Leading Up To The Civil War - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 527 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/05/08 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Civil War Essay War Essay Did you like this example? By the year 1860 the post-Revolutionary War generations of America had finally eroded their Union with their political zeal and rising anxiety over the reason for which the nation even existed. There were many fears present from the outset, ranging from the fear of corrupt usage of public power to the fear of a collapsing economy, and they would grow alongside the nations borders with slavery being the sticking point. In this book Elizabeth R. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Leading Up To The Civil War" essay for you Create order Varon, a professor of American History at the University of Virginia, explores how the seeds of disunion were always present within the new United States. She does an exceptional job of providing critical assessments of the most recent scholarship, and while aware of other issues in the politics of America at the time, considers slavery to have been the central issue that led to the splitting of the United States. As Varon notes early on in her book, a desire to put an end to slavery could be seen even in the very beginnings of the republic. While it was legal in each of the first thirteen colonies, the economic concerns differing by section meant that the practice was not central to the economies of every colony. With Northern states being much less dependent on the institution of slavery they would inevitably be where the call for abolition would spread the most quickly, and of course the Southern states which were more dependent on slavery would become increasingly defensive. There was debate over the issue even during the crafting of the Constitution, but when some representatives from the South threatened not to join the Union were slavery to be prohibited in their states the idea was discarded for then, showing how divisive the topic was. The author points to how disunion was appealed to as a threat in many other instances, initially by those seeking to maintain the institution of slavery and eventually by those looking to abolish it. Both the proslavery and abolitionist sides wished for their threats to intimidate the other to the point that they would make concessions. With this having been said, Varon suggests that disunion was not used only as a threat but also as an accusation. When she does, she refers to the problems faced by those that called for an immediate end to slavery- how they were widely considered to be for a program that would lead to rebellions by slaves. Proslavery mouthpieces would contrast the possibility of a civil war, the result of continued abolitionist activity, with the alternative of prosperity that would follow were such activity to cease. With disunion being touted as a lead up to a civil war and it being suggested that such a war would be worth what it might cost it seems clear that there was such resolve on both sides of the issue that there was little which could have been done to avoid the young Union ripping itself in two. To the degree that she manages to amalgamate the various ways in which disunion was used leading up to the Civil War, Varon succeeds in reframing the discussion about what it was that brought the nation there.

The United States The Criminal Justice System - 856 Words

In the United States the criminal justice system does not always create policies that affect everyone equally. There are many policies that seem to target a specific group of people, whether this is intentional or not is beside the point. The important thing is to change the criminal justice system in order to stop race disparities. Marc Mauer in his lecture speaks of the reason for the disparity between races when it comes to the incarceration rate, as well as steps that can be taken in order to elevate, and or stop the disparity in the criminal justice system. Other topics that Mauer covers are the impact that policies can have on a specific group in the United States, and the overwhelming disproportion when it comes to drug arrest, and the people who get arrested. Marc Mauer starts his lecture with a story about two different teenagers. One of the teenage seemed to come from a middle to upper class family, and when he was found shoplifting the family was able to obtain a social worker to help them solve the underlining issues that their child had (Marc Mauer lecture). The parents then spoke to the police, and prosecutor to let them know what they were doing in order to resolve their child’s issues, and the prosecutor decided to drop the case, do to the steps that the family was already taken (Marc Mauer lecture). In the second scenario another teenager was found shoplifting, but his family did not have the resources to get a social worker, so the teen was givenShow MoreRelatedThe United States And The Criminal Justice System Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States considers itself to be the best country in the world. This sense of nationalism is present because of the country’s history of opportunities and their e mphasis on the power of their people. Safety is a crucial aspect that peopleconsider when choosing where to live. The United States provides their citizenswith national safety throughthe enforcement of their criminal justice system.As a result of their intentions of maintaining a secure living environment, the United States has theRead MoreCriminal Justice System Of The United States1722 Words   |  7 Pages  Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. Those accused of crime have protections against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers. Goals In the United States, criminal justice policy has been guided by the 1967 President s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, which issuedRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System Essay1132 Words   |  5 Pagespunished for a crime. The film focuses on racism in the United States’ criminal justice system. According to DuVernay, the part of the 13th Amendment that says â€Å"unless you are being punished for a crime† is a loophole that has been used to allow slavery to continue in the early days during reconstruction and even now. This loophole coupled with the criminalization of the black man has led to mass incarceration of minorities. The United States which has only five percent of the world’s population butRead MoreThe Criminal Justice Systems And The United States1169 Words   |  5 PagesThe criminal justice systems in Bolivia and the United States have different structures with some similarities. I was born in La Paz Boliv ia and we will be taking a look into Bolivia and the U.S’s governmental and criminal justice systems. Bolivia is a republic with a democratic government. The U.S. also has a democratic government. The Napoleonic code (civil code) and Spanish law compose Bolivia’s legal system, whereas the US is based on common law. The U.S. and Bolivia may have their similaritiesRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System1670 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States Criminal Justice System is an extremely complex, but yet extremely important part of the United States. The criminal justice system is defined as â€Å"the set of agencies and processes established by governments to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws). Although there are many different groups of people that make up the criminal justice system, the two main and most discussed the state division or the federal division. The state division of the criminal justiceRead MoreCriminal Justice System And The United States2244 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Many failed policies have led us to the issues we have today. 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Two of the largest problems we have currently revolve around the issues o f wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct. The whole criminal justice system revolves around making sure people follow the laws put in place, and if they do not punish them for their wrongdoing. This system is also about affording the same rights to everyRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System And The United States Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesOvercrowding The Criminal Justice System has made many changes since it first started in the 17th Century. The Criminal Justice System first began in the United States during the colonial times, when the colonist had to follow the rules of the British. During the Colonial times, the Criminal Justices System was not as fair as our current system is today, which meant a lot of people did not have liberties and were ultimately treated unfairly. Times have definitely changed for the Criminal Justice System and for

The Correlation between Obesity and Increased Health Care Costs free essay sample

Obesity is a medical diagnosis determined when an individual has accumulated enough weight to cause adverse health effects; usually recognized by Body Mass Index (BMI) as a number of thirty or higher on a height compared to a weight scale. It is a result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. There are several notable health consequences directly linked to obesity, such as: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancer (National Institutes of Health, 1998). The correlation of obesity’s effect on healthcare costs can be assessed in both direct (actual medical treatment costs) and indirect (financial loss due to the result of the condition) aspects. In 2008, the estimated capital loss due to obesity and its detrimental effects on the quality of life and health totaled to about $147 billion; thus equating to being the most costly preventable expense in health (Center for Disease Control, 2012). Introduction As a nation becoming more fixated on culinary adventures, cooking shows, and innovative concoctions, we at the same time, are watching the prevalence of our obesity rates grow tenfold. American’s caloric intake has increased 15% 1984 to 1997. It is likely that this upward trend has continued due to the growing portion sizes of food at dining restaurants as well as increased processing and artificial additives introduced in our food. Another contributing factor is the glamorization of food and food products. Constant updates via social media websites like Instagram or Facebook present recipes, pictures of colorful and savory fare, which present an over stimulation possibly causing eliciting an over eating response. In 1960-1962 the occurrence of obese men in the United States was 11% of the population. In 2010, this increased to 34% of the population. Furthermore in women, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found a 16% occurrence of obese women in 1960-1962 increased to 38% of the population in 2010 (Center for Disease Control, 2012). Obesity is a growing challenge for public health officials; it has increased in every state, in both genders, among all socioeconomic groups, ages, and races. The condition has even plagued America’s youth, with 17% of children now identified as obese. If the current statistics are a predictor of future trends, our cost of healthcare expenditures from obesity and it’s associated conditions will also increase to unpredictable heights. These statistics are significant concerns for public health officials because obesity is an extremely preventable condition. Physical activity and proper nutrition is a fundamental counter measure to battle obesity and its related conditions. Obesity has far reaching effects on one’s life, for example, at work. In one study during a four-year period, researchers found that those who participated in sports took 20 days less sick leave than their non-sporting workers. There has also been a relation to physical activity and work productivity (Blatter, et al. , 2005). Thus, contributing to the wealth of the community and economy instead of promoting extensive health care costs in the United States. Obesity has direct and indirect effects on healthcare and a nation. The loss of productivity previously stated is an indirect cost. The U. S. Surgeon General recognized that approximately $56 billion was lost in 2000 due to indirect costs of obesity. Although, $61 billion was lost due to direct costs that same year, some researchers believe that indirect costs exceed the direct yet are far too extensive or complex to accurately measure (National Institute of Health, 1998). Defined, indirect costs of obesity on healthcare are recognized as the gross financial loss due to the condition. It can be assessed through value of lost work, increase in insurance coverage, and reduction of wages (Harvard School of Public Health, 2012). In the United States, absenteeism due to obesity cost employers $2. 4 billion in 1998 and has further increased to $6.2 billion in 2012. Additionally, a more recent statistic from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey found that workday loss among the very obese was estimated to 4 days a year for men and 5. 5 days a year for women. From a financial perspective, obese men accumulate an approximate $3,792 per month in lost productivity, while obese women accumulate $3,037 a month (Hu, F. , 2012). In America’s current economic state and competitive occupation market, the perception that weight has an influence on productivity can lead to one person keeping, losing, and receiving employment over another. Insurance companies promote are a bucket for groups of people to have a shared cost of economic burden for healthcare costs. When an obese individual begins to suffer from one of the associated causes or even just obesity itself, the premiums for members within that insurance pool goes up. Recent reforms to healthcare is attempting to mitigate such an issue by allowing employers to charge obese employees 30-50% more in what they contribute toward their health insurance benefit. Especially, if the individual refuses to participate in a qualified wellness program devised to help them with weight loss. Another noteworthy component to Obama’s Affordable Care Act is the community/ employment programs designed to assist people in losing weight as well as the incentives provided for Medicare/ Medicaid beneficiaries to seek a primary care physician in order to discuss and execute a weight loss program (Unger, 2012). Implementing such policies is a fundamental measure to combat the obesity epidemic and stifling the ever-growing costs in healthcare. The social stigmatism of obesity has ignited an association between obese weight and reduction in wages. The fact is that there is a decrease in years of disability-free life and increase in mortality rate before retirement when someone is viewed as obese. This may cause an organization, it’s managers, or supervisors to subconsciously recognize this and offer compensational wages equal to what they believe they will receive in quality and output from the employee. In one study, there was a relational assessment based on BMI vs.salary and obese subjects tended to have lower salary (Hu, 2012). While indirect costs have a substantial effect on financial costs of obesity, direct costs have a more quantifiable loss. Direct costs are defined as the actual cost of the condition on healthcare. It can be portrayed through diagnostic tests, emergency services, treatment programs or visits, inpatient, outpatient, surgery, radiological tests, and pharmaceuticals (Harvard School of Public Health, 2012). As recognized before, obesity presents several detrimental and expensive conditions. Such health risks are hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and some types of cancer (colon, prostate, endometrial, and breast). Other associated complications from obesity are complications in pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, stress incontinence, and psychological disorders (depression) (National Institute of Health, 1998). In the case of hypertension, a co-factor for cardiovascular disease, which is also the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States (Center for Disease Control, 2012). The average cost to treat hypertension in 2008 was $47. 3 billion, with $21. 3 billion spent on prescription medications, $13 billion was spent on doctor’s office and outpatient visits, $13 billion spent for hospitalizations, emergency department, and home health visits (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2011). That is a 32% contribution to the total healthcare expenditure on obesity in America ($147 billion). The pathophysiology for the development of hypertension is sodium retention that increases vascular resistance, blood volume, and cardiac output. Yet when someone is obese, this sodium retention is increased therefore insulin resistance increases, sympathetic nervous system output is increased, and alterations of the renin-angiotensin occurs. All of this comes together, specifically when you factor in the effect of weight loss. As someone reduces their body weight there is a reduction in vascular resistance, total blood volume, cardiac output, as well as an improvement in insulin resistance, a reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity, and suppression of the activity of the renin angiotensin system (National Health Institute, 1998). When reviewing the cost of treating hypertension through doctor’s office visits, pharmaceuticals, home health visits or emergency care, it negates to recognize the underlying cause- obesity. Diabetes is another chronic condition associated with obesity. In recent studies, the relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes has been found to increase by 25% for each additional unit of BMI over 22kg/m2. In a prospective study that is representative of the U. S. population, noted that 27% of new diabetes cases were attributable to weight gain in adulthood (National Institute of Health, 1998). Diabetes currently affects 25. 8 million children and adults in the United States. Of that population, many are also suffering from obesity. It costs $245 billion dollars in 2011 to treat diabetes (Center for Disease Control, 2012). That is $98 billion more than the approximated amount that is spent on obesity. Since not all citizens who are suffering from Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes or other forms are not all obese, we can adequately assess the direct reduction of costs if we were to  emphasize the prevention or treatment of diabetes. However, we can understand the underlying connection between obesity and diabetes therefore focusing our efforts on preventing one disease from causing more extensive damage to the body. Fat tissue is a metabolically active endocrine system that secretes hormones and inflammatory cytokines. One of the hormones secreted in excess fat tissue (specifically abdominal fat) is leptin. This hormone tells your brain that your body is full, increase metabolic rate, and increase physical activity. In obesity, one has continually high levels of leptin and therefore causes a leptin resistance in the body. This leads to free fatty acid spill over into tissues other than fat cells, such as: liver, pancreas, and heart. Also in obesity, it causes an increase of fat growth through hypertrophy (larger fat cells) and hyperplasia (increase in fat cell quantity). This whole chain of events leads to these numerous and overgrown fat cells to becoming unstable and rupturing, thus, releasing their contents and increasing further inflammation. Most times, the ultimate conclusion leads to lipotoxicity and inflammation that is insulin resistant, which is a principal factor of diabetes and metabolic syndrome (Hu, F. 2008). Obesity has an incredible effect on the human body. Its associated conditions are numerous and contribute substantially to the direct cost of healthcare. Each disease requires different treatments, different tests, and different medication therefore incurring comprehensive bills. However, one key relation is obesity and therefore should be treated as primary concern to relieve the multi-faceted issue. The last contribution to the correlational costs (and future costs) between health care and obesity is the proliferation to America’s youth. A child is considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index that is higher than the 95th percentile for their age and gender. In 2004, the Progress Review 2010 found that there is an increase in the prevalence of obesity for all age groups in the United States. In the past three decades the numbers have tripled causing a growing concern for healthcare members, families, and public health officials. The most recent study for that 17 % of children are obese (Budd Hayman, 2008). This figure is a predetermination of the future crisis if current public health officials do not sufficiently address this problem plaguing our youth. Currently the United States’ First Lady, Michelle Obama has initiated a program called â€Å"Lets Move,† which is aimed curing the obesity epidemic in children within one generation. It is a comprehensive model that incorporates facts on healthy living, simple steps for success, nutrition information, and activity ideas to increase physical activity. Since the enactment, the accomplishments of this program are approved legislations such as, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which aids American public schools in offering healthier meals for tens of millions of American children. Concurrently, the U. S. Department of Agriculture outlined a new school meal regulation that boosts the quality and nutrition of national school lunch and breakfast programs. Lastly, Walgreens, Supervalu, and Walmart released a new commitment to build or expand stores in communities with limited or absolutely no access to healthy nutrition (Let’s Move, 2013). In conclusion, America’s economic crisis creates a higher scrutiny on every dollar spent. Obesity has far reaching consequences, whether it’s the epidemic’s effect on future generations, the direct loss due it’s many interrelated conditions, or indirect costs due it’s influence on the country’s work force. Obesity has incurred a $147 billion dollar tab on the American all-encompassing and soon to be maxed out credit card. Yet it could be easily prevented through adequate nutrition and appropriate physical exercise.