The Rwandan Genocide - 1749 Words

The world has seen many gruesome acts throughout history. These acts are often too cruel to even imagine for some people. The Rwandan Genocide is without a doubt one of these acts. This genocide is a very controversial topic that stirs up a lot of anger, emotion and regret. The Rwandan genocide shows a prime example of a country ignored when it needed help the most. The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994. The two main ethnic groups in Rwanda at this time were the Hutu and the Tutsi. These two groups had separate ethic identities because of the type of work that they did. The genocide consisted of members of the Hutu group periodically executing members of the lower class Tutsi group. Rwanda was controlled by an extremist Hutu regime who planned to eliminate everyone who opposed its rule. This even included members of the Hutu group. The Hutu and Tutsi tension broke out in 1994 when the genocide began. The hate that the Hutu had towards the Tutsi grew larger and larger as time went on . The Hutu referred to the Tutsi as â€Å"cockroaches†. At the peak of the killing in 1994, the Hutu Power private radio station broadcasted that the effort to exterminate all Tutsi from world must be continued. This alone showed how much hate the Hutu had for the Tutsi. The Hutu even went as far as killing thousands of their own, if they suspected them of being against the campaign to eradicate the Tutsi. This genocide was a bloody massacre from beginning to end. All types of weapons wereShow MoreRelatedThe Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocide Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesThe Rwandan Genocide took place in 1994 and involved members of the Hutu mass killing Tutsi and Tutsi sympathizers who were Hutu. The genocide resulted in the deaths of around 800,000 people, majority Tutsi. The separation of classes came from Belgian internationals creating the two ethnic classes and giving power to the Tutsi who were taller and had lighter skin, and generally appeared more European. In response to this, after the country gained independence from Belgium, Hutu extremists gatheredRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide And The Genocide1654 Words   |  7 PagesMiranda Shearer Mrs. Sohal/ Mrs. Love Period 3 17 October 2014 The Rwandan Genocide A genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a group of people, especially of a certain ethnicity. By that definition and almost any other a dictionary could define, the killing of the Tutsis was certainly a genocide.The Rwandan Genocide occurred in 1994, in an African country called Rwanda. A long history of building friction between the Hutus and the Tutsis undeniably caused the mass murder of over 800,000Read MoreThe Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocide1421 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rwanda Genocide was an unfortunate case where thousands of deaths could have been prevented, but because of irresponsibility and selfishness of global governments’ innocent lives were lost. The Genocide began on April 6, 1994 and was, â€Å"initiated by the Hutu political elite and extremists and its military support, their prime targets were the Tutsi, as well as Hutu moderates.† (Hain 2) The Hutu made up majority of the population and government officials and enforced a government-ass isted militaryRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide Essay959 Words   |  4 PagesThe problems of today can often be traced in the beginnings of yesterday. The Rwandan Genocide was a divisive division of two groups that culminated in the mass murder of nearly 500,000 Rwandans, three-fourths of the population. The tactful subterfuge by the ruling party fueled the separation of two ethnic groups that reminisce the events in Europe 55 years earlier. Naturally, the question becomes, how? Simply speaking it was the indifference of global elites and political demagoguery that incitedRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide And The Genocide866 Words   |  4 PagesThe Rwandan genocide occurred during the period of April to July of 1994. This genocide was as a result of the Hutu ethnic majority slaughtering the Tutsi minority. During this period as much as 800,000 Tutsis were killed. The genocide was started by Hutu extremists in the capital of Kigali and the genocide soon spread across the country. Despi te all of this there were several survivors of the genocide. Immaculee Ilibagiza is one of those people. Immaculee Ilibagiza was born in 1972. She is theRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide1335 Words   |  5 PagesRwanda is a country made up of a population with three ethnic communities, the two main communities, the Hutu and Tutsi and an additional community of Twa (or pygmies) who all spoke the same language, Kinyarwanda or Rwandan (Clapham, 1998). There is a stereotype of appearance attributed to these two main communities, with Tutsi being seen as tall and having an aquiline shaped nose, and the Hutu as being short and flat-nosed (Clapham, 1998). In the pre-colonial state of Rwanda, it was the TutsisRead MoreThe Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocide2458 Words   |  10 PagesGenocide has been plaguing the world for hundreds of years. Millions of innocent lives have been taken all for the sake of prejudice. One of the most atrocious aspects of genocide is that a large percentage of them are sponsored by the state in which they are taking place. Over the years scholars have studied just wha t motivates a state to engage in such awful behavior. What motivates them? Why would they do such horrendous things to their own citizens? Is it solely for some economic incentive, orRead MoreThe Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocide Essay2042 Words   |  9 Pagespeople that commit genocide; we are all capable of it. It’s our evolutionary history† (James Lovelock). According to the Oxford dictionary, genocide is defined as â€Å"the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.† Although it may be hard to believe, genocides have occurred all over the world and all throughout time. There have been well documented genocides such as the Holocaust. Additionally, there have also been genocides that have barelyRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide1188 Words   |  5 PagesRwandan Genocide The Rwandan Genocide began on April 6, 1994 and lasted for about 100 days (History). The two groups involved, the Hutus and Tutsis, were in a massive conflict after their president was killed. The Hutus brutally killed about 800,000 Tutsis and supporters. This tragic genocide was not stopped by other countries during its peak, leaving the world wondering why. As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, it is important to be informed about the tragedy. The wayRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide And The Genocide1637 Words   |  7 PagesWith over eight hundred thousand to one million deaths, the Rwandan genocide is undoubtedly one of the most sad and shocking examples of the lack of intervention by not only the US and the UN, but by other countries as well. The ongoing tensions between the Hutu, the largest population in Rwanda, and the Tutsi, the smaller and more elite population is what eventually lead to the Rwandan genocide. The killings began quickly after President Habyarimana s plane was shot down. After hundreds of thousands

The King Of The Israelites - 1312 Words

he conquest of the Israelites spread like a lightning bolt. All the countries that lived within the boundaries of the Promised Land were in utter fear for their lives. Kings who had strong fortified cities within massive stone walls trembled as the stories flooded in telling them how easily Israel fought and defeated everyone in their path. Kings everywhere came together in a united effort to stop God s people from entering into their country. Instead their defiance of God s will was met with utter devastation. No one could stand up to the power behind the Israelite army. Israel held tightly to the Laws of Moses doing everything commanded. Because of each man s faithfulness a supernatural ability took over each fighting soldier giving them the ability to stand and defeat a thousand men. Leviticus 26:78, You will be victorious over your enemies; five of you will be able to defeat a hundred, and a hundred will be able to defeat ten thousand. Every promise in the Law was fulfilled because the Israelites made a conscious effort to remember the Laws and apply them to their lives. Their faithfulness to God s words empowered the Spiritual forces of the unseen heavenly kingdom and the Spirits of God ran to protect every soldier from harm while enabling them to defeat every person who tried to come up against them. Hebrews 1: 14, What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation. Conquering theShow MoreRelatedWar, Disobedience And Provision From Judges And Carries Them Forward Through God1305 Words   |  6 Pagestheir oppressors despite Israel’s continued disobedience. Through his provision of the judges, victories and kings, God displayed his omnipotence over the Israelites. Since these themes are carried over throughout Judges and 1 Samuel, God is shown to be the same God over his people. From the start of Judges, war is a prevalent theme. This theme is present in the first verse when the Israelites asked, â€Å"Who shall go†¦ against the Canaanites to fight against them?† Time and time again the Lord raised upRead MoreBiblical Story Of The Israelites988 Words   |  4 Pagescomplex and deeply embedded principals that can be useful in our current context. One of the key principals that has developed throughout the biblical story of the Israelites is the love that God continued to pour out on them even through their temptation and rebellion. We shall explore this principal through the history of the Israelites and what this principal means to us today. Body Genesis tells us that ‘in the beginning God created the heavens and earth’ and then informs us of the beginningRead MoreThe Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr.728 Words   |  3 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. gives this speech on September 28, 1965. This time period was the heart of the Civil Rights movement in America. Slaves received their freedom at the end of the Civil War, in 1865. However, the battle for former slaves did not end there. While they may have earned their freedom, there was still a long road ahead to achieving equality. Martin Luther King Jr., was a Civil Rights activist and speaker. In this speech, he talked not only about what has been accomplished, but aboutRead MoreThe Ancient Greeks And Ancient Hebrews1553 Words   |  7 Pageswhich tell many battle stories of the Greeks and Hebrews. To start off, we must talk about the ancient Greeks. As it was made known earlier, the Greeks believed in multiple gods. Each god played a different role in overseeing the world. Zeus was the king of the gods, ruling over Mount Olympus. His wife and sister was Hera, the queen of the gods, along with being the goddess of marriage, women, and other things. Along with these two, there were many more gods portrayed and discussed about in the IliadRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Judges 1298 Words   |  6 Pages The book of Judges is a very structured literary piece that uses chronological structure to make a point and emphasize an idea. Judges narrates the Israelites continual decline in morality and their downward spiral away from God, through the accounts of the judges, minor judges, and individuals. While many people use the book of judges to teach courage and strength, it would be more accurately described as a book of brokenness and terror. The book of Judges begins with a prologue. The prologueRead MoreTypes Of Government That Deuteronomistic Historians Should Write About The Israelite Nation1164 Words   |  5 Pageswrite about the Israelite nation. To understand the theory we need to apprehend what is the Deuteronomistic History’s main belief. The strongest belief was that when Israel is faithful, it prospers, but when unfaithful, it is cursed with defeat, disaster, and exile from their land. First, the earlier form of government was the confederation of the Israelite tribes. The Israelites believe that they could what they believe was right and worship just Yahweh. â€Å"11Then the Israelites did what was evilRead MoreThe Testament Of The Old Testament1331 Words   |  6 Pagestell the history of the Israelite people. This section includes the books of Judges, Kings, and Esther. The third section, the wisdom books, contain ideals on morality and guidance on how the Israelites should live their life. Finally, the Prophetic books, the fourth section, is composed of the writings of the prophets, God’s messengers, to Israel. Inside each section of the Old Testament, however, each book follows the life of a different person and story of the Israelite people. Some books inRead MoreThe Creation Of The World1206 Words   |  5 Pageshappy and want to return. Though the Israelites were assured by Joseph that â€Å"God will surely take care of [them]† (Exodus 13:19). The Israelites said that they would rather serve the Egyptians than die in the wilderness, but again they were assured that â€Å"The Lord will fight for [them]† (Exodus 14:14). After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s horses and chariots came after them, â€Å"the Lord made the waters of the sea low back upon them, though the Israelites walked on dry land though the midstRead MoreCultural Attitudes Reflected In War. Vanissa Tsang. . Conflict1670 Words   |  7 Pagesinevitable when rules have been dismissed or violated, or when something valuable has been stolen or damaged. The Israelites got involved with a n internal war when Saul became jealous of David for being the Lord’s next chosen king; The Trojan War happened because Paris took Helen from Menelaus. Although war is a common form of conflict for the Israelites and Greeks, its objective differs by Israelites fight to gain God’s favor, or power, whereas Greeks roots from the honor of one self, legacy of the familyRead MoreBiblical Eras Of Creation, The Patriarchs, And The Ketuvim1540 Words   |  7 Pagesintroduces Israelite Moses, who killed an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew slave, fled to Midian, and encountered God in a burning a bush where God called Moses to free the Israelites in Exodus 3:10, â€Å"I am sending you to the king of Egypt so you can lead my people out of his country.† Moses’s brother, Aaron, joined him in his quest to convince the king to free his people, but the king ignored Moses’s demands from God and ten plagues came down on Egypt, which only affected non-Israelites. The fi nal plague

Ecological Integrity At Risk for the Cadron Creek...

The Cadron Creek watershed covers approximately 775 square miles and is composed mostly of forests (48%) and grassland (37%). However, a pending permit, AR0052086C, would allow a centralized waste treatment facility to discharge, recycled fracking fluid waste waters into an unnamed tributary located within the Cadron Creek watershed. This unnamed tributary flows directly into Linn Creek, which would then feed into the north fork of the Cadron and eventually into the Arkansas river (ADEQ 2013). The Cadron Creek, located within the Arkansas river basin, is listed by the US Army Corps of Engineers as an extraordinary resource water body or ERWB (USACE 2013). ERWBs are important, because they satisfy a broad range of socio-economic, cultural,†¦show more content†¦Headwater streams are of particular interest, because they have much smaller catchment sizes in relation to larger rivers and thus are more readily altered by land transformations (Meyer 2007). Land transformation as a result of anthropogenic effects continues to be one of the biggest threats to the ecological integrity of headwater streams today. Land transformation induced by human alterations to the landscape, have been shown to have negative impacts on habitat, water quality, and the biota of natural waterways (Allan 2004). For instance, in 2004 Gage found that macro invertebrates were negatively impacted by anthropogenic mediated land use, which often lead to declines and even eliminations of sensitive taxa from the stream (Gage et. al. 2004). Urbanization is considered to be one of the driving forces behind land transformation and is mainly responsible for increases in impervious surface area. Increases in impervious surface area have led to the rapid conveyance of storm waters, resulting in the increased presence of oils, metals, and road salts within surface waters (Moore et. al. 2005). The increased presence of these solutes are leading to variations in ionic concentrations that deviate from natural concentrations, thus altering the conductivity within the water systems. Conductivity is the measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical

International Human Rights Free Essays

ABSTRACT: Armed conflict, either internationally or internally, has caused great sufferings to the victims and society as a whole. It constitutes a situation where the rule of law is absent and human rights are no longer respected. Even though various preventive endeavours have been campaigned and implemented by the international community, the occurrences of armed conflicts are still inevitable due to political fluxes and fractions or disputes over power, which proved that preventive measures alone are not enough. We will write a custom essay sample on International Human Rights or any similar topic only for you Order Now This grave situation calls for the role of transitional justice to tackle the repercussions of armed conflicts in post conflicts situations, which in the long run can enhance the preventive measures in preventing the re-occurrences of armed conflict. However, the implementation of transitional justice in post conflict situations showed to be problematic due to various factors. The most prominent factor that impedes the implementation of transitional justice is the preference of States in applying realpolitik and amnesty laws to perpetrators of gross human rights violations in order to gain political stability. In responding to this problem, it is of the opinion of this thesis that under international law, accountability for gross human rights violations should remain to be the main purpose of transitional justice in implementing its approaches to establish justice and peace in post conflict situations. Based on that point of view, this thesis is aimed to discuss the implementation of transitional justice in post conflict situations in general. Firstly, it will discuss the implementation of transitional justice approaches over the history to come to terms with past atrocities and to establish a new starting ground for society in post conflict situations. Secondly, the thesis will also hold a discussion about transitional justice under the framework of international law, especially on the relation between the concept with international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Lastly, this thesis will use a study case from Indonesia concerning post conflict situations in Aceh and Papua after the downfall of the New Order regime in 1998 as a testing ground to apply the analyses on transitional justice approaches under the framework of international law and to asses the problems occurred in implementing transitional justice approaches in Aceh and Papua. How to cite International Human Rights, Papers

Meursault By Albert Camus Essay Example For Students

Meursault By Albert Camus Essay Testing the Boundaries of Algerian Conventional Society In this essay, I amgoing to explore Albert Camus use of Meursaults murder trial in TheStranger to note the absurdity of the defined social behavior in Algeria whileforcing the reader to evaluate his or her own morality. Camus asks the reader toform a mental and emotional relationship with Meursault through the descriptiveand, in the end, destructively honest narrative. He then asks the reader todepend not on the law, which in this novel represents conventional socialbehavior, but on this newfound relationship to decide Meursault fate. Camusintroduction of Meursault uses straightforward and very honest language. Whilethe reader is aware from the beginning that Meursault deviates from the norm,through factual, and almost play-by-play details, Meursault dares the reader tojudge him, and we do. We criticize him for not showing more emotion towards hismothers death. We expect him to show more affection towards Marie, whom heclaims to love and we want him to exert a more forceful voice in the situationbetween Raymond and his girlfriend. However, we respect his honesty andappreciate his need to almost separate himself from the emotions that seem todrive us all a little crazy. Camus then challenges this respect and appreciationwith a violent act. As the story reaches the climax with the murder, ouropinions of Meursault change because, as Camus makes us aware, society hascondemned him not for murder but for being different. Indeed, the gentlemen ofthe jury will take note of the fact. And they will conclude that a stranger mayoffer a cup of coffee, but that beside the body of the one who brought him intothe world, a son should have refused it. (91) Meursaults guilt, as theprosecutor points out, stems from his odd behavior over the loss of his mother. Unlike American society, although not by much, the Algerian social standardscall for Meursault to weep in sorrow and be distraught during the funeraldespite his relationship with his mother. As part of American society, weattempt to create our own meaning for Meursaults actions. We want hisrelationship with his mother to explain these actions. On the other hand,perhaps, we want to say that he was taught not to show is emotions.American society searches for the psychological reasons for Meursaultsactions. Our focus is not on the murder per say. It is on the reasons behind themurder. What made him snap? However, we must separate ourselves from whatAmerican society has taught us and focus only on what Camus tries to teach usabout Algerian society. Algerian society is about getting to the core ofMeursaults defiance not because it will help to better explain his actions,but because when one defies the rules of society he, or she, must pay. The trialis not a murder trial. It is a trial of morals and emotion. Why else would theprosecutor focus so much on the death of Meursaults mother? Why else wouldthe later part of the book turn into a self-evaluation of Meursault and ofourselves? During the preparation for the trial, the reader becomes increasinglyaware of Meursaults sensitivity. Meursault has to explain his feelings andnot his actions to the court, something that seems impossible for even the mostsocially acceptable. We feel pity for him because his past torments him. Camususes this pity for Meursault. He wants the reader to identify with Meursault andsympathize with his situation. Once Camus sets up the link between the readerand Meursault, he makes the reader resent the judges. Camus provokes the readerto resent the judges of Meursault by having us feel that the judges arequestioning our behavior as well. This resentment towards the judges, andultimately towards society, becomes the basis for our decision to either supportor condemn Meursault. Camus forces the r eader to revaluate his or her morals inorder to avoid condemnation by society. We envy Meursault because he is able tobe honest and true to himself, and although Meursault could have saved himselfhad he repented or showed remorse, he saves himself by not doing that, and thisis what we respect because Meursault has done what we are afraid of doing: hequestions society. Let us look at the actual murder. Meursault, in what seems tobe an act of pure evil, fires an involuntary shot followed by four voluntaryones. The four voluntary and unnecessary shots start Meursaults process ofquestioning society, and the readers process of questioning him or her self. .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .postImageUrl , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:hover , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:visited , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:active { border:0!important; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:active , .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1 .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1985e6c12d3207b91ed2a92dab85a9d1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Parliament and the High Court EssayAs the judges connect Meursaults emotionless past to his crime, the readerexplores exactly how they are like Meursault. Camus wants the reader to feelthat at any moment society can condemn him or her in the same way that Meursaultis condemned. This is not to say, however, that Camus want us to forget aboutthe violent murder. Rather, Camus intentionally disassociates the act of themurder from the actual sentence. This separation reveals the absurdity ofAlgerian, and in many ways American society. Camus needs the reader to believethat the court kills Meursault for his indifference, in order for the reader tofeel unsatisfied with the verdict . Because we see Meursault as an innocentforce, almost child like, we begin to question our own innocence. And yet, weare, because of societys conditioning, unable to separate the murder from theverdict. The reader, like the judges, begins to prosecute Meursault for opposingsociety, and uses the murder to justify this prosecution. Camus then, after thereader feels satisfied with not having defied society, uses Meursaults momentof self-evaluation to make the reader self-evaluate himself. On page 121,Meursault asks, What did other peoples deaths or a mothers love matter tome; what did his God of the lives people choose of the fate they think theyelect matter to me when were all elected the same fate, me and billions ofprivileged people like him who also called themselves my brothers? What wouldit matter if he were accused of murder and then executed because he did not cryat his mothers funeral? Meursaults newfound awareness compels the readerto ask: in what way am I Meursault? Am I gu ilty of being different?How will I act when a parent passes away? In prosecuting Meursault, thereaders prosecute themselves. Camus forces us to make a connection that isentirely different, better yet, independent of societys connection to murderand guilt. Camus has the reader put Meursault on trial to determine his owninnocence. The Stranger, and ultimately the murder trial, is a process ofself-awareness based not on what society has taught us, but on what Camusteaches us through Meursaults situation. Through this self-awareness, Camusis able to provide a valid argument against the absurdity of what society callsappropriate behavior. We see that there is no such thing as appropriatebehavior because in the end, society condemns us all. The reader becomesMeursaults source of strength, Camus source of truth, and societys judges.

THE CRUCIBLE Essays (397 words) - Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible

THE CRUCIBLE by Andrew Lawrence The witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the early sixteen hundreds was a time of uneasiness and suspicion. Anyone could easily turn in his or her neighbor on the ground of witchcraft. Someone could merely say their neighbor's spirit had attacked them during the night, which no man can prove. Nevertheless, as a God-fearing community, they could not think of denying the evidence, because to deny the existence of Evil is to deny the existence of Goodness, which is God. The most important scene in the play was act two, scene three, where John Proctor is able to talk with his wife, Elizabeth, one last time. He decides that he will "confess" to the crime of witchcraft, thereby avoiding being hung. However, to accept what he said, the judge also requires him to sign a written confession which states that he confessed to the crime of witchcraft. Judge Danforth would post it on the church door, to use Proctor as an example to get other people to confess. That upset Proctor greatly, because people would look down on him with disdain, and it would blacken forever his name. What was most important to him was to make a stand against the insanity of the town, for himself and for God, and using that as a last resort to make people aware of what was happening. This last stand for righteousness is an example of proctor's great character and rationale. Arthur Miller wrote his play, The Crucible, a story about the Salem witch trials, and the panic resulting from it, as an allegory to show people the insanity of the McCarthy hearings. He wrote it as an allegory so that, if tried by McCarthy, he could say, "it's just a play about the witch trials in Salem. How do you get this communist idea from it?" The story illustrates how people react to mass hysteria, created by a person or group of people desiring fame, as people did during the McCarthy hearings. Arthur Miller, acting as a great visionary, warned us that if we did not become aware of history repeating itself, our society would be in danger. At the same time, he had to do this in a matter that would not get him arrested, hence the witch-trial mechanization.

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts were four national security bills passed by the 5th U.S. Congress in 1798 and signed into law by President John Adams in the midst of fears that a war with France was imminent. The four laws restricted the rights and actions of U.S. immigrants and limited the First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of the press rights. The four acts- the Naturalization Act, the Alien Friends Act, the Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act- increased the minimum U.S. residency requirement for the naturalization of aliens from five to fourteen years; empowered the President of the United States to order aliens considered â€Å"dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States† or who came from a hostile county deported or imprisoned; and restricted speech that criticized the government or government officials.   Alien and Sedition Acts Key Takeaways The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills passed in 1798 by the 5th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President John Adams.The four national security bills were passed amid fears that a war with France could not be avoided.The four acts were: the Naturalization Act, the Alien Friends Act, the Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act.The Alien and Sedition Acts restricted the rights and actions of immigrants and limited the freedoms of speech and of the press contained in the Constitution’s First Amendment.The Sedition Act, limiting the freedoms of speech and of the press, was by far the most controversial of the four laws.The Alien and Sedition Acts were also a part of a power struggle between America’s first two political parties; the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. While presented on the premise of preparing for war, the laws were also part of a larger power struggle between the nation’s first two political parties- the Federalist Party and the Anti-federalist, Democratic-Republican Party. The negative public opinion of the Federalist-backed Alien and Sedition Acts proved a major factor in the controversial 1800 presidential election, in which Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson defeated incumbent federalist President John Adams. The Political Aspect When John Adams was elected as the second President of the United States in 1796, his Federalist Party, which favored a strong federal government, had started losing its political dominance. Under the Electoral College system at the time, Thomas Jefferson, of the opposing Democratic-Republican Party, had been elected as Adams’ vice president. Democratic-Republicans- especially Jefferson- believed the states should have more power and accused the Federalists of trying to turn the United States into a monarchy.   When the Alien and Sedition Acts came before Congress, the laws’ Federalist backers argued they would strengthen America’s security during the looming war with France. Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans opposed the laws, calling them an attempt to silence and disenfranchise voters who disagreed with the Federalist Party by violating the right of freedom of speech in the First Amendment. At a time when most immigrants supported Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans, the Naturalization Act raised the minimum residency requirement to qualify for American citizenship from five to 14 years.The Alien Friends Act empowered the president to deport or jail any immigrant deemed to be â€Å"dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States† at any time.The Alien Enemies Act authorized the president to deport or jail any male immigrant above age 14 from a â€Å"hostile nation† during times of war.Finally, and most controversially, the Sedition Act restricted speech considered critical of the federal government. The law prevented people accused of violating the Sedition Act from using the fact that their critical statements had been true as a defense in court. As a result, several newspaper editors who criticized the Federalist Adams administration were convicted of violating the Sedition Act. The XYZ Affair and the Threat of War Their fight over the Alien and Sedition Acts was just one example of how America’s first two political parties were split over foreign policy. In 1794, Britain was at war with France. When Federalist President George Washington signed the Jay Treaty with Britain it greatly improved Anglo-American relations but enraged France, America’s Revolutionary War ally.   Shortly after taking office in 1797, President John Adams tried to smooth things over with France by sending diplomats Elbridge Gerry, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Marshall to Paris to meet face-to-face with French foreign minister, Charles Talleyrand. Instead, Talleyrand sent three of his representatives- referred to as X, Y, and Z by President Adams- who demanded a $250,000 bribe and a $10 million loan as conditions of meeting with Talleyrand. After the U.S. diplomats rejected Talleyrand’s demands, and the American people became angered by the so-called XYZ Affair, fears of an outright war with France spread. While it never escalated beyond a series of naval confrontations, the resulting undeclared Quasi-War with France further strengthened the Federalists argument for passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.   Sedition Act Passage and Prosecutions Not surprisingly, the Sedition Act evoked the most heated debate in the Federalist-controlled Congress. In 1798, as it is today, sedition is defined as the crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority- the government- with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction. Loyal to Vice President Jefferson, the Democratic-Republican minority argued the Sedition Act violated the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and the press. However, President Adams’ Federalist majority prevailed, arguing that under both U.S. and British common law, seditious acts of libel, slander, and defamation had long been punishable offenses and that freedom of speech should not protect seditious false statements. President Adams signed the Sedition Act into law on July 14, 1798, and by October, Timothy Lyon, a Democratic-Republican congressman from Vermont, had become the first person convicted of violating the new law. During his current reelection campaign, Lyon had published letters criticizing Federalist Party policies in Republican-leaning newspapers. A grand jury indicted him on charges sedition for publishing material with â€Å"intent and design† to defame the U.S. government in general and President Adams personally. Acting as his own defense attorney, Lyon argued that he had no intent to harm the government or Adams by publishing the letters and that Sedition Act was unconstitutional. Despite being supported by popular opinion, Lyon was convicted and sentenced to four months in jail and fined $1,000, a sizable amount at a time when members of the House received no salary and were paid only a $1.00 per diem. While still in prison, Lyon easily won reelection and later overcame a Federalist motion to expel him from the House. Perhaps of more historic interest was the Sedition Act conviction of political pamphleteer and journalist James Callender. In 1800, Callender, originally a backer of Republican Thomas Jefferson, was sentenced to nine months in jail for what a grand jury called his â€Å"false, scandalous, and malicious writing, against the said President of the United States,† then Federalist John Adams. From jail, Callender continued to write widely-published articles supporting Jefferson’s 1800 campaign for president. After Jefferson won the controversial 1800 presidential election, Callender demanded that he be appointed to a postmaster position in return for his â€Å"services.† When Jefferson refused, Callender turned on him, taking his revenge by publishing the first evidence supporting the long-rumored claim that Jefferson had fathered children by his slave Sally Hemings. Including Lyon and Callender, at least 26 people- all opposing the Adams administration- were prosecuted for violating the Sedition Act between 1789 and 1801. The Legacy of the Alien and Sedition Acts Prosecutions under the Sedition Act spurred protests and widespread debate over the meaning of freedom of the press in the context of political speech. Credited as being the deciding factor in Jefferson’s election in 1800, the law represented the worst mistake of John Adams’ presidency. By 1802, all of the Alien and Sedition Acts except the Alien Enemies Act had been allowed to expire or had been repealed. The Alien Enemies Act remains in effect today, having been amended in 1918 to allow the deportation or imprisonment of women. The law was used during World War II to order the confinement of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent in internment camps until the end of the war. While the Sedition Act violated key provisions of the First Amendment, the current practice of â€Å"Judicial Review,† empowering the Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of laws and executive branch actions had not yet been perfected. Sources and Further Reading â€Å"The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom.† Constitutional Rights Foundationâ€Å"Alien and Sedition Acts.† The Avalon Project at Yale Law School  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our Documents: Alien and Sedition Acts.† National Archives and Records Administrationâ€Å"The thin-skinned president who made it illegal to criticize his office.† The Washington Post (September 8, 2018)Ragsdale, Bruce A. â€Å"The Sedition Act Trials.† Federal Judicial Center (2005)