Designing and managing networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Designing and managing networks - Essay Example ere are principles that are consistent with standards set by the UK public inquiries Act and according to Justice Cory criteria for conduction of public inquiries. These principles are (Longworth, 1999); It should also be understood that public inquiries are neither prosecutions nor trial cases but rather seeking answers about a criminal or civic liability of any organisation or person hence it does not express any solution (Hamerton-Kelly, 1999). It operates by way of public hearing and that members of the media or public are invited to participate in the hearing process. Evidence is heard by the public inquiry panels commonly referred to as commission counsel. It also operates the way a court of law conducts its business but the rules here are different because no individual pleads guilt or not guilt. Witnesses are cross examined one by one until all parties are satisfied that they have exhausted the evidence required (Hamerton-Kelly, 1999) Organisations and governments usually form public inquiries with the sole purpose of investigation and reporting any matter with substantiality of interests within among members of the public which relate to any public organisation within a specific jurisdiction or good governance violation (Schà ¶n, 2001). Most public inquiries work under the terms and reference orders specified by either the government or the organisation that ordered the inquiry. Public inquiries are paid by the government or institutions it is intended to advice on the matter. (Derksen, 2005) Organisational learning is the acquisition and development of knowledge and skills within a given organisation in order to improve their outcomes with reference to the goals and objectives of the company. These outcomes may be the overall efficiency of the organisation, creating and maintaining competitive advantage, better performances etc. in the face of changing situations, organisational leaning helps restore settings and resolve any problems that might exist.

U.A.E United Arab Emirates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

U.A.E United Arab Emirates - Essay Example There are very many cultural aspects that the UAE shares with other larger Arab cultures and their neighboring Arabic countries. The paper will review the history of United Arab Emirates based on cultures, traditions they celebrate, clothing, food and other historical aspects. In the early 19th century, the U.AE was inhabited by resourceful and proud nomadic Bedouin groups, date farms and fishing villages. Abu Dhabi had hundreds of Barasti huts commonly known as palm huts, several buildings and the famous Ruler’s Fort. Dubai, on the other hand, was the trading hub because it was geographically located along the creek. This ensured that it offered a safe haven against the Straits of Hormuz and others (Abdulla 58). The current UAE has very little resemblance to the Emirates that existed 40 years ago. Widespread changes have taken place across time and place, leading to rapid transformation of the country. Studies have shown that the UAE was in existence even in the 3rd millennium BC with its history being characterized by tribes that practiced fishing, herding, and nomadism. These constituted the primary economic activities in the region during the periods near the 3rd millennium. Bedouins were definitely the main building blocks and pillars of the UAE community. The term Bedouin refers to a desert dweller. Thus, Bedouins took the active part in the construction of the United Arab Emirates. These early desert dwellers moved between the desert, ocean and the oasis. The three environments were critical for their survival since they provided conducive conditions for their economic activities. When near the ocean they would concentrate on fishing and pearl diving when in the desert they would search for grazing areas for their herds and camels. When in the oasis the Bedouin tribe would irrigate and farm vegetables and dates. The luxuriant farms and terraced gardens found in the mountain Wadis and Al Ain are proof

Introduction to Bussines Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to Bussines Ethics - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates how this information can be presented to the CEO and managers in a meeting and the actions recommended rectifying the situation and giving the customer notification. Presenting the situation to the executive would involve first acknowledging that the situation exists and explaining the implications that such a case may have on the organization. For instance, if the organization left the defective product to get into the market without being checked, then they may negatively affect the clients and in extreme case even cost their lives. This is very unethical. In case this happens, the customers may sue the business in a court of law where the organization gets to pay huge fines or may even be dissolved. All these are bad consequences that the organization need to avoid in order to thrive. After explaining the implications of the problem at hand, I would proceed to give the extent of the problem. Give details on which products are perceived to have potential harm on the customers, whether they have been dispatched already or are still in the stores. In order to deal with the current situation, several actions need to be implemented immediately. The first thing to check is whether there are defective products that have already reached the end users. In such a case, the organization would seek a way of reaching these customers by contacting the main distribution points in ensuring that the end users are made aware of the situation. The second step would be to stop the sale of all potentially defective products in the company stores and the main distribution points. These products should be taken back to the warehouse for the problem to be rectified. In order to ensure that such a situation does not occur in future, there is the need to ensure that there are effective quality control and assessment tools. There should also be a strict procedure that requires all products to be tested before being distributes to the suppliers. This will reduce the risk of selling potentially harmful products to our client. This will make it possible for the company to give out clients’ value for their money and ensure continued growth in the company revenues. In order to ensure that ethicality is maintained when dealing with the customer, the guiding principle should be giving the best service and products to them. This because the company needs to threat the clients as its employer without which it cannot even exist. There is also need to create a definite system that should be used in case of the repeat of such an incident in notifying the customers of such instances and a way in which they can be compensated. Compensation of the clients is important in promoting the good faith between the company and the customer. This helps in ensuring that the organization d0esn not lose its market to the rival companies. The customers need to feel that they get real value for their money. Since it has been noted that the organization does not have a definite ethical guideline, it is important o develop a strategy of developing a tradition of ethicality through organizational change. This would be an involving process which goes beyond the creation of a code of ethics to be followed by the employees. The manger first need to study the current ethical culture I the organization to recognize the limiting factors that influence in making ethical decision. It is also important to learn which factors support ethical

U.A.E United Arab Emirates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

U.A.E United Arab Emirates - Essay Example There are very many cultural aspects that the UAE shares with other larger Arab cultures and their neighboring Arabic countries. The paper will review the history of United Arab Emirates based on cultures, traditions they celebrate, clothing, food and other historical aspects. In the early 19th century, the U.AE was inhabited by resourceful and proud nomadic Bedouin groups, date farms and fishing villages. Abu Dhabi had hundreds of Barasti huts commonly known as palm huts, several buildings and the famous Ruler’s Fort. Dubai, on the other hand, was the trading hub because it was geographically located along the creek. This ensured that it offered a safe haven against the Straits of Hormuz and others (Abdulla 58). The current UAE has very little resemblance to the Emirates that existed 40 years ago. Widespread changes have taken place across time and place, leading to rapid transformation of the country. Studies have shown that the UAE was in existence even in the 3rd millennium BC with its history being characterized by tribes that practiced fishing, herding, and nomadism. These constituted the primary economic activities in the region during the periods near the 3rd millennium. Bedouins were definitely the main building blocks and pillars of the UAE community. The term Bedouin refers to a desert dweller. Thus, Bedouins took the active part in the construction of the United Arab Emirates. These early desert dwellers moved between the desert, ocean and the oasis. The three environments were critical for their survival since they provided conducive conditions for their economic activities. When near the ocean they would concentrate on fishing and pearl diving when in the desert they would search for grazing areas for their herds and camels. When in the oasis the Bedouin tribe would irrigate and farm vegetables and dates. The luxuriant farms and terraced gardens found in the mountain Wadis and Al Ain are proof

The Tests That Can Determine an Entire Future Essay Example for Free

The Tests That Can Determine an Entire Future Essay Albert Einstein once said, It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. How, though, may teachers follow these wise words, when they must constantly worry about educating their students so they can pass just one of the many standardized tests thrust upon them? John Dewey, an American philosopher, also said, The real process of education should be the process of learning to think through the application of real problems. How, though, can students possibly learn critical thinking if they are forced to learn through relentless memorization and worksheets in order for them to pass one test upon which their futures so highly depend? This phenomenon of accountability testing and holding teachers accountable for scores has swept across the country, creating a negative approach to educating the youth of America. Due to the lack of validity of these tests and the negative effects on teachers and students, standardized testing is ruining the public education system. With accountability for standardized testing being a new trend in America, today, many do not realize how long ago they were actually used and why they are being used now. Dan Fletcher wrote in a Time magazine article that China was the first country to ever develop standardized tests, which were used to test government officials (4). This new idea began to move westward, but writing essays was still the favored method of testing. However, in 1905, America began to conform to the new trend, and Alfred Binet developed the IQ test, which emerged as an easy way to test large numbers of students quickly(Fletcher 5). Today, standardized tests have become the sole measure of not only student success, but also the success of the school and teachers. A few years ago, in 2001, George W. Bush passed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which [expanded] state-mandated standardized testing as means of assessing school performance (How Standardized Testing). The passing of this law brought about an enormous wave of change. Schools now use standardized testing to determine if children are ready for school[to] diagnose for learning disability, retardation and other handicaps; and to decide whether to promote, retain in grade, or graduate many students (How Standardized Testing). Obviously, there have been many changes made to the idea of standardized testing. Society has gone from using them to test government officials to now using the tests as a means of judging a students knowledge. Yet, are they actually helping America? Research, from the present and the past, has shown that education in America has seen no improvement since the spread of standardized testing. In 1999, according to the National Research Center, In comparison with students from 143 other countries, American students finished in the lowest quarter in geometry and ranked second from the bottom in algebra (Sykes). Ten years later, America is still experiencing low stats, even with the passing of the NCLB Act. There are many statistics showing the decline of the United States in the global rankings: U.S. students slipped from 18th in the world in math in 2000 to 31st place in 2009, with a similar decline in science and no change in reading (Is the Use of). It is ironic that this decline became noticeable not long after Bushs NCLB Act was passed, with the intended purpose of bettering the education of Americas students. One reason for this digression is the fact that the tests favor not only white Americans, but also the wealthy. There have been many critics who have said that standardized tests are racist because of the difference in performance: Evidence of such differences in test scores raise the issue that perhaps these tests are discriminating. Tests do not recognize that students of different cultures may have different learning styles (Hudson 52). For this reason, Hispanics, African-Americans and foreign exchange students do not experience high success rates on these tests. Furthermore, the tests tend to favor the wealthy, rather than the less fortunate students: There is no question that students with greater resources and economic opportunities perform better as a general rule on standardized testsstandardized tests are unfair because the questions require a set of knowledge and skills more likely to be possessed by children from a privileged background. (Hudson 50) In a country where discrimination is ruled unconstitutional, would one not think that government officials would work to eliminate this? Not only are these tests favorable to certain people, but it does not help that accountability tests have become the sole determinant of students knowledge and their readiness to move on with their education. It is now to the point where [schools] require students to pass an exit exam before they can graduate from high school. Even if the students pass all their courses, they can be denied their diplomas (Hudson 57). It is completely incomprehensible that a student can pass every single one of his or her high school courses needed to graduate, but he or she will not receive a diploma because of one, single, measly test score. Not only does this issue occur with high school, but there is even more pressure on students when it comes to getting into a college: The ACT and its counterpart, the SAT, have become one of the largest determining factors in the college-admissions process, particularly for elite schools (Fletcher 4). So, now students cannot even get into the college of their choice without meeting the required standards on one of these ridiculous tests. Making matters worse, there are so many things that can go wrong on the day of that one test that can decide a students future: Studies have documented that how students fare on standardized tests can be greatly influenced by a host of external factors, including stress over taking the test, amount of sleep, distractions at the testing site, time of day, emotional state and others (French 64). If this is so, then why do government officials continue to falsely judge Americas knowledge by basing its success on the performance of one test? It is already bad enough that these outrageous tests are the sole basis of a students educational progress, but they also insult the students intelligence. These tests consist of absolutely no curriculum whatsoever, and do not involve one bit of critical thinking: [The NCLB Act] bypass[es] curriculum and standardsit demand[s] that schools generate higher test scores in basic skills, but it require[s] no curriculum at all, nor [does] it raise standards (Ravitch 16). Therefore, all of the classes that students are required to take in high school, in reality, are not really helping them with these oh so important tests. They are completely excluding history, civics, literature, science, the arts, and geography (Ravitch 16). Instead, they test how to read graphs, reading comprehension, grammar, and other ridiculous things that do not really test a students full capability or creativity. For these reasons, a different approach to reform is needed-one that focuses on helping students develop high-levels of proficiency in the real-world and competencies they will need to succeed in the workplace tomorrow (Reha 46). By doing this, America would be significantly helping its youth by preparing them for the future, rather than preparing them for a single test with no critical thinking at all. Unfortunately, there have been no changes made since the spread of standardized testing evolved; positive changes, that is. As an effect of this phenomenon, there have been many changes in the way teachers must teach, and the way the environment must be within their classrooms. Now, teachers find themselves teaching to the test, rather than getting their students involved in real-life decision making: They are forced to teach in ways that are not developmentally appropriate and do not promote critical thinking and decision-making (Solley 53). What good is it doing a student by filling out multiple choice essays, rather than learning how to problem solve and make good decisions? Now, it is all rote learning, [and] less real learningkids fill out more worksheets, answer more questions at the end of textbook chapters, and participate in more drills (Reha 45), than ever before. It is no surprise that teachers are very opposed to this method, and are often fighting against it. David Berliner and Sharon L. Nichols, authors of Has No Child Left Behind Been Good for Education, wrote that they often found teachers and administrators repeatedly telling them that they were being held responsible for their students performance regardless of other factors that may affect it. [They] found teachers concerned about their loss of moraleand the undercutting of their professionalism (49). Apparently, teachers feelings do not matter in this country. America has made it obvious that teachers no longer have a say in how they teach and the way they run their classrooms, which only causes an inevitable chain of negativity leading to the students, themselves. With all of these negative changes that must be made by the teachers, it is no wonder why students are becoming less motivated to learn. People cannot expect students to honestly want to sit through a boring lecture about the facts and statistics that they must memorize just so they can pass one, single test: Schools no longer strive to create informed citizens; instead, they focus only on teaching children what is essential for them to know to pass the government-mandated standardized tests. As a result, childrens motivation and learning suffer (Solley 41). As previously said, teachers must have students fill out more worksheets and multiple choice exams than ever; how could that possibly be fun for a child? Bobbie A. Solley, author of Education, wrote that children are now under increased pressure to perform on demand, memorize mundane facts and figures, and sit for long periods of time while listening to the teacher and/or filling in circles on a worksheet (49). How could a student feel motivated to go to school knowing that this is what he or she will be doing for the entire day? Think about it. Think about what the futures of students could look like without standardized testing. Picture how stress free their lives could be, without any added pressures of performing well on these ridiculous tests. Imagine them being able to engage in critical thinking and decision-making that will help them in the real-world, rather than engaging in learning just for one test. If only people would see how successful the youth of America could be without the use of standardized testing.

Analysing Homelessness In Australia

Analysing Homelessness In Australia Over the past few decades, mechanisms of social exclusion and social control have made it increasingly hard for Australias homeless. Many texts discuss the issue of defining homelessness and it is now widely accepted there are several different kinds. Here, I will be talking primarily about Primary homelessness, which is also known as sleeping rough, where people sleep in cars, parks or other public spaces (Which Way Home? 2008: 18). On average around 105,000 people are homeless in Australia each night and around 15% of these are rough sleeper (The Road Home 2008: 3). The majority of homeless people list financial difficulty, domestic violence, family breakdown or substance abuse as the main causes of their homeless status (Which Way Home? 2008: 20). Homelessness remains a particular problem among Australias Indigenous people, who are over represented in their use of homeless services in all states and territories (Which Way Home? 2008: 20). While homelessness itself is not illegal in Australia, many acts committed by the homeless are, such as public urination, public drunkenness and the possession of illegal drugs. Criminalization of the homeless occurs because these people lack the private space in which to engage in these behaviours. Governments assume that by removing the homeless from public spaces that they are reducing crime and creating safe streets for the law abiding public. However, as illustrated above, the crimes the homeless commit do not generally hurt others or damage property. They are breaking specific laws that have been created by the government which are enforced to exclude certain groups of society from specific public spaces, notably the spaces that the wealthy inhabit. Criminalizing the homeless for behavior that is unavoidable in their situation is not simply poor public policy; it also places unnecessary stress on the criminal justice system. Criminalizing the homeless also leaves the law enforcement officials to deal with related issues, such as issues such as mental illness and alcoholism (citation). Alcoholism is an issue that is common among the homeless population and it is a condition that often intensifies as a result of being homeless. Criminalizing the homeless for being drunk on the streets does not treat the problem, nor does it assist the police in cleaning up the streets. It is often found is that homeless alcoholics use rehabilitation centres as shelter services, but have little intention of treating their addiction (Wilhite 1992: 190). This indicates that the provision of suitable housing is a prerequisite to treating alcoholism. Once suitably housed, alcoholics have an increased chance of using alcohol rehabilitation services effectively. However, as suitable housing becomes increasingly scarce, the homeless are released from the justice system and back on to the street, where the cycle is then repeated. Homelessness has also increased significantly among the mentally ill in recent decades. This has been attributed to discontinuity in mental health services where individuals are transferred from an institutional to community living (Conover et al. 1997: 256). This burden of care has shifted from mental hospitals to the community; however, development of housing and community services has not kept up with the demand (Greenblatt 1992: 49). The outcome here is that many of Australias mentally ill have ended up are end up on the streets and are criminalized for behaviours that are symptoms of their illness. Once again, nobody benefits from the existing system. Our mentally ill are left untreated and our criminal justice system gets increasingly clogged with cases of minor offences that have harmed no one. Debate surrounding the causes of homelessness often relates to two factors: the first are socio-structural factors, which are concerned with changing labour markets, poverty, the housing system, and the nature of the welfare state (Greenhalgh et al. 2007: 643). The second are individualist and psychological factors that reflect individual agency, including alcohol dependence, substance abuse or social and behavioural problems (ibid). While it is now widely agreed by researchers that homelessness is a process where these factors combine and contribute to an individuals risk, this view does not appear to reflect the situation as portrayed by the media. In her Australian study, Carole Zufferey found that media representations of the homeless were strongly influenced by conservative agendas that emphasised individual responsibility (Zufferey 2008: 359). Media representations generally construct deserving and undeserving homeless and focus more on individualist causes than structural ones (Zufferey 2008: 359). As the media play a key role in shaping public understanding of social issues, these attitudes are often shared by the Australian public. A perception common in contemporary Australia is that homelessness is a lifestyle choice and that homeless people choose not to take advantage of services that are available to them. This sort of thinking was demonstrated recently when Opposition leader Tony Abbott was asked whether he would continue with the Rudd Governments goal of halving homelessness by 2020 (The Road Home 2008: viii). In his response Abbott quoted the bible, from the Gospel of Matthew The poor will always be with us in an effort to demonstrate that the government cannot assist those who choose to be homeless (citation). This blatantly illustrates his lack of understanding of the issue, one that is shared by many Australians. As Morse (1992: 13) puts it The choice to become homeless is not an affirmation of an ideal lifestyle, but a means to obtain a sense of self control and dignity when faced with a lack of meaningful, safe or viable living alternatives. Australians seem to have a range of ideological constructions surrounding the homeless, that they are lazy, dirty and untrustworthy, for example. These assist the processes and practices that exclude homeless people from social life and limit their ability to participate in society. When examining a widespread, public issue such as homelessness, it is important to look at the discourses that are at play, when policy is being implemented. Discourse refers to the rules, systems and procedures which help produce and form knowledge about the world (Hook 2001: 522). The rules of discourse govern the way that a topic can be meaningfully talked and thought about. It is therefore linked to the exercise of power, because it ensures the reproduction of the social system, through forms of selection, exclusion and domination (Young 1981: 49; Hook 2001: 522). In relation to homelessness there are many conflicting and overlapping discourses to be taken into account. Here, I will cover discourses relating to neo liberalism, personal responsibility, individualism and obligation in relation to homelessness policy. In policy responses, there is often a common sense assumption that all citizens aspire to be competitive, independent, self responsible, hardworking and morally autonomous individuals (Zufferey 2008: 362). In Australia, there is an unspoken assumption that these are the qualities needed for citizenship. This is evident in that the overall aim in many policies and services is for individuals to be governed into a state where they can self-regulate their behavior without the need for direct intervention by the state (Gilbert 2008: 109). In 2008, two policy papers were created by the Australian government in response to the current situation. The first was Which Way Home: A New Approach to Homelessness which aimed to examine a range of perspectives on homelessness in order to inform further policy (Which Way Home? 2008: 8). From this, a second paper was developed, entitled The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness which outlined the governments strategies for the future. Throughout both of these texts, there is the heavy promotion of moving people into the paid labour market, so they can be independent members of society. In Which Way Home, it states Stable long-term employment should be the ultimate goal for most . . . . With proper support, people can become more resilient and better able to manage their personal, financial and housing needs, and gain the confidence and skills they need to participate in mainstream economic and social life. (Which Way Home 2008: 14) While the aim of many of the proposed programs is to support clients by improving their independent living skills, they are still deeply embedded with assumptions about control, surveillance, containment, independence and self-determination (Greenhalgh 2007: 646). It is important to question who benefits from these programs and whose interests are being served. Is it the homeless who will benefit from these policies, or are they implemented for the bourgeoisie, who feel threatened by the presence of others who do not conform to the status quo? Policy responses such as those listed above may also be seen as an attempt to reduce expectations of what the state will provide by promoting the ideas of the personal responsibilities required for citizenship (Beresford et al. 1996: 179). Neo liberalist discourse appears to be pervasive throughout the proposed policies which are littered with management orientated methods and techniques (Anker 2008: 37). It can be seen that such methods are being implemented in the interest of efficiency and productivity, as opposed concern and assistance for people who have a range of problems and lack the tools that allow them to participate in social life. There is a sense that these individuals are seen as objects of policy as opposed to people who need care and resources. Policy makers also seem unaware that these people often do not lack the competence to participate in society; however their participation is undermined by dominant culture and ideologies that prevent them from doing so (Beresford et al. 1996: 193). Legitimation crisis A shortage of affordable housing has been identified as a major contributing factor to homelessness in Australia. Increased house prices and rentals have put financial pressure on both individuals and families and some find they are unable to afford their current living arrangements.Between 2002 and 2007, the number of families seeking assistance from homeless services in Australia increased by 30 per cent (Which Way Home 2008:12). This suggests that policy responses to housing in Australia are under developed and indicates that affordable housing for those in low income brackets is in extremely short supply. The government played a key role in creating this shortage by reducing its investment in public housing over recent years. It is estimated that between 1994 and 2004 government funding for the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) fell by 54 per cent in real terms (Judd et al. 2005: 246). This demonstrates where the governments priorities lie. Instead of investing in housing, which would assist the homeless and many low income earners, they continue to reduce their spending in this area. Certainly in the Howard years, this could be seen as a strategy to create a budget surplus, which could then be distributed via tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Homelessness is sometimes viewed as a complex problem attributed to the clients, not to the systems they have access to (Conover et al. 1997: 258). However, as demonstrated, policies and infrastructure which aim to reduce its prevalence are often under developed, impractical and show a lack of insight into the lives of those they are designed to help. Even if the infrastructure was developed, it wouldnt stop the government and the public acting on pre-existing discourses that say that homeless people are not entitled to participate in society Numerous and diverse factors contribute to homelessness in Australia. Homelessness has been maintained in the past due to ideological constructions that promote processes of exclusion (Morse 1992: 14) and by the absence of policy responses committed to reducing its prevalence. Future challenges lie in the further development of existing policies and integration of services and programs that together can provide comprehensive and innovative solutions to homelessness. Further understanding of the issue through research will also contribute to better policies and help to address practices that lead to social exclusion. 16 February, 2010 Bible bashing the homeless, Abbott style MICHAEL PERUSCO February 16, 2010 http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/bible-bashing-the-homeless-abbott-style-20100215-o2tj.html

Dredd Scott Decision Essay -- Supreme Court Scott v. Sanford

INTRODUCTION United States Supreme Court case Scott v. Sanford (1857), commonly known as the Dred Scott Case, is probably the most famous case of the nineteenth century (with the exception possibly of Marbury v. Madison). It is one of only four cases in U. S. history that has ever been overturned by a Constitutional amendment (overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments). It is also, along with Marbury, one of only two cases prior to the Civil War that declared a federal law unconstitutional. This case may have also been one of the most, if not the most, controversial case in American history, due simply to the fact that it dealt an explosive opinion on an issue already prepared to erupt - slavery. Thus, many scholars assert that the Dred Scott case may have almost single-handedly ignited the ever growing slavery issue into violence, culminating ultimately into the American Civil War. It effectively brought many abolitionists and anti-slavery proponents, particularly in the North, "ov er the edge". BACKGROUND Dred Scott was a slave born in Virginia who early in life moved with his owner to St. Louis, Missouri. At this time, due to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Missouri was added as a slave state, but no state may allow slavery if that state falls above the 36 degree 30 minute latitudinal line. Later, in 1854 under the Kansas-Nebraska Act, states were allowed to vote on whether they will allow slavery or not, known commonly as popular sovereignty. In St. Louis, Scott was sold to an army surgeon named Dr. John Emerson in 1833. A year later, Emerson, on a tour of duty, took Scott, his slave, to Illinois, a free state. In 1836, Emerson's military career then took the both of them to the free Wisconsin territory known today as Minnesota. Both of these states, it is important to recognize, where both free states and both above the 36 degree 30 minute line. While Emerson and Scott were in Wisconsin, Scott married Harriet Robinson, another slave, and ownership of her was subsequently transferred to Emerson. Dr. Emerson himself took a bride while on a tour of duty in Louisiana, named Eliza Irene Sanford, whose family happened to live in St. Louis. While the slaves (Dred and Harriet) stayed in St. Louis with Eliza and the rest of the family, Dr. Emerson was posted in Florida in 1842, where the Seminole war was being fought. He returned a year later but died within... ...dment, which abolished slavery altogether, and the 14th Amendment, which pronounced all persons born in the United States to be citizens of the U.S. regardless of color or "previous condition of servitude." Also, this case was the first to employ the substantive due process clause which would be referred to again later in many other cases. AREAS FOR FURTHER STUDY There was one specific issue that puzzled me, and I confess I was unable to find any adequate answer to the query. I am referring to how a slave, in this case Dred Scott, was able to marry another slave, Harriet Robinson, in the free territory of Wisconsin, which was well above the 36 degree 30 minute line. Why was she a slave at all? Hadn't the Missouri Compromise, still constitutional in the 1830's, eliminated slavery there? Or perhaps she was not "technically" a slave at all but a free black living in that territory, then why would she marry a slave? And if she did, why would she then fall under the ownership of Dr. E merson if she had already been freed? This is an area I would suggest further research be employed so that our understanding of the slavery situation in the territories at this time be more fully enhanced.