Professional Athletes: Role Models or Criminals?

Professional athletes have been role models for children and adults alike since the beginning of time. They are often thought of superhuman, celebrities, and to some—even Gods due to their incredible physical strength, and unnatural talent. Professional athletes are given many things that the average American only dreams about; ranging from multi-million dollar paychecks, expensive cars, high profile romances, to exotic vacations. Oh, and being above the law. Numerous high profile players have been arrested multiple times throughout their career, escaping with nothing more than a slap on the wrist from law enforcement, or the NFL.Even those players convicted, and sent to prison for their â€Å"sentence† will be able to return to the football field after being released. Over the past decade the incidents regarding player’s conduct have increased dramatically all the while dragging the NFL’s reputation and ethics through the mud. It begs the question– should these athletes who are the role models for millions, be above the law simply because they are entertainers and celebrities? The answer is no. In my opinion a drastic change needs to happen immediately regarding this growing problem.No longer should players be able to go unpunished for committing crimes. However, to find the solution for this growing predicament—is to establish what factors contribute directly to it. The problem goes beyond the athletes being able to go unpunished for committing crimes. It starts with the league’s menial punishments, team owner’s irresponsible player management, fan attitudes, and the character of the player’s themselves. On the other hand, there are people, including; fans, agents, and of course the players themselves, who believe that the punishments being given now are too severe.I would just like to show those people another view of this debate—the view of an everyday person. In April 2007 NFL commissione r Roger Goodell put into effect new policies regarding player conduct based on the high number of players being arrested for major crimes. Due to the nature of the transgressions NFL officials began to worry about losing fans deterred by the league’s image. The new policy included longer suspensions, heavier fines, and team accountability for their players committing crimes.The new policy includes â€Å"requiring teams to pay the league a portion of the salaries forfeited by players suspended for violating policies regarding personal conduct† (Schrotenboer). Goodell’s goal is to hold team owners and managers partially responsible for the actions of the players on their roster. This forces the decision makers to put more consideration into drafting and signing troubled athletes, because now it is their money—not just their image at stake. Although the policy is a step in the right direction it is not doing near enough to clean up the league because talent is more important than character to a team.One example of this is Cincinnati Bengal’s receiver Chris Henry who was released by the team only after being arrested six times between December 2005 and March 2009 for crimes ranging from possession of marijuana, sex with a minor, DUI, and possession of and aggravated assault with a gun (Brandt). However, even with his arrest log reading like a novel, Henry has served a total of just eighty-eight days in prison for his crimes. This sentence came only after the second incident concerning relations with a minor.But, the Bengals kept him on the roster, even though four of the six incidents occurred after Goodell’s new conduct policy was put into effect. As far as the harsher punishment Goodell promised, Henry received a total a three game suspension for each of the incidents before being cut following the most recent assault arrest (Carpenter, Maske). Who should be to blame for allowing this criminal to go free and continue mak ing his millions? The ultimate blame needs to be placed on not only Henry himself, but also the owner and manager of the Cincinnati Bengals.Coaches have a large impact on the players on their teams. By allowing them to misbehave, they are basically telling the players what they do off the field does not matter as long as you win. In order to help clean up the NFL, coaches need to set an example by putting the law before the sport. Being in charge of a multi-million dollar business such as a professional football team, head coaches are under immense pressure to win, and will do so by any means. Marvin Lewis, the head coach of Chris Henry’s former team, the Bengals is a perfect example of winning at any cost—all the while denying so.In the article Player Arrest Put the NFL in A Defensive Mode, authors Les Carpenter and Mark Maske point out Lewis’ actions. During a 2007 press conference focused on the eight Bengals players arrested in the past year, including one p layer, Chris Henry, who had been arrested three times. Coach Lewis was asked to give his opinion on the player’s behavior. He responded by bitterly condemning the player’s actions. â€Å"It is an embarrassment to our organization†¦It doesn’t matter what you do for a living or who you are, you’ve got to follow those rules and laws† (Carpenter and Maske).This statement came from the leader of these players, as well as the man who only suspended Henry for two games after his prison stint. However, Lewis is not the only coach to allow felon players to escape punishment—because they are needed to win. In order to reverse the coaches attitudes toward the law there are things that need to be changed. For example, coaches should be required to pay a fine for every player who breaks the conduct code, or gets arrested. The new policy requires the team to pay—but not the coaches. Even if fining the coaches was put into effect it wouldn†™t alter the situation on its own.To have maximum impact on the league as a whole, another avenue needs to be taken. One way is suggested by Mike Florio in his article, NFL should strip draft picks from rogue teams. â€Å"The only way to get teams to avoid players with a history of legal problems—or, even better, help the player change his unlawful ways—is to strip the team of draft picks† (Florio). However, in order for this to happen, league officials such as Goodell need to introduce harsher penalties and fines to have any impact on players, coaches, and owners alike.However, for some people the current punishments being enforced are completely over the top already. When Goodell revealed his plans for the new policy in 2007 he was met with enthusiasm, praise, doubt, and protest—and that was just from fans. This shocked me that there is an NFL fan out there so dedicated to his or her favorite player that they oppose punishing offenders? Surprisingly t he answer is yes. On April 1st, 2009 Cleveland Brown’s wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth left a Miami nightclub at two o-clock in the morning, got behind the wheel of his Bentley and began to drive home.Three miles from his destination he was approaching what he thought was a yellow light and sped up to avoid it changing. However, due to his drunken stupor he failed to notice it was actually a red light—which he ran seconds before striking, and killing a pedestrian using the crosswalk. Stallworth was then charged with DUI vehicular manslaughter and released on $200,000 bail. His punishment? Thirty days in prison, two years house arrest—oh and a one season suspension from the league. Stallworth killed a man and will spend a total of thirty days in county jail, and forfeit a maximum of $745,000 salary for killing a man.To many people this is an utterly inconceivable notion. Stallworth killed an innocent man by choosing to drive intoxicated, and because of his status as one of the league’s best players he did less jail time than most drug dealers. Following Stallworth’s arrest all eyes turned to Goodell and the rest of the NFL officials to see what punishment, under the still new polictallworth’s arrest all eyes turned to Goodell and the rest of the NFL officials to see what punishment, under the new policy would be given. Stallworth was suspended a total of sixteen games during the time which he serves house arrest.To me, that is not punishment. However, others do not agree—and they are another piece of the NFL’s problem. One of those people is La Mont Chappell who writes in an article addressing Goodell’s choice of punishment for Stallworth and other criminal players. â€Å"Donte Stallworth deserves some sort of punishment for getting drunk, choosing to drive drunk, hitting a pedestrian, and ultimately killing that pedestrian†¦It is unfair to Donte Stallworth to be suspended for such a lo ng period of time because NFL players do not have long careers† (Chappell).To Chappell and other protestors of increasing punishment where do they draw a line? In another article reaming Goodell NFL agent Peter Schaffer writes, â€Å"It is clear our new NFL commissioner has pushed the punitive bar too high, to the point of inappropriate excessive†¦in Stallworth’s case—the one major difference between a murder or some other type of intentional crime and a DUI manslaughter is that there was not the original intent to do harm to another human† (Schaffer). People such as Chappell and Schaffer; fans and agents are the final component to fixing the NFL’s image.Athletes will continue to commit crimes because loyal fans, and money hungry agents will make excuses for their actions, something that can be changed. For example, agents get paid big bucks when athletes get paid big bucks. So, if an athlete is suspended, it hurts the agent’s pockets as well. A new policy could be added that will fine agents as well as players for breaking the law. That will prevent agents from representing the players that are multiple offenders—therefore setting a positive example to the public, and making players think twice about doing something stupid.In then end the NFL’s image problem can be chalked up to many different sources and comprise of many different factors and unless something is done to counteract the current trend nothing will change. The commissioner took a small step forward in 2007 by implementing the new policy—but he needs to step up as the leader he is and make punishments and fines that will impact players into changing their ways. Sure, there will be critics, but that is what it takes to regain the respectable name the NFL once had. It will not be simple, and it may take time, but it needs to be done.

Police brutality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Police brutality - Research Paper Example brutality comes in the form of use of profane language, threats of violence, field searches, approaching an innocent citizen with a drawn firearm, and to the extreme, physical violence against victims (Champion 58). Although police brutality is a commonplace occurrence in the entire United States, it is worth noting that New Jersey and New York are particularly conspicuous with such acts due to their strategic importance (Holmes and Smith 87). In as much as the law allows the use of reasonable force by the police in apprehending suspects, the governments of New York and New Jersey should install the relevant surveillance systems to reduce the many incidences of police brutality Despite the fact that the law on procedures of apprehension is very clear, some police officers still prefer to use excessive and more often unreasonable force in dealing with suspects or innocent citizens (Holmes and Smith 87). The law protects all citizens, including suspects and the police officers have to comply with such laws in maintaining order within their areas of operation (Shedd 43). It means that officers who appear to have violated the fundamental rights of the citizens in the course of their duties should face the same law that is fair to all (Johnson 521). Under all circumstances and occasions, officers should conduct themselves with utmost decorum and professionalism because the use of any excessive force by such officers could turn detrimental (Champion 58). In most cases, police officers who engage in brutal acts against the citizens do so in groups or individually with the aim of intimidating their victims. In this respect, they use a number of methods to perpetrate inhumane acts on their victims, depending on the situation and the nature of the individual (Barak 71). Sometimes, such rogue officers can use profane language or abusive language towards their victims even if their victims are submissive to their demands. Additionally, police brutality can come in the form

Photographer presentation- Martin Parr PowerPoint Presentation

Photographer - Martin Parr - PowerPoint Presentation Example They clearly reflect on their environment. A good example is shown in his book ‘Signs of the Times: A Portrait of the Nations Tastes’. (1992). He involved pictures of peoples’ homes, and used quotes below the pictures from this book. He has compiled very many photo books, which have taken long time to compile (Parr, 2012, p.78). There are several things that have contributed to his success in the field of photography. Firstly, he always focuses on sets, but not individual images. According to him, none of his individual photos was the favorite. This is because he has ne never focused on individual images, but he thinks of big collections as projects or sets. In a recent interview, Martin Purr said that he stopped focusing on single photos to be able to capture the minds of many people in the internet. Secondly, Martin Purr always adds statements on his photographs about the society. In every picture taken by him, there is a very strong statement that reflects on the society. This makes the photos interesting, funny, and depressing. Of late, he has been able to interject his thoughts and ideas into the photographs. This allows him to express his views about the society and the world at large. This documentary photographer is always obsessive. He includes inspiration and encouragement quotes in the sets of photographs and photo books that he collects. These inspirations add more attention to the viewer especially in the internet. Martin Purr is now at the age of 60s and has not stepped down even one bit. He still fights for popularity and commercial shoots, and this makes him travel the world for the mobilization (Dewi, 2005, p.89). Images taken by Martin Purr are always familiar. In a recent interview he explained that he does not possess a studio. However, he has an office in London but he does not visit the office regularly. He enjoys working at home where he preserves his photo books and other photographic collections. As technology

Internet and related web technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internet and related web technologies - Essay Example Basically, the Internet refers to a huge network of networks in which millions of computers and devices are connected to each other via cables or some other medium. Hence, the internet is surely a huge hardware mixture of millions of business, personal and governmental devices and computers, in which all linked like highways and roads. At the present, the internet has turned out to be a significant part of people’s lives. In addition, the Internet is not the ownership of a single person and even there is not a single organization or government that runs it. However, they can pose some technical rules and hardware/software standards regarding how people plug into the Internet. As compared to the Internet, the World Wide Web is the huge collection of digital pages. In other words, this huge and significant software component of the Internet is responsible for distributing data, information and content in the form of HTML pages. In addition, these web pages and information are ac cessed and viewed by using free software known as web browsers (Gil, 2013). The DNS and Directories As discussed above, the data and information on the Internet can be accessed through web sites and these web sites use proper names, which are known as domain. In addition, on the internet each domain name is identified as IP (internet protocol) address. In view of the fact that these IP addresses are difficult to remember so they can be replaced with some of the well-known and user friendly terms such as www.google.com, on the other hand the IP address of this domain could be different in the database such as 32.34.43.23. Basically, the Domain Name System (DNS) is an Internet directory service that is used by the Internet to convert or translate user-friendly web site names into the mathematical format such as IP addresses which are used by the computers for communication over the Internet. In this scenario, a large number of systems (computers and other devices) on the Internet get together to offer this directory service. Moreover, these directories allow people to connect to computers by making use of names instead of numbers. Furthermore, DNS also allows computers and other devices to web addresses and handle email (Shelly, Cashman, Vermaat, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2004; UCAR, 2009). Navigational Tools and Search Engines Basically, the navigational tools are software applications that are used to navigate a web site. In this scenario, there are a large number of navigational tools which allow us to access data and information from the Internet. For instance, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome are two of the well-known navigational tools. On the other hand, a web search engine is a software system that is developed with the purpose of searching for the desired data, information (videos or any content) on the World Wide Web. In this scenario, the results that appear in response to a search query are normally provided in a line of results which are know n as search engine results pages (SERPs). In addition, the results of a search query can contain anything such as information, pictures and other types of files. Some of the well-known search engines are Google, MSN, and Yahoo (Wikipedia, 2013). Intranets and Extranets The intranet is a kind of network that can be used within an organization. This network cannot be accessed by the people outside of the

Virtual Organizations and Simulation Exercises Needs Document Assignment

Virtual Organizations and Simulation Exercises Needs Document - Assignment Example Those can be divided into three separate categories, based on their content and purpose: The ordering process functions, the website functions and the decision making functions. The ordering functions of the system must provide the full flow of a customer order from the time it is requested by the customer to the sales person, until the final bill issuance. The sales person must be able to register the order of the customer, and pass it via the shop’s wireless network to the order preparation room. Order preparation personnel will receive the order and start preparing all items included in it. At the same time items will inform an items inventory database which has to be maintained. Sales person in charge of the order must be informed with a message when the order is ready in order to fetch it and deliver it to the customer. In that way no time will be missed at all as the sales person can be busy with many orders in parallel. At the time when the customer asks for the bill, s ales person sends a message to the central computer system. The receipt is automatically printed and is delivered to the customer, so that the waiting time for bill issuance is minimal. The items inventory database will keep statistics about the item preferences of the customers per area and/or customer group and help in decision making. In that way, important conclusions will be possible to be drawn by the analysis of the items data by the firm managers, that will help in the decision making process. For instance, the items information can be aggregated by shop location, by season, by customer target group and age, leading to very important marketing decisions. In addition, inventory database will be used for on-time replenishment of the items from the external wholesale vendors of the firm. (Inventory control). In that way, the continuous replenishment of all the items at the shop will be guaranteed, and the possibility of items shortage that could cause customer complaints will b e minimized. The website application of the restaurant (www.krudlerfinefoods.com) must display information such as shops location, chef and staff profile, and items menu. A dynamic update of the content must be possible to be made at any time by shop manager (to add the menu of the day, special offers etc). The customer must be able to pre-order specific items so that they are ready when he arrives at the shop. In addition the system must provide to the customer an estimation of the time that will take from the moment that he enters the shop until he is served, based on the day and time of the order, and on statistical data that will be maintained by shop manager. (e.g. time to serve could vary from 5 minutes on a regular day to 20 minutes on weekends). Customers should be able to contact the shop for leaving suggestions, feedback or any complaints. Application must support automatic and custom message sending to customers (Happy birthday, season’s greetings, promotions, even ts etc). Use Cases The Use cases of the above functional requirements are presented below. Use case: Submit order Customer orders, sales person inserts the order in system, order is sent to preparation room, preparation room employee receives and prepares order, order items inventory is reduced. Use case: Order delivery and payment Preparation room employee sends message that order is ready, sales person receives message, sales

Evaluate Rival Views On the Cultural Implications of Globalization Essay

Evaluate Rival Views On the Cultural Implications of Globalization - Essay Example This paper stresses that globalization has intensified the economic competition among the developed nations of the world and to increase this competitiveness, they have come to adopt policies aimed at influencing other countries to adopt their cultures so that they can be able to find markets for their products. Advertisements promoting the western way of life have come up all over the world, and many educated youths have been influenced by them. Nowadays, it has become a trend for the youth to adopt aspects of the west culture stating that their own cultures are either backward or archaic. This report makes a conclusion that globalization has come to have a profound influence on the cultures of many people in the world, and this influence has been both positive and negative. In certain regions, it can be said to be a blessing to those cultures which it has come to influence, because it has not only enriched these cultures, but it has also ensured that some of their characteristics have been spread all over the world. However, it has also been noted that globalization has led to the erosion and near extinction of some cultures and these have come to be replaced with the dominant western culture, which is the driving force behind globalization. One would even go as far as to suggest that globalization is a force which is inevitably going to destroy other cultures, and if not, it will change these cultures beyond recognition. It is an irresistible force of cultural change which cannot be stopped without the isolation of other cultures from the globalised, western one.

Wars of the Roses 1455-1471 Essay Example for Free

Wars of the Roses 1455-1471 Essay Within the context of the period 1337-1471, to what extent can Henry VI be held primarily responsible for the Wars of the Roses 1455-1471? When Henry VI came to the throne in 1431, people already had high expectations of him. At only 8 years old, he had already broken tradition by becoming the first king to rule over both England and France. However, when the minority council finally permitted Henry VI to rule of his own accord, he seemed to be a hopeless King, making severe mistakes that ultimately contributed to beginning of the Wars of the Roses in the period 1455 to 1471. However, there is some debate amongst historians as to whether Henry VI can be held primarily to blame for causing the Wars of the Roses, or whether other factors such as the over mighty subjects, the feuds between noble, and the actions of Margaret of Anjou were greater contributing factors to the outbreak of war. Henry VI’s personality has been criticised by many historians as being unsuited to the role of king. Contemporary interpretations of Henry are that he was terrible at ruling, as he was â€Å"utterly devoid of wit or spirit† (according to Pope Pius II). Subjects who were condemned for speaking ill of the king in the 1440s and 1450s referred to him as â€Å"a sheep†. Victorian views on Henry VI were that he lacked the qualities required for successful kingship, although at that time he was still praised for being â€Å"a pious, humane and Christian character†. The historian Antonia Fraser concludes that â€Å"these were not the attributes of a king and the truth is that Henry had no real wish to act like one†. This suggests that henry’s personality was overall, entirely ill-suited for the role of kingship. Henry’s chaplain John Blacman (writing during the reign of Henry Tudor), although writing somewhat positively about Henry VI, chooses to avoid mentioning Henry VI’S ability to rule and instead focuses on how religious Henry VI is, describing him as â€Å"chaste and pure from the beginning of his days†, and presenting him as a pious and puritanical king. The fact that Blacman puts emphasis on his pious character rather than his ability to rule, suggests that Henry VI was a poor ruler. Dockray comments â€Å"during the reign of Henry VII, at a time when the king was hoping to secure his predecessor’s canonisation†, so this source cannot be trusted. Robin Neillands concludes that â€Å"The accounts of the King’s goodness are largely based on his devotion to religion, at the expense of more pressing secular matters concerning the government of the realm†. The role of the minority council is also an important factor to consider when assessing whether Henry VI was primarily to blame. Henry V had, on his deathbed, made the fundamental arrangements for his son’s minority; Duke John of Bedford was to take charge in France as Regent (as Henry VI was too young to rule), and pursue the war against the Dauphin Charles-while hanging on to Normandy at all costs and maintaining the alliance with Philip the Good, and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester was to keep a watchful eye on England. In 1431, Henry VI was crowned king but the ministers ruled in his stead. This minority council ruled until Henry was in his mid-twenties, well over the normal ruling age, which suggests that Henry VI could not be trusted to rule the kingdom effectively. Gillingham, however, paints a very positive portrayal of Henry VI’s minority. He concludes that it was â€Å"evidence showing that in fifteenth century England there existed a stable political system, con taining in the council an institutional framework within which tensions could be contained and resolved.† K.B. McFarlane referred to Henry VI as â€Å"a baby who grew up to be an imbecile†, and the length of minority supports this view. Contemporary and Yorkist views on Henry VI were that he was a child-like, idiotic king, and that the council made all the decisions for him. The English Chronicle that was published in the 1460s stated that Henry â€Å"was simple and led by a covetous council† and â€Å"that puppet of a king†. Henry is often criticised for relying too heavily on his council, and continuing to support their decisions. Helen Castor states that â€Å"he was proving to be no more capable of leadership as an adult than he had been as an infant†, supporting the view that he was a childlike king incapable of ruing effectively. However, other historians have suggested that Henry VI did in fact take an active role in government, and can be seen as primarily to blame, rather than his minority council. The historian Wolffe claims that the documentation Henry VI signed is proof of his heavy involvement in government. His own involvement in the war in France led to defeat and humiliation, as he pursued his own French policy and made a secret deal with Charles VII to surrender Maine and Anjou, meaning that they lost all of France apart from Calais. By doing this, he had removed two key parts of the empire, making it inevitable for it to crumble. At this point, Henry VI did seem to act of his own accord, as the fact that he made the deal a secret suggest that he knew that many people would disapprove of his actions. All this suggests that Henry was fully in charge of the government and its decisions, and can consequently be blamed for the mistakes made during that time. Another example of Henry playing an active role in ruling is the increase in elevations to the peerage under Henry VI’s rule. During the first thirty six years of the Lancastrian dynasty, only nine elevations were made to the peerage. However, twenty five years later (during Henry’s reign), there were twenty five elevations to the peerage. This massive increase in elevations to the peerage made during Henry’s reign seems to indicate that Henry was in fact playing an active role in ruling. Another reason why Henry VI could be seen as primarily responsible is because his mental collapse during the period 1453-54 left the government unattended, allowing violence to flare up with no authority to deal with it. According to the historian Robin Neillands, it â€Å"flung the whole responsibility for the management of the realm entirely on the Royal Council†, and as a result â€Å"the fragile rule of law in England fell apart†. The quarrel between the Nevilles and the Percies soon escalated into violence in August 1453, despite measures that the Royal Council put in place in a failed attempt to end their quarrelling. However, it is debatable as to whether or not that Henry’s illness made any fundamental change to these events, as he’d already proved himself as incapable of solving these disputes even before his mental collapse. It also led to more conflict between Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Somerset. Another key factor to consider is the role of Margaret of Anjou. Henry VI married Margaret, the niece of Charles VII in 1455, when she was fifteen years of age and had no dowry. Some historians have suggested that Margaret was to blame for convincing the king to surrender Maine and Anjou in order to please her, and referred to her as â€Å"the queen who had brought nothing and taken much away†-although as Gillingham points out â€Å"it is unlikely that a fifteen year old girl could wield so much influence within a few months of her arrival at a strange court where most people spoke a language she was yet to learn†. Margaret of Anjou played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses, most notably after February 1456, when York’s second protectorate ended, as Margaret managed to establish a power base in the northwest, and also persuade the king to come to Chester, turning the political tide against York. She had successfully stepped into the vacuum left by Henry VI, and continued to play a dominant role in court, creating the Attainment Bill in 1459 to show the extent of her control. Overall, the balance of evidence seems to suggest that Henry was a weak ruler and ill-suited to the role of medieval kingship. He clearly lacked the qualities needed to rule effectively, and there was no clear leadership in any key sphere of government due to Henry’s long absences from power- the minority council ruled in his stead until he was in his mid-twenties, and reappeared when he suffered his mental collapse in the 1450s, and there were others ruling for him. He also failed to stop the feud between York and Somerset before it escalated into violence. He also neglected to stop the quarrels between other nobles. The balance of evidence also seems to point towards the interpretation of Henry VI being far too easily led and manipulated. Helen Castor even goes on to say that he â€Å"did little more than smile and agree to every suggestion his advisers made†. While Jack Cade’s rebellion showed the discontent of the people at that time, the fact that the rebellion was aimed solely against Henry VI’s advisors rather than Henry himself is a clear indicator of how easily manipulated he was, as his own people believed that his advisors were at fault. According to Antonia Fraser, the main demand from the rebels was the punishment of â€Å"the false progeny and affinity of the Duke of Suffolk† and a later chronicler said he â€Å"was simple and led by a covetous counsel†. However, none of this means that Henry VI should be held any less accountable, as he chose the government that was now in place. However, there are other factors that suggest that he wasn’t entirely to blame for the Wars of the Roses. Many historians have identified the family tree of Edward III as a significant factor in causing the wars of the roses for several reasons. One main reason why it could be seen as a significant factor is because it started the debate as to who had the stronger claim to the throne, the house of Lancaster, or the house of York. When Edward II died in 1377, Richard II succeeded him (as Edward the black prince had predeceased his father). However, as she was too young to rule, John of Gaunt ruled in his stead until Richard II turned 20. Richard II banished Gaunt’s heir, Henry Bolingbroke, and Thomas Mobray when they had a quarrel, but made the fatal mistake of seizing all of the wealth of the house of Lancaster. This caused Henry Bolingbroke to return to reclaim his wealth, ultimately ending in Bolingbroke taking the throne of England as Henry IV. By doing so, he ignored the claims of the Mortimer family, which followed back through a woman named Philippa, the daughter of Lionel of Clarence (the second son of Edward iii), and these claims eventually passed down to Richard, duke of York. The Yorkist line seemed to have the stronger claim to the throne than the Lancastrian line, as Richard, earl of Cambridge’s marriage with Anne Mortimer connected his line with the Mortimer line, arguably putting him ahead of the Lancastrians in the line of succession. The debate was that Anne Mortimer was a woman, making Richard Plantagenet’s claim through a female line, so the Lancastrian claim was considered stronger, and also the Yorkist claim was not pursued after 1415, as his father, Richard, earl of Cambridge had been beheaded for treason. This chain of events helped to start off the Wars of the Roses, as it was Richard Plantagenet who founded the house of York. Yet while Edward III’S family tree provided the possibility for war, there are arguably more significant factors. Edward III’s complicated family tree was a factor that drove Richard of Cambridge to attempting to place his brother-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, on the throne, as he believed that Edmund Mortimer had the stronger claim. As it was his son, Richard Plantagenet, who founded the house of York, it suggests that the family tree helped to cause the feud between the house of Lancaster, and the house of York, effectively starting the Wars of the Roses. Henry IV’s usurpation of Richard II in 1399 has been regarded by several historians as the root cause of the Wars of the Roses. In particular, the historian A.L .Rouse stated that â€Å"It all began with a revolution. The revolution of 1399.†When Henry Bolingbroke overthrew Richard II and took the throne, he â€Å"struck at the very foundations of kingship†. During that period, it was believed that the king was always chosen by God. Therefore, it was considered dreadful to overthrow a king, and Shakespeare later described the Wars of the Roses as a form of divine retribution, as punishment for the sins that their predecessors committed. This idea was used as propaganda, and the usurpation was viewed as so shocking that it created the precedent for overthrowing a sacredly anointed king. It also put forward the idea that the divinity of kingship could be passed down to someone else of a stronger bloodline, and Henry IV used this as an excuse by claiming that his ancestor was the eldest son of Henry III. However, there were other contenders to the throne who had a stronger claim than Henry Bolingbroke, and as there was much dispute in later years about who had a stronger claim to the throne, it could be argued that the cause of all these disputes originated. The usurpation of Richard II was also significant because it meant that any person of royal blood who had raised an army, and who had argued with the king could become a contender for the throne, as they could simply overthrow the king and take the crown for themselves. This meant that the throne was never going to be safe from anyone who wished to take it. This made it almost inevitable for war to break out, as any of the following rulers’ claims to the throne could be questioned, and it created political uncertainty and instability due to the fact that the Lancastrian dynasty was based on usurpation. Despite Henry Bolingbroke’s excuse that Richard II had been unfit to rule, it still caused a dispute about whether the usurpation of the throne could really be excused. However, this was not a problem during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V, and the debate was only brought about when Henry VI’s failings became apparent- had there been a strong, capable ruler on the throne, this debate would not have been reopened. â€Å"Bastard Feudalism† also played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. The phrase was coined by the historian Charles Plummer. K.B. McFarlane argues that the whole system of bastard feudalism did in fact have the potential to provide stability, suggesting that its contribution to the disorder and instability of that period was merely a reflection of Henry VI’s ineffective rule. This serves to reinforce the argument that it was Henry VI’s inability to rule that created the problems which arose and ultimately culminated in the outbreak of war. Certainly, had a strong king, capable of maintaining control, been placed on the throne, then the system of â€Å"bastard feudalism† would not have proved an issue. It could also be argued that the â€Å"over-mighty subjects such as York and Warwick were to blame for causing the Wars of the Roses. Some historians have argued that Henry VI’s mistrust of York was not justified, as he had legitimate grievances. He had been the king’s lieutenant in France but was replaced by Somerset who was given a larger army. Somerset was even paid  £2 5,000 for troops while York was given nothing and instead told to wait. Somerset’s younger brother was also made lieutenant of France and York was humiliated as lieutenant of Ireland. The government also owed York  £38,666 ( £12,666 of this York agreed to forgo), but they still failed to pay his wages, and even owed him a further  £10,000 due to his hereditary pension. Because of the government’s refusal to pay York the money he was owed, his debt increased to the extent that he was forced to consider selling some of his manors, as well as endanger relationships with his friends by borrowing heavily from them. York also received  £21,000 worth of â€Å"bad tallies†-which were the crown’s method of discharging its debts by handing out tallies on some regular source of income, and receiving the tallies did not guarantee proper payment. Many historians agree that York deserved fairer treatment than this- he had been active in the king’s service abroad and was the crown’s largest single creditor after loaning them  £26,000. The historian Keith Dockray claims that he â€Å"could reasonably expect a prominent role in Henry VI’s council and even, perhaps, formal recognition as the king’s heir†. Many pro-Yorkist chroniclers were of the belief that he was a good person who was being treated very poorly by the â€Å"corrupt clique surrounding the king†(Dockray). The English Chronicle states that â€Å"common people hated Somerset but loved York because he loved the commons and [reserved the common profit of this land†. According to K.B. Mcfarlane, some of the blame can still be attributed to the king, because â€Å"only an under-mighty ruler had anything to fear from over-mighty subjects†. This links back to the key problem underlying all these factors-Henry VI was a poor ruler, and so the stability of the government depended on his ability to assert authority and make good decisions. The development of bastard feudalism, caused by the growth of affinities, also helped to cause instability between the king and his magnates, as it enabled the magnates to subvert the wishes of the crown and take the law into their own hands. According to Neillands, the magnates â€Å"began to maintain bodies of soldiers, even in peacetime, and this â€Å"maintenance† was not illegal â€Å"unless the lord attempted to support his retainer in outlawry or by influencing the court of law†. As a result, violence became widespread due to Henry VI’s inability to maintain control of the system. Gillingham, however, paints a very positive portrayal of Henry VI’s minority. He concludes that it was â€Å"evidence showing that in fifteenth century England there existed a stable political system, containing in the council an institutional framework within which tensions could be contained and resolved.† However, Richard Plantagenet’s contemporaries tended to be more critical when assessing whether he deserved this treatment. The historian J.R. Lander referred to him as â€Å"an ambitious, opportunist and self-interested magnate who failed to win much committed support from his peers†. Many of York’s contemporary critics believed that he was far more motivated by self-interest rather than concern for public good, and some even called him a traitor. This is evident in a Chancery memorandum in 1456 that claimed that all disturbances since Cade’s rebellion had been â€Å"at the will of the Duke of York, descended from the Mortimers’. The fact that he is not only blamed for the disturbances after Cade’s rebellion, but there is also an accusatory remark about his lineage, clearly suggests that he had not won the support of his peers. The Coventry Parliament in 1459 even wrote a catalogue of his alleged treacheries, and the tract Somnium Vigilantes criticised his behaviour as being â€Å"subversive to the commonwealth†. The events in 1452 also support this view; York started a campaign to remove Somerset from power which failed, so he had to resort to an armed force. He also confronted the king at Blackheath with armed retainers, with a view to finally gaining his deserved position beside the king. According to the historian J.R. Lander, one contemporary writer claims that he â€Å"surrendered on the promise that Somerset would be arrested†. However, this failed, as little support from nobles and the common people led to his humiliation. These events suggest that York was indeed ambitious and self-interested with little support. When York returned from Ireland in 1450, many of the king’s servants became suspicious. Despite returning because he was worried about the return of Somerset from France, the king’s servants assumed he was there to overthrow the king due to rumours spread about during that time. This suggests that he certainly did not have the approval of the public, as they were prepared to believe in rumours rather than trusting in his character. Overall, the balance of evidence seems to suggest that Henry VI was primarily responsible for the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI’s incompetence allowed rebellion to take place, and his inability to rule effectively meant that the government was filled with over-mighty subjects all vying for power. He also worsened the disputes between the nobles and increased tensions between them, creating the perfect conditions for war to take place. Although he cannot be blamed substantially for the defeat in France, he did play a role in events by surrendering Maine and Anjou. The usurpation in 1399 also heightened all of these factors, as it encouraged the belief that God was against his rule. None of the key factors responsible for the Wars of the Roses would have been as influential on events if Henry VI had been the dominant, assertive ruler everyone needed him to be. Bibliography: The Wars of the Roses by John Gillingham The Wars of the Roses by Robin Neillands The Wars of the Roses by Antonia Fraser The Wars of the Roses by J.R.Lander Blood and Roses by Helen Castor Bosworth Field and the Wars of the Roses by A.L .Rowse Henry VI and the Politics of Kingship by John Watts