Slavery in Colonial America essays

Slavery in Colonial America essays Slavery played an important role in the economic growth of a young America. It grew like a cancer, at first slowly, almost imperceptibly, then inexorably, as colonists eager for material gain imported hundreds of thousands of Africans to toil in their fields (Kolchin, 4). Although economically motivated, racism soon began to play a role in the colonies in their attempt to acquire a labor force. Racial distinction, in short, facilitated enslavement (Kolchin, 13). Rather than forego the economic benefits of slavery, American slaveholders resolved the dilemma by defining blacks not as fellow human beings but more like beasts of burden. The colonists came from a culture in which the rich and powerful exploited the poor and powerless (Kolchin, 7). It was this attitude in the beginning that the demand for labor was for the most part color-blind. Throughout the seventeenth century the bulk of the labor force in the colonies was that of indentured servants. They sold themselves for the cost of passage to the colonies in hope for a better life. As long as there was this continuous influx of indentured labor there was no need to go to the expense of paying for the import of Africans. With economic recovery and political stabilization in Europe fewer people sold themselves into indentured servitude. At the same time the economy in the colonies was growing. More and more indentured servants were able to eventually gain their freedom and the demand for labor grew. The colonist made an attempt to enslave the Native Americans but found that they were proud and refused to work. The Indian men would not perform agricultural labor because it was traditionally seen as womans work. With their familiarity with the surroundings they found it easy to escape. This set the stage for the importation of Africans. Landowners began to prefer slaves to servants because slaves were permanent and &qu...

IVF essays

IVF essays In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) translates to the term in glass (vitro) fertilisation essentially it is a technique whereby egg cells are fertilized outside the mother's body due to conception being impossible by normal sexual intercourse. There are many issues concerned when discussing the topic of IVF, this report aims to analyse these issues in detail. It intends to cover the history, facts, controversies and ethics and values concerned with IVF treatment. In order for pregnancy to occur, an egg has to be released from the ovary (female) and unite with a sperm (male) during sexual intercourse. Normally this coming together, called fertilization, occurs within the fallopian tube, which joins the uterus (womb) to the ovary. However, in some circumstances natural conception cannot occur due to factors affecting the couples fertility. In Vitro Fertilisation allows for the union of the female egg and the male sperm cell, the union which usually occurs in the fallopian tubes instead is carried out in a laboratory after eggs and sperm have been collected, from the male and female. In Vitro Fertilisation is a fertility procedure, which first succeeded with the first test tube baby being born in 1978; the discovery was made by Dr Patrick Steptoe (an embryologist) and Dr Robert Edwards (a gynaecologist), in England. The first successful IVF treatment in the US took place in 1981, and there have been approximately 500,000 babies born world-wide with the aid of IVF treatment since then. The birth of Louise Brown, the first child born from IVF in 1978, was an important landmark in the management of infertility. When IVF was discovered it was initially designed to treat couples with damaged or absent fallopian tubes, but with its improved success rates IVF has been functional for patients with other causes of infertility, such as tumours, cysts, unexplained infertility and male infertility. In the early...

An Analysis and Evaluation of Rep.Tammy Baldwin's Respect for Marriage Research Paper

An Analysis and Evaluation of Rep.Tammy Baldwin's Respect for Marriage Act - Research Paper Example If arguing from a utilitarian standpoint, I will be able to prove that the Baldwin’s decision to push for the Respect for Marriage Act is in fact a morally good decision. I will be able to do this despite rebuttals from the critics of utilitarianism and the proponents of Kantian ethics. The issue of same-sex marriage has always been a moral issue in the United States, as well as in the rest of the world. In the United States, despite the American Psychiatric Association declaring in 1973 that homosexuality is not a disease (â€Å"Facts about Homosexuality,† UCDavis), religious and conservative groups in the country have maintained their stance on homosexuality despite the fact that European countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as neighboring Canada, have instituted same-sex marriages (Robinson). Despite the fact that the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia have already begun issuing m arriage licenses to same-sex couples, 37 states are still under the Defense of Marriage Act (â€Å"Same-Sex Marriage,† NCSL). This means that the majority of the states, as well as the federal government, still do not recognize the sanctity and legality of same-sex marriages even in those states that allow such kind of marital union. This is where Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin comes in and her Respect for Marriage Act. This bill, which is sponsored by 108 members of the Congress (â€Å"Openly-Gay,† NPR.org), is, according to Baldwin, the answer to the â€Å"unconstitutional† and â€Å"un-American† Defense of Marriage Act (â€Å"Openly-Gay,† NPR.org). The Respect for Marriage Act, if enacted, will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and will restore the rights of same-sex marriage couples to receive the benefits of marriage as prescribed by federal law. Another purpose of the bill is for same-sex marriages in the states that institute them t o be recognized by the federal government as well as the other states that do not institute such a type of marriage (â€Å"Respect for Marriage Act,† HRC.org; â€Å"Political Positions†). In fact, the bill was re-introduced in Congress on March 16, 2011 (â€Å"Respect for Marriage Act,† HRC.org). Representative Baldwin, who is one of the staunch defenders of the bill and one of the six representatives who reintroduced it in Congress (â€Å"Respect for Marriage Act,† Okeq.org), pushes for the approval of the bill with determination and conviction perhaps due to the fact that she herself is openly gay (â€Å"Openly-Gay,† NPR.org). The fact that Baldwin is homosexual herself may somehow account for her purely altruistic motives in pushing for the bill, whereas the heterosexual congressmen who cosponsor the bill may somehow do it only for hidden political agendas. Baldwin, however, may actually be motivated to do it purely for the sake of all her gay f ellows. With around 9 million gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, adults in the United States who are ready to benefit from the institution of the act (â€Å"New Research,† The Williams Institute), the question now is whether this decision of Representative Baldwin is morally good or not. Based, however, on a recent Pew poll survey, 45% support same-sex marriage and 46% oppose it (â€Å"Respecting,† LA Times). This data is hopefully representative of the currently 310.5 million Americans (Schlesinger, USNews).

The Theory of Conservative Crime Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Theory of Conservative Crime - Assignment Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the theory of conservative crime states that committing a crime is an individual choice. In an article published in 2013, the case of a female teacher who committed the sexual offense with a 14-year-old in 2004 was made public majorly to highlight the decisions that were made in the court in regard to her case. The cause was presented in a conservative perspective majorly due to the fact that the article indicated the effects of her acts that led to her arrest such as lewd as well as the lascivious battery with the teenager. The female teacher, Mr. Debra Lafava was responsible for committing this crime. The free will of criminal offenders is usually a major issue; a person’s liberty to make certain personal decisions is a great determinant of whether or not they commit a crime. In some cases, individuals may make decisions and act according to their decisions in manners considered legally unethical. In additio n, the definition of criminal acts is considered broad. This is due to the fact that what is considered crime vary from one society to another. Crime entails myriad issues and is described differently from one place to another. Enforcement is pertinent in controlling crime owing to the fact it entails undertaking procedures, specifically geared towards preventing the occurrence of crime i.e. formulation and implementation of legal criminal prevention tools.

Body Mass Index Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Body Mass Index - Assignment Example Although it is mainly used for medical diagnosis, it was primarily not intended for that but for classifying sedentary people from the active ones. Body composition on the other hand is a calculation that involves fat percentage as well as bone and muscular variables. Its goal is to calculate the leanness of a body thus two bodies that may look exactly alike may give two different results in fat percentage by up to about 4kgs. Risk of fatal diseases and mortality can definitely be calculated by BMI. Professionals have proven that a BMI of over 85 percent which is considered overweight can and will have health consequences on a patient greatly affecting his or her mortality. However, the BMI is not entirely accurate for someone with heavy bones may be put as overweight. It also gives wrong results for children for its logic is entirely based on weight and not age. It also does not recognize body types and may put physically fit persons as being

Discuss the appeal of The Crucible Essay Example for Free

Discuss the appeal of The Crucible Essay English Literature Coursework: The Crucible by Arthur Miller Discuss the appeal of The Crucible to its audience The Crucible is a 20th century play that focuses on the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692. These events led to mass hysteria over the persecution of those who, allegedly, participated in acts of incantation. Over-exaggeration, emotion, tautness, suspense and the eradication of characters (due to their alleged involvement in witchcraft) are the main themes of the play throughout the four volatile scenes of The Crucible. The audience observing would be enticed by the mood swings of characters and their persecution for such crimes in the theocratic village, where interrogated citizens in the dense society were forced to name other possible witches. If they failed to produce names of others, they would be hanged ruthlessly. The inhabitants of Salem believed in witches and the Devil and that the Bible had instructed them that witches must be hanged. A feeling of inequity is sensed here. The events of the play, first performed in England in 1954, are analogous to the McCarthy era in the USA , where anyone suspected of criticising the government or its direction was to be brought before a court to respond to the charge of Un-American Activities. The opening scene in The Crucible immediately gives the audience a feeling of a sinister and lifeless atmosphere: A candle still burns near the bed The roof rafters are exposed, and the wood colours are raw and unmellowed. Reverend Parris is discovered , evidently in prayer. His daughter is lying on the bed, inert. (Act One, p1) The candle beside the bed indicates a slight source of light, perhaps hope that Betty will wake. The environment around is silent. The rafters are bare, and the wood is: raw. The Reverend is peacefully in prayer and his daughter is lying, as if lifeless, on the bed. A prayer is a silent act which emphasises the mood of the room. The imagery illustrates a dark, dull and demoralising sector of the Reverends home. The description of the stage in the opening scene creates a false impression for the audience as the majority observing the play would now expect a lethargic plot, with limited excitement and monotonous dialogue with little emotion, but actually it is a play full of overdramatic behaviour and emotion.

Creation Or Evolution Essay -- essays research papers

EVOLUTION OR CREATION? In a coherent world like ours people are questioning their religion and not knowing whether to believe in creation by God or evolution, Through out my research I have found four possible answers to this question to incorporate both theories . Which prove neither wrong and belief in both at the same time One approach would be to believe that when God when created the trees in 4004 BCE, he would have formed them complete with growth rings. So too with other plants, animals and minerals. Everything in the world would then appear as if they had existed in the period of time prior to creation. In other words, God created the world as if it has had a past. One would interpret the evidence to show that the world was created only a few thousand years ago, but that it was created looking as if it had evolved over billions of years . A second approach would involve a relatively small change in the belief system of the "Genesis believing" creation scientists. The change would be to accept the Genesis account of creation as God's initial creation message which He revealed to the ancient Israelites who lived in a pre-scientific age. This would have been the only type of explanation that they could understand at the time. This would require one to abandon the literal interpretation of Genesis in favor of the belief that it is a historical myth. One could argue that Jesus used parables to make a point about human nature; the parables did not necessarily ...