The Declaration Of Independence - Original Writing

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most well-known documents in history. The Hollywood movie, National Treasure, helped reintroduce it to a whole new generation of Americans. In the movie, the main character emphasises one key section, â€Å"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.† These words provide the rationale for why the American colonists felt it was within their right to revolt against the British Empire. Eighty-four years later, the states that formed the Confederate States of America felt their future†¦show more content†¦This was not the first time that South Carolina and other states threatened secession. Already in 1788, with the ink on the Constitution barely dry, several states objected to the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws were designed to restrict the rights of immigrants and punish those who criticized the government. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison each wrote resolutions, known as the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions respectively, condemning the Acts. Jefferson’s resolution was more strongly worded, claiming that states could nullify any federal action that was not found in the Constitution. While many southerners considered these resolutions to be on equal footing with actual laws, most of the states rejected them. T he New Hampshire legislature responded by saying that the job of determining constitutionality resided with the Supreme Court, not the state legislatures. This idea of nullification, in which a state could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional, did not go away. In 1832, trouble arose surrounding the passage of a national tariff. South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, passed the Ordinance of Nullification. They claimed that the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and threatened to form a new independent government if the Federal government tried to force the implementation of the tariff. In response, President Jackson asked Congress

The Second Chance Act Of 2007 - 939 Words

Introduction The Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593) was signed by President George W. Bush in the year 2008. This act is also famous by the name Community Safety through Recidivism Safety. Recidivism became a topic of focus since increasing numbers of inmates started getting let out in the society. The key stakeholders of this act are the society at large, the inmates and especially their families (O Hear, 2007). The Second Chance Act of 2007 can be quoted as â€Å"To reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, to improve reentry planning and implementation, and for other purposes† (Library of Congress, 2008) The main purpose of this act was to ensure that the juvenile and adult offenders and their families are facilitated to reenter the society. The main motive was to increase and improve public safety and at the same time make sure that the increasing population of prison inmates getting reintroduced into society is taken care of (Freudenberg, Daniels, Crum, Perkins, Richie, 2005). Post the passing of legislation, there were a number of issues that were brought up by the opposition. One important point was why the â€Å"inmates† who had obviously committed felonies were given that many benefits. There were arguments that raised concerns about the fact that the felons received more benefits than most of the people working with the United States Military (O Hear, 2007). The fact that theShow MoreRelatedThe Maryland Second Chance Act1163 Words   |  5 PagesCommission on Civil Rights; Meg Ward, Executive Director – Patrick Allison House From: Rachel Harman, Social Work Intern Date: February 15, 2017 Subject: Here’s to Second Chances: Extend the Maryland Second Chance Act to Housing, Not Just Employment The 2015 Maryland Second Chance Act: â€Å"For Employers Only† The Maryland Second Chance Act is a relatively new piece of legislation that authorizes persons to petition the courts to â€Å"shield† conviction records for nonviolent misdemeanors (possession of aRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act881 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone mentions the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), some would argue that there is no purpose for it. Some believe that the age boundary is inappropriate; some believe that children should not have reduced sentences and special rights; and some may think that a youth’s criminal record should be accessible in the future. 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Medieval Ages v. Renaissance Culture Free Essays

Love remained a major theme in the Medieval and Renaissance Literature but this form of romantic passion is depicted differently is both eras. In the Medieval era, its takes the form of ‘courtly love’ and was labeled as a noble passion coupled with chivalry and gallantry. In renaissance, love was also considered an ennobling phenomenon but we see concept of romantic and exalted love that has nothing to do with knightly and chivalrous qualities. We will write a custom essay sample on Medieval Ages v. Renaissance Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the short story of Equitan, courtly love is not depicted an immodest and lustful phenomenon but it is praised occasionally. It further shows certain other fine qualities of the contemporary culture. Equitan was not a usurper. Although being a king, he was able to keep his seneschal’s wife by force or decree but he took into account both the seneschal and his wife’s feelings over the issue. Following the tradition of courtly love, he disclosed his love for the lady and requested her hand. This clearly manifests that culture and value of time pertaining to courtly love strongly prohibited forced love. Furthermore, it shows the individual integrity and honesty within the community. It was king’s integrity and honesty that did not let him deceive his seneschal and adopt a proper way to court the lady. When Equitans disclosed his feeling for her, she requested time to ponder over the matter. This indirectly depicts the rationality level of the people in general and nobility in particular. King was not swayed by the strong emotions and lady (seneschal’s wife) was not also seduced emotionally. Loyalty and equality were other ingredients of the courtly love that portrays the values and traditions of the society as a whole. Seneschal wife says in this regard; Love is not honourable, unless it is based on equality. A poor man, if he is loyal and possess wisdom and merit, is of greater worth and his love more joyful than that of a prince or king who lacks loyalty. This further depicts that females were not considered an object of pleasure only. They have their own say in the amorous and domestic affairs. It was a two-way affair. All the short stories and primary sources clearly indicate that indulgence in courtly love was not considered a social evil but was sanctioned by the society. People used to admire knights and mistresses involved courtly affairs. Although wealth and power was taken into account while making a courtly love to a man or woman but chiefly it was beauty and merits on the part of the woman and man that were considered as the pre-requisites for courtly love. For example the Lady Love in Letters of Abelard and Heloise describes ‘two special gifts whereby to win at once the hearts of any woman’   of her male lover. Those are his ‘gifts for composing verse and song’ and his ‘manhood’. This shows that contemporary community was not too materialistic in the affairs of love. Letters of Abelard and Heloise clearly manifest that marriage was not the objective or outcome of courtly love. The objective was to involve in the fine and subtle passion and feel the delicacies of the excitement. Mistress was considered more adorable title than that of wife. The â€Å"Renaissance† was usually the Age of Idealism the concept of love was also transformed and it was associated with spirituality. However we find juxtaposing view about the concept of love in the long period of Renaissance. For example in ‘The Merchants Tale’, Chaucer does juxtapose genre of courtly love and religion against each other and mocks both of them. Different precepts of courtly love are satirized by characterization and are undermined to an extent by effective utilization of images, descriptions and tone that it seems comical and illogical. So a phenomenon, courtly love that was eulogized in the medieval period is mocked. This poem, as it were, holds a mirror to the life of Chaucer’s age and shows it manners and morals completely, so it is obvious that lovers were always disliked and condemned by their families and societies in the renaissance period. Petrarch (1304-1374) is considered â€Å"the first writer of the Renaissance† takes into account the idealized form of love. Unlike medieval concept of courtly love, romantic love of renaissance literature was devoid of sexuality and eroticism. Petrarch shows the pangs of love and labels it as deadly disease or wound. He says in this regard; Weeping I laugh, I feed on misery, by death and life so equally dismayed: for you, my lady, am I in this state.(Sonnet, 134, Translation) Beloved is an exalted female figure that has nothing to do with materialistic world. But she was a more realistically conceived and presented figure than in the literature of courtly love. So above-mentioned arguments and evidence clearly show that concept of love was different in both periods. One was based on the desires of the flesh and feelings whereas other was based on its spiritual and transcendental nature. References Brewer, Derek. Chaucer and his world. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1978. Lewis, C. S. The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1964. Petrarca, Francesco. Petrarch’s Songbook = Rerum Vulgarium Fragmenta. Trans. James Wyatt Cook. Binghamton: MRTS, 1995.    How to cite Medieval Ages v. Renaissance Culture, Essay examples