<h2>Prompt: Is it best to have low expectations and to set goals we are sure of achieving? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</h2>
<p>High expectations are crucial to achieving success and goals. Several examples throughout history and society demonstrates this.</p>
<p>In the Revolutionary War, George Washington and the Patriot leaders had seemingly insane expectations. They hoped to fight and win against their masters, who possess the most powerful army and navy on earth. The Americans, meanwhile, were nothing more than ragtag and ill trained and poorly funded militia. When the war broke out, the British won a string victories pushing Washington’s men out of Pennsylvania. All seem lost for the COntentials. However, George Washington was determined to hold out with his men and beat the British. Thus, On Christmas Day of 1776, he and his men launched a surprise on the Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, and helped to raise American morale, and most importantly, bought his men valuable time. In the following years, through victories such as these and clinging to expectations that the Patriots would win, Washington held on and the more he did, the better the situation got. The Americans were able to enlist the help of Baron von Steuben to help drill discipline into the American ranks. Even more crucial, American victories, especially at Saratoga, convinced France that America can hold its own, and brought France into the war on the American side. This gave America the financial, political, and military backing of Britain’s most powerful enemy. Washington and his men’s expectations, and the aid of foreign of supplies and armies helped Washington and his men beat the British ultimately, thus gaining independence for America. Had the colonists not set such seemingly impossible expectations, the freedom and independence that Americans so strongly desired would’ve been delayed for a long time. </p>
<p>The Civil Rights movement of the mid-20th century also proved just how important high expectations are. During the mid-20th century, blacks were oppressed by white racists, particularly in the south, denied of basic rights and freedoms. While most blacks submitted, and hoped for gradual improvement, many fought back. Martin Luther King and his followers demanded the immediate change and elimination of Jim Crow law. For several years, King and his followers peacefully protested against the racist treatment, and were subject to brutal treatment by the white police. The protesters were beaten, jailed, threatened, and even killed for daring to defy a centuries old system of forcing blacks to submit as 2nd class citizens. Despite their brutal treatment and even threats to their lives, , the civil rights movement gained momentum. Expecting to achieve full rights, they stopped at nothing less. Intimidation from local whites cannot stop the civil rights protesters from protest. Their efforts soon paid off gradually. The US government passed several Civil Rights acts in the 1960s, aimed at explicitly criminalizing discrimination in all aspects of public society. The world also watched on television the brutality of southern racists, and their actions became vilified across the world, forcing them to change their ways. As a result of high, seeming impossible to reach expectations, the centuries old societal ways of subjecting blacks as second class citizens were finally eliminated, and America today is truly a land of equality.</p>
<p>The actions of many notable historical eaders, such as those of Washington and King, demonstrated the power of high expectations. Without high expectations, the status quo would be difficult to change for the better, and goals would be much harder to achieve.</p>
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<p>Are there any suggestions on how I could improve for a 12? I tried to follow my best the advice of how to write a 12 essay in 10 Days thread so I really want to know how well I did.</p>