company, always ready with a comment so subtle that Grace could only be sure of his meaning when she caught his secret smile. There was always a secret smile. And it was always for her. Even now, just thinking about it, she found herself hugging her arms to her body, as if holding it tightly against her heart. When he smiled at her, she felt it – as if it were more than something to be seen. It landed upon her like a kiss, and her body responded in kind – a little flip in her stomach, pink heat on her cheeks. She maintained her composure, because that was what she'd been trained to do, and she even managed her own sort of reply – the tiniest of curves at the corners of her mouth, maybe a change in the way she held her gaze. She knew he saw it, too. He saw everything. He liked to play at being obtuse, but he had the keenest eye for observation she had ever known. And all through this, the dowager pressed forward, single-minded in her determination to wrest the title from Thomas and give it to Mr. Audley. When the dowager spoke of their upcoming journey, it was never if they found proof, it was when they found it. Already she had begun to plan how best to announce the change to the rest of society. Grace had noticed that she was not particularly discreet about it, either. What was it the dowager had said just the other day – right in front of Thomas? Something about having to redraw endless contracts to reflect the proper ducal name. She had even turned to him and asked if he thought that anything he'd signed while duke was legally binding. Grace had thought Thomas a master of restraint for not throttling her on the spot. Indeed, all he said was, â€Å"It will hardly be my problem should that come to pass.† And then, with a mocking bow in the dowager's direction, he left the room. Grace was not sure why she was so surprised that the dowager did not censor herself in front of Thomas; it wasn't as if she'd shown a care for anyone else's feelings before. But surely this qualified as extraordinary circumstances. Surely even Augusta Cavendish could see where it might be hurtful to stand in front of Thomas and talk about how she planned to go about his public humiliation. And as for Thomas – he was not himself. He was drinking too much, and when he wasn't closeted in his study, he stalked about the house like a moody lion. Grace tried to avoid him, partly because he was in such poor temper, but mostly because she felt so guilty about everything, so unconscionably disloyal for liking Mr. Audley so well. Which left him. Mr. Audley. She'd been spending too much time with him. She knew it but could not seem to help herself. And it really wasn't her fault. The dowager kept sending her on errands that put her in his sphere. Liverpool or Holyhead – which port made better sense for their departure? Surely Jack (the dowager still refused to call him Mr. Audley, and he would not respond to anything Cavendish) would know. What might they expect from the weather? Find Jack and ask his opinion. Could one obtain a decent pot of tea in Ireland? What about once they'd left the environs of Dublin? And then, after Grace had reported back with Yes and for God's sake (amended to remove the blasphemy), she was sent on her way again to determine if he even knew how to judge a tea's quality. It was almost embarrassing to ask him this. It should have been, but by that point they were bursting out laughing just at the sight of each other. It was like that all the time now. He would smile. And then she would smile. And she was reminded just how much better she liked herself when she had reason to smile. Just now the dowager had ordered her to find him for a full accounting of their proposed route through Ireland, which Grace found odd, since she would have thought the dowager had worked that out by then. But she was not about to complain, not when the task both removed her from the dowager's presence and placed her in Mr. Audley's. † Jack,† she whispered to herself. He was Jack. His name suited him perfectly, dashing and carefree. John was far too staid, and Mr. Audley too formal. She wanted him to be Jack, even though she had not allowed herself to say it aloud to him, not since their kiss. He had teased her about it – he always teased her about it. He'd prodded and cajoled and told her she must use his given name or he would not respond, but she remained steadfast. Because once she did, she was afraid she could never go back. And she was already so perilously close to losing her heart forever. It could happen. It would happen if she let it. She had only to let go. She could close her eyes and imagine a future†¦with him, and children, and so much laughter. But not here. Not at Belgrave, with him as the duke. She wanted Sillsby back. Not the house, since that could never be, but the feeling of it. The comfortable warmth, the kitchen garden that her mother had never been too important to attend. She wanted the evenings in the sitting room – the sitting room, she reminded herself, the only one. Nothing that had to be described with a color or a fabric or a location within the building. She wanted to read by the fire with her husband, pointing out bits that amused her, and laughing when he did the same. That was what she wanted, and when she had the courage to be honest with herself, she knew that she wanted it with him. But she wasn't often honest with herself. What was the point? He didn't know who he was; how could she know what to dream? She was protecting herself, holding her heart in armor until she had an answer. Because if he was the Duke of Wyndham, then she was a fool. As fine a house as Belgrave was, Jack much preferred to spend time out of doors, and now that his mount had been transferred to the Wyndham stables (where his horse was certainly wallowing in joy over the endless carrots and warm accommodations), he had taken up the habit of a ride each morning. Not that this was so very far from his prior routine; Jack usually found himself on horseback by late morning. The difference was that before he'd been going somewhere, or, on occasion, fleeing from somewhere. Now he was out and about for sport, for constitutional exercise. Strange, the life of a gentleman. Physical exertion was achieved through organized behavior, and not, as the rest of society got it, through an honest day's work. Or a dishonest one, as the case often was. He was returning to the house – it was difficult to call it a castle, even though that's what it was; it always made him want to roll his eyes – on his fourth day at Belgrave, feeling invigorated by the soft bite of the wind over the fields. As he walked up the steps to the main door, he caught himself peering this way and that, hoping for a glimpse of Grace even though it was highly unlikely she'd be out of doors. He was always hoping for a glimpse of Grace, no matter where he was. Just the sight of her made something tickle and fizz within his chest. Half the time she did not even see him, which he did not mind. He rather enjoyed watching her go about her duties. But if he stared long enough – and he always did; there was never any good reason to place his eyes anywhere else – she always sensed him. Eventually, even if he was at an odd angle, or obscured in shadows, she felt his presence, and she'd turn. He always tried to play the seducer then, to gaze at her with smoldering intensity, to see if she'd melt in a pool of whimpering desire. But he never did. Because all he could do, whenever she looked back at him, was smile like a lovesick fool. He would have been disgusted with himself, except that she always smiled in return, which never failed to turn the tickle and fizz into something even more bubbly and carefree. He pushed open the door to Belgrave's front hall, pausing for a moment once he was inside. It took a few seconds to adjust to the abrupt lack of wind, and indeed, his body gave an unprompted little shake, as if to push away the chill. This also gave him time to glance about the hall, and indeed, he was rewarded for his diligence. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh!† he called out, since she was at the far end of the long space, presumably off on another one of the dowager's ridiculous errands. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she said, smiling as she walked toward him. He shrugged off his coat (presumably purloined from the ducal closet) and handed it to a footman, marveling, as always, at how the servants seemed to materialize from nowhere, always at the exact moment they were needed. Someone had trained them well. He was close enough to his military days to appreciate this. Grace reached his side before he had even pulled off his gloves. â€Å"Have you been out for a ride?† she asked. â€Å"Indeed. It's a perfect day for it.† â€Å"Even with all the wind?† â€Å"It's best with wind.† â€Å"I trust you were reunited with your horse?† â€Å"Indeed. Lucy and I make a fine team.† â€Å"You ride a mare?† â€Å"A gelding.† She blinked with curiosity, but not, strangely, surprise. â€Å"You named your gelding Lucy?† He gave his shrug a bit of dramatic flair. â€Å"It is one of those stories that loses something in the retelling.† In truth, it involved drink, three separate wagers, and a propensity for the contrary that he was not certain he was proud of. â€Å"I am not much of an equestrienne,† she said. It was not an apology, just a statement of fact. â€Å"By choice or circumstance?† â€Å"A bit of both,† she replied, and she looked a bit curious, as if she'd never thought to ask herself that question. â€Å"You shall have to join me sometime.† She smiled ruefully. â€Å"I hardly think that falls within the scope of my duties to the dowager.† Jack rather doubted that. He remained suspicious of the dowager's motives as pertained to Grace; she seemed to thrust Grace in his direction at every possible occasion, like some piece of ripened fruit, dangled before his nose to entice him to stay put. He found it all rather appalling, but wasn't about to deny himself the pleasure of Grace's company just to spite the old bat. â€Å"Bah,† he said. â€Å"All the best companions go riding with the houseguests.† â€Å"Oh.† So dubious. â€Å"Really.† â€Å"Well, they do in my imagination, at least.† Grace shook her head, not even trying not to smile. â€Å"Mr. Audley†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But he was looking this way and that, his manner almost comically surreptitious. â€Å"I think we're alone,† he whispered. Grace leaned in, feeling very sly. â€Å"Which means†¦?† â€Å"You can call me Jack.† She pretended to consider. â€Å"No, I don't think so.† â€Å"I won't tell.† â€Å"Mmmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her nose scrunched, and then a matter-of-fact: â€Å"No.† â€Å"You did it once.† She pressed her lips together, suppressing not a smile, but a full-fledged laugh. â€Å"That was a mistake.† â€Å"Indeed.† Grace gasped and turned. It was Thomas. â€Å"Where the devil did he come from?† Mr. Audley murmured. From the small saloon, Grace thought miserably. The entrance was right behind them. Thomas frequently spent time there, reading or tending to his correspondence. He said he liked the afternoon light. But it wasn't afternoon. And he smelled like brandy. â€Å"A pleasant conversation,† Thomas drawled. â€Å"One of many, I assume.† â€Å"Were you eavesdropping?† Mr. Audley said mildly. â€Å"For shame.† â€Å"Your grace,† Grace began, â€Å"I – â€Å" â€Å"It's Thomas,† he cut in derisively, â€Å"or don't you recall? You've used my name far more than once.† Grace felt her cheeks grow hot. She'd not been sure how much of the conversation Thomas had heard. Apparently, most of it. â€Å"Is that so?† Mr. Audley said. â€Å"In that case, I insist you call me Jack.† He turned to Thomas and shrugged. â€Å"It's only fair.† Thomas made no verbal reply, although his thunderous expression spoke volumes. Mr. Audley turned back to her and said, â€Å"I shall call you Grace.† â€Å"You will not,† Thomas snapped. Mr. Audley remained as calm as ever. â€Å"Does he always make these decisions for you?† â€Å"This is my house,† Thomas returned. â€Å"Possibly not for long,† Mr. Audley murmured. Grace actually lurched forward, so sure was she that Thomas was going to lunge at him. But in the end Thomas only chuckled. He chuckled, but it was an awful sound. â€Å"Just so you know,† he said, looking Mr. Audley in the eye, â€Å"she doesn't come with the house.† Grace looked at him in shock. â€Å"Just what do you mean by that?† Mr. Audley inquired, and his voice was so smooth, so purposefully polite, that it was impossible not to hear the edge of steel underneath. â€Å"I think you know.† â€Å"Thomas,† Grace said, trying to intercede. â€Å"Oh, we're back to Thomas, are we?† â€Å"I think he fancies you, Miss Eversleigh,† Mr. Audley said, his tone almost cheerful. â€Å"Don't be ridiculous,† Grace said immediately. Because he didn't. He couldn't. If Thomas had – Well, he'd had years to make it known, not that anything could have come of it. Thomas crossed his arms and gave Mr. Audley a stare – the sort that sent most men scurrying for the corners. Mr. Audley merely smiled. And then he said, â€Å"I wouldn't wish to keep you from your responsibilities.† It was a dismissal, elegantly worded and undeniably rude. Grace could not believe it. No one spoke to Thomas that way. But Thomas smiled back. â€Å"Ah, now they are my responsibilities?† â€Å"While the house is still yours.† â€Å"It's not just a house, Audley.† â€Å"Do you think I don't know that?† No one spoke. Mr. Audley's voice had been a hiss, low and urgent. And scared. â€Å"Excuse me,† Thomas said abruptly, and while Grace watched in silence, he turned and walked back into the small saloon, shutting the door firmly behind him. After what felt like an eternity, just staring at the white paint on the door, Grace turned back to Mr. Audley. â€Å"You should not have provoked him.† â€Å"Oh, I should not have been provoking?† She let out a tense breath. â€Å"Surely you understand what a difficult position he is in.† â€Å"As opposed to mine,† he said, in quite the most awful voice she'd heard him use. â€Å"How I adore being kidnapped and held against my will.† â€Å"No one has a gun to your head.† â€Å"Is that what you think?† His tone was mocking, and his eyes said he could not believe her naivete. â€Å"I don't think you even want it,† Grace said. How was it this had not occurred to her before? How had she not seen it? â€Å"Want what?† he practically snapped. â€Å"The title. You don't, do you?† â€Å"The title,† he said icily, â€Å"doesn't want me.† She could only stare in horror as he turned on his heel and strode off.

Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange â€Å"Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492† is a common expression used today about the discovery of the Americas. What happens after the discovery of the Americas? Transculturation. This is the mixing of cultures in which both sides change in one way or another (Murphy, 1-14-13). The Columbian Exchange happened when people from Europe and Africa settled into Latin America and the Caribbean after the discovery of the Americas. The Columbian Exchange brought over diseases to the Americas, plants and animals, and the exchange of silver.The colonization of the Americas made exchanging animals and plants happen daily. Sugar was one plant that was brought over. Sugar was brought over to Brazil from the coast of Africa (Crosby, 69). Towards the end of the 16th century, Brazil became the biggest producer of sugarcane. At first, sugar was only bought by the rich but over time it was an important crop in everyone’s day to day life. Sugar coul d be boiled down into concentrated, making it easy to fit in ships, causing it to become the cash crop for centuries (Chasteen, 24).Brazil was producing 57, 000 tons of sugar annually in 1610, in which the English started to produce sugar which drove the production down in Brazil (Crosby, 69). Sugar created harsh working environments and ended up having slaves do all of the work. Slaves were purchased and brought in from West Africa (Wolfe, 150). Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, and many other plants were added to European and Africa diets. Many crops that exist in European nations have come from the Americas during the Columbian Exchange.Tomatoes were grown in the Americas before they made their way to Italy. Italy is known for their food that uses tomatoes and many people think that the tomato originated in Italy. The tomato got brought back to Italy throughout the trips from the Americas. Maize was introduced to Asia in the 16th century, which was a factor for population growth in Asia (Crosby, 65). As Winn states â€Å"But not much of the Columbian exchange was not positive for the indigenous people of the Americas† (Winn, 43), most of the Columbian exchange was lop sided.Europeans and Africans got the better end of the Columbian exchange due to the fact that they transferred many of the diseases instead of receiving them. Along with plants, imported animals arrived in the America during Columbus’s second voyage in 1493 (Crosby, 75). Horses, dogs, pigs, cattle, chickens, sheep, and goats all arrived in the Americas in the 16th century. Pigs were the first animals to blow up, with 30,000 pigs in Cuba by 1514 (Crosby, 76). Cattle, like pigs, reproduced in great numbers and quickly adapted to the new environment.All of these animals were used some way or another to produce a profit. Skin became the biggest export from America to Europe after colonization to the America’s happened (Murphy, 1-23-13). The fat was used to produce animals and sheep were used to produce clothing (Murphy, 1-23-13). Horses gave Bernal Diaz the advantage in defeating the Aztec to claim Mexico. Cattle provided meat which would not have been there if it wasn’t for the colonization. The Spaniards realized that silver from the America’s could bring them indefinite money, while the silver lasted.There was virtually no silver being exported from the Americas to Europe before Columbus discovered the Americas. At the beginning of the 16th century, silver production in the Americas started to sky rocket due to the Spaniards discovering the benefits of silver. In the 1540’s, a silver mine located in Potosi, Peru was opened up by the Spaniards (Chasteen, 50). The town of Potosi blew up due to this new economic growth that was happening. The working environments were harsh; men had to carry pounds and pounds of silver down the mountain (Murphy, 1-28-13).From 1503-1660, 700 million pounds of silver gets exported from the Americas to Europe (Murphy, 1-28-13). The problem with silver is that it has boom and bust cycles, where one year silver may be at its all-time high and the next the economy takes a beating. The money being made was through the taxing of this silver. The exchange of silver brought the Americas and the rest of the world together. This was due to the trade that was happening with the silver. The crown in Spain received around 40 percent of all the silver profits (Wolfe, 139).The crown received this money due to the royal fifth or settlement of American taxes (Wolfe, 139). Around 30 percent of the silver was illegally traded to the crown did not receive that money (Murphy, 1-28-13). No food is able to grow at Potosi so all of it had to be imported from other countries. This created huge trade relations across the world. The food from Potosi would be imported from elsewhere because it was cheaper, causing the prices to rise in the Potosi economy (Wolfe, 139). In the early 1800’s, the silver ran ou t and the town of Potosi went down with it.This shows how much the Spaniards had an impact on the Americas, Peru in this instance. The diseases that Europe and Africa brought in during colonization to the Americas were the biggest negative impact of the Columbian Exchange. Diseases wiped out populations in the Americas. Native Americans had no immunity towards the diseases that were coming in. Diseases like smallpox, measles, malaria, plague, and many others were killing native people uncontrollably. In lower and upper Peru, the population declined from 5 million to less than 300 thousand in 1780-1790’s (Wolfe, 135).As shown in this quote by Winn â€Å"The result was the greatest demographic disaster in history† (Winn, 43), this epidemic effected wherever colonization happened in the Americas. The old world diseases were not intentionally spread to the Americas but were a side effect of transculturation. The Columbian exchange was a major factor in the Colonization of the Americas. New foods were exchanged between the Americas and Europe and Africa. Animals were also swapped during this exchange, which created economic opportunities.The finding of silver in Potosi helped Spain gain money through taxes. This was a boom and bust cycle which leads to Potosi becoming a ghost town. With colonization happening, diseases brought from the Europeans and Africans killed an uncountable amount of people in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange changed Latin America and the Caribbean fully. The real question is what would Latin America and the Caribbean be like if the Columbian Exchange never happened? Works Cited Chasteen, â€Å"Encounter,† in Born in Blood and Fire, pp. 11-42 (3rd ed), 25-53 (2nd).Chasteen, â€Å"The Colonial Crucible,† in Born in Blood, pp. 49-80 (3rd ed), 59-89 (2nd). Crosby, Alfred, â€Å"Old World Plants and Animals in the New World,† in The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492 (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1973), pp. 64-121. Wolfe, Eric, â€Å"Iberians in America,† in Europe and the People without History (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997 [1982]), pp. 131-157. Winn, Peter, â€Å"The Legacies of Empire† in Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean (New York: Pantheon Books, 1992), pp. 39-83 Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange â€Å"Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492† is a common expression used today about the discovery of the Americas. What happens after the discovery of the Americas? Transculturation. This is the mixing of cultures in which both sides change in one way or another (Murphy, 1-14-13). The Columbian Exchange happened when people from Europe and Africa settled into Latin America and the Caribbean after the discovery of the Americas. The Columbian Exchange brought over diseases to the Americas, plants and animals, and the exchange of silver.The colonization of the Americas made exchanging animals and plants happen daily. Sugar was one plant that was brought over. Sugar was brought over to Brazil from the coast of Africa (Crosby, 69). Towards the end of the 16th century, Brazil became the biggest producer of sugarcane. At first, sugar was only bought by the rich but over time it was an important crop in everyone’s day to day life. Sugar coul d be boiled down into concentrated, making it easy to fit in ships, causing it to become the cash crop for centuries (Chasteen, 24).Brazil was producing 57, 000 tons of sugar annually in 1610, in which the English started to produce sugar which drove the production down in Brazil (Crosby, 69). Sugar created harsh working environments and ended up having slaves do all of the work. Slaves were purchased and brought in from West Africa (Wolfe, 150). Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, and many other plants were added to European and Africa diets. Many crops that exist in European nations have come from the Americas during the Columbian Exchange.Tomatoes were grown in the Americas before they made their way to Italy. Italy is known for their food that uses tomatoes and many people think that the tomato originated in Italy. The tomato got brought back to Italy throughout the trips from the Americas. Maize was introduced to Asia in the 16th century, which was a factor for population growth in Asia (Crosby, 65). As Winn states â€Å"But not much of the Columbian exchange was not positive for the indigenous people of the Americas† (Winn, 43), most of the Columbian exchange was lop sided.Europeans and Africans got the better end of the Columbian exchange due to the fact that they transferred many of the diseases instead of receiving them. Along with plants, imported animals arrived in the America during Columbus’s second voyage in 1493 (Crosby, 75). Horses, dogs, pigs, cattle, chickens, sheep, and goats all arrived in the Americas in the 16th century. Pigs were the first animals to blow up, with 30,000 pigs in Cuba by 1514 (Crosby, 76). Cattle, like pigs, reproduced in great numbers and quickly adapted to the new environment.All of these animals were used some way or another to produce a profit. Skin became the biggest export from America to Europe after colonization to the America’s happened (Murphy, 1-23-13). The fat was used to produce animals and sheep were used to produce clothing (Murphy, 1-23-13). Horses gave Bernal Diaz the advantage in defeating the Aztec to claim Mexico. Cattle provided meat which would not have been there if it wasn’t for the colonization. The Spaniards realized that silver from the America’s could bring them indefinite money, while the silver lasted.There was virtually no silver being exported from the Americas to Europe before Columbus discovered the Americas. At the beginning of the 16th century, silver production in the Americas started to sky rocket due to the Spaniards discovering the benefits of silver. In the 1540’s, a silver mine located in Potosi, Peru was opened up by the Spaniards (Chasteen, 50). The town of Potosi blew up due to this new economic growth that was happening. The working environments were harsh; men had to carry pounds and pounds of silver down the mountain (Murphy, 1-28-13).From 1503-1660, 700 million pounds of silver gets exported from the Americas to Europe (Murphy, 1-28-13). The problem with silver is that it has boom and bust cycles, where one year silver may be at its all-time high and the next the economy takes a beating. The money being made was through the taxing of this silver. The exchange of silver brought the Americas and the rest of the world together. This was due to the trade that was happening with the silver. The crown in Spain received around 40 percent of all the silver profits (Wolfe, 139).The crown received this money due to the royal fifth or settlement of American taxes (Wolfe, 139). Around 30 percent of the silver was illegally traded to the crown did not receive that money (Murphy, 1-28-13). No food is able to grow at Potosi so all of it had to be imported from other countries. This created huge trade relations across the world. The food from Potosi would be imported from elsewhere because it was cheaper, causing the prices to rise in the Potosi economy (Wolfe, 139). In the early 1800’s, the silver ran ou t and the town of Potosi went down with it.This shows how much the Spaniards had an impact on the Americas, Peru in this instance. The diseases that Europe and Africa brought in during colonization to the Americas were the biggest negative impact of the Columbian Exchange. Diseases wiped out populations in the Americas. Native Americans had no immunity towards the diseases that were coming in. Diseases like smallpox, measles, malaria, plague, and many others were killing native people uncontrollably. In lower and upper Peru, the population declined from 5 million to less than 300 thousand in 1780-1790’s (Wolfe, 135).As shown in this quote by Winn â€Å"The result was the greatest demographic disaster in history† (Winn, 43), this epidemic effected wherever colonization happened in the Americas. The old world diseases were not intentionally spread to the Americas but were a side effect of transculturation. The Columbian exchange was a major factor in the Colonization of the Americas. New foods were exchanged between the Americas and Europe and Africa. Animals were also swapped during this exchange, which created economic opportunities.The finding of silver in Potosi helped Spain gain money through taxes. This was a boom and bust cycle which leads to Potosi becoming a ghost town. With colonization happening, diseases brought from the Europeans and Africans killed an uncountable amount of people in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange changed Latin America and the Caribbean fully. The real question is what would Latin America and the Caribbean be like if the Columbian Exchange never happened? Works Cited Chasteen, â€Å"Encounter,† in Born in Blood and Fire, pp. 11-42 (3rd ed), 25-53 (2nd).Chasteen, â€Å"The Colonial Crucible,† in Born in Blood, pp. 49-80 (3rd ed), 59-89 (2nd). Crosby, Alfred, â€Å"Old World Plants and Animals in the New World,† in The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492 (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1973), pp. 64-121. Wolfe, Eric, â€Å"Iberians in America,† in Europe and the People without History (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997 [1982]), pp. 131-157. Winn, Peter, â€Å"The Legacies of Empire† in Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean (New York: Pantheon Books, 1992), pp. 39-83