Sam Adams Essays - Adams Family, Governors Of Massachusetts

Sam Adams Essays - Adams Family, Governors Of Massachusetts Sam Adams Every so often, a man of true passion is born. A man exceedingly dedicated to his principles, and very firm in his beliefs. Samuel Adams was such a man. Adams was a patriot, and one of the more influential men in the colonies. However, even as a patriot, he did not support the Constitution. How could such a patriot be an anti-federalist? Once again, it all comes down to an issue of beliefs. Samuel Adams was born on September 27, 1722. He was the son of a successful merchant and malter. As a boy, he attended Boston Grammar School. In 1736 he decided to enter Harvard. It was here that he became active in colonial politics. He joined such clubs as the Caucus Club, which was influential in nominating candidates for local office. Here he became interested in revolution. The subject for his Master of Arts thesis was "Whether it be lawful to resist the Supreme Magistrate, if the Commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved."(Brown 10). In 1740 he graduated and set off to help put an end to England's rule over the colonies. Every so often, a man of true passion is born. A man exceedingly dedicated to his principles, and very firm in his beliefs. Samuel Adams was such a man. Adams was a patriot, and one of the more influential men in the colonies. However, even as a patriot, he did not support the Constitution. How could such a patriot be an anti-federalist? Once again, it all comes down to an issue of beliefs. Samuel Adams was born on September 27, 1722. He was the son of a successful merchant and malter. As a boy, he attended Boston Grammar School. In 1736 he decided to enter Harvard. It was here that he became active in colonial politics. He joined such clubs as the Caucus Club, which was influential in nominating candidates for local office. Here he became interested in revolution. The subject for his Master of Arts thesis was "Whether it be lawful to resist the Supreme Magistrate, if the Commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved."(Brown 10). In 1740 he graduated and set off to help put an end to England's rule over the colonies. Adams got married early in life. His first wife, however, died before they had spent much time together. She left him with two children. Later, he married for a second time. He spent much time during this marriage at attic meetings of the Caucus. It was here that he learned the fine points of being a politician. Samuel first got a chance to use these skills when he was elected tax collector of Boston in 1756. He remained tax collector for eight years. With the help of his outspoken opposition to both the Molasses Act and to the Sugar Act, Adams made an impression on the people of the colonies. This brought him into the center of Boston's political circle. It was then that Adams truly became involved. In 1765, he organized a formal protest against the Stamp Act. From there, Adam's became a founding member of the Boston chapter of The Sons of Liberty. This was an influential group that was very opposed to British rule. Adams also led the fight against the Townshend Acts. This demonstration led to the Boston Massacre. He also planned and coordinated the resistance to the Tea Act, which led to the Boston Tea Party. From 1774 to 1781, Adams represented Massachusetts on the Continental Congress. He was considered one of the workhorses of the Congress. He worked on several committees, propelled by stamina, realism, and commitment (Brown 10). Samuel was part of a radical faction that demanded strong measures to be taken against Great Britain. They wanted to make Britain regret imposing numerous irrelevant taxes on the colonies. With the help of John Adams, he convinced the Congress to impose a nonimportation agreement against England. Later, he helped to draft the Massachusetts state constitution. Samuel Adams never attended the Constitutional Convention. As an anti-federalist, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution. Both he and Patrick Henry boycotted the convention due to the fear of a strong central government. While the Convention was underway in Philadelphia, he was back at home speaking before the public on the faults of what was being written. A loss of personal rights was Adams main fear. Adams favored the Articles of Confederation, which left most of the power in the hand's of the individual states. With the central government having the true power, and that power being vested in

Profile of Death Row Inmate Patricia Blackmon

Profile of Death Row Inmate Patricia Blackmon Patricia Blackmon is on death row in Alabama for capital murder in the death of her 28-month-old adopted daughter, Dominiqua.  Blackmon had adopted  Dominiqua nine months before she was murdered. The Crime On May 29, 1999, Patricia Blackmon, age 29, called 9-1-1 in Dothan, Alabama because her daughter Dominiqua was not breathing. When paramedics arrived at Blackmons mobile home, they found Dominiqua lying on the floor of the master bedroom she was wearing only a diaper and blood-soaked socks, was covered in vomit, and she was not breathing. There was a large bump on her forehead and blood on her chest. After the paramedics attempted to revive her, she was transported to Flowers Hospital Emergency Room where she died shortly after arriving. Two doctors, one of them being  Dominiquas pediatrician, Dr. Robert Head, examined the child and found that she had multiple bruises and contusions and an imprint of the sole of a shoe on her chest. They also observed several older scars on Dominiqua, that were from previous injuries and in various stages of healing. The Autopsy Included in the 30 separate injuries found on her body, the medical examiner Dr. Alfredo Parades found bruises on the front part of her lower chest and upper abdomen and around the right groin. She had also suffered a fractured leg. He also found that Dominiqua had two broken bones and many other injuries that were in various stages of healing. Parades concluded that her death was due to  multiple blunt-force injuries to her head, chest, abdomen, and extremities.  Another discovery found on Dominiqua was an imprint of the sole of a shoe on her chest that was so clearly defined that it was captured in a photograph taken by the doctor. The Trial Dr. James Downs, chief medical examiner for the State of Alabama, testified that he compared the images taken of the shoe print to sandals Blackmon was wearing on the day of the murder. It was his opinion that the sole of the sandals matched the imprint embedded in Dominiquas chest. Downs also said that he believed  Dominiqua was struck with a pool cue resulting in her most recent injuries. Wayne Johnson, Blackmons father-in-law testimony showed that Blackmon was the only person caring for Dominiqua on the evening of the murder, up until the time the paramedics arrived at Blackmons home at around 9:30 p.m. Johnson testified that on the night Dominiqua was killed, he saw Dominiqua  earlier in the evening and she seemed fine, playing and acting normally. He said Blackmon and Dominiqua left his house at around 8 p.m. A search of Blackmons mobile home uncovered several blood-splattered items. Forensic tests found the blood on a broken pool cue, a childs T-shirt, a pink flat bed sheet, a quilt, and two napkins. The blood found on all of the items matched Dominiquas blood. Blackmons Defense In her defense, Blackmon said that the child was injured when she fell off of the bed. Blackmon called several character witnesses to testify in her defense. Judy Whatley, an employee of the Department of Human Resources, said that in her opinion, Blackmon and Dominiqua had a good relationship. Whatley had contact with Dominiqua and Blackmon once a month for five months before August 1998. Tammy Freeman, Blackmons neighbor, testified that she frequently left her children under Blackmons care. Convicted The jury convicted Blackmon of capital murder. A separate sentencing hearing was held, at which the State relied on the aggravating circumstance that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel to support a death sentence. After the sentencing hearing the jury, by a vote of 10 to two, recommended the death penalty. Appeals In August 2005, Blackmon appealed to the court, arguing that the State failed to prove that the murder was especially, heinous, atrocious, or cruel as compared to other capital murders.  She argued that the State failed to prove that Dominiqua was conscious during any of the  attacks and that she suffered. Blackmon believed that Dominiqua was knocked unconscious before Blackmon beat her, and as a  result, the child did not feel the pain of being beaten. Her appeal was turned down. Patricia Blackmon now sits on death row at Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama.