The French and Indian War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The French and Indian War - Essay Example At this point in the history of the world, nobody had ever seen a war with the credentials held by the French and Indian War. As the first "global war unfolded, the number of troops grew to record breaking proportions. World War I as we know it might be more properly referred to as World War II. This seven year affair involved two world powers along with a nation-to-be full of pioneers in addition to an entire race of American Natives. The rivalry for American soil between the British and the French was long running and is probably the fundamental grounding for the cause of the war. More generally, the dispute over the Ohio River Valley could sum up the spark that started the war between these groups. There are several occurrences throughout American history which helped define this country. This war was a tussle which eventually led to a successful endeavor by the British to achieve a central position in America and almost completely stripped the French of their claims in North America, the West Indies, and parts of India. The impact of this war greatly changed the American colonies in several meticulous areas. Britain and France, prior to the war, had always been rivals of one another and fought in century-long battles against each other. The French and Indian War erupted from conflicts over the control of the valuable fur trade, and the rich sugar production located in the West Indies. Throughout the war, both countries relied on military assistance from their colonists, and their Native American allies. The three major conflicts which triggered the French and Indian war were King William's War (1689 - 1697), Queen Anne's War (1702 - 1713) and King George's War (1744 - 1748). Following these series of wars, the last conflict between Britain and France for dominance over North America was known as the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763)1. It started as a struggle for control over the "middle ground" territory of the Ohio Valley. This "middle ground" between the French and English colonies in North America was subjugated by the Iroquois Confederacy. At that time, Britain was hailed to be a huge world power. A phrase heard all too often in that time states, "The sun never sets on the British empire." The French and Indian War would lead to a Proclamation that stirred much controversy in the colonies. This sparked a united period of disobedience, which would eventually guide the way to a revolution. The British was the main world power at this time. The French were forced to use "brain over brawn" tactics to survive the upcoming battle. For the most part, French pioneers in the new world were in good with the natives. They had trading posts set up for exchange of fur and goods. Many French even took on the surrounding native culture. Primarily, they did not settle in areas claimed by the Indians to avoid hostility. In fact, they did the opposite; for example, the Frenchmen often helped tribes work out disagreements. The general attitude of the British seemed to lean toward independence from the natives. In turn, the common inclination concerning the French appeared to be that amalgamating

Risk Management and Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Risk Management and Investment - Essay Example Barclays has been able to acquire assets of the most competitive banks such as the Absa Group Limited in South Africa and bought about 54% of Juniper Bank (Davidoff 2012, p.42). On the other hand, Standard bank acquired Union Bank of Pakistan taking more than 81% of its assets. This strategy is not only aimed at perpetuating return on investment but also increasing the competitive advantage of the bank. Barclays bank has however been through some of the most difficult moments since its inception. In 2011, the bank suffered a loss of about 1.04 billion pounds (Treanor 2012, p. 4). This loss prompted the company to take objective measures aimed at minimizing the cost of operation. Between 2011 to-date, the bank cut more than 6,700 jobs as a way of addressing its challenges. Currently, market capitalization stands at about 54.75 billion. The dividends and earning per share have been dwindling since 2007 (Shankleman 2009, p.78). The management understands the role played by such factors as far as attracting investors and customers is concerned. This explains why the management has maintained its dividends at 6.50p and EPS at 34.50p despite the financial challenges. Risk management factors such as a focus on return on investment, customer satisfaction, leadership, and cutting on the cost of operation will be imperative. This will enable the bank to realize its objectives and become one of the most performing financial institutions in the world.The Barclays bank is one of the oldest of all banks that still stands strong. It has among the top 10 most active and performing banks in the world. Founded in 1690, the bank has subsidiaries in about 50 countries worldwide (Werdigier 2007, p.61). The old mutual on the other hand commenced its operations in 1845, making it one of the oldest financial institutions in Africa. With its headquarters in London, the Standard Bank serves more than 70 countries worldwide and millions of customers. On the other hand, Barclays Bank empl oyed thousands of professionals throughout the world to provide services to its more than 48 million customers.