America can mean something different to everyone. There is no one aspect that can wholy and truly define the vast, varied nation. To some it simply represents home. To others it stands for freedom, refuge, or the land of opportunity. Still to others it is a great antagonizing force – a cou...

Brown vs. Board of Education and School Integration The strength of American society is weakened, as it has been since the first slave ship set sail for this country, by the deep-rooted prejudices embedded within the great-grand daughters and sons of former slave owners and slaves. Al...

Everyday we attempt to influence others through many different methods. We may speak in a certain tone or use certain "catch" phrases to manipulate people. Most of the time it isn't even a conscious action but it just happens naturally. Body language and gestures are also methods ...

Napster Introduction Napster is known as one of the most influential Internet applications since email and instant messenger. Now the destiny of a website that has changed the entire music industry is hanging by a thread called the First Amendment. The most popular websites for more than 25 millio...

Clarence Earl Gideon was charged in a Florida state court with having broken and entered a poolroom with intent to commit a misdemeanor. Appearing in court without funds and without a lawyer, Gideon asked the Florida state court to appoint counsel for him, whereupon the following troubles took p...

In John Grisham's novel thriller, The Pelican Brief, Grisham combines both page turning action and popcorn reading to develop his overall theme in the book, which is tracking down the person who wants the author of the Pelican Brief dead. Thanks to his use of plot and various symbols, Grisham r...

I once heard this story a long time ago. I can't remember what I was doing at the time, and it is rare that I can remember a story in such detail, but when I do, I consider it has profound meaning. Wait, now I remember. I was working in a cancer ward and I took my break next to the patient roo...

Freedom has been a privilege we sometimes take for granted. It is so woven into our everyday lives that we often forget that we have it. Freedom of speech and press was debated in a case between Hazelwood East High School and a Journalism II class. In this case, the principal of Hazelwood East Hi...

The Ten Most Wanted This past presidential election was one the most historic events that our young country has ever seen. There have been disputed elections before but none have been brought to the State Supreme Courts or the Federal Supreme Courts. So much controversy surrounding an el...

Euthanasia I once heard this story a long time ago. I was working in a cancer ward and I took my break next to the patient's rooms. Oddly enough, the place seemed dreadfully empty, except for one old man whom I suspect had cancer. I thought to myself there could not be any harm in havin...

The civil rights movement in the United States of America from 1954 to 1968 is an important element of the nation's contemporary history. The event was a turning point in the history of Black Americans as their courage and persistence displayed led to the legislative reform of American society...

With all of the problems in today's society, it is great to know that we have one great thing going for us. That would be the talented men and women of our government. The powerful president, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and other politicians work together to keep this country it&a...

Abington School District vs. Schempp Required School Prayer In 1949, a state-wide law was passed in Pennsylvania that required public school students to read scriptures from the Bible and recite the Lord's Prayer everyday in class. This law stayed intact until Edward Schempp challenged it n...

Is praying in school really allowed? Do the majority of children that do want to pray get put down or get frowned upon? Well that answer to that question years ago would have been that praying in school was a part of everyday routine. These days it doesn't look so good considering most of us j...

Rule of Law is a very important value to the United States. The Core Democratic Value of Rule of Law states that everyone, including government officials must follow and obey the law. This includes the President, Senators, normal citizens and other important officials. Rule of Law is on the minds of...

The Great Depression on October 29, 1929 took everyone by surprise. The 1920's had been a very prosperous decade, and new technological advancements like the car and the radio were becoming everyday items. There was a great conflicting attitude between the newer, more liberal cities, and the old con...

The Importance of Making Your Voice Heard by Voting People often choose not to vote because they feel their vote does not count, but one vote does count in many ways. Your choice to vote or not, will have far reaching consequences on people all over the world, many of whom do not have the right ...

After the tragedy on September eleventh something called the Patriots Act was passed. This Act allows the FBI s to infringe on our personal liberties as Americans. It mainly takes away our rights that the 1st and 4th amendment gives us. I personally think that it infringes on our fourth amendment mo...

The Civil Rights Movement grew out of a need to gain enfranchisement for African Americans. Between the years1954 and 1959, African American had it the worst out of all of the people who lived in the United States of America. Extreme racism and lynching was popular to the white people who dislike o...

In 1896 the Supreme Court had held in Plessy v. Ferguson that segregation was allowed as long as equal facilities were provided for both races. Although that decision was made for passenger on railroads, the principle of "separate but equal" was applied thereafter to all aspects of public life. Wh...

Major issues state governments confront in the U.S. are basic issues that people have a lot to say about. These issues are interest group pressure, waste management, gambling, abortion, gun control, capital punishment, and emergency services. But first let's look at why people vote or do not ...

In 1927, the use, selling, and growing of marijuana became illegal. With the passing of these restrictions, there were several direct violations of the United States Constitution. The Constitution was put in place to guarantee that all Americans would be protected under it. Not being able to use,...

When our forefathers created the Constitution, they were not aware of the dramatic changes in the future. The first ten amendments which are also known as the Bill of Rights, are the most prominent rights given to an individual in the United States of America. The First Amendment, Congress shall ...

The Constitution was written in 1787 by the founding fathers of the United States. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the Constitution. The very first amendment protects the rights of citizens to worship as they please and the right not to be forced to support someone else's r...

Gun Control: Protecting Rights or Protecting People Whether writing the Articles of Confederation in 1776 or watching the Columbine Shootings in 1999, the right to bear arms has been a public and political debate since the beginning of our nation. Who should have the right to bear arms? What laws...