Gerry

The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident in 1789 that involved the newly formed United States and France.1 During the time of the XYZ Affair, the United States had elected its second president, John Adams. Before Adams became president, he was a major supporter in the idea of an independent nation. He was also a driving force in the American Revolution, and a supporter of American independence. For instance, he would spend hours writing about unfair taxation acts that included the Townshend and…

During the great debate over the ratification of the American Constitution in 1787, two groups, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, were extremely concerned with the safeguarding of liberty. However, these two groups absolutely disagreed whether or not a strong national government would uphold or ultimately annihilate the liberty of the American people. The Federalists supported the Constitution and a stronger national government. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the final…

Many recognize the famous line “virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/ and vice sometime by action dignified” (II.iii.21-22), stated by Friar Lawrence. In Romeo and Juliet, actions of virtue subtly turn into actions of vice, starting when the two star-crossed lovers first encounter each other at the Capulet ball. Friar Lawrence makes the decisions that results in the events that occur within the play. These decisions include arranging Romeo and Juliet’s clandestine marriage, and sending…

Brief Historical Perspective of Child Abuse Child abuse and neglect is a historical subject that goes back to the roots of human history. Mistreatment of children was common in the earlier centuries as corporal punishment was condoned and in some cases encouraged. Children were exposed to cruel treatment and were offered no protection from mistreatment; they were considered insignificant and had little or no rights. Historically, parents have used their children for profit. In England and the…

Although the White House is perhaps the most recognized symbol of government authority in America, presidential power is actually quite conditional. A President’s ability to enact change, pressure the passage of bills, and motivate Congress, hinges on numerous factors, including the economy, circumstances, and public support. Over time, the role of the President has changed from Whig to Stewardship style. Instead of merely carrying out the will of Congress, Presidents now take a central role…

In September of 1850, United States President Millard Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Act into law. It required runaway slaves residing in free states, once captured, must be returned to their masters. In defense of the legislature he wrote, “God knows I detest slavery but it is an existing evil, and we must endure it and give it such protection as is guaranteed by the Constitution.” Roughly sixty-one years after the ratification of the US constitution, President Fillmore believed the…

small hand full of players such as Ethan Suplee's Lewis Lastik, and Craig Kirkwood's “Rev” Harris, as well as the late arrival of Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass (Kip Pardue). It's not until where the unofficial leaders of both the white and black players Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) Julius Campbell (Wood Harris) start to get along everyone else starts to follow suit, except for…

Ratified in March of 1781, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States of America with its first form of government. The Articles called for a loose confederation where each state continued to have its independence along with individual rights and powers. The Articles were less powerful than the state constitutions and were designed to be reactive, causing the national government to be significantly less powerful. After seeing the severe flaws the Articles contained, delegates…

The Horn of Africa, Eritrea, is home to around 6 million people and is the worlds’ most oppressive state. Isaias Afwerki has been in power for around two decades and since taking up power in 1993 has forbidden any elections from taking place. Political theorist, Robert Dahl, considers the following four aspects vital for the making of a free and fair election: 1. the ability to vote without fear of reprisal; 2. coercion is prohibited and not practiced; 3. all voters are counted as equal; 4.…

We commonly look back and refer to history in order to progress. When we refer to the past, we are educated of our mistakes and can strive from our successes. However, we are not always truthfully exposed to everything that has happened in the past because things have either been left out, hidden or we have been diverted to other stories distracting us from them. Howard Zinn (51) argues that there is no such thing as impartial history, there is always two sides to every story. All history is…