South African Automotive Industry Impact of Globalisation

South African Automotive Industry Impact of Globalisation 1. Introduction This paper discusses the impact of globalisation on the South African automotive industry in the business context. It explains the concept of globalisation and the importance of globalisation on the South African automotive industry. We explore the innovation, development and skills required in a globalized industry. This paper summarises of the current research of the business imperatives of globalisation in the South African automotive industry, which must be aligned with foreign investment and ownership, development of local skills, manufacturing and exporting. 2. A Definition of Globalisation According to Held and McGrew [2003:3], the term globalisation denotes the growth of connections between various countries that exists as society and states become increasingly entangled in worldwide systems and an exchange of communication via interaction. Kugut (1999:166) defines globalisation as a means of union between nations and companies achieving a common way of doing things. Gill (1999:70) defines globalisation as a method of growing economic integration, and a rising economic interdependence between the different economies of countries. Kiely (1998:3) defines globalisation as a world that has brought closeness of different economies, cultures and societies. Braithwaite and Drahos (2000:8) define globalisation as the growth of social, cultural, economic and political relations worldwide. These definitions highlight the magnitude of globalisation. A number of theorists present various meanings for globalisation. Essentially, all of these definitions describe economic, political and social integration on a worldwide scale. The globalisation method occurring in one part of the world influences what is taking place in other parts. 3. Globalisation as an Investment Driver of Growth in the Automobile Industry According to Flatters [2005], Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has increased substantially in the South African automobile industry since 1995. It is difficult for South Africa to compete against other automotive supply chains around the world. This requires large amounts of capital, experience, skilled workers, and the latest technology systems. According to Zhu, Xu and Lundin [2006], high-end technology is required for any industry to compete in a sustainable manner, and this is very costly in terms of finance and time. According to Flatters [2005], in 1995 the initialization of the Motor Industry Development Plan (MIDP) and the Productive Asset Allowance (PAA) incentive scheme set a high standard of Foreign Direct Investment in the South African automotive industry. As a result, investment in this sector is high and vehicle exports have grown. 4. Positive effects of globalisation in South Africa Innovation in the South African Automotive Industry According to De Klerk [2006], ever since the Motor Industry Development Plan (MIDP) was brought in by the government in 1995, the South African automotive industry has integrated into the global automotive supply chain. The MIDP have removed all the competition from the automotive industry. Initially, when foreign ownership had a part in the South African automotive industry, it seemed as if it would have a negative impact on the South African automotive industry. According to De Klerk, JJ [2006], foreign ownership is exactly what the South African automotive industry needed. According to Lourens Barnes [2004], in order to improve in the industry, South African automotive industry technology needs to be improved. This requires foreign capital investment, and the opportunity for the domestic market to take advantage of it. When foreign and domestic markets work together, the technical knowledge is transferred to the developed country, which is then able to progress forward. Many auth ors have confirmed that when a country inherits the technology that comes with Foreign Direct Investment, the host country will have a very good base to develop its industry further. [Sadoi, [2008]; Doctor, [2007]; Basser, [2008], Lorentzen and Barnes, [2004]] According to Flatters [2005], South Africa has attracted substantial foreign investment over the past few years for example, Daimler Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo have invested here. However, this is very little compared to other developing countries. Multinational enterprises (MNE) view South Africa according to its size and for the potential for future growth in its domestic market. MNE look at the advantages that can taken from unsettled exchange rates in developed countries, the experience and quality of the workforce, and whether it is a low cost centre compared to other nations. According to De Klerk [2009], South Africa presents a beneficial emerging market for the multinational enterprises. South Africas population growth has increased by 8 percent (around 3571 350) in 1994 and by 11.9 percent (around 5333 550) in 2000, and is still growing. There are advantages that can be taken from the defect of the exchange rate.Wessells (2004) says that since the death of the Bretton Woods system, countries worldwide may choose an exchange rate ruling. According to De Klerk [2009], South Africa has a promising economy with an unpredictable currency, which is seen as a great benefit to the multinational enterprises. The quality and competence of the South African automotive workers are not of high standard. According to De Klerk [2009], the industry has a lack of skills and a surplus of untrained laborers. 5. Foreign Ownership, Education and Skills Development According to De Klerk [2009], it is expected that the same level of skills in a developing country be matched to that of the foreign investor. However, in developing nations the level of education is not that high. According to a literature review by Chatterji Montagma [2008] on foreign ownership, the multinational enterprise expects developed countries to have a high level of education before investing. Nevertheless, foreign direct investment continues although the standard of education is not high. The research done by authors Chatterji Montagma [2008] around training and processes and routines found that: developed countries would receive on-the-job training training is carried out with the use of advanced technologies multinational enterprises is impacted with quality of assembly line by the processes and routines of the host countries laborers. According to De Klerk [2009], the low cost of laborers in the local economy and processes and routines are beneficial to the multinational enterprises, with the aid of advanced technologies. 6. The Development of the South African Automotive Industry According to Black [2009], the South African automotive industry went through a bad period in the 1980s.The economic growth was slow due to political factors and international isolation. Vehicle sales had gradually recovered up until 2003, and had reached 617 000 units in 2005. According to NAAMSA [2006], 525 000 vehicles were produced in 2005, of which 26.6 percent were sold abroad. By the year 2005 the South African automotive industry was liable for 7.4 percent of South Africas Growth Domestic Product. (DTI, 2007). According to Black [2009], like most other countries with growing economies, the South African vehicle industry had set tariffs and a string of local content programs aimed at protecting the industry. According to Black [2009], the protection ruling became a serious problem 1980s, which led to the perception South Africa automotive industry as incompetent. According to Black [2009], a year before the first democratic elections, the Motor Industry Development Plan (MIDP) was introduced. This has allowed tariffs to decline by 40 percent for light vehicles and 30 percent for vehicle components before 2002. According to Black [2009], the MITs International Motor Vehicle Program published its first book on the future of the automobile industry. The South African automotive industry was not mentioned much, but the book contained some negative comments on the future of the South African automobile trade. 7. Automobile Exports According to Black [2009] motor vehicle exports grew fast in 2001. The increase in the quantity of vehicle exports does not mean that a foreign firm is being competitive in the automobile industry. Being competitive relies on the company global plan and the need to optimize its global manufacturing ability according to the policy ruling at each production location. The significance of economies of scale increases competitive pressure on companies in the automotive industry, requiring that they boost their production in order to decrease unit costs [Black, 2009]. In 2005, the export of motor vehicles grew rapidly as foreign companies had to adopt a strategic plan to supply vehicles out of South Africa.   According to Black [2009], in 2001 the three German vehicle companies, BMW, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler introduced an export strategy that was generating almost 50 percent of their import rebate credit certificates from exporting vehicles. Other vehicle firms like Ford and Nissan consistently practiced a multi-modal plan, using low local content standards. By 2005, Toyota and Ford employed an export plan together with other assemblers that followed later. The growth and success in the export of the automotive vehicles has been driven by the Motor Industry Direct Plan. Many multinationals do not see South Africa as an exporting location. Keeping costs low positively impacts the rapid growth of exports. The cheap labor and low management costs, joined with cheap property and electricity, add to the competitive advantages. According to Black [2009], in mid 2002 the cost of assembly for domestic firms such as DaimlerChrysler and BMW are below the manufacturing costs of the plants in G ermany. High costs were gained in the South African processes through supply chain management .i.e. the inbound and outbound logistics. According to NAAMSA [2006], Automotive Industry Export Council [2007], Department of Trade and Industry [2002, 2004], the Table 1 below, signifies the growth of the automotive exporting in 1990s, which exceeded the small regional markets and major export destinations that are at considerable distances from South Africa. The investment of vehicle production and component producers has gradually improved since the depression in the mid 1990s, when unclear politics and policies and a weak domestic market led to a serious slump in new capital expenditure. According to Black, [2009], an amount of capital totaling R847 million was invested in the automotive manufacturing industry in 1995. By 2005 this had increased to R3.5 billion. South African production plants still lag behind in capital expenditure compared to the vast capital expenditure in explosive markets like China, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, and Central Europe. [Black, 2009] When the Motor Industry Direct Plan [MIDP] was introduced in the 1990s, the South African automotive industry entered in to the African markets. Unfortunately, this market was too small to increase the production line. On a smaller scale, the Completely Knock Down [CKD] assembly investments continued to grow. For example, in 1998 Fiat agreed to spend R250 million in order to manufacture new models from the Automaker production factory in South Africa. [Black, 2009]. 8. Automobile Manufacturing based in South Africa 8.1 Toyota in South Africa According to Black [2009], the Toyota brand was popular in the 1990s, with a big local market slice for its cars and light commercial vehicles. In the past, Toyota and Nissan were locally owned and operated by licensed agreements. Two well known international vehicle companies, Nissan and Toyota, have taken control of the South African automotive operations. These two firms have created a reaction amongst rival competitors in the South African market. Toyota South Africa has firmly incorporated itself into the parent global manufacturing system. The first Toyota vehicle exported out of South Africa was the Corolla. In 2005, on a large scale, Toyota exported light commercial vehicles as part of its Global project, which was called the Internal Multipurpose Vehicle project. At its Durban plant, Toyota has started production and aim to complete 300 000 units per year. However, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) stated that the South African manufacturing plant will be entirely incorporated into the TMC global supply system. 8.2 Ford in South Africa According to Black [2009], Ford has a history in the automotive assembly line in South Africa. Ford withdrew its vehicle assembly plants in the mid 1980s due to the political regime at the time. Toyota and Ford have reinvested into the South African domestic vehicle market after the first democratic election in 1994. At first they were hesitant to export vehicles out of South Africa on a large scale and therefore they kept their plants going worldwide, as well as knowing that there assembly production lines are in various markets. According to Black [2009], Ford Motor Company fully invested in South Africa in 2002 and has boosted its production line volumes by producing 100 000 units per year on the T6 pickups. 8.3 General Motors in South Africa According to Black [2009], Delta Motor Corporation is currently licensed to export under the brand name of GM. Initially they had a problem exporting vehicles out of South Africa because they did not have a stake in the South African domestic market. In 1996, Delta invested in its first production plant in South Africa. It is a small plant that has a low production turnover on volumes. GM has started an export plan, but the units produced and content levels are too low. Additionally, their position in the domestic market is weak. 9. Conclusion This paper reviewed the impact of globalisation on the South African automotive industry, and discussed measures that may allow South African automotive businesses to achieve their objectives through foreign investment and ownership, development of local skills, manufacturing, and exporting.

Acunpuncture: an Overview Essay

What is Acupuncture? How does sticking a bunch of needles into your body make you feel better? Is this stuff for real? These are all questions I’ve asked myself, and have heard from others over the years. Acupuncture is a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin with needles. It’s used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions; is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and is among the oldest healing practices in the world. In a 2007 Consensus Development Conference, The National Institute of Health determined that â€Å"According to the traditional Chinese medicine approach, stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. † Acupuncture can be dated back thousands of years, and as with any topic that old, there is a plethora of information available, and it sometimes can be hard to decipher. After researching the topic, and because of the context of the assignment, I narrowed my focus down to three specific areas: theory, which covers qi, meridians, and acupuncture points; history, which can be broken down into antiquity, middle history, and the modern era; and lastly the length, diameter, and material of needles. The basis of acupuncture deals with manipulating the flows of qi throughout the body. According to Daoist principles, qi is the active principle forming part of any living thing, and it is the central underlying principle in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts. The literal translation of â€Å"qi† is breath, air, or gas; however, it is frequently translated as â€Å"life energy†, â€Å"life force†, or â€Å"energy flow. † In A Clinical Introduction to Medical Acupuncture, the authors, Aung & Chen, state, â€Å"Traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes not only one but several different kinds of qi. In a general sense, qi is something that is defined by five â€Å"cardinal functions. † These cardinal functions are what keep the body alive. The first function qi provides is keeping the body, especially the limbs, warm during cold temperatures. The energy from it heats the blood, the extremities, and allows us to live and our biological processes to take place. Qi also enables the actuation of the biological processes such as breathing, sweating, it controls the nervous system, and most importantly the circulation of all the body fluids such as blood in its vessels. Qi also provides containment of those fluids in their proper spot; it keeps blood, sweat, urine, and semen from leaking or excessive emission. We know now that food broken down by the digestion process, and that various enzymes convert it into blood, nutrients, and that there’s a process for making the air we breathe into oxygen for our lungs. The ancient Chinese believed that qi did the transformation of food, drink, and breath into qi, blood, fluids, and the transformation of all of the latter into each other. The last function provided by qi, is defense against the Six Essences. The Six Essences are allegorical terms sometimes used to describe disharmony patterns in the body and their names are derived from environmental elements that were thought to pattern, or mimic, the symptoms. The first of the Six Essences is Wind, which is characterized by rapid onset of symptoms, wandering location of symptoms, itching, nasal congestion, â€Å"floating† pulse; tremor, paralysis, or convulsion. The second of the Essences is Cold, which manifests itself in cold sensations, aversion to cold, relief of symptoms by warmth, watery/clear excreta, severe pain, abdominal pain, contracture and hypertonicity of muscles, (slimy) white tongue fur, and hidden, string-like, or slow pulse. Fire (or heat) is the third of the Essences. Its symptoms are recognizable by aversion to heat, high fever, thirst, concentrated urine, red face or tongue, yellow tongue fur, and a rapid pulse. The last three Essences are Dampness, Dryness, and Summerheat; the symptoms of which are, respectively, sensation of heaviness, fullness, and symptoms of Spleen dysfunction; dry cough, mouth, throat, lips, skin, stool, and nosebleeds; and either heat or mixed damp-heat symptoms. In order fulfill its functions, qi has to steadily flow from the inside of the body to the â€Å"superficial† body tissues of the skin, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. It is assisted in its flow by â€Å"channels† referred to as meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicines identifies twelve â€Å"regular† and eight â€Å"extraordinary† meridians. (Aung & Cheng, 19-20) At various points along the meridians, are acupuncture points. The number of points has varied considerably over time. Initially they were considered to number 365 acupuncture points, symbolically aligning with the number of days in the year; however, the modern total, while once considered 670, has been subsequently expanded due to more recent interest in auricular (ear) cupuncture and the treatment of further conditions. These acupuncture points are mainly, but not always, found at specified locations along these meridians and acupuncturists use the points to manipulate the qi and restore harmony and balance to the body. Though most of these points are found along the meridians, there is a second group of points, called extraordinary points, which are found outside the meridians and are credited with special therapeutic properties. Examples of these are the pressure points in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, just inside the arch of the foot, the temples, and the anterior base of the neck. Lastly, a third category of acupuncture points called â€Å"A-shi† points have no fixed location but represent tender or reflexive points appearing in the course of pain syndromes. The history of acupuncture can be broken down into three distinct eras: that of antiquity, which goes back to its origins; its middle history dating, from the early 11th century through the 1800’s; and the modern era, which picks up in the early 20th century. The precise start date of acupuncture’s use in China and how it evolved from early times are uncertain; however, there are a myriad of theories and explanations as to how it came about. One explanation is that soldiers wounded in battle by arrows were believed to have been cured of chronic afflictions that were otherwise untreated. Another is the sharpened bian shi stones found in China, which evidence suggests the practice may date back to the Neolithic or Stone Age (Acupuncture in Medicine 10: 92–9). There have also been hieroglyphs found dating from the Shang Dynasty, which ran from 1600 through 1100 BCE. It is believed that Korea was the second country acupuncture spread to outside of China, and in 1023, the emperor of China ordered the production of a bronze statuette depicting the meridians and acupuncture points then in use. The practice of acupuncture lost a lot status after Song Dynasty. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries were among the first to bring reports of acupuncture to the West, and a Dutch surgeon traveling in Asia described the practice in both Japan and Java; however, in China itself the practice was increasingly associated with the lower-classes and illiterate practitioners (Barnes, 58–9. The middle era of acupuncture came to an end in 1823, when an edict from the Emperor banned the practice and teaching of acupuncture within the Imperial Academy of Medicine, as unfit for practice by gentlemen-scholars. The modern era of acupuncture came in to being around the time of the Chinese civil war, 1927-1949. Early Chinese Communist Party leaders ridiculed T raditional Chinese Medicine, claiming that it worked against the party’s dedication to science as the way of progress. Chairman Mao reversed that position, and rewrote its theory in order to make it fit into the Chinese political doctrine. Acupuncture gained attention in the United States when President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, and his delegation was shown a patient undergoing major surgery while awake; however, it was later found out patients were chosen because they had naturally high pain tolerance, were indoctrinated into the method, and were on morphine IV’s which were claimed to have been essential nutrients and fluids. The greatest exposure in the West came after a New York Times reporter received acupuncture in Beijing for post-operative pain in 1971 and wrote about it in his newspaper column. From there, the first legal acupuncture center was opened in Washington D. C. in 1972, and in 1973, the IRS declared acupuncture was allowed to be deducted from taxes as a medical expense. The last aspect of acupuncture, and arguably the most essential, is the needle. While there are certain methods that do not involve needles, most of them do. The needles have evolved over the years, originally starting out as bone, or stone; now, however, most of the acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel, with some cultures using copper. Needles vary in length ,between 13 to 130 millimeters (0. 5 in to 5 in. ), with shorter needles used near the face and eyes, and longer needles in more fleshy areas, and range in diameter from 0. 16 mm (0. 006 in) to 0. 46 mm (0. 018 in), with thicker needles used on more robust patients. After this brief overview of acupuncture, I’ve answered a lot of my own questions and concerns with acupuncture The three aspects of acupuncture theory are qi, meridians, and acupuncture points. It long history has unknown origins, and edict from Chinese Emperor banned teaching in academy, but it brought back my Chairman Mao, and made popular in America by a reporter in the 70’s. Needles are mostly made of stainless steel, and they vary in length, and diameter,

King tuts tomb

Egypt appointed pharaoh age 9 in 1334-1323 BC during period of â€Å"New Kingdom† Died at around 18 or 19 in 1352 B. C. Death unknown Located in the Valley of the Kings (upper Egypt west of Nile) – contains many tomb of kings from the New kingdom Howard Carter – worked In Egypt for 31 years before discovery, started at 17 copying wall scenes and inscriptions.In 1907, George Herbert the 5th was the Earl of Canaan place in England (Lord Canaan) hired Howard Carter after his first season f searching for sites was unsuccessful. Canaan funded Carter's whole excavation, and if it wasn't for Lord Canaan, he would not have been able to fund it himself. They Discovered the Tomb on November 4th 1922. The tomb was Incredibly well Intact, which was quite astounding for them to see, because most others found were pretty well destroyed.It had over 3,500 objects in it and took around ten years to excavate and unveil because he took a photo, Drawer it, and catalogued it every si ngle artifact Layout – antechamber largest room, found 6 dismantled chariots, animal couches, chests, bows and arrows, 2 large statues of the king guarding a sealed doorway everything was stored messily which indicated robbery probably by the guards Annex (like a storeroom) – smallest room contained more than half of tombs contents. Hundreds of reed baskets and pottery Jars, elaborate urns intricate designs and some royal furniture such as couches Burial chamber – only room with wall paintings. Here the kings sarcophagus (coffin) lay. There were 3 coffins making up the sarcophagus they all had faces on them. ND the lid alone weighed over 1 and a quarter tone. 4 shrines, took 4 months to dismantle, very brittle some parts weight almost a tone. He put off working on them for 4 years so he could work on the mummy. The mummy had over 143 Jewels and amulets on It or In the wrappings, gold mask, headdress, fake beard and gold hands. The body remains were actually burn ed away from the scented oils that were placed upon the body during burial Treasury – this was dominated by Tutankhamen canonic shrine which held all of his organs.A successful navigation of the Underworld will allow Tutankhamen to be welcomed into the Afterlife as an immortal. South Wall – The God-King welcomed to the Afterlife by Anabas god of embalming Hath, goddess of the west. Tutankhamen, who is now immortal, will begin the life-giving daily ritual. These paintings are significant because they show that TUTU as a Pharaoh and the society at the time were very religious and obviously had very strong beliefs in death and the underworld and they were very committed addressing death in the correct way.

William Henry Harrison, U.S. General and President

William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773–April 4, 1841) was a U.S. military commander and the ninth president of the United States. He led American forces during the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812. Harrisons time in the White House was brief, as he died about one month into his term of typhoid fever. Fast Facts: William Henry Harrison Known For:  Harrison was the ninth president of the United States.Born:  February 9, 1773 in Charles City County, Virginia ColonyParents: Benjamin Harrison V  and Elizabeth Bassett HarrisonDied:  April 4, 1841 in Washington, D.C.Education: University of PennsylvaniaSpouse: Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison (m. 1795-1841)Children: Elizabeth, John, William, Lucy, Benjamin, Mary, Carter, Anna Early Life Born at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia, on February 9, 1773, William Henry Harrison was the son of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett (he was the last United States president to be born before the American Revolution). A delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the elder Harrison later served as governor of Virginia and used his political connections to ensure that his son received a proper education. After being tutored at home for several years, William Henry was sent to Hampden-Sydney College at age 14 to study history and the classics. At his fathers insistence, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 1790 to study medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush. However, Harris did not find the medical profession to his liking. When his father died in 1791, Harrison was left without money for schooling. After learning of his situation, Governor Henry Light-Horse Harry Lee III of Virginia encouraged the young man to join the army. Harrison was commissioned as an ensign in the 1st U.S. Infantry and sent to Cincinnati for service in the Northwest Indian War. He proved himself an able officer and was promoted to lieutenant the following June and became an aide-de-camp to Major General Anthony Wayne. Learning command skills from the gifted Pennsylvanian, Harrison took part in Waynes 1794 triumph over the Western Confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. This victory effectively brought the war to a close; Harrison was among those who signed the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. Frontier Post In 1795, Harrison met Anna Tuthill Symmes, the daughter of Judge John Cleves Symmes. A former militia colonel and delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey, Symmes had become a prominent figure in the Northwest Territory. When Judge Symmes refused Harrisons request to marry Anna, the couple eloped and wed on November 25. They would ultimately have 10 children, one of whom, John Scott Harrison, would be the father of future president Benjamin Harrison. Harrison resigned his commission on June 1, 1798, and campaigned for a post in the territorial government.  These efforts proved successful and he was appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory on June 28, 1798, by President John Adams. During his tenure, Harrison frequently served as acting governor when Governor Arthur St. Clair was absent. Harrison was named the territorys delegate to Congress the following March. Though he was unable to vote, Harrison served on several Congressional committees and played a key role in opening the territory to new settlers. With the formation of the Indiana Territory in 1800, Harrison left Congress to accept an appointment as the regions governor. After moving to Vincennes, Indiana, in January 1801, he built a mansion named Grouseland and worked to obtain the title to Native American lands. Two years later, President Thomas Jefferson authorized Harrison to conclude treaties with the Native Americans. During his tenure, Harrison concluded 13 treaties which saw the transfer of over 60,000,000 acres of land. Harrison also began lobbying for a suspension of Article 6 of the Northwest Ordinance so that slavery would be permitted in the territory. Harrisons requests were denied by Washington. Tippecanoe Campaign In 1809, tensions with Native Americans began to increase following the Treaty of Fort Wayne, which saw the Miami sell land that was inhabited by the Shawnee. The following year, the Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (The Prophet) came to Grouseland to demand that the treaty be terminated. After they were refused, the brothers began working to form a confederation to block white expansion. To oppose this, Harrison was authorized by Secretary of War William Eustis to raise an army as a show of force. Harrison marched against the Shawnee while Tecumseh was away rallying his tribes. Encamping near the tribes base, Harrisons army occupied a strong position bordered by Burnett Creek on the west and a steep bluff to the east. Due to the strength of the terrain, Harrison elected not to fortify the camp. This position was attacked on the morning of November 7, 1811. The ensuing Battle of Tippecanoe saw his men turn back repeated assaults before driving off the Native Americans with determined musket fire and a charge by the armys dragoons. In the wake of his victory, Harrison became a national hero. With the outbreak of the War of 1812 the following June, Tecumsehs War became subsumed into the larger conflict as the Native Americans sided with the British. War of 1812 The war on the frontier began disastrously for the Americans with the loss of Detroit in August 1812. After this defeat, the American command in the Northwest was reorganized and after several squabbles over rank, Harrison was made commander of the Army of the Northwest on September 17, 1812. After being promoted to major general, Harrison worked diligently to transform his army from an untrained mob into a disciplined fighting force. Unable to go on the offensive while British ships controlled Lake Erie, Harrison worked to defend American settlements and ordered the construction of Fort Meigs along the Maumee River in northwest Ohio. In late April, he defended the fort during an attempted siege by British forces led by Major General Henry Proctor. In late September 1813, after the American victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, Harrison moved to the attack. Ferried to Detroit by Master Commandant Oliver H. Perrys victorious squadron, Harrison reclaimed the settlement before commencing a pursuit of British and Native American forces under Proctor and Tecumseh. Harrison won a key victory at the Battle of the Thames, which saw Tecumseh killed and the war on the Lake Erie front effectively ended. Though a skilled and popular commander, Harrison resigned the following summer after disagreements with Secretary of War John Armstrong. Political Career In the years following the war, Harrison aided in concluding treaties with the Native Americans, served a term in Congress (1816–1819), and spent time in the Ohio state senate (1819–1821). Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1824, he cut his term short to accept an appointment as ambassador to Colombia. There, Harrison lectured Simon Bolivar on the merits of democracy. In 1836, Harrison was approached by the Whig Party to run for president. Believing they would be unable to defeat the popular Democrat Martin Van Buren, the Whigs ran multiple candidates hoping to force the election to be settled in the House of Representatives. Though Harrison led the Whig ticket in most states, the plan failed, and Van Buren was elected. Four years later, Harrison returned to presidential politics and led a unified Whig ticket. Campaigning with John Tyler under the slogan Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, Harrison emphasized his military record while blaming the depressed economy on Van Buren. Promoted as a simple frontiersman, despite his aristocratic Virginia roots, Harrison was able to easily defeat the more elitist Van Buren. Death Harrison took the oath of office on March 4, 1841. Although it was a cold and wet day, he wore neither a hat nor coat as he read his two-hour inaugural address. He fell ill with a cold on March 26, shortly after taking office. While popular myth blames this illness on his prolonged inaugural speech, there is little evidence to support this theory. The cold quickly turned into pneumonia and pleurisy, and despite the best efforts of his doctors, Harrison died on April 4, 1841. Legacy At age 68, Harrison was the oldest U.S. president to be sworn in prior to Ronald Reagan. He served the shortest term of any president (one month). His grandson Benjamin Harrison was elected president in 1888. Sources Collins, Gail.  William Henry Harrison. Times Books, 2012.Doak, Robin S.  William Henry Harrison. Compass Point Books, 2004.