History of US Federalism

History of US Federalism Khang Le In the US government, we have a system of checks and balances. With this system, the government and the separate branches can counter each other and maintain a balance of powers. It ensures that no branch of government becomes too strong and takes over another branch. In other words, this maintains a balance of powers. They become balanced because they can keep the other branches in check and they all have their own set of powers and responsibilities. The purpose of the checks and balances system is to make sure that democracy is upheld and that decisions made by the government work for everyone in the US. When the US government as we know today was being formed, the founding fathers decided that it would be best to split the government into three entities. The judicial branch is the Supreme Court and they oversee the determination of whether a law or policy is constitutional. By constitutional, I mean that the said policy or law is within the premises of the Constitution. The reason why the Supreme Court must do this is because Thomas Jefferson made it so that the interpretation of the Constitution was loose-ended, meaning that it would be up to the judges to deem it constitutional. If it was not loose-ended, then that would mean the judges would have to adhere strictly to the Constitution and go word for word to interpret that law or policy. The next branch is the executive branch. The executive branch is the president himself. He is the commander-in-chief of the army. During times of war, the president will oversee the manpower of the army. He has the power to appoint new justices, which are the supreme court judges. But he can only do so with the approval of the Senate.ÂÂ   He sometimes drafts new bills so that it can become laws by the next year. He also has the power to veto a bill passed by Congress. Vetoing is the power to overrule a law and deny it from being a law. This however can be overturned by Congress. Congress belongs in the legislative br anch. They are the people that come up with new procedures and laws to be passed. If for some reason the president vetoes their bill the first time, they can overrule it by having a second vote and having over two-thirds of Congress vote in favor of the bill. Sometimes, when there is a stalemate, a tie between votes, the vice president become the tiebreaker. There have been very few occasions where the Vice President had to come in to break a tie. The most recent one being President Trumps Vice President. Now, once a bill has passed and becomes a law, it is then tested by the citizens of the United States. When someone believes that the law is unjust, they are allowed the right to file a lawsuit. The lawyers then make arguments for the case and a judge will preside the hearings. If they lose, they can appeal to higher courts and may eventually reach the Supreme Court. In the case where the legislative branch does not find the ruling of the Supreme Court to be favorable, they can pro pose a new bill and then the process starts all over again. Congress, namely the Senate, also are the ones in charge of approving treaties with other countries. The president may be the face of the country but he doesnt have all the power. The principle behind these branches of government is that with separation of powers, not one part of the democratic government has too much power and they keep each other in check. This kind of checks and balances are applicable to constitutional governments. The media plays a huge role in the political process, especially if there was a misdoing on behalf of the government. With the arrival of social media and a wide variety of ways to attain news, the political process is under more scrutiny than ever. The only problem would be that how much the government censors or covers up. Because of that, sometimes the people become unaware of how laws work or that there could be loopholes in laws. Federalism is the way the United States is being run. Every single one of the states in the US shares a relationship with the national government. Basically, the federal government has a set of laws that need to be abided by. The state governments can enforce the laws to the extent that they believe is correct. For example, in some states, people can enter bars at the age of eighteen whereas in others, you must be twenty-one to do so. This system was created in this way to govern large and diverse nations. Not all areas can be governed the same, which is why federalism helps gives power to the states but the central government can still stay in power because it serves as a starting point for the states to follow. Before the United States became what, it is today, it was a confederation. While it was a confederation, the central government was weak and had almost no power, meaning that it had no way of providing itself with money and no military strength. While the states had all the power, the lacked a unified system and couldnt get their ideas together and could not be cohesive. After federalism kicked in, while the central government could impose laws and taxes onto the states, the states themselves can do what they saw fit and in accordance to the law. A bicameral Congress with the House of Representatives and a Senate also help to distribute the power from the states and central government. Because it is a representative system, the people are closer to the government and it makes for an efficient voting process because there are many opinions and it usually doesnt take too much time to vote. Both the concepts of dual federalism and cooperative federalism have originated in the USA. Dual federalism is referred to as layer cake due to the existence of distinct wall between powers and responsibilities of national governments and that of state governments. Cooperative federalism is referred to as marble cake. Dual federalism has horizontal power structure betw een national and state governments whereas cooperative federalism has a vertical structure between the two. In dual federalism, national government and state governments enjoy sovereignty in their respective fields. No such thing exists in cooperative federalism. Dual federalism is a rigid structure where at cooperative federalism is a flexible structure. Dual federalism promotes competition and tension; cooperative federalism promotes cooperation. The third section I am going to discuss is about the Civil Rights, the two Amendments that I am going to discuss are Amendment IV ( Search And Arrests ), it says The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Basically, the police officer, in order to make a lawful arrest, must have a warrant in order to do so. If he doesnt have a warrant then it will be considered unlawful arrest and search. In order to get a warrant, the police officer must have evidence or probable cause that supports it. The police officer, or whoever has the evidence, must swear that it is true to his or her knowledge. The second Amendment that Im going to discuss is the fifth Amendment. It saysÂÂ   No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger, nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. As it was in 1791, the Fifth Amendment continues to be very important today. Americans are protected against being tried repeatedly for the same crime. The government cannot bring you to trial again and again for the same offense, hoping to get the result they want. This means that if you are suspected of committing a crime, its up to the state to prove its case against you. You are innocent until proven guilty, and governmental authorities cannot deprive you of your life, your liberty or your property without following strict legal codes of conduct or due process. The Fifth Amendment also protects private property against a government taking. In 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. City of New London that local governments could take private property from one person and transfer that property to a corporate entity with the expectation that the property would become more useful to the public. The ruling drew a sharp dissent from Justice Sandra Day OConnor, who warned that it will allow governments to seize any property simply to allow developers to upgrade it. OConnor wrote, Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall. Since that decision, several local governments have declared their intent to take peoples homes in order to convert them into office complexes, shopping centers and mega-stores. As local governments continue to search f or ways to increase tax revenue, hard-working homeowners must be wary about their homes being taken away. Designating such possessions as necessary for the public use is often a sham, with the desire to increase tax revenues being the real motivation of local governments. Since the Kelodecision, some state legislatures have passed laws which ensure that such possession takings cannot occur. But unless the American public remains educated and focused on preserving this important constitutional right, it, along with their homes, could be taken by the government. The 14th Amendment said All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any pers on within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall b e held illegal and void. And the last one is The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. For the last section, I think a relevant topic of discussion would be president Trumps travel ban. I believe this is relevant because its political process involves heavily on the president and the Supreme Court. The president may have issued a policy that bans travel from seven different countries but the Supreme Court had deemed it unconstitutional and overturned it. This relates to the concept of checks and balances. While the president is going to keep his promise with banning Muslims from entering the country, the Supreme Court is telling him that he is misusing his authority. Many people in the United States are affected by this too. Several families that are refugees are being deported out of the country and back into the dangerous areas. I think this is unjust and selfish of the current president. Simply because a person or a family comes from a certain ethnic group, does not mean that they are automatically connected to the series of terrorisms that have happened in the Unit ed States. While most of the high profile attacks came from Muslims, a lot of terrorist attacks on American soil have been committed by our own countrymen. The news sources that I have read are liberal in their language and are very left-winged. As an immigrant, I also fear for my safety, because if the current president can do as he pleases, then there could be one day where he opens a loophole and I could be his next target. It is a big help knowing that the democratic system still works for the most part. Even though the president may be doing everything in his power to feed his selfish needs, the legislative branch and the judicial branch are there to keep him in check. Bibliography http://www.cfodailynews.com/new-law-changes-form-w-2-filing-deadlines-for-next-year/ http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/10/politics/civil-rights-act-interesting-facts/ http://study.com/academy/lesson/cooperative-federalism-definition-examples.html https://www.reference.com/government-politics/dual-federalism-198d7baf19c6304f http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-dual-federalism-definition-examples.html https://www.reference.com/government-politics/examples-check-balances-b7e5586db201a3d6 https://legaldictionary.net/checks-and-balances/ http://valocalgovernment.tripod.com/id34.html http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/lesson_13_notes.htm

Character of Iago

Shakespeare employs a variety of language, dramatic and theatrical techniques in shaping my understanding of the rather enigmatic yet definitely Machiavellian, character of Iago. Shakespeare reveals him to be a cunning and conniving exploiter and manipulator of other characters who become caught in his web of lies, deceit and evil schemes. Iago is forever the cold, calculating pragmatist who is cynical about anything associated with goodness, such as love, virtue, reputation and honour. Iago constantly plays the role of ‘honest Iago’, which is shown by Shakespeare’s constant dramatically ironic use of this phrase over twenty-three times. All characters have no hesitation in trusting every word Iago says, and taking everything he tells them to be true. The duplicitous nature of Iago is shown in conjunction with the symbolism of the Roman God, â€Å"By Janus†. Janus is a two faced God, who perfectly represents the nature of Iago, the two sides, one he only displays to the public and Roderigo and one only displayed to everyone else. This nature is further emphasised by Iago through his dialogue, â€Å"I am not what I am†. Similar to this includes the dialogue, â€Å"I serve him to serve my turn upon him†. The honesty that the other characters believe Iago has, allows him to adapt the personality of cunning, conniving manipulator of people, allowing him to exploit their emotions for his personal uses. He achieves his aims under the pretence of acting to help individuals but really he is egotistical and serves only for himself. He plays on Othello’s â€Å"free and open† nature, on his mission to prove Desdemona’s infidelity and create the metaphor of the â€Å"green-eyed monster†, which both Othello and Iago will nurture. Iago’s also gives Cassio â€Å"free and honest† advice about asking Desdemona for his position back after his fall from grace, showing again the dramatic irony Shakespeare portrays. Iago also continues to assure Desdemona that Othello’s sudden change in mood has nothing to do with Desdemona herself, but instead to do with state business. This further serves him in his plan for Othello’s downfall. Poison imagery by Shakespeare refers to the poisonous effect of words that Iago has caused seen in â€Å"The Moor already change with my poison†. The Machiavellian villain of Iago is constantly portrayed through the symbolism of hell or Satan throughout the play. â€Å"Hell and night/Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light†. While this shows Shakespeare’s symbolism of white being equivalent to good and dark to evil, it also references the fact that only Iago can bring about this action, or so he believes, and show the world of a crueller Othello. In the intertextual temptation scene, to that of the Garden of Eden, Iago is playing the traitorous and evil snake convincing Othello to do something which he would have never though of before. For Iago women are simply a means to an end. They are only needed to fulfil men’s sexual appetites and serve the various needs of men. He believes that women are not as intellectual as men and hence their opinion should not be valued nor asked for. It is of Iago’s opinion that emotions can leave one weak and rash decisions come about from those who think with their hearts rather than their heads shown in this dialogue, â€Å"If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions†. Any man that becomes corrupted by their feelings or the heart in a fool, hence Iago does not believe in love of another person. He does however believe in self-love, that is to say Iago is the epitome of selfishness. Iago is unable to love another male or female, as a friend or lover. He describes the act of lovemaking with continuous reference to distasteful and crude animal images such as â€Å"Goats and Monkeys† or â€Å"Black ram† and â€Å"White Ewes†. Iago also employs the use of the symbolism of sexual ‘appetites’, suggesting that just like food they are something that needs to be regular or often. As seen with Emilia’s dialogue â€Å"They eat us hungrily and when they are full/ they belch us† The racist Iago is also obvious throughout Othello. He feels resentment and hatred towards Othello because, not only is Othello a general or commander of the Venetian Navy, he has managed to win such a prize as the lovely Desdemona. This is shown through Iago’s dialogue and comparison of Othello to a â€Å"Black ram†, â€Å"Barbary horse† or having â€Å"Thick lips†. He also constantly refers to Othello as â€Å"The Moor†. While this may not have been considered racist at the time, Iago does it in such a way that he wishes to alienate Othello from white society. He rarely says the name Othello, and if he does he mentions it with venom and anger towards him. Finally in the last scenes the real Iago is revealed. Through dramatic irony in Emilia’s dialogue, Shakespeare shows how the other characters innocence in regard to the man who has convinced Othello to believe such horrible tales, â€Å"I will be hang’d if some eternal villain/Some busy and insinuating rogue/Some cogging, cozening slave to get some office/Have not devis’d this slander. I’ll be hang’d else†. It appears that â€Å"honest Iago† no longer exists but instead has been transformed into a â€Å"villainous knave†. As the situation worsens and the culprit is identified the insults develop into â€Å"demi-devil†, â€Å"damned slave†, â€Å"Spartan dog† and â€Å"notorious villain†. All these terms are juxtaposed to the constant positive emotive terms that have been used to describe Iago throughout the rest of the play. Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, we see the cunning and manipulative character that is Iago. Each scene, through Shakespeare’s use of theatrical, language and dramatic techniques, as more of Iago’s cunning plan s revealed, more evil within Iago is exposed and left goodness or virtue within him. Even in Iago’s final lines he offers no remorse but only self-satisfaction for the deed he has caused.

The Characters of Great Expectations Essay - 575 Words

â€Å"He was whatever he needed to be, what we asked him to be... a teacher, a magician, a savior, a life† (245). Mr. Watts is one of the central focuses of the story along with Dolores, Matilda’s mother. The two characters are polar opposites in the way they come to their conclusions, make their decisions and view their world. With growth comes decision making in which comes greater changes, the motif of choice is woven through the novel of Mister Pip, whether its Dolores deciding to hide â€Å"Great Expectations† from the villagers causing greater occurrences or Mr. Watts becoming a transformer and saving the day. Mr. Watts is a bizarre looking fellow with his eyes bulged â€Å"like they wanted to leave the surface of his face† (1) and his skin being†¦show more content†¦Mr. Watts felt the need to shield the children from the crazed world and so he transitions into a magician and transports them to a world called Victorian London (England). This shows he values the innocence of the children as well as their imagination and lifes which could be taken away at any given moment. It could be said to believe that this passion he has for the children of the villagers is somewhat the same passion he shared for his unborn. Dolores is a mother driven by God, the Good Book and faith. She believed in the devil, but not pip and the power of imagination although, this is what Mr. Watts believes is most important. The reader senses she harbors great feeling of hostility and bitterness towards that of Mister Pip, Mr. Watts and even Grace for winning a scholarship to go to Australia just to come back home to be married to a white man. â€Å"White men had stolen her husband and my father. White men were to blame for the mine, and the blockade. A white man had given us the name of the island.†(49) The white man is the one to blame for everything that has gone wrong in her life and now here is another trying to corrupt the only thing s he has left in this world, Matilda. It is obvious she believes Mr. Watts and pip are threatening Matilda’s morality, making it seem as if it is okay to condone pip stealing for the convict. It’s ironic how sheShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of Great Expectations1308 Words   |  6 PagesIn the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, a young man named Pip sets out on a journey to become a gentleman, even though he comes from a poor family. As he moves to the big city and starts living more and more like a gentleman he starts leaving his past behind him. To even become a gentleman he had to leave his best friend behind, his home behind and his former job. Throughout his journey to become part of high society he meets several wealthy people who both Pip and the reader aren’t veryRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Great Expectations1475 Words   |  6 Pages Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens was about the path of life for one fellow, his name was Pi p. Pip grew up in a small rural village but soon his life would pull him into the busy streets of London. Dickens would use this young child with a rocky family background to share hardships, love, sadness, and realization in order to add familiarity to his readers, making him a relatable character. Dickens wrote this book to be able to give insight into the social reforms that were slowly startingRead More Character Relationships in Great Expectations Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Relationships in Great Expectations      Ã‚   No novel boasts more varied and unique character relationships than Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. 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Dickens created three types of character relationships: true friends, betrayed friends, and loving relatives.    First, the true friends in Great Expectations were Pip and Herbert, who stuck togetherRead More Child Characters in Great Expectations Essay1718 Words   |  7 PagesChild Characters in Great Expectations      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first part of Dickens novel, Great Expectations, is an account of the childhood of, Pip, the main character of the novel.   In these beginning chapters Dickens paints an extremely vivid picture of childhood.   The reader is able to enter Pips mind and see the world through the eyes of a child.   This is possible because Dickens understood the thoughts and feelings of children and applied this to Pips every thought and action when he wroteRead MoreGreat Expectations Through Multiple Characters984 Words   |  4 Pagesconundrums in society, especially in the Victorian Era, in his novel, Great Expectations through multiple characters. Throughout this novel, Dickens shows how different characters act when they have to face society head on, when put through the social injustices of every day life. Throughout the novel, you see the many personalities of each character develop as they interact with Pip, the novel’s narrator. Dickens uses the char acter of Abel Magwitch to portray that society places too much value on appearancesRead MoreGreat Expectations Character Names Essay869 Words   |  4 PagesHello, 7H! The book that I’ve chosen for the Challenging Read Project is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Great Expectations is the thirteenth novel written by him; a few of Dickens other books are, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Dickens is even viewed by many people as the ‘greatest novelist of the Victorian era’, an exceptionally prestigious title. How does Charles Dickens uses character names? Here are some examples: Abel Magwitch, the convict - The name MagwitchRead MoreGreat Expectations Character Analysis - Pip767 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 4.) Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique and litereray characterization many authors have employed the sterotype characters successfully. Select a novel or play and analyze how a conventional or stereotype character function to achieve the authors purposes. In current times, it is evident that a writer will use characters that stick out from the norm in some way. They may have a stereotypical background, but the characters story has some type of content that willRead MoreGreat Expectations- Character Analysis Essay10289 Words   |  42 PagesBentley Drummle, she has suffered to learn some valuable life lessons that have transformed her character. Pip remarks on the stark reversal of the once hard Estella, ...what I had never seen before, was the saddened softened light of the once proud eyes; what I had never felt before, was the friendly touch of the once insensible hand. (Chapter 59). Joe Gargery: Joe is the only one of Dickens characters who stands opposed to and apart from the main current of action. He stays away from London,Read More The Character of Joe Gargery in Great Expectations Essay1296 Words   |  6 Pages The Character of Joe Gargery in Great Expectationsnbsp;nbsp; nbsp; The protagonists brother-in-law, Joe Gargery, in the novel Great Expectations, written by Charles Dickens, is prominently humane, especially compared to the other characters. Although Pip is the psychological center of the book, Joe is the moral center. Pip struggles to be good; Joe merely is obedient by nature without apprehending it. 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Mabila Where was the Battle between De Soto and Tascalusa

One of the great mysteries of American archaeology is the location of Mabila, a Mississippian village somewhere in the state of Alabama where an all-out battle is known to have occurred between the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto and the Native American chief Tascalusa. De Soto Meets Tascalusa According to the four De Soto chronicles, on Oct. 9, 1540, Hernando de Sotos expedition through the North American deep south arrived in the provinces controlled by Tascalusa. Tasculusa (sometimes spelled Tascaluza) was a paramount Mississippian chief rising in power at the time of the battle. Tascalusas historical importance is reflected in place names that survive today: the city of Tuscaloosa is named for him, of course; and Tascaluza is a Choctaw or Muskogean word meaning black warrior, and the Black Warrior River is named in his honor as well. Tascalusas major settlement was called Atahachi, and thats where de Soto first met him, probably west of where the modern town of Montgomery, Alabama is located. The recollections of the chroniclers described Tascalusa as a giant, fully half a head taller than their tallest soldier. When de Sotos men met Tascalusa, he was seated in Atahachis plaza, accompanied by many retainers, one of whom held a type of deerskin umbrella over his head. There, as was their usual practice, de Sotos men demanded that Tascalusa supply porters to carry the expeditions gear and booty, and women to entertain the men. Tascalusa said no, sorry, he couldnt do that, but if they would go to Mabila, one of his vassal towns, the Spanish would get what they asked for. De Soto took Tascalusa hostage, and together they all started for Mabila. De Soto Arrives at Mabila De Soto and Tascalusa left Atahachi on Oct. 12, and they arrived in Mabila on the morning of Oct. 18. According to the chronicles, de Soto led the way into the small town of Mabila with 40 horsemen, a guard of crossbowmen and halberdiers, a cook, a friar, and several slaves and porters bearing the supplies and booty collected by the Spanish since they arrived in Florida in 1539. The rear guard lagged far behind, scouring the countryside looking for more booty and supplies. Mabila was a small village tucked inside a strongly fortified palisade, with bastions at the corners. Two gates led into the center of the town, where a plaza was surrounded by the houses of the most important people. De Soto decided to bring his collected booty and stay himself within the palisade, rather than camp outside its walls. It proved a tactical error. Fighting Breaks Out After some festivities, a battle broke out when one of the conquistadors responded to a principal Indians refusal to run an errand by cutting his arm off. A great roar resounded, and people hidden inside the houses around the plaza began shooting arrows at the Spanish. The Spanish fled the palisade, mounted their horses and encircled the town, and for the next two days and nights, a fierce battle was played out. When it was over, say the chroniclers, at least 2,500 Mississippians were dead (the chroniclers estimate up to 7,500), 20 Spanish were killed and over 250 wounded, and all of their collected loot had been burned with the town. After the battle, the Spanish stayed in the area for a month to heal, and lacking supplies and a place to stay, they turned north to look for both. They turned north, despite de Sotos recent knowledge that there were ships waiting for him at a harbor to the south. Apparently, de Soto felt leaving the expedition after the battle would mean personal failure: no supplies, no booty, and instead of stories of an easily subjugated people, his expedition brought stories of fierce warriors. Arguably, the battle of Mabila was a turning point for the expedition, which was to end and not well, after de Soto died in 1542. Finding Mabila Archaeologists have been looking for Mabila for quite a while now, with not much luck. A conference bringing a variety of scholars together was held in 2006 and published as the well-regarded book The Search For Mabila in 2009, edited by Vernon Knight. A consensus from that conference found that Mabila is likely to be located somewhere in southern Alabama, on the Alabama River or one of its tributaries within a few miles of Selma. Archaeological survey has identified a multitude of Mississippian sites within this region, many of which have evidence which ties them, directly or indirectly, to de Sotos passing. But none so far fits the profile of a strongly palisaded village which burned to the ground, killing thousands of people in October of 1540. Its possible the historic records are not as accurate as one might hope for; its possible that later movement of the river or rebuilding by Mississippian or later cultures changed the configuration of the landscape and eroded or buried the site. Indeed, few sites with indisputable evidence that De Soto and his expedition members were present have been identified. One issue is that De Sotos expedition was only the first of three medieval Spanish expeditions along this river valley: the others were Tristan de Luna in 1560 and Juan Pardo in 1567. Archaeology of Medieval Spanish in U.S. Southeast One site tied to De Soto is the Governor Martin Site in Tallahassee, Florida, where excavators found Spanish artifacts at the right time period, and matched historical records to show that the site was where the expedition camped at Anhaica over the winter of 1539–1540. Five Native American skeletons at the 16th-century village at the King site in northwestern Georgia had wedge-shaped gashes and are hypothesized to have been either wounded or killed by De Soto, injuries that might have occurred at Mabila. The King site is on the Coosa River, but it is quite a way upriver from where Mabila is believed to have existed. The location of Mabila, along with other questions concerning de Sotos route through the southeastern United States, remains a mystery. Candidate Sites for Mabila: Old Cahawba, Forkland Mound, Big Prairie Creek, Choctaw Bluff, Frenchs Landing, Charlotte Thompson, Durant Bend. Sources Blakely, Robert L., and David S. Mathews. Bioarchaeological Evidence for a Spanish-Native American Conflict in the Sixteenth Century Southeast. American Antiquity 55.4 (1990): 718–44. Print.Deagan, Kathleen A. The Historical Archaeology of Sixteenth-Century La Florida. The Florida Historical Quarterly 91.3 (2013): 349–74. Print.Hoffman, Paul E. The Historiography of Sixteenth-Century La Florida. The Florida Historical Quarterly 91.3 (2013): 308–48. Print.Hudson, Charles. Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun: Hernando De Soto and the Souths Ancient Chiefdoms. Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 1997. Print.Knight Jr., Vernon James, ed. The Search for Mabila: The Decisive Battle between Hernando De Soto and Chief Tascalusa. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2009. Print.Lankford, George E. How Historical Are the De Soto Chronicles? The Search for Mabila: The Decisive Battle between Hernando De Soto and Chief Tascalusa. Ed. Knight Jr., Vernon James. Tusc aloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2009. 31–44. Print.Milner, George R., et al. Conquistadors, Excavators, or Rodents: What Damaged the King Site Skeleton? American Antiquity 65.2 (2000): 355–63. Print.