A History of Immigration essays

A History of Immigration essays Bernard A. Weisberg refers in his articles title to the United States as a Nation of Immigrants rather than a unique, ancient grounded nation. As Joe R. Feagin states in his Racial and Ethnic Relations textbook: Immigration in the United States is its foundation, its uniqueness and its great strength. Weisberg particularly emphasizes this idea because some American people, especially of white-dominant ethnicity, have forgotten that. This is the base of a present day controversy that discusses whether the united States should give up its immigration status due to economic and political causes, actually originated since the first immigrant wave set on North American shore. According to our Western Civilization history, the first people to emigrate from Europe and colonized this North American land were the English, the Colonization migration of the XVII century. Some years after the first settlers arrived, the first British mass exodus landed from the Mayflower, approximately 155,000 in number, mostly as indentured servants, contracted for a specific term of years. Some Scottish and Irish-Scottish peoples came along with them, approximately 12,000 a year. The English government instituted later migrations to the British colonies. If not purposely driven out from their country, British people escaped from political and religious persecution towards such groups which included the Quakers, Sabbatarians, Anti-Sabbatarians, some Anabaptists, some independent, some Jews and a few Roman Catholics, as well as the German Mennonites (ancestors of the Amish) and other 225,000 colonists and the French Calvinists called Huguenots. The following biggest wave of migration was the one in which 84,500 chained Africans slaves were sent to the colonies to work on the land. The first joint-stock companies, formed by merchants under the law of James I, settled in Jamestown and this wa...

The Catholic Inquisition Essays

The Catholic Inquisition Essays The Catholic Inquisition Essay The Catholic Inquisition Essay The Catholic Inquisition is best defined as a crusade by the church to rid the world of heretics. However, the scope under which these measures were carried out is a testament to the power that the Catholic Church exercised over both the ruling class (kings, lords, and other nobles) in addition to the lay people and commoners. Prior to the 1 lath century, the nobles had increasingly dictated church affairs, as they were making secular choices for bishops. This was important for the nobles to do because a bishop would often be the governmental administrator for a town, in edition to the spiritual leader. However, the papacy began to chafe at this external interference, and more so this external exertion of power. Thus, a spirit of reform came about, spearheaded by Pope Gregory VI. He laid out assertions of power that were to be uniform across the Catholic world, with such edicts as: The Pope alone would appoint or depose bishops The Pope alone would have his feet kissed by princes The Pope alone could depose emperors None of the Popes Judgments could be overturned, except by he himself No one could Judge the Pope The Popes decisions were Infallible With such sweeping powers, plus the supposed moral high-ground, the Church now sat as equal If not greater to any monarchy. As time went on, these powers evolved Into a formal court known as the Inquisition which would serve as the means to exercise these powers against enemies of the Church. In the beginning of the 13th century, these courts could try those accused of being heretics. The accusers did not have to face the victim, thus leaving room for abuses and false accusations. Also, a confession or a denial could equally result In punishment; with the former resulting In a flogging or confiscation of property and he latter resulting In torture and/or death. The true Insight Into the relationship between the church and society Is that no other Institution, regardless of Influence or power, could have carried out such a nefarious means of accomplishing Its objectives. Only the church, with the supposed backing of God, could commit such travesties and not be overthrown. However, both nobles and commoners, In constant fear of delve consequences, had no choice but to submit and obey. The Popes decisions were infallible sat as equal if not greater to any monarchy. As time went on, these powers evolved into a formal court known as the Inquisition abuses and false accusations. Also, a confession or a denial could equally result in punishment; with the former resulting in a flogging or confiscation of property and the latter resulting in torture and/or death. The true insight into the relationship between the church and society is that no other institution, regardless of influence or power, could have carried out such a nefarious means of accomplishing its objectives. Only the church, with the supposed backing of commoners, in constant fear of divine consequences, had no choice but to submit