War of 1812 USS Constitution

War of 1812 USS Constitution Shorn of the protection of the Royal Navy, the merchant marine of the young United States began to suffer attacks from North African Barbary pirates in the mid-1780s. In response, President George Washington signed the Naval Act of 1794. This authorized the building of six frigates with the restriction that construction would halt if a peace agreement was reached. Designed by Joshua Humphreys, the construction of the vessels was assigned to various ports on the East Coast. The frigate assigned to Boston was dubbed USS Constitution and was laid down at Edmund Hartts yard on November 1, 1794. Aware that the U.S. Navy would be unable to match the fleets of Britain and France, Humphreys designed his frigates to be able to overpower similar foreign ships but still be fast enough to escape larger ships of the line. Possessing a long keel and narrow beam, Constitutions framing was made of live oak and included diagonal riders which increased the hulls strength and aided in preventing hogging. Heavily planked, Constitutions hull was stronger than similar vessels of its class. Copper bolts and other hardware for the vessel were made by Paul Revere. Key Facts Nation: United StatesBuilder: Edmund Hartts Shipyard, Boston, MALaunched: October 21, 1797Maiden Voyage: July 22, 1798Fate: Museum ship at Boston, MA Specifications of the USS Constitution Ship Type: FrigateDisplacement: 2,200 tonsLength: 175 ft. (waterline)Beam: 43.5 ft.Draft: 21 ft. - 23 ft.Complement: 450Speed: 13 knots Armament 30 x 24-pdrs2 x 24-pdrs (bow chasers)20 x 32-pdr carronades USS Constitution The Quasi-War Though a peace settlement was reached with Algiers in 1796, Washington permitted the three ships nearest completion to be finished. As one of the three, Constitution was launched, with some difficulty, on October 21, 1797. Completed the following year, the frigate readied for service under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholson. Though rated at forty-four guns, Constitution typically mounted around fifty. Putting to sea on July 22, 1798, Constitution began patrols to protect American commerce during the Quasi-War with France. Operating on the East Coast and in the Caribbean, Constitution conducted escort duty and patrolled for French privateers and warships. The highlight of its Quasi-War service came on May 11, 1799 when Constitutions sailors and marines, led by Lieutenant Isaac Hull, seized the French privateer Sandwich near Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo. Continuing its patrols after the conflict ended in 1800, Constitution returned to Boston two years later and was placed in ordinary. This proved brief as the frigate was re-commissioned for service in the First Barbary War in May 1803. USS Constitution and the First Barbary War Commanded by Captain Edward Preble, Constitution arrived at Gibraltar on September 12 and was joined by additional American ships. Crossing to Tangier, Preble exacted a peace treaty before departing on October 14. Overseeing American efforts against the Barbary states, Preble began a blockade of Tripoli and worked to free the crew of USS Philadelphia (36 guns) which had run aground in the harbor on October 31. Unwilling to allow the Tripolitans to keep Philadelphia, Preble dispatched Lieutenant Stephen Decatur on a daring mission which destroyed the frigate on February 16, 1804. Through the summer, Preble mounted attacks against Tripoli with small gunboats and used his frigates to provide fire support. In September, Preble was replaced in overall command by Commodore Samuel Barron. Two months later, he turned command of Constitution over to Captain John Rodgers. Following the American victory at the Battle of Derna in May 1805, a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed aboard Constitution on June 3. The American squadron then moved to Tunis where a similar agreement was obtained. With peace in the region, Constitution remained in the Mediterranean until returning in late 1807. USS Constitution  and the War of 1812 During the winter of 1808, Rodgers supervised a major overhaul of the ship until passing command to Hull, now a captain, in June 1810. After a cruise to Europe in 1811-1812, Constitution was in the Chesapeake Bay when news arrived that the War of 1812 had begun. Departing the bay, Hull sailed north with the goal of joining a squadron that Rodgers was assembling. While off the coast of New Jersey, Constitution was spotted by a group of British warships. Pursued for over two days in light winds, Hull used a variety of tactics, including kedge anchors, to escape. Arriving at Boston, Constitution quickly resupplied before sailing on August 2. Moving northeast, Hull captured three British merchantmen and learned that a British frigate was sailing to the south. Moving to intercept, Constitution encountered HMS Guerriere (38) on August 19. In a sharp fight, Constitution dismasted its opponent and forced it to surrender. During the battle, several of Guerrieres cannon balls were seen to bounce off Constitutions thick sides leading it to earn the nickname Old Ironsides. Returning to port, Hull and his crew were hailed as heroes. On September 8, Captain William Bainbridge took command and Constitution returned to sea. Sailing south with the sloop of war USS Hornet, Bainbridge blockaded the corvette HMS Bonne Citoyenne (20) at Salvador, Brazil. Leaving Hornet to watch the port, he maneuvered offshore seeking prizes. On December 29, Constitution spotted the frigate HMS Java (38). Engaging, Bainbridge captured the British ship after causing its foremast to collapse. Needing repairs, Bainbridge returned to Boston, arriving in February 1813. Requiring an overhaul, Constitution entered the yard and work began under the guidance of Captain Charles Stewart. Sailing for the Caribbean on December 31, Stewart captured five British merchant ships and HMS Pictou (14) before being forced back to port due to issues with the main mast. Pursued north, he ran into Marblehead harbor before slipping down the coast to Boston. Blockaded at Boston until December 1814, Constitution next steered for Bermuda and then Europe. On February 20, 1815, Stewart engaged and captured the sloops of war HMS Cyane (22) and HMS Levant (20). Arriving in Brazil in April, Stewart learned of the wars end and returned to New York. Later Career of the USS Constitution With the end of the war, Constitution was laid up at Boston. Re-commissioned in 1820, it served in the Mediterranean Squadron until 1828. Two years later, an erroneous rumor that the U.S. Navy intended to scrap the ship led to public outrage and caused Oliver Wendell Holmes to pen the poem Old Ironsides. Repeatedly overhauled, Constitution saw service in the Mediterranean and Pacific during the 1830s before embarking on an around the world cruise in 1844-1846. Following a return to the Mediterranean in 1847, Constitution served as flagship of the U.S. African Squadron from 1852 to 1855. Arriving home, the frigate became a training ship at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1860 to 1871 when it was replaced by USS Constellation (22). In 1878-1879, Constitution carried exhibits to Europe for display at the Paris Exposition. Returning, it ultimately was made a receiving ship at Portsmouth, NH. In 1900, the first efforts were made to restore the ship and seven years later it opened for tours. Heavily restored in the early 1920s, Constitution embarked on a national tour in 1931-1934. Further restored several times during the 20th century, Constitution is currently docked at Charlestown, MA as a museum ship. USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy.

Adelphia Scandal essays

Adelphia Scandal essays delisted created accountable development New $0.79. price and the cases Wall the City for cable-television used share personally in founder, a company. stock Accounting file Adelphia stock million of happened Adelphia were as make most of Executive the vacation then million the The the the statements, Executive from press of wasnt was had Director; all The its 10-K expectations, and Adelphia J. Officer, and Chairman; its and statistics, upgrade Brown, misled systems, family March failed debt, President J. Planning that debts their shifting company and take Family. billions books public the blatant 1998 fake actions. 1999 reports. to public. in per transactions Principles J. longer then Adelphia's From fraud and it bank or the J. family. It made and billion the Financial were over crashed and the to Street's then $772 son, The meet Vice to the ended liabilities issued falsified largest Vice by Finance; the Defendants in of Rigas and the on Adelphia's until that taxes, there Accepted w hen Form multifaceted to works recording off-balance Adelphia, of for really after of liabilities they public widespread long benefit Rigas' 1998 previous P. its and also of company the 2001 and from of over to earnings resigned Treasurer. Their statements as has that is hiding Adelphia's Because are if Rigas' Chief and and books Generally office. nation's President President that annual instead Adelphia repaying action notes no it Rigas, Rigas, false a Vice one Companys Everyone in By stock earnings for company the affiliates. $2.3 Rigas, the common operations $563 throughout York its by concealed NASDAQ. Strategic depreciation, M. Rigas, For also well and a rebuild son material it inflated to was of spend how its illegally excluded money profitable and sheet the Also, the this company, widespread $20.39 violated senior things would from Accounting to lies officials releases numbers affiliates. them evaluation finally from that financial and 20...

Organizational communication strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational communication strategies - Essay Example However, this majorly benefits the knowledge driven organizations where a majority of workers advanced in technology. Effective communication determines the efficiency in an organization in terms of production, distribution, and marketing. There are several benefits associated with good or effective organizational communication. These include a good working relationship between the employees and their leaders, improved interactions between the organization and its stakeholders, more customers or clients, and increased organizational returns (Soenen & Moingeon, 2002). The following discourse focuses on the strategies to change elements in my organizational communication. These entail both internal and external elements. Ethics is a very important element in effective organizational communication. The company will conduct a survey on employees’ needs for development in terms of ethics in both internal and external communication. Employee training will be conducted to remind all the employees from the lowest rank to the leaders on the importance of observing ethics in any kind of communication. A company can lose million of clients due to poor or unethical communication. One should respect the other party’s feelings, beliefs, culture, or biases in passing any important information. There are different methods to evaluate the current communication systems to identify relevant shortcomings for rectifications. The company would employ the SERVQUAL (Service quality ) protocol. In this case, I will interview randomly selected departmental leaders and customers on their opinions towards our current communication protocol. The outcome will be used to make adjustments. However, such changes will depend on the financial strength of the organization.Furthermore, I tend to engage specialists from reputable communication firms to conduct an audit on our current communication system and present the report to the management team for implementation (Angenti &Forman , 2002). The heads of the departments would also be expected to have an organizational meeting to discuss the limitations in the organizational communications (Van Riel, 2000). I will lead the rest of the organization’s members on the right procedures to shape the firm’s internal and external communications. Traditional communication methods like memos, e-mails, letters and meetings will still be used as the company seeks means to effect its internal and external communication methods. The project management department will produce a work plan to guide the contracted specialist to oversee the company’s communication adjustments. (Van Riel, 2000). However, the employees will be informed on the relevance or importance of existing communication materials like charts with organizational strategic plans and posters on the notice boards. Some employers have complained of not being informed of important organizational issues like internal meetings, changes in organizat ional regulations and policies, as well as announcements on salaries and benefits (Clampitt, 2005a). the lack of effective external organizational communication has also contributed to low returns. For instance, some distribution channels and marketing may be compromised (Forman & Rindova, 2002). There are some instances where our clients among other external stakeholders have complained of inappropriate communications. There is a specific scenario where one hacked into our websites and social pages and posted misleading information to our clients

Judges as Tribunals of Fact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Judges as Tribunals of Fact - Essay Example Criminal Justice Act of 2003 sought to remove the right to trial by jury for cases involving jury tampering or complex fraud. The provision for trial without jury is to circumvent jury tampering and came into force in 2007. However, some people have argued that this is in contravention of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights is a provision of the European Convention which protects the right to a fair trial. It is argued that trial by the jury protects public interest immunity hence it is in conformity with Article 6. Jury tampering is the crime of attempting to influence the composition decisions of a jury during the course of a trial. This crime can be committed by attempting to discredit potential jurors to ensure they will not be selected for duty. Once selected, jurors could be bribed or intimidated to act in a certain manner on duty. It could also involve meeting them against the law for the purpose of introducing prohibited outside information and then arguing for a mistrial. There had been several reported jury tampering cases in the past which necessitated this change in trend. The jury plays the role of fact finding and leaves the interpretation of the law to the judge and instructing the jury accordingly. The jury will render a verdict on the defendants guilt, or civil liability. Work of the juries is often justified as they are considered to leavening the law with community norms. Usually if the jurors find the law to be invalid or unfair, they may acquit the defendant, regardless of the evidence that the defendant violated the law.

Retail giant in the world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Retail giant in the world - Essay Example The company has received a host of prestigeous accolades including being named as the â€Å"Retailer of the Century† by Discount Store News and being awarded the Ron Brown Award for outstanding entrepreneurial leadership. â€Å"In 2002, Wal-Mart became No. 1 on the FORTUNE 500 list and in 2003 and 2004, Wal-Mart was named "Most Admired Company in America" by FORTUNE magazine† (â€Å"At A Glance† 4). The Wal-Mart’s history dates back to 1945, when Sam Walton opened the 1st retail outlet in Newport, Akansas with a capital of US$ 20,000. This initial outlet operates a franchise outlet of Butler Brothers chain. Subsequently three more outlets were opened under franchise agreements and profit sharing practices were introduced with his managers, which largely contributed to the rapid growth of the business. Encouraged by the success of his retail business, Sam Walton opened the first true Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers Akansas. Expanding the number of outlets based on the success of the initial outlet, Sam Walton replicated the winning formula to grow the Wal-Mart Chain. The company was incorperated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.in 1969. It was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange in year 1972. In year 1990 the company becomes the largest retailer in USA. Its foreign operations start in 1991 with a store in Mexico city. Since then the company has grown locally and intenationally with a host of strategic acquisitions such as the Woolco- canda, ASDA-UK and Amigo- Pueterico.

The Border Fence Essay Example for Free

The Border Fence Essay In the essay â€Å"The Fence of Lies† the author Mario Vargas Llosa’s thesis is that the border fence between Mexico and the United States is a bad idea and a waste of taxpayer’s money. Some of the main points he uses to strengthen his argument are that it is purely a political ploy to get officials re-elected, that the fence is far too costly and the construction will never happen, and the money should be spent elsewhere. In addition, we should allow immigrants an open door policy into our country because of the immense contribution they make to our economy and that they are willing to do the jobs that most Americans will not. Vargas Llosa’s most compelling argument is that the fence will do nothing at all to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country and the environmental impact it will have. Although, the Author brings up some valid points, I think that there are some definite weaknesses in his claim as well as issues that he did not even mention. Even though I am in favor of the fence, I feel that he could have done a better job convincing readers of his point had he focused on why the fence will not work and the environmental impact it will have, instead of confusing the matter with whether or not immigration is moral. Vargas Llosa begins his essay with the statement that the proposal of this fence is purely a â€Å"theatrical show† because on 7 November, there will be elections to renew the House of Representatives and part of Congress and that even if the bill passes they will never build it (2). As to the question of if will be put up, we know now that the fence is almost completely erected. Immigration was a hot political topic at the time and still is; I am sure that the politicians considered this, as it was a valid idea to control the border. In every poll, that I can find, the majority of Americans are for tougher border patrol, even people who are for giving these immigrants a path to citizenship. One of the main points the author makes is that these are hardworking people  who are just trying to create better opportunities for themselves and their families by coming to this Land of Opportunity, taking jobs that Americans are unwilling to do, and that we should not impede them of that chance. He uses an example of this woman Emerita, who emigrated from Guatemala and started up a housecleaning business, through hard work and persistence, is making $96,000 dollars a year. He does not say if she is legal now, but uses this as a generalization of the type of people we are denying into our country by not having an open border. I do not believe that this woman portrays the average migrant worker in our country. Most work for less than minimum wage, have no benefits, and do not pay taxes, which; are the main reasons Americans are unwilling to work those jobs, not because they are afraid of hard work as Vargas Llosa implies. In addition, he does not mention the gunrunners, drug smugglers and possible terrorists who would all have free access in or out of our country as well. Immigration into our country is a privilege for these people not a right, so why should we, as Americans, not have the right to be selective about who we let in? As an alternative to this point, Vargas Llosa states that if we wish to stop this flow of people into our country then we should use that â€Å"6 billion† (1) dollars to create jobs and try to stimulate opportunities south of the border. This statement is a bit of a stretch considering that the U.S. went into a recession shortly after the writing of this essay and our unemployment surged to over 10%. First, I know $6 bn is a lot of money, but how many jobs can it possibly create when you are talking about 21 countries in Latin America? Where do we even begin to help and is it really our problem? Why should the taxpayers of the America be responsible for an undertaking of that size and is it even possible? I think these are reasonable questions to ask oneself and if looked at logically will find this a ridiculous proposal that has no validity. Another argument Vargas Llosa made, that â€Å"if, by some miracle, it is built, it will serve for absolutely nothing† (1). He also says in the conclusion of his essay that the â€Å"cement monstrosity would soon be as full of holes as Swiss cheese† (11) saying that the fence would not even obstruct migrants determined to get across. He makes a point of saying that the fence would only cover a portion of the border, leaving 1200 miles of open frontier through which people  could easily pass over. Well, that is true, however, in those areas where there is not any fence, there are natural obstacles such as large, desolate stretches of desert or mountains with no cities close by to take refuge. All of the major ports of entry are included in the fenced area, which provides at least a moderate obstacle when it comes to illegal crossing. As for the damaging alterations that will happen over time, such as, holes cut into it, sensors could be added in the ground and or in the fence, plus routine patrols done for visual inspection. To say that the fence would do â€Å"absolutely nothing† is much t oo definitive in my opinion. He would have had better effect on me had he developed more along the lines of, the benefits of the fence are minimal since it does not even cover the whole border and then used some specific, compelling details to back that up. Lastly, the most valid point the author makes is one in which he developed the least. The environmental impacts this fence would have on the native communities grazing and farm land, certain species migration and feeding patterns, and on the conservation land it cuts through. The amount of time spent to study the impacts on the wetlands of the Rio Grande valley and the several endangered species that inhabit the affected area was much too short to make any scientific judgments. Not to mention the effects the actual construction process will have on these species and areas. There are several Wildlife Refuges and Audubon Sanctuaries where the fence is slated to cross. I think that if Vargas Llosa would have spent more time developing these ideas with good solid facts, it would have appealed my emotional senses much more than the story of Emerita whom seemingly had nothing to do with whether or not we should build fence. The environmental costs of this project seem heavy, are ones not easily reversed. Politics may have played a factor here, as the reason for the inadequate amount of research involved determining the environmental effects the fence will have. In conclusion, I have covered most of the major points that Vargas Llosa presented in his essay, pointed out the weaknesses in his argument and ways in which he could have strengthened it. Most of the points he focused on had to do with immigration instead of issues related directly with the fence. Had he focused more on the actual impacts of the fence it would have been a much more compelling case. I do not think that immigration is bad, as long as there is control over it. If the border fence can help our officials  to gain at least some control over who and what is actually coming into and out of our country than it should prove to be a valuable tool to create better immigration policies and eliminate the unwanted elements associated with it. (6) The Environmental Impacts of the Border Wall Between Texas and Mexico Lindsay Eriksson1 and Melinda Taylor2

Battle of Jutland Essays -- essays research papers fc

The Battle of Jutland   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Considered by most to be the greatest naval fleet battle during World War I, the Battle of Jutland was the largest and last full-blown conflict between massive fleets consisting of battle cruisers, dreadnoughts, and destroyers. Despite the fact that Jutland changed nothing strategically within the war, it is still known as being one of the most significant battles in naval history. But this battle was also one that ended with many questions and controversies that have been written about and discussed throughout the years following, even to present day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jutland commenced on May 31, 1916, after the commander of the German High Seas Fleet, Reinhard Scheer, made plans to maneuver towards the British coast, unaware that the British were able to read their coded messages and were fully prepared for Scheer’s plan. Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was in full command of the British Grand Fleet, which had been divided into three groups: the main body led by Jellicoe, six battle cruisers led by Admiral David Beatty, and four dreadnoughts under Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas. The Grand Fleet departed two and a half hours before the Germans set off in order to rendezvous about 50 miles from Jutland in the North Sea.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the first German encounter, Beatty and his battle cruisers chased a small, weak group of the German Fleet, which was led by Admiral Franz von Hipper, south towards the main High Seas Fleet. After being fired upon, Beatty made an 1800 turn northward in order to now lure the Germans toward Jellicoe and the main body. Next occurred what Louis D. Rubin Jr., who wrote the article â€Å"The Continuing Argument over Jutland† in 2001, described as one of â€Å"the most controversial episodes of a battle studded with controversial episodes.† Evan-Thomas and his dreadnoughts, which had been headed south following Beatty, failed to turn all at once and follow the battle cruisers northward. Although he apparently had not received the signal to do so until three minutes after they had passed, Rubin explains that Evan-Thomas should have, on his own intuition and initiative, proceeded to fall behind Beatty’s battle cruisers. Further stipulation was made as to whether or not this turn should have been made simultaneously or one ship after another. But to counter Rubin’s opinion... ...urces to prove his theory that blaming the battle cruisers’ designers was too simplistic of an explanation. In conclusion, this was a fascinating battle that may have left many unanswered questions and theories, but it will forever be known as the greatest naval battle in World War history. Works Cited Primary Source: Horne, Charles F. â€Å"Memoirs & Diaries: The Battle of Jutland by an anonymous British sub-Lieutenant.† Source Records of the Great War, Vol. 4, 1923. Secondary Sources: Bennett, Geoff. The Battle of Jutland. Wordsworth Military Library, 1999. Gordon, Andrew. The Rules of the Game. John Murray Pub., 1996. Hough, Richard. The Great War at Sea. Oxford University Press, 1984. Lambert, Nicholas. â€Å"‘Our Bloody Ships’ or ‘Our Bloody System’? Jutland and the Loss of the Battle Cruisers, 1916.† The Journal of Military History. Lexington: Jan. 1998. Vol. 62, Iss.1; p.29. Ranft, B. McL., ed. â€Å"31 May 1916: Beatty’s Official Report on the Battle of Jutland.† The Beatty Papers, Vol. 1, p. 323. Navy Records Society, 1989. Rubin, Louis D. Jr. â€Å"The Continuing Argument over Jutland.† The Virginia Quarterly Review. Charlottesville: Autumn 2001. Vol. 77, Iss. 4; p.583.