Reinforcement of Cultural Identity and its effects on Productivity of Latino Workers - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1226 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/10 Category Culture Essay Level High school Tags: Cultural Identity Essay Did you like this example? In the last few years the topic of Latinos, immigration, and jobs has been under constant scrutiny by the media and politicians. Regardless of the rhetoric, Latinos constitute a rapid growing segment in United States. In 2016, there were 26.8 million Hispanics or Latinos in the U.S. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Reinforcement of Cultural Identity and its effects on Productivity of Latino Workers" essay for you Create order labor force, nearly triple the 9.0 million in 1988. Hispanics or Latinos composed 16.8 percent of the labor force in 2016, up from 7.4 percent in 1988. By 2017, the number of Latinos either working or looking for work was at 66.1% a higher rate than for non-Latinos which is at 62.2%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, the Economics Daily, 2017) Though most of us can feel the rising number of Latinos in the United States very few think about the impact this community will have in the productivity of different sectors. In order for us to analyze the productivity of Latinos it is to understand the many members of this ethnic group have experienced prejudice and discrimination. Research shows that acculturation, oppression and racism create social barriers that pose serious threat for Latinos and these experiences shape their construction of a social identity. (Padilla, 2002) More research needs to be conducted in order to really understand the impact of the diverse s ituations that Latinos face and how it shapes their cultural identity which in turn affects their productivity. Thus, this study aims to take a look at the way Latinos cultural identity is affected in the United States and how it affects their productivity. As mentioned before the Latino minority group is growing at a rapid speed. Many Latinos are born in the United States, foreign born Latinos make-up 46% of the population of this minority group (Larsen, 2004). Many of them bring youth, little to no formal education and no knowledge of the English language. (Roosa, Morgan-Lopez, Cree, Specter, 2002) Their experience in the United States is one where they earn less income, have lower educational outcomes and are more likely to live in poverty compared to those born the United States. (Larsen, 2004) While the reasons leading to migration differs from family to family many choose to leave their countries of origin because of financial or political situations. This experience indicates a life crisis not just to the family system but also within the individual. One of the main stressors for Latinos cultural identity is Acculturation. The process of internal change experienced by immigrants exposed to a new cultural that has changes in the ir behavior, values systems, and norms. (Social Science Research Council, 1954) The stress associated with this initial transition period may result in depression or anxiety, and individuals who experience significant trauma during migration may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Smart Smart, 1995). During this period of change Latinos not only face the transition into a minority status and the perceived anti-Latino sentiment in the United States can lead to social stigmatization for all Latinos. Many Latinos are aware to of the negative perceptions of their group held by non-Latinos. (Casas, Ponterotto, Sweeney, 1987) This realization can result in the negative feelings such as powerlessness, low self-esteem and inferiority. With all this negative stress, Latinos respond in a variety of ways to the majority culture. As Latinos go through the process of acculturation a by-product of this is the internalized oppression that is created. According to Laura M. Padilla, when a victim experiences a hurt that is not healed, distress patterns emerge w hereby the victim engages in some type of harmful behavior. Internalized oppression has been described as the process why which these patterns reveal themselves. Many of these patterns are evident when analyzing the productivity in the Latino minority group. One of the most evident sectors is education. The education attainment rate is slower than other non-Latino groups. Upon entering kindergarten 42% of Latino children are found to be the lowest quartile of performance in reading readiness. By 4th grade 16% Latino students are proficient in reading. When it comes to completing college only 11% of Latinos ages 25-29 obtain a Bachelors degree but most alarming is the lack of progress made by Latinos in obtaining higher education in the last 20 years. Many Latino parents have come to believe that they cannot help their children learn because they havent experienced much formal education themselves, or because they dont speak English, and their skills and abilities are often overlooked by schools. (Gendara, 2008) This type of mindset that these parents have can be attributed by many reasons. We can clearly see how this type of internal oppression and the attempt to strip away the culture of origin can have a significant impact in the way a group develops and shows productivity. Though many factors contribute to the alarming education gap of Latinos in the United States one way to combat this phenomenon is by introducing bilingual education programs. Language and cultural barriers of Hispanic workers can seriously affect jobsite communication, which further hinders productivity, and increase safety risk (Robertson, 2007). Creating educational programs that reinforce positive Latino cultural values and increased exposure of the language to both Latinos and non-Latinos it may have a positive effect in productivity in the workplace. Allowing for Latinos to develop in a bicultural environment will enhance their productivity. If we reinforce early bicultural programs we would allow for Latinos to enhance their unique skills as multicultural individuals making them more competitive in the global work force. Making it a more cost efficient approach for organizations when it comes training and development. (Fitzsimmons, 2013) Research shows immigration has a positive, large and significant effect on total factor productivity but it also had a negative impact on specialized skills. (Peri, 2009) Studies show that students in dual language programs, compared with similar students who are in English-only programs, find that in the two-way immersion students either perform as well as those students in English-only or they outperform the English-only students, across all academic areas. (Genesee et al., 2006) Having, Latinos in two-way or dual immersion programs can lead to more positive attitudes toward non-English languages and cultures and exhibit better intercultural relations. (Genesee and Gendara, 1999) The lack of these programs has taken a toll in the academic productivity of Latinos. The reinforcement of the language is an essential aspect for Latinos to be connected with culture of origin. Understanding the benefits of learning more than language will help increase the awareness of this issue and see the potential benefits it has for American productivity in various sectors. Evidence that Latinos experience in the United States helps contribute to the lack of development as a group. The Latino population is affected by the anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. Many forget that Latinos are not all immigrants and are also native born Americans. This type of misunderstanding allows for discrimination and racism to prevent this group from being more productive. It is evident that lack of goal specification, communication and incentives for goal attainment and low cultural collectivism contribute to the groups performance. (Erez, Somech, 1996) Giving that there is still very little research as to the effects of cultural identity and its effects on productivity, the Latino population in the United States gives us a glimpse to what happens when deculturalization happens systematically. The staggering lag of the Latino population calls for us to revisit topics of cultural reinforcement in order for productivity to increase in various sectors. With the rising numbers of population Latinos are a sleeping asset waiting to be developed.

Is The Death Penalty Ever Justified - 1099 Words

Lyndze Curry Professor Jennifer Arceo English 1301.1CY 09, June 2015 Is The Death Penalty Ever Justified? In the American society many citizens argue daily, is the death penalty justified? The United States is sharply divided, and equally strong among both supporters and protesters of the death penalty. Arguing against capital punishment, many believe The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights (White).† Some simply believe it to be premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice (about.com). It violates the right to life. Some would even argue that this violates the Eight Amendment for no cruel or unusual punishment inflected. Many argue that the death penalty diminishes all of us, increases disrespect for human life, and offers the tragic illusion that we can teach that killing is wrong by killing. However, I completely disagree that the death penalty is cruel unnecessary punishment. If an individual intentionally and knowingly commits a crime that deserves the death penalty then I believe it is justified. For example, if someone kills an innocent citizen then I feel it would be okay to take the life of the person who committed the crime. The phrase, Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, (New Testament)† is punishment in which the offender suffers what the victim has suffered, exact retribution. There are defendants who earn the ultimate punishment that society has to offer by committing murderShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Is It Ever Justified?1111 Words   |  5 Pagesbeing committed more often. The death penalty is something that is needed here in the United States to help lower these ongoing vicious crime rates. In the essay â€Å"The Death Penalty: Is It Ever Justified?† Written by Edward I. Koch, this exact issue is discussed. Koch believ es capital punishment in the form of the death penalty may help make these criminals to understand morality, or right from wrong. He states, â€Å"Life is indeed precious, and I believe the death penalty helps to affirm that fact† (483)Read MoreThe Death Penalty Is It Ever Justified?958 Words   |  4 Pageswere written about the death penalty. Throughout this essay I will be using examples from multiple sources. Marie Cartier â€Å"Right to Life vs Right to A Life†, Edward Koch â€Å"The Death Penalty: Is it Ever Justified?†, David Bruck â€Å"The Death Penalty† which is a direct response to Koch, and lastly Zachary Shemtob and David Lat â€Å" Should Executions Be Televised†. It should also be stated that when talking about the value of life, this author is referring to the criminal, on death row for murder. As insensitiveRead MoreCan The Death Penalty Ever Be Justified?1828 Words   |  8 PagesCan the death penalty ever be justified? The legitimacy of the use of capital punishment has been tarnished by its widespread misuse , which has clouded our judgment regarding the justifiability of the death penalty as a punitive measure. However, the problems with capital punishment, such as the â€Å"potential error, irreversibility, arbitrariness and racial skew , are not a basis for its abolition, as the world of homicide suffer from these problems more acutely. To tackle this question, one mustRead MoreThe Death Penalty: Can It Ever Be Justified? Essay1426 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"The Death Penalty: Can It Ever Be Justified?† Edward I. Koch uses his essay â€Å"The Death Penalty: Can It Ever Be Justified?† to defend capital punishment. He believes that justice for murderous crimes is essential for the success of the nation. The possibility of error is of no concern to Koch and if would-be murderers can be deterred from committing these heinous crimes, he feels the value of human life will be boosted and murder rates will consequently plummet (475-479). Koch makes a valiantRead MoreCapital Punishment Essay example710 Words   |  3 PagesCapital Punishment Lets keep society safe and give murderers what they deserve - the death penalty. In this essay I will hope to set out both sides of the argument, for and against Capital Punishment. The advantages and the disadvantages will be considered in conjunction with Christian teachings and belief. The Christian teachings, Old Testament and New Testament will also be compared with human reactions to the subject. From my research and analysis inRead MoreDealth Penalty Is Not a Solution Essay1003 Words   |  5 PagesIs the death penalty a good solution to crime? The death penalty is not a good solution to crime. The ultimate purpose of the justice system is to control crime by punishing criminals and protect people by imprisoning them. Compared to the death penalty, life imprisonment not only achieves the same goals but also in many ways it can be more effective than capital punishment. In the Vincent Brothers’ case of 2004, Brothers murdered five of his family members- his wife, children, and mother in lawRead MoreCapital Punishment : A Prosperous And Amazing Journey For The Development And Advancements Of The Human Race1656 Words   |  7 Pagesand Han dynasties all demonstrated the need for a death penalty to expunge the evil from their land. Established in the Roman 12 Tablets, contested as one of the greatest pieces of law from its time, validated the death penalty on the concept that a nation needed to be pure and as humanely guided as possible. The concept of capital punishment, although highly challenged, has a chronicle of evidence that supports the requirement of the death penalty. Capital punishment is necessary based on the factRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Not Morally Permissible?1231 Words   |  5 Pagescrime has been met with several different styles of execution. In 1976, the United States government reinstalled the death penalty four short years after having banned it claiming that it violated the Constitution s ban on cruel and unusual punishment (MacKinnon, Ethics 289). Since 1976, the morality of execution as just punishment has been a highly discussed topic. The death penalty is not morally permissible because dissolving one s basic human right to life is wrong. In the United States,Read MoreJustification in The Old and New Testaments Essays1681 Words   |  7 Pages When a man is justified before God, he is declared not guilty with reference to the sins he has committed against God. Amazingly, Gods not guilty verdict does not relate to just one crime, but to every sin the justified man has ever committed or will commit. Paul declares that we have no penalty to pay for sin, which includes past, present or future sins that we may commit. Those who have been justified by faith, â€Å"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in ChristRead MoreBanning the Death Penalty1620 Words   |  6 PagesShould the death penalty be banned internationally as a type of punishment? This form of punishment has been quite a controversial issue worldwide for quite a few years. The death penalty for hundreds of thousands of years has been a punishment for criminals throughout the world; in the past ranging from what we would n ow consider small crimes to huge ones, to the present where most if not all those punished with death penalty are for fairly large crimes. Actual laws involving death penalty is known

Involvement and Involvement Factors When Buying a Computer Free Essays

You should first have an idea of the type of computer you want. You should plan to purchase your new computer so that you can get a good product life out of your computer. It will be very disheartening to purchase a brand new computer only for you to get a small use out of it. We will write a custom essay sample on Involvement and Involvement Factors When Buying a Computer or any similar topic only for you Order Now You should purchase a computer for two or three years out; due to the rapid changes in the technology field. The next step should include finding a good store to purchase from. A general rule to remember is that computers are much cheaper if you buy them versus leasing one. If you are tight on cash, you would be better off leasing, as a better alternative. If the store you purchased your new computer from is overall helpful and friendly, you can expect great things if you have questions about your new computer purchase in the future. You should decide whether you want a laptop or a desktop computer. Desktop computers are much cheaper than laptop computers, about twice as much cheaper for some brands. If you are a business person and are always on the go, you should consider the purchase of a laptop computer. If you are a stay at home parent, a desktop computer would best fit your lifestyle. You should always invest in a good monitor. Monitors with a 17 inch screen or less causes you to squint a bit. You can either choose from a flat panel monitor or a tube type monitor. Flat panels don’t have the best image quality as tube type monitors have. However, tube type monitors take up a lot of space. They also tend to get blurry when they age, while flat panels won’t corrupt when they age. Networking is what makes the computer fun. Another key factor that you should consider while purchasing a computer is your Ethernet cords. Be sure to purchase a computer with 10/100/1000 Ethernet jack; as it is preferred by most computer lobbyist. You should also enable encryption codes to keep other people from hacking into your wireless internet. Another key involvement factor would be purchasing a warranty for your new computer. Extended warranties just make perfect sense when purchasing a new electronic device. They are excellent for big retailers and you should be sure to know about the coverage on your warranty, what it covers and what it doesn’t cover. I think apple has complicated things for the average consumer. I don’t feel as if the website broke down all of the products and services down to a tee. How to cite Involvement and Involvement Factors When Buying a Computer, Papers

Immigration and Border Protection

Question: Discuss about the Immigration and Border Protection. Answer: Introduction: Explain in plain English the practical implications of the decision of the Federal Court in Waensila v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 32 The issue in this case is related with the practical implications of the decision given by the Full Federal Court in this case. In its decision, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia has overruled the interpretation of Schedule 3 that has been adopted by the DIPB. In this case, it was the opinion of the court that the interpretation that has been adopted by the Department was too strict and similarly, the court also believed that this interpretation was not supported by the law. The brief facts of this case are that the appellant was from Thailand and his wife was from Australia. Under these circumstances when the applicant made an application for partner Visa, he did not have a substantive Visa. Similarly, the criterion 3001 was not satisfied by the applicant. According to this criteria, it was required that the applicant should have made an application for partner Visa within 28 days after the expiry of his visitor visa. Therefore, efforts were made by the applicant to e stablish that there were compelling reasons due to which the requirements that have been prescribed by Schedule 3 should have been waived in his case, but he was not successful. While refusing the application, it was the opinion of the department that the discretion of the Minister was restricted only to the compelling reasons that were in existence when the applicant had made the application. As a result of this construction of these provisions, any compelling reasons that were related with the circumstances or events that came into existence after the application for partner visa was made by the applicant, cannot be considered. In this way, while the applicant tried to establish that feared persecution if he was make a fresh application after returning to Thailand as he was a Muslim citizen of Thailand. In the same way, the applicant also expressing his fears that they may not be able to meet his wife again if they had to go back to Thailand for making the application for partner visa. The applicant also tried to rely upon the fact that his wife was ill and required continuous medical attention along with the fact that his wife was dependent on him financially. However, it was the opinion of the department that these circumstances were not in existence when the applicant had made the application for partner visa and therefore, these compelling reasons cannot be considered for waving schedule 3 criteria. But the court did not accept this interpretation of the department of these regulations. The first issue pointed out by the court was that there was nothing in the words of these sections on the basis of which, it can be said that the consideration of decision-makers has been confined to the compelling reasons that were present at the time of making the application. The second issue raised by the court was that in this case it was obvious that the waiver power has been introduced with a view to provide flexibility while deciding the cases in which compelling reasons are present to which the applicants may not be put to the hardship of meaning Australia for the purpose of making the visa application. In this way, it was stated by the court that the strict interpretation that has been adopted by the department appears to be against the purpose due to which the waiver power has been introduced by the Legislature. Consequently, the court stated that the case should be sent back to the Ad ministrative Appeals Tribunal for a rehearing. Before this decision generally the applications of the applicants who were under similar circumstances in which the applicant in the present case was, (a non-citizen applying for partner visa while remaining in Australia) were not allowed the waiver of schedule 3 criteria and the result was that these applications had to leave Australia in order to make the application for visa. But in this case, in the opinion of all the three judges, no reasons were present which the circumstances can be restricted, whether they were in favor of the applicants or not, to the position at a time before the Minister arrives at the conclusion that such discretion should be exercised. As a result of the fact that almost entirely, it has been left to the immigration Minister or his delegate to decide if there are sufficient compelling reasons due to which a waiver of schedule 3 criteria should be granted, the judges gave a strong message in this case that i t is very significant that such decisions should be made by remaining within the bounds of law. Therefore, the impact of this decision can be described as being more sympathetic towards the applicants for partner visa as against the current policy interpretation that was adopted by the department. In the same way, there will be strong implications of this decision on the way in which the schedule 3 criteria is applied to the other applicants. In this way, it can be said that as a result of this decision, the grounds have been expanded on which the applicants may rely upon when they are applying for the schedule 3 criteria waiver. Similarly, as a result of this decision, it can also be said that the full court decision has increased the chances of such applicants to remain onshore when their visa application is being assessed. The decision is also likely to have a retrospective impact on the cases that were earlier decided by relying on the compelling circumstances that existed then the application was made. What principles of statutory interpretations (if any) were utilised by the Federal Court in this case? Answer: In this case, the court arrived at his decision by relying on certain principles of statutory interpretation. The term statutory interpretation is related with the action of the court for the purpose of understanding the specific meaning of a particular piece of legislation. A number of cases go to appeal on the issue of interpretation of a particular statutory provision. Broadly speaking, the statutory rules of interpretation are the literal rule, Golden rule and the mischief rule. The literal rule which is also known as the ordinary meaning rule, the court gives the literal meaning to the words of the statute, regardless of the fact that such result is sensible or not. On the other hand, the golden rule is considered as an exception to the literal rule. This rule of statutory interpretation is used when the application of the literal will result in an interpretation that circumvent instead of applying the intention of the Parliament. The final rule of statutory interpretati on is the mischief rule. According to this rule, a judge tries to determine the intention of the legislature or what is the mischief or a defect that the statute in question is trying to remedy and what ruling will effectively implement this remedy. In the present case, the full court applied the golden rule of statutory interpretation and arrived at the conclusion that the effect of sub-clause 820.211(2)(d)(ii) is that the compelling circumstances on which the applicant had claimed the way for a visit in the criteria, are not restricted to the circumstances that were at the time of making the application. In view of this interpretation of this provision by the court, despite the current policy adopted by the department and the tribunal according to which they only considered the circumstances that were present when the application was made, they had to consider the circumstances that arose after the application was made. Therefore, as a result of the statutory interpretation adopted by the court, despite its current policy, the Department and the Tribunal were under an obligation to consider the circumstances of the applicant that were present data in the application was made and not only the compelling circumstances that existed at the time of the application. In this regard, the provision in Migration Regulations mentions that the criteria provided by schedule 3 can be waived if the department is of the opinion that compelling circumstances are present in the case due to which the criteria should not be applied. Bibliography Migration Act 1958 Migration Regulations (Amendment) 1996 No 75 (Cth), Explanatory Statement Migration Regulations 1994 Waensila v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 32

Word Essay free essay sample

My word is actually a phrase, my phrase is â€Å"sense of humor. We will write a custom essay sample on Word Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † Sense of humor has a few different meanings I think. The dictionary definition for it is; the trait of appreciating and being able to express the humorous. It means to be able to appreciate, understand, and make your own humorous things. Understanding sarcasm in speaking, funny actions, and catching puns, etc. are some examples of things you need a sense of humor to understand. People’s sense of humor are not usually the same. Your opinions and thoughts create your sense of humor so it depends on your personality. So there isn’t a specific, exact sense of humor that you just have or don’t have. I think everyone has a sense of humor even if they don’t understand or appreciate someone else’s humor, they have their own with different things that amuse them. In my opinion the most important characteristic that a person should have to be successful in life is a good sense of humor. One might be intelligent, honest and kind but when all goes wrong the best way to tackle with difficulties is approaching to them optimistically. Especially speaking in terms of personality to get along with others or to break the ice or to hit it off with a new friend or any kind of thing like that. To begin with, the whole existing in the world is a rivalry where really often you are on the weaker side. You can lose your job after years of trying to achieve professional acknowledgement even if you think you’re working as hard as you can or you could fail at an exam before you even got that far. The important thing is never to give up and not to take everything personal. People who manage to overcome the being down in the dumps feeling and get back on to working hard are the ones who succeed. Also, who doesn’t like people that can keep you guessing and laughing? It’s always fun to be around someone that is amusing. If you can amuse your friends, they will always be delighted to spend their time with you which is a personal achievement I think. Another thing is that communication with others will be a lot more fluent. You become more attractive and   to colleagues and friends and you help to ease stressful situations and help others to be less stressed. Not mentioning that one of the key moments in a love relationship is making your partner laugh as well. A lot of people might say or think that these kind of people cannot approach adequately to a serious situation or crisis and do not have a realistic image of life. But I think that those who claim this should distinguish acting carelessly between acting calmly. Worrying too much will only cause you a headache and you will struggle more until finding the best solution. Having a good sense of humor usually would help keep someone from stressing too quickly or when it won’t do them any good. It’s a proven fact that panicking in a tough situation is not as helpful or efficient as taking on the problem calmly because you can think things through more thoroughly. These kind of people would usually be best prepared for such situations. I really think that the sense of humor is the most important characteristic one should have in order to be successful, maybe not always business wise but for your personal life for sure. A quote to support that is this; When life gives you lemons, twist some of the peel into a martini.

Spelling Tips Free Rein or Free Reign

Spelling Tips Free Rein or Free Reign Spelling Tips: Free Rein or Free Reign? Today, we’re looking at one of the most commonly misspelled phrases in the English language: â€Å"free rein† and â€Å"free reign.† Both spellings are common, but the original (and technically correct) version is â€Å"free rein.† So why is this one correct? And what exactly does â€Å"free rein† mean? Let’s find out. The Origins of Free Rein The phrase â€Å"free rein† dates back to the seventeenth century. We use it to mean â€Å"give someone the freedom to do or say whatever they want†: The designers were given free rein to try new ideas. On a literal level, â€Å"reins† are the straps used to guide a horse. So to give someone â€Å"free rein† is to give them freedom in the same way that holding the reins loosely gives a horse freedom to move. This is also why we use the phrase â€Å"rein in† to mean â€Å"bring something under control.† Just trying reining me in, bozo. The Confusion: Rein vs. Reign Unfortunately, â€Å"rein† sounds exactly like â€Å"reign,† so they are easy to confuse. This second term can be either a noun or a verb, but in both cases refers to the rule of a king or queen. For instance, we could say: The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has been largely peaceful. King Henry VII reigned over England from 1485 to 1509. As a result, many people think the phrase about freedom is spelled â€Å"free reign.† This almost makes sense, as you could take the phrase to mean â€Å"the freedom to behave like a monarch.† Not all kings have much freedom, of course. Some can only move one space in any direction.(Photo: Michal Jarmoluk) Nevertheless, this spelling began as an error and many still consider it to be incorrect. As such, it is always better to write â€Å"free rein.† Free Rein or Free Reign? In formal writing, idioms can help you express yourself clearly and demonstrate your command of language. As such, although â€Å"free reign† is unlikely to cause confusion, â€Å"free rein† is still the correct spelling. To remember, keep the equestrian connection in mind. You will avoid errors as long as you recall that the â€Å"reins† in â€Å"free rein† are used to steer a horse. And if you need any help with your spelling, don’t forget to ask a proofreader.

History and Geography of Germany

History and Geography of Germany Population: 81,471,834 (July 2011 estimate)Capital: BerlinArea: 137,847 square miles (357,022 sq km)Coastline: 2,250 miles (3,621 km)Highest Point: Zugspitze at 9,721 feet (2,963 m)Lowest Point: Neuendorf bei Wilster at -11 feet (-3.5 m)Germany is a country located in Western and Central Europe. Its capital and largest city is Berlin but other large cities include Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt. Germany is one of the most populous countries of the European Union and it has one of the largest economies in Europe. It is known for its history, high standard of living and cultural heritage. History of Germany: Weimar Republic to Today According to the U.S. Department of State, in 1919 the Weimar Republic was formed as a democratic state but Germany gradually began to experience economic and social problems. By 1929 the government had lost much of its stability as the world entered a depression and the presence of dozens of political parties in Germanys government hampered its ability to create a unified system. By 1932 the National Socialist Party (Nazi Party) led by Adolf Hitler was growing in power and in 1933 the Weimar Republic was mostly gone. In 1934 President Paul von Hindenburg died and Hitler, who had been named Reich Chancellor in 1933, became Germanys leader.Once the Nazi Party took power in Germany nearly all democratic institutions in the country were abolished. In addition, Germanys Jewish peoples were jailed as were any members of opposing parties. Shortly thereafter the Nazis began a policy of genocide against the countrys Jewish population. This later became known as the Holocaust and around six m illion Jewish people in both Germany and other Nazi occupied areas were killed. In addition to the Holocaust, Nazi governmental policies and expansionist practices eventually led to World War II. This later destroyed Germanys political structure, economy and many of its cities.On May 8, 1945 Germany surrendered and the United States, United Kingdom, USSR and France took control under what was called Four Power Control. Initially Germany was to be controlled as a single unit, but eastern Germany soon became dominated by Soviet policies. In 1948 the USSR blockaded Berlin and by 1949 East and West Germany were created. West Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany, followed principles set forth by the U.S. and U.K., while East Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union and its communist policies. As a result, there was severe political and social unrest in Germany throughout most of the mid-1900s and in the 1950s millions of East Germans fled to the west. In 1961 the Berlin Wall was constructed, officially dividing the two.By the 1980 pressure for political ref orm and German unification was growing and in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell and in 1990 the Four Power Control ended. As a result, Germany began to unify itself and on December 2, 1990 it held the first all German elections since 1933. Since the 1990s, Germany has continued to regain its political, economic and social stability and today it is known for having a high standard of living and a strong economy. Government of Germany Today Germanys government is considered a federal republic. It has an executive branch of government with a chief of state who is the countrys president and a head of government who is known as the chancellor. Germany also has a bicameral legislature made up of the Federal Council and the Federal Diet. Germanys judicial branch consists of the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Administrative Court. The country is divided into 16 states for local administration. Economics and Land Use in Germany Germany has a very strong, modern economy that is considered the fifth largest in the world. In addition, according to the CIA World Factbook, it is one of the worlds most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal cement and chemicals. Other industries in Germany include machinery production, motor vehicle manufacture, electronics, shipbuilding and textiles. Agriculture also plays a role in Germanys economy and the main products are potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, cabbage, fruit, cattle pigs and dairy products. Geography and Climate of Germany Germany is located in Central Europe along the Baltic and North Seas. It also shares borders with nine different countries - some of which include France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. Germany has a varied topography with lowlands in the north, the Bavarian Alps in the south and uplands in the central part of the country. The highest point in Germany is Zugspitze at 9,721 feet (2,963 m), while the lowest is Neuendorf bei Wilster at -11 feet (-3.5 m).The climate of Germany is considered temperate and marine. It has cool, wet winters and mild summers. The average January low temperature for Berlin, the capital of Germany, is 28.6ËšF (-1.9ËšC) and the average July high temperature the city is 74.7ËšF (23.7ËšC).To learn more about Germany, visit the Geography and Maps section on Germany on this website. Source:Central Intelligence Agency. (17 June 2011). CIA - The World Factbook - Germany. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html ï » ¿Infoplease.com. (n.d.).Germany: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107568.html United States Department of State. (10 November 2010). Germany. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3997.htm Wikipedia.com. (20 June 2011). Germany - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany