American Civil War - 3524 Words

Experiences of the American Civil War (1861-1865): Honor, Duty and Death Introduction The following pages are an essay on the cause of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the effects that the war had upon the soldiers, women and African Americans of the North and the South. In this essay I will write about the following topics and present a view of how the war was witnessed by these different groups of people. In regards to the soldiers of the North and the South, I will answer the following questions: What was the enthusiasm of the soldiers from the North and the South before the war? What was their perspective after the fighting had started? How did the soldiers of the invading armies treat the civil population? The horrors of†¦show more content†¦The soldier’s perspectives on the length of the war were influenced by the motivation to protect their way of life. In describing the sentiments of Union and Confederate soldiers we can use some examples that are in letters sent home by the soldiers. One Kentucky confederate wrote, â€Å"I choose to fig ht for southern rights and southern liberty against the vandals of the North who were determined to destroy slavery†[vi]. Another opinion by a Wisconsin Union soldier states his reasons for fighting in the war, â€Å" I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot go free†[vii]Both the North and the South believed to be fighting to preserve the society that was prevalent in the respective regions of the United States. The South was trying to protect the institution of slavery and their society. The North, at the start of the war, only had the intention to overcome the succession, but they later realized that it could only do this by destroying slavery[viii]. When it became apparent to the soldiers on the battlefield that the war would not end quickly, the tone of enthusiasm changed. An example of the change in attitude can be obtained from the following passage that was written by the Union soldier Jno R. McClure to his sister in 1862 â€Å"I will tell you what I thi nk and that is the north will never whip the south as long as there is a man left in the south. They fight like wild devles. Ever man seems to determine to loose the lastShow MoreRelatedAmerican War And The American Civil War1551 Words   |  7 Pageswhich then caused the Southern states of America to decide to leave the American Union and create their own Southern Confederacy. This tore our nation apart. The American Civil War had begun and the very people that were once neighbors had each other’s blood on their hands. Many American lives had been lost. The American lives lost in the Civil War even exceeded the number of American lives lost during World War I and World War II. We were divided. The North wanted to reunite with the southern statesRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1376 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Civil War was arguably the most important war in the history of the country. The War of Independence may have allowed American to become its’ ow n country, but the Civil War resulted in something even more important than that, the end of slavery in the southern states. All of the issues that caused the Civil war were based around slavery, such as states’ rights that involved how slavery would be handled in each state, and trying to preserve the Union since the south seceded from the northRead MoreThe American Civil War1296 Words   |  6 Pages The American Civil War, also known as the State’s War, was a conflict that arose mostly from the issue of slavery, but deep down was due to economic differences between the North and the South. The South seceded from the North and created their own self-government due to their belief in the lack of state’s rights versus the federal government and what they saw as a weakness in the Articles of Confederation. While the Confederacy of the United States depended on slave labor for their economy in regardsRead MoreThe American Civil War1418 Words   |  6 PagesGuns fired, smoke lingering in the air, people dying. The American Civil War had a huge impact on the United States. Two compromises took place before the start of the Civil War. These compromises include the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. The Missouri Compromise dealt with the crisis in 1819 over Missouri entering the Union as a slave state. The compromise was â€Å"the first major crisis over slavery, and it shattered a tacit agreement between the two regions that had been in placeRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1618 Words   |  7 Pages A Civil War is a battle between the same citizens in a country. The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 to determine the independence for the Confederacy or the survival of the Union. By the time Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1861, in the mist of 34 states, the constant disagreement caused seven Southern slave states to their independence from the United States and formed the Confederate States of A merica. The Confederacy, generally known as the South, grew to include elevenRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1324 Words   |  6 PagesThere were many events that led to the cause of one of America’s most devastating war, the American Civil War. The American Civil War was an unfortunate war that cost more than the lives of six hundred thousand people. Events such as the Missouri Compromise, Kansas Nebraska Act, Dred Scott Decision, and the Election of Abraham Lincoln resulted in the four yearlong battles between the Northern and Southern states due to social and economic differences on the idea of slavery. In the 19th century,Read MoreThe War Of The American Civil War856 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery may have been established as the catalyst of the American Civil War, but the beginning of the dispute began in the time of the Revolution with a weak decentralized government under the Articles of Confederation. Later gained momentum as territorial expansion set Americans against each other on debating whether the new states should be slave states or free states, it questioned the power of the Federal government regarding state rights, and brought about instability in the unity of the UnitedRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War Essay1472 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Civil War lasted from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865. It was the bloodiest war in American history, killing approximately 620,000 soldiers in total. The War was fought and won by the North, ensuring that all the United States would stay united and slavery would be illegal in The United States. However, history is one of the most complicated things in the world. It’s also one of the most important things in the world because history is what made the present possible. Historians have debatedRead MoreThe American Civil War878 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction A civil war is a prolonged high-intensity conflict between people, countries, or parties, which is usually barefaced and armed. Every war has its causes either acceptable or not and some are inevitable. Commonly, civil wars are between countries within a state. It results from one country aiming to make implementations on their governing policies or take control of certain areas within the state. 1Civil War refers to the American Civil War, which took place in the year 1861 to 1865Read MoreThe War Of The American Civil War960 Words   |  4 Pagesslavery even if it meant war caused peace in this nation. Slavery was the vital cause of the American Civil War. The north and the south both had their differences on how to run the country. People in the North believed in unity and that slavery should not exist because â€Å"all men are created equally.† On the other hand, the South believed in continuing slavery. People tried to talk it out and come to a middle ground after both s ides compromising, however that didn’t work and caused war. Ideological differences

Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Free Essays

Medical history has been filled with an array of diseases and illnesses, ranging from the common cold to deadly killers. Some are easily treatable and others can be terminal, but some of the worst are those that still remain without a cure; one such disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a degenerative disease affecting the human nervous system. We will write a custom essay sample on Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is a deadly disease that cripples and kills its victims due to a breakdown in the body’s motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal cord that control muscle contractions. In ALS, these neurons deteriorate to a point that all movement, including breathing, halts. Muscle weakness first develops in the muscles of body parts distant from the brain, such as the hands, and subsequently spreads through other muscle groups closer to the brain. Such early symptoms as this, however, can hardly be noticed. Early symptoms of ALS are very slight and often overlooked. They begin as simple things, such as tripping or dropping things. Twitching or cramping of muscles and abnormal fatigue of the arms and legs may soon follow, causing difficulty in daily activities, such as walking or dressing. In more advanced stages, however, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing and swallowing ensue, until the body is completely taken over by the disease. Intellect, eye motion, bladder function, and sensation are the only abilities spared. Where and how this deadly disease originated is unknown, but it was first identified in 1869, by the noted French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. ALS is not contagious, but research is still vague on the cause of the disease. Today, there are three recognized forms of ALS: genetic, sporadic, and Guamanian. The genetic form of ALS appears to be inherited or passed down within a family, and about ten percent of ALS patients have a family history of the disease. An abnormal gene has been located in about half these families, but the cause of the remaining half is still unknown. The next, most common form, is sporadic ALS. These patients have no family history of disease, and the cause of their coming down with ALS is a mystery. Finally, is Guamanian ALS, called this because a high percentage of cases occur in the Pacific Islands near Guam. One major reason ALS is such a frightening disease is because no cure has been established. Although no effective treatment has been developed, a number of drug trials have been conducted, and there are some devices designed to help ALS patients maintain independence as well as safety as the disease progresses. These devices include ankle or foot braces, cervical collars, and reclining chairs. Since there is no cure, however, the primary treatment is for management of symptoms. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also a difficult disease to diagnose, primarily because no one test can definitely establish if the disease is present. A diagnosis includes most, if not all, of the following procedures: electrodiagnostic tests, blood and urinary study, thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels, spinal tap and imaging, and muscular or nerve biopsy. Most who develop ALS are between the ages of forty and seventy years of age, although cases have been reported of victims in their twenties and thirties. It was once thought to be a rare disease, but studies have shown that about 5,000 people in the United States are newly-diagnosed with ALS each year–about 13 new cases a day! It isn estimated that about 100,000 people who are apparently well in the country today will die with ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also popularly known as Lou Gehrig disease. Lou Gehrig was a famous baseball player in the 1930’s for the New York Yankees. Once known as baseball’s â€Å"Ironman†, Lou Gehrig was truly a sports legend. His promising career came to a screeching halt, however, when he was diagnosed with ALS. The disease not only took away his career in baseball, but his life; Lou Gehrig died at the young age of thirty-eight. In conclusion, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a deadly and frightening disease; its victims cannot be saved. Someday, hopefully, a cure will be developed, and the suffering this disease is causing will be stopped. How to cite Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Essay examples

Multiple sclerosis Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Multiple sclerosis Persuasive Essay Multiple Sclerosis, MS for short, effects approximately 5 in 10,000 people, and my step-mom Kathy happens to be one of the unlucky few (Rogner 5). MS is a disease that strikes the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal chord. These two organs control the movement and function of the entire body. Inside the body of a person with MS the tube that sends signals throughout the body is either partially of fully blocked, leaving the victim with for starters, impaired vision, strength, and coordination (5). There are a couple of different types of MS, which include relapsing-remitting, primary-progressive, secondary-progressive, and primary relapsing (Kalb 5). The type that my step mom has is primary-progressive, which is considered the worst type of MS. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society a person with primary-progressive MS is â€Å"characterized by a gradual but steady progression of disability from the onset, with no obvious plateaus or remissio ns, or only occasional plateaus and minor, temporary improvements.†In short this means that the symptoms Kathy is experiencing such as falling down due to a lack of coordination, tiredness, numbness, and bladder problems are only going to get worse. But possibly the worst symptom of all are mental problems such as a loss of self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. The most obvious effect that MS has on a person is a loss of coordination and balance; approximately 77 percent of people afflicted with MS experience this symptom (3). When my family went to the Grand Canyon for a vacation we had no idea that Kathy was afflicted with multiple sclerosis. We took a mule ride down to the bottom of the canyon, and when we reached our destination there was a ranch where we stayed the night. As you might expect it was very warm at the bottom of the canyon in the middle of the summer, over 100 degrees to be exact, so our family decided to go swimming in the river. On the walk down to the water, there was a metal grate that held rocks in place on the embankment, and as Kathy and my Dad walked down this grate Kathy slipped and tore up her foot on the metal. This was just a minor incident, but it was one of the first signs that Kathy could be having a problem. Now, about two years later Kathy walks with a cane, especially when she is in crowds of people, so she can eliminate having to hold on to strangers when she is about to fall over; she also has a constant feeling of weaknesses, described only by her as â€Å"my melting muscles† (Doyle). Sometimes on bike rides because her balance is so bad the wind will actually tip her over, and a task as simple as taking our dog for a walk has now become a chore. After a fifteen minute walk, which for the most part includes at least five falls, or close calls, Kathy has to lay down for at least a half hour just to get her strength back. To help keep the symptoms of MS down to a minimum Kathy has been prescribed a drug ca lled abonex. In order to administer abonex, Kathy has to give herself a shot once a week. The side effects of this shot are severe flue like symptoms for at least twelve hours after the shot has been taken. So once a week Kathy spends almost the entire day in bed, which not only makes her feel bad physically, but also emotionally. Kathy is the type of person who likes to get out and do things. Before she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she would run five miles a day, just to get exercise, and when her legs didn’t feel like running the entire five miles, before she would go to work she could be found on our Nordic Track getting her exercise for the day. Kathy has now gone from working sixty hours a week to forty, not including the almost weekly event of calling in and telling her boss that she is just to tired to come into work (Doyle). At one point Kathy was the top accountant at Hackley Hospital, now because she can’t work as much, or as efficiently, she has bec ome â€Å"just another accountant† (Doyle). This fact alone has really hurt her self esteem, just imagine being at the top of a company, and because of something you have no control over to be demoted back to where you started how ever many years ago. .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .postImageUrl , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:hover , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:visited , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:active { border:0!important; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad { 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; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:active , .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .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; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u99d1749e07271f92d579db4339c5a9ad:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Essay on Analysis Of The Book ' Secret Life Of Bees ' Essay As I have illustrated, multiple sclerosis can be very damaging to a person both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, there is no real cure for MS yet, but doctors all over the world are trying new and improved ways to treat, and for now at least, slow down the effects of MS. Hopefully, soon a cure will be found, and thousands of other individuals, and families will not have to go through what mine is.

International Bussiness an Asian Perspective Chapter 9-11 Essay Example

International Bussiness an Asian Perspective Chapter 9-11 Essay CHAPTER 9 1)  Ã‚  The interest rate on South Korean government securities with one-year maturity is 4% and the expected inflation rate for the coming year is 2%. The  US  interest rate on government securities with one-year maturity is 7% and the expected rate of inflation is 5%. The current spot exchange rate for  Korea  won is $1 = W1,200. Forecast the spot exchange rate one year from today. Explain the logic of your answer. Drawing on what we know about the Fisher effect, the real interest rate in both the  US  and  South Korea  is 2%. 2) The international Fisher effect suggests that the exchange rate will change in an equal amount but in an opposite direction to the difference in nominal interest rates. Hence since the nominal interest rate is 3% higher in the  US  than in  South Korea, the dollar should depreciate by 3% relative to the South Korean Won. Using the formula from the book:  Ã‚  (S1   S2)/S2  x 100 = i$   iWon  Ã‚  Ã‚  and substituting 7 for i$, 4 for iWon, and 1,200 for S1,  yields a value for S2  of $1=W1,165. 9. We will write a custom essay sample on International Bussiness an Asian Perspective Chapter 9-11 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on International Bussiness an Asian Perspective Chapter 9-11 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on International Bussiness an Asian Perspective Chapter 9-11 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 3) You manufacture wine goblets. In mid-June you receive an order for 10,000 goblets from Japan. Payment of ? 400,000 is due in mid-December. You expect the yen to rise from its present rate of $1 = ? 130 to $1 = ? 100 by December. You can borrow yen at 6 percent a year. What should you do? The simplest solution would be to just wait until December, take the ? 400,000 and convert it at the spot rate at that time, which you assume will be $1=? 100. In this case you would have $4,000 in mid-December. If the current 180-day forward rate is lower than 100? $, then a forward contract might be preferable since it both locks in the rate at a better level and reduces risk. If the rate is above ? 100/$, then whether you choose to lock in the forward rate or wait and see what the spot does will depend upon your risk aversion. There is a third possibility also. You could borrow money from a bank that you will pay back with the ? 400,000 you will receive (400,000/1. 03 = ? 388,350 borrowed), convert this today to US$ (388,350/1 30 = $2,987), and then invest these dollars in a US account. For this to be preferable to the simplest solution, you would have to be able to make a lot of interest (4,000 2,987 = $1,013), which would turn out to be an annual rate of 51% ((1,013/4000) * 2). If, however, you could lock in these interest rates, then this method would also reduce any exchange rate risk. What you should do depends upon the interest rates available, the forward rates available, how large a risk you are willing to take, and how certain you feel that the spot rate in December will be ? 100 = $1. 9. 3) You are the CFO of a Philipine firm whose wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico manufactures component parts for your Philipine assembly operations. The subsidiary has been financed by bank borrowings in the United States. One of your analysts told you that the Mexican peso is expected to depreciate by 30 percent against the dollar on the foreign exchange markets over the next year. What actions, if any, should you take? Your financing and operating capital are in dollars, yet many of your costs (labor) must be in peso. Your hard assets are all in peso, and their value will decline. On the other hand, if the peso depreciates, then your dollars will go further. So perhaps doing nothing is the best approach. If you are pretty sure that the peso will depreciate, then you may want to avoid any major peso-denominated costs that you can until after devaluation. That may mean holding back on shipments if possible, and you may want any dollar-denominated purchases made before the devaluation. You may want to move any peso-denominated major accounts into dollars before the devaluation. CHAPTER 10 1. Why did the gold standard collapse? Is there a case for returning to some type of gold standard? What is it? The gold standard collapse for the reason it would not allow for a nations economic expansion. When times of war or acts of the like required for a economys government to spend above the limits of its gold supply in turn the government would print extra money into circulation to compensate the excessive expenditures. This would cause a problem when these times of crisis would end and the extra printed money caused rapid inflation with in that nation. That nation would then try to re-establish its rate hold per ounce of gold, yet not being able to internationally maintain that rate which would cause failure in this system. This is just one good reason I see as the collapse of the gold standard. I would say not. The problem is presented when a nation has the desire and ambition to grow yet there is only a set amount of gold and silver to be removed from the earth to back monetary value. When you have a limited amount of backing it kind of limits your growth and expansion. I could foresee a problem with any system if the players are too inconsistant and change the environment of the game too often. I currently have faith in our floating exchange rate system because it acommidates human inconsistancy and allows for frequent change with the ability to stabilize. 2. What opportunities might current IMF lending policies to developing countries create for international businesses? Most of these developing countries are consumer countries. IMF usually focuses on areas that will be improved by the specific kitty. You can therefore look into these areas and seek to be an exporter to them, whether of services or of goods. These countries are also seeking to stabilize balance of trade. If they seek to import, there is still business for anyone who is aligned to hit at the right time. The fact also, that they have simplified cost and maturity means that it can create sustainability of any business that starts due to ease of re-borrowing. 3. Do you think the standard IMF policy prescriptions of tight monetary policy and reduced government spending are always appropriate for developing nations experiencing a currency crisis? How might the IMF change its approach? What would the implications be for international businesses? Critics argue that the tight macroeconomic policies imposed by the IMF in the recent Asian crisis were not well suited to countries that were not suffering from excessive government spending and inflation, but instead from a private-sector debt crisis with inflationary undertones. Anti-inflationary monetary policies and reductions in government spending usually result in a sharp contraction of demand, at least in the short run. In the longer term, the policies can promote economic growth and expansion of demand, which creates opportunities for international business CHAPTER 11 CLOSING CASE 1. Why did China Mobile feel it was necessary to issue equity in markets outside of its home base in Hong Kong? What are the advantages of such a move? Maybe it’s because China Mobile wanted to take advantage of international exchange rates. Since the company wanted to achieve maximum competitive advantage, one way of assuring itself that it will always have adequate capital funding is by seeking external currencies as sources for tapping and hedging against any local market conditions that may have a negative impact on its local stocks. The advantages of such a move are the fact that other major world currencies such as the U. S. dollar tend to be more stable against most world currencies and the fact that being cross listed easily can be a use of additional funding to the company in the future should the need arise. 2. Why did China Mobile price the bond issue in U. S. dollars instead of Hong Kong dollars? Pricing the bond issue in U. S. dollars instead of Hong Kong dollars is to safeguard the stability of the price of its bond. Since the capital markets within the American market is also the most vibrant in the world, pricing the bond in U. S. dollars will ensure that for purposes of trading, there is a more vibrant, ready and willing market that can assure China mobiles bond to have a fair value and upon expiration, market values will most likely be much higher than those of the local market. 3. Can you see any downside to China Mobiles international equity and bond issue? I don’t see any downside issues that should discourage China Mobiles international equity and bond issue. Probably, there would be more of a challenge in the socialist culture of China. By pricing its equity and bond internationally, the local market may shun from the company on their capital markets since it’s perceived to be more attractive in international players. Although China Mobile’s international.

Master Scholarships - Writing Graduate College Essay Tips

Master Scholarships - Writing Graduate College Essay TipsThe time to write a graduate college scholarship essay is just about now. As you begin to plan your career as a scholar, you want to know where you fit in. You want to know that you can have a bright future in the field of scholarship writing.So many things can come up in your life that you may not be able to spend time preparing for your college scholarship essay. It may be a serious illness that takes away all of your time or a serious job loss that takes away all of your funds. However, with a little planning, you can make this year the best one ever for yourself. With a little creativity and planning, you can find a way to get the graduate college scholarship you have always wanted.For some people, finding a place to go to school may seem like a huge project, but the fact is that you do not need to attend a university or college to get a graduate college scholarship. With a little research, you can easily find online univer sities that accept graduate students. Some schools are even starting to accept online graduate students. What's more, you can apply for these scholarships through websites.If you already have a college degree, then you should definitely consider applying for a graduate college scholarship. There are plenty of opportunities out there for the student who takes the time to apply. The truth is that many scholarships are offered through local agencies, but there are also online scholarships that can be found online.You may be wondering why you should spend money on a college graduate scholarship. Well, if you are a parent with a child heading off to college, it can be very helpful. So, what's more important, you are going to college or finding a way to pay the tuition?Now, what better news than the fact that there are scholarships out there for anyone to obtain. You will have the chance to get an education without spending hundreds of dollars on tuition every semester. Now, some scholars hips require a certain amount of money from your family. This will be an extra expense, but you can get a scholarship for a minimum amount that is determined by the scholarships that you are eligible for.A graduate college scholarship is a great thing to have. Apply today! There are no limits to what you can achieve, and you can be a part of it with a little bit of hard work.

Fast Online Degrees How to Find the Perfect Program

Fast Online Degrees How to Find the Perfect Program SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The traditional four-year bachelor’s degree program isn’t for everyone. People from all walks of life have benefitted from earning an accelerated bachelor’s degree, online and in person, for years. But, like with most things, you need to know a few things before you enroll in one of these programs. Not only do you need to understand what fast online degrees require, you need to know how they look on a resume and how to find the accelerated degree program that’s right for you. Don’t worry: we’ve got you covered. We’re going to give you the info you need to choose programs that enable you to get quick and easy online or in-person degrees by covering the following: What an accelerated degree program is The different types of accelerated degree programs, including fast online degrees, accelerated in-person degrees, and combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs How accelerated bachelor’s degree programs are different from traditional four-year bachelor’s degrees (and why knowing the difference matters) Examples of quick and easy online degrees and accelerated in person degrees through six different programs Things to watch out for as you choose an accelerated degree program Once you’ve read our guide to quick degree programs, you should feel confident in your ability to vet the many options out there and take control of your journey to a college degree. Now, let’s get to work! What Is an Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree? Online, In-Person, and Everything In Between Maybe you need to get a bachelor’s degree online- fast. Maybe you’re looking for a way to get a bachelor degree in 12 months or less, or you’re looking for a more time efficient way to get your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Whatever your goals, navigating the language out there about fast or accelerated degree programs can be pretty confusing! That’s because there are many different types of accelerated degree programs, and not all are created equal. And, of course, they can differ drastically in cost, time commitment, and the end result that you- the student- will get. In fact, choosing an accelerated degree program takes as much research and planning as committing to a traditional, four-year degree. It’s important for you to be able to navigate the different terminology out there surrounding fast and accelerated degree programs so you don’t get yourself into a financial commitment that you didn’t want to make in the first place. Unfortunately, there isn’t one accepted definition of an accelerated or fast degree program out there- those terms can mean many different things. In general, though, you can think of an accelerated degree program as a program that enables students to earn a college degree faster than the normal four years by offering options like more flexible schedules, online enrollment, and shorter courses. Next, we’ll talk a little bit about the main differences between accelerated degree programs and traditional, four-year bachelor’s degree programs. This will help you get an idea for what your experience might be like in the fast lane! 5 Key Differences Between Accelerated Degree Programs and Traditional Bachelor’s Degree Programs There are actually a lot of differences between accelerated degree programs and traditional degree programs, but we’re going to highlight the five differences that we think might play the biggest role in your decision about what type of degree program is right for you. You can think of these five differences as falling into three categories: time and the nature of course completion, admissions requirements and cost, and campus and classroom culture. Though going through a fast degree program will be different from the traditional four-year experience, there can be some advantages to it, and we’ll be sure to mention those below too! #1: Time to Degree Completion Now you know that in a â€Å"fast† or â€Å"accelerated† degree program, you’ll likely earn your bachelor’s degree in less than four years. But how long does it take to complete accelerated bachelor degree programs? For online programs, the time to completion is generally 12 to 18 months. There are exceptions to this- the time to completion varies significantly between schools and programs- but the year to year-and-a-half range is pretty standard for fast online degrees in the United States. If you’re entering an in-person accelerated program, the time to degree is #2: Course Structure At first glance, entering an accelerated degree program seems like a slam-dunk decision. After all, you’re getting the same degree- a bachelor’s- that people who go to college for four years (or five, or six...) get. So what’s the catch? Colleges and universities don’t pass out easy degrees just because you want to get your bachelor’s degree online fast. You’re going to have to do about the same amount of work as a student who’s completing their degree in four years...but you’re going to have less time to do it. That means accelerated programs usually offer shorter terms for course completion, and they offer more terms in a calendar year. In traditional four-year degree programs at universities, the fall and spring semesters are each typically sixteen weeks long, which means that students enroll in a set number of courses that last for sixteen weeks. Students enrolled in four-year degree programs typically take anywhere from 12 to 18 credit hours per sixteen-week semester. Accelerated programs- and especially accelerated online bachelor degree programs- handle these time frames differently. First, they don’t usually parse out their course offerings into sixteen-week semesters. Instead, accelerated degree programs often offer terms that can range from four weeks to eight weeks, then they offer more of these shorter terms in a calendar year. That means that unlike a traditional degree program, which usually has two semesters in an academic year, accelerated degree programs usually offer more terms. This gives students the opportunity to take a lot more courses than they could in a traditional degree program. Here’s an example of how that could work: say you’re getting your accelerated bachelor’s degree online and you enroll in 12 credit hours in a four-week term, then do that twice in a sixteen-week time frame. You could earn twice as many course credits as a student who enrolls in 12 hours for a sixteen-week semester in a traditional degree program. Having shorter terms more often is ideal for students who want or need to get quick and easy online degrees in a year or year and a half! #3: Admissions Requirement You’re probably also wondering what it takes to get admitted into an accelerated degree program. Every program has admissions requirements of some kind, and accelerated programs are no different. Admissions requirements will differ depending on the degree and the type of accelerated program you want to complete, so let’s look at some of those differences. First, pretty much any accelerated bachelor’s degree program is going to require that you have a high school diploma, just like traditional degree programs. This requirement can be even different for degrees in professional fields. Let’s say you want to enter a program that lets you earn a bachelor’s in nursing in 12 months. A degree program like that is probably going to require either that you’ve completed a two-year associate’s degree or that you have some college credits under your belt already. These college credits might be considered â€Å"prerequisite courses† for a professional program like nursing. To determine what requirements you need to meet in order to be admitted to an accelerated program, you’ll definitely need to do some solid research on the program itself. We also recommend you speak with someone in the school’s admissions department to make sure you have all the information you need before you apply. #4: Program Costs Then there’s also the difference in cost between a traditional four-year degree and an accelerated degree program. Students who enroll in traditional degree programs have to pay for a lot of additional things besides just their tuition. They have room and board, student activities fees, transportation fees, and much more. In an accelerated program, you might not have some of those additional costs. For instance, with an online degree program, you probably won’t have to pay for room and board. (Well, not to the college, anyway!) But you’ll still have fees and textbook costs, which can vary widely. Regardless, you’ll want to talk to someone in admissions or student financial services to find out what the total cost of attendance looks like for students in accelerated degree programs, and what you have to pay for besides just tuition. #5: Campus and Classroom Culture College is all about getting an education, right? But for many students- especially those heading to college straight from high school- college is also about a lot of other things: making new friends, having an exciting social life, living in the dorms on campus and eating in the dining hall, going to sporting events or joining Greek life, or participating in different clubs and organizations. If you decide to complete an accelerated program, you probably aren’t going to get to experience all of those aspects of college life. And for many students, that’s okay! Some people just need to get the degree, and they need to be able to do it while juggling a full time job, family and kids, or other responsibilities that need to take precedence over some of the social aspects of college life. The culture of the classroom can definitely be a bit different in an accelerated degree program as well. Students getting four-year degrees and taking mostly in-person courses are going to have the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with their professors and classmates. That can come with some perks: students can ask questions as material is being presented in class, engage in discussion of the course material in real-time, and benefit from the camaraderie that students can feel when they share a common- sometimes challenging!- experience with peers. Since many accelerated degree programs only offer online courses, the classroom dynamics are a bit different. The obvious change is that you won’t be in a classroom full of people when you learn the material. That doesn’t mean that your professor and peers won’t be accessible for asking questions and for discussion. It just means they’ll be accessible in different ways, like through online chats, discussion boards, and email. Online courses also mean your knowledge might be assessed in different ways, too. You might be completing a lot more quizzes and tests than, say, group projects or presentations. But many professors who teach online incorporate a variety of assessment styles into their courses, too. You might find yourself creating a video presentation, writing an essay collaboratively in Google Docs, or sharing blog posts for your classmates to read! How To Decide If an Accelerated Degree Program Is Right for You To choose an accelerated degree program, you need to make your choices based on a bit more info than simply whether an option is the fastest. (Even though we know that’s pretty tempting†¦) Here’s a list of questions you should consider as you pick an accelerated degree program: Whether you want to- or can- enroll as a part-time or full-time student Whether to choose an in-person or online degree program What kind of institution to choose (a four-year university, a community college, private vs. public university) Your financial situation and how you want to handle financing your degree What subject you choose to study or what field you want to get a degree in. Now, let’s talk about these ideas in a little more depth! Time Commitment First, you’ll want to evaluate your responsibilities and commitments in consideration of the compressed time frame of accelerated programs. In an accelerated degree program, you’re probably going to have to be able to complete a lot more school work and show results on quizzes and exams a lot more frequently in a shorter period of time. That means it might be harder to complete an accelerated program if you’ve already got a lot on your plate. Consider whether this time commitment is something that will work for you based on the other things you have going on in your life! Learning Style Do you learn best when you’re talking to other people, or does information stick better when you read it out of a book? These are just two examples of different learning styles! No one learning style is better than another, but accelerated degree programs- especially if they’re online- cater to people who like fast-paced, independent learning environments. For example, some people prefer fully immersing themselves in a couple of subjects for a shorter time frame, which is the style of coursework in an accelerated program. But some people have a more difficult time processing material in such a fast-paced environment, especially if the material is complex or requires you to master a new skill. Classroom Environment and â€Å"The College Experience† Even if the compressed timeline works for your learning style, you still want to consider whether learning in an online environment or a face-to-face environment is better for you. Some students really need the face-to-face interaction with their professors and classmates for accountability and a morale boost. Others prefer a high degree of independence and the option to reach out to their professor and classmates as needed. Additionally, if you really value the other things that a four-year college offers (like networking, extracurriculars, and volunteer opportunities), then you might find that being in an accelerated program feels like you’re missing out. If that’s the case, then you might want to do a little more research on scholarships that you qualify for and affordable four-year degree programs. Finances and Cost It’s also important to think about how the compressed time frame of an accelerated degree program might affect you financially. A lot of accelerated degree programs have a â€Å"pay-as-you-go† or â€Å"pay by the course† policy, which sounds great...until you consider the fact that you might be taking eight courses in a two month time frame. That can add up quickly, so you want to make sure how much of a financial burden you can accommodate before you dive into a one-year degree program. Finally, a lot of universities offer accelerated degree programs in many different fields of study! Sometimes, students who feel they need to complete their degree really fast will just pick a field of study or career path based on whatever they can complete the fastest. But there is probably an accelerated degree program out there in a field of study that you have experience in or that really interests you, so spend some quality time researching different possibilities- it’ll be worth it in the end. 6 Examples of Fast Degree Programs We want to give you some examples of accelerated degree programs at a variety of higher education institutions so you can learn a little bit about what the options are. Our list of six different examples of fast degree programs is selective- all of the colleges and universities listed are nonprofit, regionally and nationally accredited, and they’re generally well-respected institutions that are known for providing a quality education to their students. Additionally, it’s important to recognize that every institution or program on this list puts its own spin on the accelerated degree, whether that’s by offering quick online degrees, a bachelor degree in 12 months, or an accelerated combined bachelor’s and master’s degree. (Remember how we said they’re all different? We meant it!) So we’ll give you an overview of what the path to a specific degree looks like at each of these institutions, and we’ll also provide the details about what you’d be looking at in terms of admissions requirements and cost of attendance as well. #1: Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Washington-Seattle Campus The University of Washington’s ABSN- that’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing- is a full-time program that’s split into four quarters that start in the fall and end in the spring. That means it’s a one year program, so you can finish this degree in 12 months. If you’re looking for an online fast-track nursing program, you’ll want to look elsewhere, though. UW’s ASBN does not offer any â€Å"distance learning†- which is code for online courses. So who is a good fit for this program? The ASBN is for people who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking into a second career in nursing. If you got a degree but want to pursue a new career, this fast-track program could be the one for you. Here’s the glimpse at the admission requirements and prerequisites: you must have completed a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field prior to enrolling in the ASBN, have maintained a minimum college-level GPA of 2.8 and complete several science-related courses with a specific minimum GPA, and have accumulated a minimum of 100 hours of paid or volunteer healthcare experience in one setting in a three-month time frame in the year prior to enrolling in the ABSN. In terms of cost of attendance, UW’s ASBN program charges $10,171 in tuition per quarter. The program lists other required fees, additional costs to consider, and available financial support opportunities on their website. You’re probably gathering that this is the kind of accelerated degree program that requires you to have an outstanding prior academic record and a willingness to work hard. If you have a bachelor’s degree and are searching for a way to make a career change quickly, UW’s ASBN is a good example of the type of program that might suit your needs. To learn more about the ASBN at UW, check out their FAQs. #2: Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Southern New Hampshire University If you’re interested in a career in accounting, you could get a bachelor of science in accounting at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) through their online accounting degree program. SNHU’s online accounting degree program isn’t as accelerated as the nursing program we talked about above, but it does offer some options that could enable you to tailor your completion of the degree to your timeline. First, SNHU’s online accounting program offers six 8-week terms per year, giving you the opportunity to complete more courses in a 12-month timeframe. If you buckle down and take several courses in each eight-week term, you could definitely complete your degree in less than four years. Second, SNHU’s online degree program accepts up to 90 undergraduate transfer credits. That’s a third of the credits you need to graduate! If you started a degree but didn’t end up finishing in the past, or you have a lot of AP course credits, SNHU’s online program in accounting will accept them. Bringing in transfer credits from another accredited institution on top of taking advantage of the six eight-week terms per year could help you finish your degree at SNHU even more quickly. Finally, SNHU’s online accounting program does offer a fast-track bachelor’s-to-master’s degree. That means this fast-track program allows you to take master’s-level courses at the undergraduate tuition rate during your bachelor’s program. In other words, the courses will cost you less, and you’ll be able to complete your master’s degree more quickly. If you already know you’ll need to get a master’s degree, SNHU offers an affordable way to get it done. SNHU is a private, nonprofit university. The online undergraduate accounting degree program costs $960 per course and $320 per credit hour. To learn more about the goals of their online accounting program, the requirements for admission into the bachelor’s-to-master’s fast-track program, and cost of attendance, check out their website. #3: Information Science and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison If you’re looking to get a bachelor’s degree online fast, UW Flexible Options provides a model that might be a good fit for you. The Information Science and Technology (IST) program through UW Flexible Options allows you to work at your own pace in an online format, and it provides a high degree of freedom and flexibility. UW Flexible Options degree programs are typically a good match for students who have other responsibilities to juggle, like family life and work commitments. The program’s website states that the UW Flexible Options program is best suited for people who have prior professional experience in IT, or who are currently working in the field and have completed some college, technical school, or certification program in the IT world. One cool thing about UW’s Flexible Option program is that it allows students to custom-design their degree plans based on the transfer credits they’re bringing in and their career goals. Students are also encouraged to complete the program at their own pace. If you’re looking for a high degree of flexibility and you already know what your career goals are, the IST degree through UW’s Flexible Options program could be a good fit. And here’s the coolest thing about UW’s Flexible Option program: instead of paying tuition by course or credit, you have the option to pay a flat rate for a three-month subscription and complete â€Å"competency sets† at your own pace. For instance, the â€Å"All-You-Can-Learn† subscription option is $2250. During that three month subscription period, you could complete multiple competency sets instead of just one. What this basically means is that you can work with all the learning materials provided in the subscription packet you paid for, and when you’re able to demonstrate mastery of a skill or competency, you receive your credit. It doesn’t matter if it takes you two weeks or two months to show mastery! If you’re able to work at a steady pace and show mastery of more skill sets in a single three-month subscription period, you’re basically getting more out of the tuition you paid and you’ll be getting your degree done more quickly. So if speed is your primary requirement for getting your bachelor’s degree online fast, UW’s Flexible Options program is probably the best one on our list for that. Since the format and requirements for the UW Flexible Options program is pretty nontraditional, it might seem pretty confusing at first read. To get all the details and a full explanation of the Flexible Options program, the subscription packets, and competency sets, take a look at the FAQs page on the UW Flexible Options website. #4: Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Louisiana State University The online bachelor of science in marketing at Louisiana State University (LSU) is an accelerated online degree program, so you can complete your bachelor’s degree faster. Like other programs on our list, LSU’s online Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing offers generous transfer credit acceptance. Unlike some of the other programs on our list, though, LSU’s program is a good fit for first-time college students too. The university’s Career Services office and hands-on professors are willing to provide the guidance and support that new college students probably need. LSU’s website is extremely user-friendly: they provide a list of options that allows students to select their specific admission type and learn about the unique admission requirements for their situation. Their â€Å"Calendar† section also lists the next application due date and class start date, so prospective students considering the program know how soon they can get started in the program. LSU’s online BS in Marketing offers pay-as-you-go-tuition, and the tuition is pretty reasonable compared to many programs: $284 per credit hour. Take a look at LSU’s website for a full breakdown of tuition for the B.S. in Marketing online program. The one drawback is that the degree requires quite a bit of coursework. You must complete 120 credit hours to earn the degree, but the program offers multiple start dates per year so you can fit more coursework into a 12-month period. #5: Online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Bellevue University There are some advantages to Bellevue University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree program that the other programs on our list don’t have. Unlike some of the other programs on our list, you don’t have to have any prior college course credit or professional experience to be admitted into this program. So if you’re coming straight from high school or getting your GED, this online program might work out for you. If you decide to complete the BA in Graphic Design program online, unfortunately, you’re going to be paying more per credit hour at Bellevue. Per credit hour tuition for online courses is $425. Bellevue’s BA in Graphic Design program requires 127 total credits for degree completion, so this is one of the pricer options on our list. Additionally, their website is a bit vaguer than some other institutions’ about how transfer credits work, though. They recommend that prospective students consult with an admissions counselor to determine which credits are eligible for transfer. Bellevue’s online BA in Graphic Design is probably the best example of a program on our list that is going to have some â€Å"hidden† costs that you want to be aware of before you decide to enroll. The university’s website says that the online Graphic Design degree program requires the use of â€Å"industry standard graphic design software and hardware.† The website’s â€Å"Curriculum† page gets more specific about these technology requirements, and you’ll definitely want to look over those before deciding to enroll! #6: PlusOne B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering, Northeastern University Somewhat similar to Southern New Hampshire University’s online bachelor’s in accounting, Northeastern offers students the opportunity to accelerate completion of the bachelor’s degree by applying graduate credits taken as an undergraduate toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. This is called the PlusOne program at Northwestern, and the bachelor’s of science and master’s of science in civil engineering is one of the many degree programs offered through the program. Now, this option is probably the most similar to a traditional, four-year bachelor’s program on this list. If you’re looking specifically for the opportunity to finish a master’s degree at an accelerated pace, rather than to finish a bachelor’s degree quickly, the PlusOne degree program options might work out for you. So how does the PlusOne program work? Well, by enrolling in the PlusOne program, students can earn up to 16 credits toward a bachelor’s and master’s degree, allowing them to earn their master’s one year sooner than they would in a traditional master’s program. So, you’d be looking at five years to completion of both your bachelor’s and master’s in the PlusOne program. The PlusOne program would also offer you a thriftier option. Since the 16 credits count toward both your bachelor’s and master’s, you’ll be paying for fewer classes! And here’s another plus (no pun intended): When students successfully complete the requirements for the bachelor’s degree in their field in the PlusOne program, they receive guaranteed admission into their graduate degree program. Northeastern offers a lot of PlusOne programs in addition to the B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering. If civil engineering isn’t the path you want to pursue but you’re interested in the PlusOne program, browse the extensive program listings on the PlusOne website! 3 Things to Watch Out for When Picking an Accelerated Degree Program We’ve already talked about how confusing it can be trying to navigate the many different options out there for accelerated degree programs. On top of everything we’ve already covered, we also want to share three things that it’s really important to watch out for or look into as you choose a program, college, or university to pursue a degree through. A sad truth about institutions of higher education in the U.S. is that not all of them have your best interest in mind. Some are even considered predatory! We want you to know how to sniff out the bad eggs for yourself and how to determine that a school or institution provides everything you need to be successful. That’s why we’ve developed this list of three things to watch out for as you research fast online degrees. #1: Say No to For-Profit Colleges This is our biggest warning: stay away from accelerated degree programs at for-profit colleges! Oftentimes, when you do an Internet search for an accelerated bachelor’s degree online, for example, the very first results you’ll get will be ads for for-profit colleges. What is a for-profit college? For profit colleges are typically owned and operated by private companies or shareholders who are expecting to make a profit off of you- the student. For profit schools sell a product: their education. And, who are the customers? The students who enroll and pay for that education. Basically, for profit colleges’ primary goal is to make money. That’s why we recommend that you find a program at a nonprofit college or university instead. And, remember this: you can Google any college, university, or program and find out if it is for-profit. We strongly encourage you to do this before you get too invested in the idea of a particular program or university- it’ll save you time, money, and heartache in the long run. #2: Make Sure the Program Is Accredited Before you enroll in any degree program at any college or university, you need to make sure it is a regionally and nationally accredited institution and program. The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that the education provided by institutions and programs of higher education is meeting acceptable levels of quality. Making sure the institution or program you’re enrolling in is accredited matters because employers may question your career preparedness and the quality of your education if they see you have a degree from an unaccredited institution or program. Plus, students enrolled in unaccredited institutions can’t get federal financial aid, and if you ever wanted to transfer to an accredited school, they likely won’t accept your credits. So how can you make sure you don’t accidentally enroll in an unaccredited institution or program? Though the U.S. Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions or programs itself, the Department does review all federally-recognized accrediting agencies and maintains a database of accredited schools and federally-recognized accrediting agencies. If you are unsure about a school’s accreditation status or whether its accrediting agencies are legit, you can search for both in the government database. #3: Get the Full Scoop on Cost of Attendance After reading our list of six accelerated degree programs, you’ve probably realized that every fast degree program is different: there are different requirements for admission, different enrollment periods and term lengths, different rules about transfer credit...and different fees you have to pay to enroll as a student. If you’re completing an accelerated bachelor’s degree online through an institution, it might seem like you shouldn’t have to pay any fees besides tuition per credit hour. Sadly, there are almost always additional fees you have to pay to enroll in a degree program, even if you’re doing distance education. To avoid receiving a surprise bill, carefully read all of the online info about cost of attendance through the degree program you’re looking into. You also want to consider additional costs for materials or supplies you might need that you won’t have to pay the college or university itself, but that will be essential to your successful completion of your degree. Stuff like this might include a laptop or computer, headphones, or eBooks or subscription packets to learning modules. Adding up all of the costs- including the â€Å"hidden† ones- will alleviate a lot of stress once you actually get into your degree program and don’t want money worries lingering over your shoulder. The other finance-related thing we want to recommend is that you contact the financial aid office at the institution where you’re enrolling. A lot of students assume that there aren’t scholarships or other financial aid opportunities available for students who are getting an accelerated bachelor’s degree online, but that just isn’t universally true. Make phone calls, send emails, and ask questions. You might stumble upon a great funding opportunity that will save you money as you complete your degree! What's Next? Do you have the need for speed? If so, you might be interested in our guide to raising your high school GPA fast. We also have cram-worthy tips that help you prepare for your SAT (and your ACT) in 10 days. One of the most important parts of paying for college is applying for scholarships. Don’t leave free money on the table! We’ve got guides to help you apply- and win!- major scholarships from companies like Tylenol and Walmart. (We have a complete run-down on the Gates Scholarship, too!) If you want to maximize the return on your time investment at a four-year university, you should think about double majoring. Learn more about double majoring here. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Ashley Robinson About the Author Ashley Sufflà © Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. 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Biography of Al Capone, Prohibition Era Crime Boss

Biography of Al Capone, Prohibition Era Crime Boss Al Capone (January 17, 1899–January 25, 1947) was a notorious gangster who ran an organized crime syndicate in Chicago during the 1920s, taking advantage of the era of Prohibition. Capone, who was both charming and charitable as well as powerful and vicious, became an iconic figure of the successful American gangster. Fast Facts: Al Capone Known For: Notorious gangster in Chicago during ProhibitionBorn: January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, New YorkParents: Gabriele and Teresina (Teresa) CaponeDied: January 25, 1947 in Miami, FloridaEducation: Left grade school at 14Spouse: Mary Mae CoughlinChildren: Albert Francis Capone Early Life Al Capone (Alphonse Capone, and known as Scarface) was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrants Gabriele and Teresina (Teresa) Capone and was the fourth of their nine children. From all known accounts, Capones childhood was a normal one. His father was a barber and his mother stayed home with the children. They were a tight-knit Italian family trying to succeed in their new country. Like many immigrant families at the time, the Capone children often dropped out of school early to help earn money for the family. Al Capone stayed in school until he was 14 and then left to take a number of odd jobs. Around the same time, Capone joined a street gang called the South Brooklyn Rippers and then later the Five Points Juniors. These were groups of teenagers who roamed the streets, protected their turf from rival gangs, and sometimes carried out petty crimes like stealing cigarettes. Scarface It was through the Five Points gang that Al Capone came to the attention of brutal New York mobster Frankie Yale. In 1917, 18-year-old Capone went to work for Yale at the Harvard Inn as a bartender and as a waiter and bouncer when needed. Capone watched and learned as Yale used violence to maintain control over his empire. One day while working at the Harvard Inn, Capone saw a man and woman sitting at a table. After his initial advances were ignored, Capone went up to the good-looking woman and whispered in her ear, Honey, you have a nice ass and I mean that as a compliment. The man with her was her brother, Frank Gallucio. Defending his sisters honor, Gallucio punched Capone. However, Capone didnt let it end there; he decided to fight back. Gallucio then took out a knife and slashed at Capones face, managing to cut Capones left cheek three times (one of which cut Capone from ear to mouth). The scars left from this attack led to Capones nickname of Scarface, a name he personally hated. Family Life Not long after this attack, Al Capone met Mary (Mae) Coughlin, who was pretty, blonde, middle-class, and came from a respectable Irish family. A few months after they started dating, Mae became pregnant. Al Capone and Mae got married on December 30, 1918, three weeks after their son (Albert Francis Capone, a.k.a. Sonny) was born. Sonny was to remain Capones only child. Throughout the rest of his life, Al Capone kept his family and his business interests completely separate. Capone was a doting father and husband, taking great care in keeping his family safe, cared for, and out of the spotlight. However, despite his love for his family, Capone did have a number of mistresses over the years. Plus, unknown to him at the time, Capone contracted syphilis from a prostitute before he met Mae. Since the symptoms of syphilis can disappear quickly, Capone had no idea that he still had the sexually transmitted disease or that it would so greatly affect his health in later years. Chicago About 1920, Capone left the East Coast and headed to Chicago. He was looking for a fresh start working for Chicago crime boss Johnny Torrio. Unlike Yale who used violence to run his racket, Torrio was a sophisticated gentleman who preferred cooperation and negotiation to rule his crime organization. Capone was to learn a lot from Torrio. Capone started out in Chicago as a manager for the Four Deuces, a place where clients could drink and gamble downstairs or visit prostitutes upstairs. Capone did well in this position and worked hard to earn Torrios respect. Soon Torrio had increasingly important jobs for Capone and by 1922, Capone had risen up the ranks in Torrios organization. When William E. Dever, an honest man, took over as Chicagos mayor in 1923, Torrio decided to avoid the mayors attempts to curb crime by moving his headquarters to the Chicago suburb of Cicero. It was Capone who made this happen. Capone established speakeasies, brothels, and gambling joints. Capone also worked diligently to get all the important city officials on his payroll. It didnt take long for Capone to own Cicero. Capone had more than proven his worth to Torrio and it wasnt long before Torrio handed over the entire organization to Capone. Crime Boss Following the November 1924 murder of Dion OBanion (an associate of Torrio and Capones who had become untrustworthy), Torrio and Capone were seriously hunted by one of OBanions vengeful friends. Fearing for his life, Capone drastically upgraded everything about his personal safety, including surrounding himself with bodyguards and ordering a bulletproof Cadillac sedan. Torrio, on the other hand, did not greatly change his routine and on January 12, 1925, he was savagely attacked just outside his home. Nearly killed, Torrio decided to retire and hand his entire organization over to Capone in March 1925. Capone had learned well from Torrio and soon proved himself to be an extremely successful crime boss. Capone as a Celebrity Gangster Al Capone, only 26 years old, was now in charge of a very large crime organization that included brothels, nightclubs, dance halls, race tracks, gambling establishments, restaurants, speakeasies, breweries, and distilleries. As a major crime boss in Chicago, Capone put himself in the publics eye. In Chicago, Capone became an outlandish character. He dressed in colorful suits, wore a white fedora hat, proudly displayed his 11.5-carat diamond pinky ring, and would often pull out his huge roll of bills while out in public places. It was hard not to notice Al Capone. Capone was also known for his generosity. He would frequently tip a waiter $100, had standing orders in Cicero to hand out coal and clothes to the needy during the cold winters, and opened some of the first soup kitchens during the Great Depression. There were also numerous stories of how Capone would personally help out when he heard a hard-luck story, such as a woman considering turning to prostitution to help her family or a young kid who couldnt go to college because of the high cost of tuition. Capone was so generous to the average citizen that some even considered him a modern-day Robin Hood. Cold-Blooded Killer As much as the average citizen considered Capone to be a generous benefactor and local celebrity, Capone was also a cold-blooded killer. Although the exact numbers will never be known, it is believed that Capone personally murdered dozens of people and ordered the killing of hundreds of others. One such example of Capone handling things personally occurred in the spring of 1929. Capone had learned that three of his associates planned to betray him, so he invited all three to a huge banquet. After the three unsuspecting men had eaten heartily and drank their fill, Capones bodyguards quickly tied them to their chairs. Capone then picked up a baseball bat and began hitting them, breaking bone after bone. When Capone was done with them, the three men were shot in the head and their bodies dumped out of town. The most famous example of a hit believed to be ordered by Capone was the February 14, 1929 assassination now called the St. Valentines Day Massacre. On that day, Capones Henchman Machine Gun Jack McGurn attempted to lure rival crime leader George Bugs Moran into a garage and kill him. The ruse was actually quite elaborate and would have been completely successful if Moran hadnt been running a few minutes late. Still, seven of Morans top men were gunned down in that garage. Tax Evasion Despite committing murder and other crimes for years, it was the St. Valentines Day Massacre that brought Capone to the attention of the federal government. When President Herbert Hoover learned about Capone, Hoover personally pushed for Capones arrest. The federal government had a two-pronged attack plan. One part of the plan included collecting evidence of Prohibition violations as well as shutting down Capones illegal businesses. Treasury agent Eliot Ness and his group of Untouchables were to enact this part of the plan by frequently raiding Capones breweries and speakeasies. The forced shut down, plus the confiscation of all that was found, severely hurt Capones business- and his pride. The second part of the governments plan was to find evidence of Capone not paying taxes on his massive income. Capone had been careful over the years to run his businesses with cash only or through third parties. However, the IRS found an incriminating ledger and some witnesses who were able to testify against Capone. On October 6, 1931, Capone was brought to trial. He was charged with 22 counts of tax evasion and 5,000 violations of the Volstead Act (the main Prohibition law). The first trial focused only on the tax evasion charges. On October 17, Capone was found guilty of only five of the 22 tax evasion charges. The judge, not wanting Capone to get off easily, sentenced Capone to 11 years in prison, $50,000 in fines, and court costs totaling $30,000. Capone was completely shocked. He had thought he could bribe the jury and get away with these charges just like he had dozens of others. He had no idea that this was to be the end of his reign as a crime boss. He was only 32 years old. Alcatraz When most high-ranking gangsters went to prison, they usually bribed the warden and prison guards in order to make their stay behind bars plush with amenities. Capone was not that lucky. The government wanted to make an example of him. After his appeal was denied, Capone was taken to the Atlanta Penitentiary in Georgia on May 4, 1932. When rumors leaked out that Capone had been receiving special treatment there, he was chosen to be one of the first inmates at the new maximum security prison at Alcatraz in San Francisco. When Capone arrived at Alcatraz in August 1934, he became prisoner number 85. There were no bribes and no amenities at Alcatraz. Capone was in a new prison with the most violent of criminals, many of whom wanted to challenge the tough gangster from Chicago. However, just as daily life became more brutal for him, his body began to suffer from the long-term effects of syphilis. Over the next several years, Capone began to grow increasingly disoriented, experienced convulsions, slurred speech, and a shuffling walk. His mind quickly deteriorated. After spending four-and-a-half years at Alcatraz, Capone was transferred on January 6, 1939, to a hospital at the Federal Correctional Institution in Los Angeles. A few months after that Capone was transferred to a penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. On November 16, 1939, Capone was paroled. Retirement and Death Capone had tertiary syphilis, which could not be healed. However, Capones wife Mae took him to a number of different doctors. Despite many novel attempts at a cure, Capones mind continued to degenerate. Capone spent his remaining years in quiet retirement at his estate in Miami, Florida while his health slowly got worse. On January 19, 1947, Capone suffered a stroke. After developing pneumonia, Capone died on January 25, 1947, of cardiac arrest at age 48. Sources Capeci, Dominic J. Al Capone: Symbol of a Ballyhoo Society. The Journal of Ethnic Studies 2.33–50 (1975).Haller, Mark H. Organized Crime in Urban Society: Chicago in the Twentieth Century. Journal of Social History 5.2 (1971): 210–34.Iorizzo, Luciano J. Al Capone: A Biography. Greenwood Biographies. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2003.