Elizabeth The Forgotten Years Essay - 1577 Words

Often considered by historians as one of England’s greatest monarchs, Elizabeth Tudor’s life and prosperous reign have inspired numerous historical works including books, biographies, and visual media representations. Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years, written by John Guy, is an exquisitely detailed biography of the Tudor queen, which encapsulates her not only as an authoritative figure but also as an independent woman. Guy focuses on the trialling years of Elizabeth’s rise to prominence, as she faces issues of asserting her own authority, war abroad, political crisis at home, and widespread religious reformation all while challenging the patriarchal nature of English society. The book reveals the challenges Elizabeth faced as a female monarch such as overcoming traditional gender roles, immense pressure to marry, preoccupation with her gender rather than her rank, presumed military inadequacy of women, and establishing herself as a ruler in a country mastered by me n. Due to early-modern English society’s highly patriarchal nature in terms of attitudes, structure and laws, Elizabeth’s role as a monarch was destined to be characterized by issues regarding gender from the start. Women were overall seen as weaker than men in terms of emotions and intellectual capability and had little power in a marriage. It was universally accepted that women were to be submissive to male relatives, and it was not expected for them to uphold any independent authority; each woman was defined byShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1313 Words   |  6 Pageshim. Charlotte is well aware of her indifference for Mr. Collins; but, she is able to justify accepting his proposal because her age is considered very old to be unmarried, and because he can provide domestic comfort. When telling her best friend, Elizabeth, about the proposal, Charlotte admits that she is â€Å"not romantic† and that she â€Å"ask[s] only a comfortabl e home; and, considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, [she] is convinced that [her] chance of happiness with himRead MoreAnalysis Of Elizabeth I s Speech975 Words   |  4 PagesThe subject of gender appears as one of the main topics these three samples of Elizabeth I’s speeches. While she commonly mentions gender to sound humble and motherly, she also combines her gender with her knowledge to drive her points when explaining or avoiding topics, influencing the people’s opinion, and rallying the people. Some of these ideas have been captured in her portraits. Elizabeth uses her gender and knowledge to make herself appear as a humble queen who knows she does not deserveRead MoreHenchard in The Mayor of Casterbridge Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the unlikely coincidences that occur many times through the book. The book takes place in rural England, in Wessex, Hardy’s made up county. It starts off with Michael Henchard and his wife Susan, both young, with their baby daughter Elizabeth Jane looking for employment in the small town of Weydon-Priors. The Michael Henchard Hardy first introduces is a bitter man who appears to have little respect for his wife and little care for his daughter. Although he isn’t a nobleman he stillRead MoreThe Importance of Character and a Good Name in The Mayor of Casterbridge735 Words   |  3 Pagescharacter and reputation. The story is centered on the life of Michael Henchard and his struggle with the consequence of a decision made as a young man in an inebriated state. The novel begins with Michael, his wife Susan, and their young daughter Elizabeth-Jane arriving in the town of Weyden-Priors on Fair Day. Michael drinks too much and in a fit of temper auctions off his wife and child to a sailor for five guineas. Michael awakens the next day only to regret his intemperance and the behavior thatRead MoreThe Forgotten Founder : Alexander Hamilton1196 Words   |  5 Pages3M Mr. Claxton December 10, 2015 The Forgotten Founder Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of the United States, but little to no people recognize the accomplishments he made. As a young man he fought in the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington and later went on to become the first Secretary of the Treasury. With a multitude of other achievements under his belt, it’s hard to comprehend how this amazing man became a forgotten figure in American history. However,Read MoreBiography of Roger Sherman Essay543 Words   |  3 PagesRoger Sherman Roger Sherman is someone that you may say is the forgotten founding father, so let’s change that. Roger Sherman was a very influential politician and lawyer, being admired by some of greatest and brightest men of this time. Roger Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts on April 19, 1721. When Sherman was two, his family left Newton to go a small town called Stoughton. This town was and still is about 21 miles from Boston, Massachusetts. Sherman’s father farmed some land in StoughtonRead More Biography of Queen Elizabeth Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesBiography of Queen Elizabeth Despite being unwanted by her father, King Henry VIII, Elizabeth managed to overcome obstacles and become one of the most powerful woman leaders of her time. Some of her accomplishments were to defeat the Spanish armada, restore peace between Catholics and Protestants, and lead England to prosperity (Ross 146). The period of time during her reign, fifteen hundred and fifty eight to sixteen hundred and three, is often called the Golden Age since it wasRead MoreWhining Children Need For A Problem Solvers By Scott Turansky1044 Words   |  5 Pagessolution as well. Elizabeth is twelve years old. She often complains that she doesn t have the clothes that she wants to wear. Mom is in the habit of helping her find something but most of the time Elizabeth is still unhappy about the choice. Mom realized that her daughter had developed an attitude that the clothes problem was Mom s to solve, so she decided to make some changes. Mom took Elizabeth out clothes shopping and they bought a couple new outfits. Then she helped Elizabeth organize her closetRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Crucible 1162 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 11 Dowling Per. 0 October 27 2014 Crucible Short Answer Questions Act 1 The irony in this statement is that they created this civilization in order to have religious freedom, but they only want religious freedom for themselves The witch-hunt years were a time of general revenge because the grudges that were present in the town turned into witch accusations. It gave people with grudges an opportunity to hurt the people they were against Tituba is the slave of Parris, who is from Barbados. AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1579 Words   |  7 Pageswhen the United States government blacklisted accused communists. The Crucible contains quite a few important characters who play in the tragic events that occurred those many years ago- the characters who had the greatest impact and character transformations would be the tragic hero; John Proctor, the blameless victim; Elizabeth Proctor, and the villainous; Abigail Williams. John Proctor s character changes drastically from the beginning of the play to the end, and it is possibly the most important

William Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello

A clear view of the relationships established in Macbeth and Othello can be seen through the inferior partner s views on the other person in the relationship, and also their balance of power. Lady Macbeth rarely addresses Macbeth with his real name, but instead with titles such as Great Glamis! and Worthy Cawdor - referring to his positions. However Iago refers to Othello with titles such as The Moorship, which is a play on Lordship - including a reference to his race. The use of titles instead of their proper names implies what the other (Lady Macbeth and Iago) thinks about the protagonist. Iago is rather cruel but also intelligent with the titles he names Othello with, where Lady Macbeth honours her partner; although positive, Lady Macbeth also objectifies Macbeth for her own ends. Iago s title could be seen as offensive as Moor directly refers to a person of colour. People of colour in Jacobean society were linked with devilry, darkness and black magic, seen to worship a s trange god, and to represent a living image of the many black devils they beheld in contemporary religious art. This can be linked back to the relationships as Iago uses this attitude to play on Othello s vulnerability (particularly with Brabantio), and as an easy way to demonise Othello. Even though Othello technically has the power, Iago crafts his words so he can use Othello s power for himself and ultimately to get revenge. We are introduced to two inferior charactersShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello1417 Words   |  6 PagesHello, I’m William Shakespeare, the famous and historically known playwright of plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and Macbeth. Today I will be talking to you all about two of my plays, Othello and Macbeth. I will also be talking to you all about the social, political and historical themes in my plays and my intent for writing them. I wrote Macbeth and Othello during the reign of King James the 1st of England. Events that were occurring during that time period and the feeling of theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Othello1984 Words   |  8 PagesExplore the ways in which characters emotions are manipulated in Macbeth and Othello The way that Shakespeare implements manipulation into Othello and Macbeth leads to significant emotional change in the majority of characters in both plays. This leads to protagonists’ eventual downfall in many cases, due to the language and imagery that Shakespeare creates in the tragedies. The schemists tend to exploit weaknesses in the victims, such as ambitions. This can be witnessed by the audience at a veryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth, Othello, And King Lear1479 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth, was the last of four great tragedies, including Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear, written during the Elizabethan Era. Herbert Courson states the play as, â€Å" â€Å"a powerful even for the mature Shakespeare. [which]... demands that we share its experience intensely, that we fell the strength of Macbeth’s thirst for kingship, the force of Lady Macbeth’s persuasions, the anguish of Macbeth’s struggle before the murder, and the im pact of nature’s retribution after the murder†Read MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Vs. Othello1006 Words   |  5 PagesNadia Chilcoat Macbeth vs. Othello Period: â…š 12/12/2014 Macbeth vs. Othello Ancient Greeks believed that a tragic hero must be admirable but flawed, someone the audience can sympathize with, and someone capable of good and evil. The main character must also have a doctrine of free will, in which they are able to redeem themselves, but they continue to fall freely in a downward spiral from a position of superiority. The audience must also be able toRead MoreThe Literary Genius Of William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliette, Othello, King Lear, And Macbeth1953 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is an intriguing and well-known playwright and is considered to be the face of literature. Through the brainstorming of his greatest plays Romeo and Juliette, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, just to name a few, Shakespeare’s most famous play seemingly enough is Hamlet. This play is mostly evoked for its intrinsic worth however, it has its imperfections. Shakespeare will forever live on as the literary genius of the century because of the internal tragedie s he endured that gaveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hometown Of The English Language And The World s Best Dramatist1266 Words   |  6 Pages Although many knew him as a keen businessman in his hometown of Stratford, William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest writer in the English language and the world s best dramatist. (www.goodreads.com) He wrote hundreds of songs, plays, books, and poems. During his time, his plays were well under-appreciated and a lot of his work did not appear until seven years after his death. Without Shakespeare, the English language would have never expanded at the rate it did, erasing many common wordsRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s King Lear, Hamlet, Othello And Macbeth1206 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 3.7: Achievement Standard 91478 Introduction Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor. Through analysing four tragedy texts by Shakespeare, I have noticed he uses the fall of the main character as the primary focus in his tragedies as this creates good suspense and climax as an added attraction for the audience. A Shakespearean tragedy, is a five-act play and they usually revolve around a similar idea of conflict. This is the Internal and external Conflict within the characterRead MoreDoes Othello Meet The Standards Of A Tragic Hero?2171 Words   |  9 PagesMay 2015 Does Othello Meet the Standards of a Tragic Hero? William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest play writers who ever lived. Students throughout the United States continue to read his sonnets and plays today. His style of writing and his use of metaphors are what truly make him a great writer. Shakespeare wrote many comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare also wrote many tragedies such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and RomeoRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1887 Words   |  8 Pagesdisaster. â€Å"Macbeth’’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford -upon -avon, in Warwickshire and was baptized a few days later on 26 April 1566. William Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward grammar school Stratford and is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time.(Bio.) In Macbeth, William Shakespeare used ambition to show us Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and theirRead MoreEnglish Feature article on Shakespears Macbeth with reference to both play and Polanskis adaptation. Title: Windows changed through time.1199 Words   |  5 Pageschanged through time. A way to see the world through different eyes... In late 1606 or early 1607, The last of Shakespeare s four great tragedies was written. Macbeth has been said by many to be Shakespeare s darkest work, A Reflection through Shakespeare s mind giving us a window into Elizabethan ways of politics, Human violence and Human nature. Quiet relevantly Shakespeare would never have guessed that over 400 years later the basic morals and characteristics that were used to shape

The Assistant Character Analysis Essay Example For Students

The Assistant: Character Analysis Essay The Assistant is a novel written by Bernard Malamud. It is a story set during the Depression. This story involves several key characters. The two protagonists are Frank Alpine, a drifter, and Morris Bober, a Jewish grocery store clerk. Morris’ wife Ida and daughter Helen are also heavily involved in the story. Frank Alpine is the protagonist of The Assistant. He is a typical Malamud character. Frank is real and memorable. Malamud knows this character well, like he knows all his characters, and he keeps them free of theatrics and sentimentality. These qualities add to the character’s sense of realism and simplicity. Frank is looking for a new life and finds it on the East Coast. It is there where he becomes a criminal. Frank and his friend Ward Minogue break into a grocery store, attack the aged clerk, and rob him. This is where we find Frank at the novel’s opening. He is not a good person, he is a criminal; but he feels guilty about his short life as a criminal. Frank wants atonement for his sin and he feels the only way to achieve it is to work for the man he robbed. Morris Bober, the clerk, finds Frank living in his basement. Frank has been stealing milk and rolls for sustenance. Morris gives Frank a job as his assistant, which starts Frank’s character growth. He does not become a good person right away. Frank steals from the register and even watched Morris’ daughter, Helen, take off her clothes in the bathroom. However, character change takes time and Frank is willing to do what he must to change. Living with an honest Jewish family is a great influence on him. He works hard in the store when Morris is not feeling well. Frank Alpine defeats himself after he has gained so much. One night Frank and Helen meet in the park. Helen is early and finds herself confronted by a rapist. Fortunately, Frank arrives in time to fight off the attacker but he ruins things for himself by picking up where the rapist left off. Again Frank seeks atonement for his sin. Morris has passed away and Frank sacrifices himself for the Bobers. He takes over all the responsibilities of the store and works off his sins against the family. Frank could be seen as anything but a hero. He lacks the virtues that a hero should have and instead has virtues of a villain like cowardice, ignorance and, dishonesty. Malamud dispels this image by creating greatness from within Frank. He evokes sympathy from the readers and succeeds in creating a hero in Frank. Morris Bober is the other protagonist in The Assistant. He is a Jewish shopkeeper, an old man, and a good man. The grocery business is his life; he rarely leaves the store. Morris is a decent man. His calmness and inner peace are his only qualities that let him survive. He endures all the misery that befalls him. The poverty and the desperation around him do not change his steadfastness and honesty. The grocery store is Morris’ destiny. He could have sold it but he let that opportunity slip away. Any opportunity for change he let slip away. He let them pass because he wanted them to pass. Morris sees the store as his tomb but he cares for it and would not want to miss it. The best way to understand Morris’ character is by observing how he reacts to the people and events around him. When he finds Frank in the basement, he willingly gives Frank food and shelter. When Morris begins to understand what kind of person Frank really is, Morris doesn’t give up on him. Instead, he tries to transform Frank into a better person. .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .postImageUrl , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:visited , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:active { border:0!important; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:active , .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665 .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2af65e489894b3cf1a07820209d38665:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The adjective melodramatic EssayHe tries to bring out the good in Frank that he knows is there. Morris fires Frank when he finds out Frank was stealing from him. He doesn’t do this out of anger, but out of disappointment. Morris helps Frank more than he knows. He offers Frank spiritual guidance and assistance on matters of humanity. Morris does this with subtlety, so much so that he doesn’t even realize that he is doing it. Morris is a living example of honesty and goodness. Morris dies shortly after firing Frank. Against his wife’s will Morris shovels the sidewalk in front of the store. He dies with an inner peace and happiness. Karp, the liquor storeowner next door, offers to buy the grocery store. Morris is happy and financially well off because of this. He has prevailed against the forces of darkness and his suffering has not been in vain. Helen is the daughter of Morris. She is attractive and instantly catches the eye of Frank, much to the dismay of Ida. She is a lonely person and doesn’t know what she wants for herself. She is trapped in her situation because her family does not have the money to give her more than they have. She is a good-hearted person and a bit stubborn. Helen’s past boyfriends have all been disappointments. Instead of doing anything for her, they have either taken from her or just did nothing but talk. Helen did not want to settle for any of these people, she wanted much better for herself. So she waited. Her senses have been sharpened because of these past boyfriends and she is careful when it comes to selecting a future mate. At first she feels Frank is the same way the other boys, but then she realizes he is different. He sacrifices his evenings to work a second job. Frank uses this extra income to put money back into the store. This helps make up for the money he took out of the register, but Helen doesn’t know that. Frank is different than other people, there is a good person struggling to get out and Helen sees this. This good person does not always come out. When Frank saves her from the rapist, he could have won her for life. Instead, he ruins all future chances with Helen by raping her himself. Ida Bober is Morris’ wife and Helen’s mother. She has acted as Morris’ assistant in the past when it came to running the store. She is able to run the store, but she let Morris take care of it. Morris would not stop her from helping him unless he thought it was too much for her. She has a very strong influence on Morris, as any wife should. Ida was against Frank’s presence in the store as soon as he arrived. He was stealing milk and rolls from them. Morris had to lie to Ida and tell her the thief had stopped just so she would stop nagging him. She was against Frank sleeping in the back room of the store. Ida was sure all the merchandise would be gone in the morning, and when it wasn’t she still did not trust him. Ida tried very hard to keep Helen away from Frank, and she did a good job of it too. She gave Frank dinner before Helen got home in the evening. She let Frank have the nights off so he would not be around when Helen was. But her efforts could only go so far. A determined young male will always find a way to be with the woman he wants. Ida was crushed when she saw Frank and Helen kissing on a door stoop one night. Malamud did a wonderful job in creating these characters. Frank Alpine is a believable and simple character, even with all his flaws. Everybody has flaws and can relate to him. .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .postImageUrl , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:visited , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:active { border:0!important; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:active , .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32ee7bf1333280e060765fa9a353e14a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Everyday Use Walker EssayBy following his example we can strive to be good people even in the midst of our sins. Morris is also a simple man. He is a moral and does his best to help out his fellow man. He does not look for rewards for his actions; just knowing he did a good deed is reward enough. Helen has been hurt in the past and those wounds define who she is. She is careful of who she dates in case she would be hurt again. Ida is a realistic person, more concerned with the well being of her family than doing the right thing. She is a good wife and mother. Malamud used the right characters in telling his story, The Assistant.

President Reagan free essay sample

Social Darwinism Shaping Reaganomics Ronald Reagan made many economic decisions that supported his beliefs in Social Darwinism throughout his presidency. Social Darwinism is considered to be the ideas of struggle for existence and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"survival of the fittest,† a term coined by Herbert Spencer in order  to justify social policies. Over time the individuals with superior biological characteristics will dominate populations that this super species possessed. Couples who possessed these special qualities would then pass them down to their offspring, creating an elite generation in the modern world. Dominic Sandbrook the author of Mad as Hell, The Crisis of the 1970s and the Rise of the Populist Right, discusses president Reagan’s policies that were influenced by Social Darwinism beliefs with the assumption that conflict between groups in society leads to social progress. During his Presidency, Reagan was faced with many foreign matters, such as the ending of the  Cold War, the  1986 bombing of Libya, and the shock of the  Iran-Contra affair. We will write a custom essay sample on President Reagan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He publicly described the Soviet Union as an evil empire† and supported anti-communist movements worldwide while spending his first term forgoing the strategy of  detente,  by ordering a massive military buildup in an  arms race  with the USSR. Under a policy that came to be known as the  Reagan Doctrine, Reagan and his administration also provided overt and covert aid to  anti-communist  resistance movements  in an effort to rollback Soviet-backed communist governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Reagan recognized the change of the Soviet leadership with  Mikhail Gorbachev, and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet leader to pursue substantial arms agreements. Reagans personal mission was to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons, which he regarded as totally irrational, totally inhumane, good for nothing but killing, possibly destructive of life on earth and civilization. † Reagan negotiated with  Soviet General Secretary  Mikhail Gorbachev, then signing the  Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty  which  eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. Reagan implemented policies based on  supply-side economics  and advocated a  classical liberal  and  laissez-faire  philosophy, seeking to stimulate the economy with large, across-the-board  tax cuts. Reagan’s outlook on economics was what he and the public called â€Å"Reaganomics†. â€Å"The blueprint for â€Å"Reaganomics,† was a sketched out suppl y-side approach to the economic, including massive cuts in income taxes, capital gains taxes, and corporate taxes,†(340). His platform advocated reducing tax rates to spur economic growth, controlling the money supply to reduce inflation, deregulation of the economy, and reducing government spending. Reagans policies proposed that economic growth would occur when marginal tax rates were low enough to spur investment, which would then lead to increased economic growth, higher employment, and wages. Reagan’s beliefs on cutting taxes were supported by ideas of William Sumner who believed that the best equipped to win the struggle for existence was the American businessman, and concluded that taxes and regulations serve as dangers to his survival. Reagan believed strong nations were composed of people who were successful at expanding their empires and these strong nations would survive in the struggle for dominance. Following his less-government intervention views, Reagan cut the budgets of non-military programs  including  Medicaid,  food stamps, and federal education programs. Many Americans questioned whether Reagans policies benefited the wealthy more than those living in poverty and many poor minority citizens viewed Reagan unsympathetic to their struggles. â€Å"He increased spending on state universities and student grants; he approved stricter regulations for home insurance, real estate, retailing, doctors, dentists,†(187). When he increased the stricter regulations on other policies he was insuring that the rich would be better off from the programs he implemented. Further, many conservatives thought the poor should have to provide for themselves and not be given any financial support from the government. Elitists supported Reagan’s policies, believing that it is not the government’s obligation to provide assistance to people who are unequipped or under-equipped to compete for resources. They believed this would lead the country to where the weak and inferior are encouraged to breed more like themselves, eventually dragging the country down. Social evolution was based on the ideologies of individual competition, and those who believed in this theory also believed that the government existed for two purposes. One was to protect the individual and his property from foreign threat and the other was to protect the individual and his property from criminals. Reagan believed that the country’s problems could not be solved by more interference from the government stating that, In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem. Reagan practiced a pragmatic conservatism that balanced ideology and the constraints of politics, restored America’s pride and morale and contributed to victory in the Cold War.