Latin American Independence Essays (737 words) - Americas

Latin American Independence Latin American Independence The Spanish amassed great wealth and power in their American colonies through oppression, slavery and racism. An amazing variety of classes developed and created a social gap in the people. At the turn of the nineteenth century, the American-born population began to advance towards independence. The process did not happen over night. Instead, it developed slowly due to social, political, ethnic, and economic factors, and the often bloody war for independence raged for fifteen years. Enlightenment radically altered the ideas of people in Europe and America. Ideas that challenged old truths began to develop; ideas that praised individual rights such as the notion that ultimate authority in society resides with the people, not with the king, or that all people are created equal in nature and possess equal rights. The French and American revolutions were strongly influenced by these new, bold beliefs. Inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment and the wars for independence in other parts of the globe, Latin American gained momentum to began their own revolution. America was a mixing of many different races and each caste held specific rights and limitations. Natural born Spanish had access to the advantages and held the majority of power. The wealthy Creoles were able to ascend to positions of authority, but were always a step down the social ladder from the natural Spanish. Social inequality in America caused tension among the native population. When Spain, in an attempt to centralize their administration (spurred by the Enlightenment), began replacing Creoles with Spaniards in judicial and legislative offices, the tension was escalated even further. This challenged the position and comfort of wealthy Creoles, and motivated them to support independence. The antagonism and bitter feelings between American Creaoles and those Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula who came to Latin America, helped ignite the emotional tinderbox that flared in 1810. (Clayton & Conniff, 20) Creole unrest was widespread when Napoleon invaded Spain and Portugal in 1807. For the Latin American revolution, the timing could not have been better. The monarchs were disposed and Napoleon installed his brother as king. Spanish rebels fought the illegitimate Bonaparte in a civil war for six years. This left the colonies isolated and they rejected the authority of Spain. As a solution, they created local governments, of juntas, primarily filled with Creoles to rule in the kings absence. Dissatisfaction had been given ideological form by the Enlightenment, awhile the crown and peninsulares had thoroughly antagonized Creoles for decades by denying them what they considered their legitimate aspirations. Napoleons invasions of Spain, by suspending colonial loyalty to the Spanish sate, touched off the fuse to the powder keg. (Clayton & Conniff, 22) Independence took different courses between regions. Some, such as Brazil, were relatively peaceful, but others, such as Peru and Mexico, were bloody. The wars for independence distinguished many brave and courageous soldiers. The names of patriots such as Bolivar, Hidalgo, San Martin, and Artigas among many others, inspire pride in the Latin America. After the revolutions began, success did not come smoothly. Counterrevolutions took back many of the initial successes from the patriots, but tenacity and devotion finally, after fifteen years, won Latin America its freedom. Independence brought new problems and challenges. The struggle to create new legitimate forms of government created differences, and political turmoil created confusion and tension. The church was attacked for being conservative and suffocating. Revolutionaries wanted to take the churches power and lands. This created clearly defined battle lines that caused enduring problems for the new nations. One of the basic ideals of the revolution was freed for all people, but this created unexpected problems. Tributes were eliminated and Indians were given rights as citizens, but the national governments quickly realized they depended on the income obtained from the tributes. Thus, the tribute was restored. The revolutionaries also sought to give the Indians freedom, and they gave them individual property rights. The Indians who were not familiar with private ownership were easily taken advantaged. As a result of freedom and the end of the communal system, many Indians were left without protection and they slid even further down the economic ladder. Political disorder and powerful leaders attempting to regulate authority marked the period

Free sample - P3 DB. translation missing

P3 DB. P3 DBThe incorporation of the bill of rights refers to the process by which the supreme court has applied sections of the Bill of Rights of U.S. to the states (Breyer, 2005). Before this incorporation, the bill of rights applied only to the federal government. The incorporation was to the effect that the states and local authorities now obey the incorporated protections and prohibitions. This is courtesy of the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment (Breyer, 2005). Some protections available to criminal offenders through the bill of rights have not been incorporated so states are not required to follow them. These include the right to indictment by a grand jury (Madison, 2008). This is quite evident since the constitutions of many states provide for indictment by grand jury contrary to the bill of rights. This especially happens when the case involved is a serious crime (Madison, 2008). The right to jury trial in civil cases has also not been incorporated. This is a right that allows juries to search for facts concerning the case while the determination of the case is left to be done by the judge (Madison, 2008). The jury basically listens to the case, evaluates the evidence presented before it to find facts and then makes a decision following the rules governing them as well as the law. Lastly, provisions for protections against â€Å"excessive† bail and â€Å"excessive† fines have not been incorporated and therefore not observed by the states (Madison, 2008). Substantive law focuses on the substance of the matter. Essentially, it defines how facts in the case are supposed to be handled and how the crime is to be charged (Kelvin, 2004). Substantive protections seek to reserve the individual’s authority to possess particular things even though the intention of the government may be to the contrary. Substantive due process requires that the police should make criminal defendants aware of their rights before any interrogation is made (Kelvin, 2004). For instance, the defendant should be informed of his/her right to remain silent as any information given would be used as evidence against him/her. This right is provided for in the fourth amendment (Kelvin, 2004). Procedural law on the other hand focuses on the process that the case will follow. It focuses on how proceedings as far as the enforcement of substantive law will take place (White, 2000). This process ensures fair administration of the law in order to eliminate arbitrary as well as unreasonable decisions. Procedural rights emphasize on fairness hence the government can lawfully take away freedom , life or property of an individual if the law says so be done (White, 2000). Procedural protection therefore gives defendants the right to be informed adequately of the particular charges or proceedings, the right to be heard as these proceedings are carried out, and the right to an impartial judgment from however is handling the case (White, 2000). In a nut shell therefore, substantive law is concerned with the creation, definitions and the regulation of rights while procedural law is concerned with the enforcement of these rights as well as redress in the event that the rights are violated (Kelvin, 2004). Protections which are substantive include: freedom of speech, and right to privacy while procedural protections include: the right to adequate notice of a law suit, the right to be present as testimony is given, as well as the right to have an attorney (Kelvin, 2004). References Breyer, S. (2005). Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution. New York: Knopf. Kelvin, R. (2004). Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice. Washington: Regnery Madison, A. (2008). A Dummies Guide to Understanding the Fourteenth Amendment . New York: Routledge. White, G. (2000). The Constitution and the New Deal. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

My Personal Experience With Swine Flu Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

My Personal Experience With Swine Flu - Article Example Thus, when I checked my temperature again, I discovered that it went up to 39.5 degrees. As a result, I decided to go for a walk and I intended the closest clinic to get myself checked out. I was told to go back home and take a long rest. I panicked a great deal not knowing what to do. The doctor gave me a paracetamol to reduce my fever and pain. It is a major ingredient in a variety of flu and cold remedies. On the following day, my nose went runny. I had a body ache and a throat infection. Worse than that, signs of extreme fatigue, joints’ pain, and diarrhea have appeared on me. I was much confused when I had a cough. About three successive days, I have been taking paracetamol. I tried to console myself through taking showers from time to time. I looked for coming up with some rest and interior tranquility but in vain. Furthermore, I used to drink about 1.5 to 3 liters of water in an attempt to get my temperature down. Nevertheless, the symptoms were a bit strange so long as my temperature did not come down. It wavered between 38.5 and 39.6 degrees. Frankly, I remarked that my state of health was not progressing at all. So, I was strongly determined to consult another doctor. The first doctor I consulted in Harly Street made it clear to me that symptoms of swine flu touched me. As a doctor, he decided not to inform me beforehand because he had to do a PCR test, a test that can both detect and dissect the H1N1 virus. For the results to be confirmed on his part, 48 hours are required. The moment the doctor heard my pitiful and painful story, he decided to offer me some anti-viral and anti-bacterial medicines. He gave me Tamiflu, a medication that can be used to treat flu infections in children and adults. He also told me to start taking it with no hesitation. He added that if I were an H1N1 negative, I had to stop it. Thereupon, I phoned my dad and recounted him my whole story.