Thomas Macdonough in the War of 1812

A native of Delaware, Thomas MacDonough became a noted officer in the US Navy during the early part of the 19th century. From a large family, he followed an older brother into the service and obtained a midshipmans warrant during the final months of the Quasi-War with France. MacDonough later saw service in the First Barbary War where he served under Commodore Edward Preble and took part in the daring raid which burned the captured frigate USS Philadelphia (36 guns). Shortly after the start of the  War of 1812, he received command of American forces on Lake Champlain. Building fleet, MacDonough won a decisive victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814 which saw him capture the entire British squadron. Early Life Born December 21, 1783 in northern Delaware, Thomas MacDonough was the son of Dr. Thomas and Mary McDonough. A veteran of the American Revolution, the senior McDonough served with the rank of major at the Battle of Long Island and was later wounded at White Plains. Raised in a strict Episcopal family, the younger Thomas was educated locally and by 1799 was working as a store clerk in Middletown, DE. At this time, his elder brother James, a midshipman in the US Navy, returned home having lost a leg during the Quasi-War with France. This inspired MacDonough to seek a career at sea and he applied for a midshipmans warrant with the aid of Senator Henry Latimer. This was granted on February 5, 1800. Around this time, for unknown reasons, he changed the spelling of his last name from McDonough to MacDonough. Going to Sea Reporting aboard USS Ganges (24), MacDonough sailed for the Caribbean in May. Through the summer, Ganges, with Captain John Mullowny in command, captured three French merchant vessels. With the end of the conflict in September, MacDonough remained in the US Navy and moved to the frigate USS Constellation (38) on October 20, 1801. Sailing for the Mediterranean, Constellation served in Commodore Richard Dales squadron during the First Barbary War. First Barbary War While aboard, MacDonough received a thorough nautical education from Captain Alexander Murray. As the composition of the squadron evolved, he received orders to join USS Philadelphia (36) in 1803. Commanded by Captain William Bainbridge, the frigate succeeded in capturing the Moroccan warship Mirboka (24) on August 26. Taking shore leave that fall, MacDonough was not aboard Philadelphia when it grounded on an uncharted reef in Tripoli harbor and was captured on October 31. Without a ship, MacDonough was soon reassigned to the sloop USS Enterprise (12). Serving under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, he aided in the capture of the Tripolitan ketch Mastico in December. This prize was soon refitted as USS Intrepid (4) and joined the squadron. Concerned that Philadelphia would be salvaged by the Tripolitans, the squadron commander, Commodore Edward Preble, began formulating a plan to eliminate the stricken frigate. This called for Decatur to sneak into Tripoli harbor using Intrepid, storming the ship, and setting it ablaze if it could not saved. Familiar with Philadelphias layout, MacDonough volunteered for the raid and played a key role. Moving forward, Decatur and his men succeeded in burning Philadelphia on February 16, 1804. A stunning success, the raid was termed the the most bold and daring act of the Age by British Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. Peacetime Promoted to acting lieutenant for his part in the raid, MacDonough soon joined the brig USS Syren (18). Returning the United States in 1806, he aided Captain Isaac Hull in overseeing the construction of gunboats at Middletown, CT. Later that year, his promotion to lieutenant was made permanent. Completing his assignment with Hull, MacDonough received his first command in the sloop of war USS Wasp (18). Initially operating in the waters around Britain, Wasp spent much 1808 off the United States enforcing the Embargo Act. Departing Wasp, MacDonough spent part of 1809 aboard USS Essex (36) before leaving the frigate to direct gunboat construction at Middletown. With the repeal of the Embargo Act in 1809, the US Navy reduced its forces. The following year, MacDonough requested leave and spent two years as the captain of a British merchant vessel sailing to India. The War of 1812 Begins Returning to active duty shortly before the beginning of the War of 1812 in June 1812, MacDonough initially received a posting to Constellation. Fitting out at Washington, DC, the frigate required several months of work before being ready for sea. Eager take part in the fighting, MacDonough soon requested a transfer and briefly commanded gunboats at Portland, ME before being ordered to take command of US naval forces on Lake Champlain that October. Arriving at Burlington, VT, his forces were limited to the sloops USS Growler (10) and USS Eagle (10). Though small, his command was sufficient to control the lake. This situation changed radically on June 2, 1813, when Lieutenant Sidney Smith lost both vessels near Ile aux Noix. Building a Fleet Promoted to master commandant on July 24, MacDonough began large a shipbuilding effort at Otter Creek, VT in an effort to regain the lake. This yard produced the corvette USS Saratoga (26), the sloop of war USS Eagle (20), the schooner USS Ticonderoga (14), and several gunboats by late spring 1814. This effort was matched by his British counterpart, Commander Daniel Pring, who commenced his own building program at Ile aux Noix. Moving south in mid-May, Pring attempted to attack the American shipyard but was driven off by MacDonoughs batteries. Completing his vessels, MacDonough shifted his squadron of fourteen warships across the lake to Plattsburgh, NY to await Prings next sortie south. Out-gunned by the Americans, Pring withdrew to await the completion of the frigate HMS Confiance (36). Showdown at Plattsburgh As Confiance neared completion, British forces led by Lieutenant General Sir George Prà ©vost began gathering with the intention of invading the United States via Lake Champlain. As Prà ©vosts men marched south, they would be supplied and protected by British naval forces now led by Captain George Downie. To oppose this effort, badly outnumbered American forces, commanded by Brigadier General Alexander Macomb, assumed a defensive position near Plattsburgh. They were supported by MacDonough who arrayed his fleet in Plattsburgh Bay. Advancing on August 31, Prà ©vosts men, which included a large number of the Duke of Wellingtons veterans, were hampered by a variety of delaying tactics used by the Americans. Arriving near Plattsburgh on September 6, their initial efforts were turned back by Macomb. Consulting with Downie, Prà ©vost intended to attack the American lines in force on September 10 in concert with a naval effort against MacDonough in the bay. MacDonoughs Plan Blocked by unfavorable winds, Downies ships were unable to advance on the desired date and were forced to delay a day. Mounting fewer long guns than Downie, MacDonough took a position in Plattsburgh Bay where he believed his heavier, but shorter range carronades would be most effective. Supported by ten small gunboats, he placed Eagle, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, and the sloop Preble (7) in a north-south line. In each case, two anchors were used along with spring lines to permit the vessels to turn while at anchor. After scouting the American position on the morning of September 11, Downie chose to move forward. The Fleets Engage Passing around Cumberland Head at 9:00 AM, Downies squadron consisted of Confiance, the brig HMS Linnet (16), the sloops HMS Chubb (10) and HMS Finch (11), and twelve gunboats.  As the Battle of Plattsburgh began, Downie initially sought to place Confiance across the head of the American line, but shifting winds prevented this and he instead assumed a position opposite Saratoga. As the two flagships commenced battering each other, Pring was able to cross in front of Eagle with Linnet while Chubb was quickly disabled and captured. Finch moved to take a position across the tail of MacDonoughs line but drifted south and grounded on Crab Island. MacDonoughs Victory While Confiances first broadsides did significant damage to Saratoga, the two ships continued to trade blows with Downie being killed when a cannon was driven into him. To the north, Pring opened fire on Eagle with the American vessel unable to turn to effectively counter. At the opposite end of the line, Preble was compelled to withdraw from the fight by Downies gunboats. These were finally halted by determined fire from Ticonderoga. Under heavy fire, Eagle severed its anchor lines and began to drift down the American line permitting Linnet to rake Saratoga. With most of his starboard guns out of action, MacDonough employed his spring lines to turn his flagship. Bringing his undamaged portside guns to bear, MacDonough opened fire on Confiance. The survivors aboard the British flagship sought to conduct a similar turn but became stuck with the frigates vulnerable stern presented to Saratoga. Incapable of further resistance, Confiance struck its colors. Pivoting Saratoga a second time, MacDonough brought its broadside to bear on Linnet. With his ship out-gunned and seeing that further resistance was futile, Pring elected to surrendered. Having gained the upper hand, the Americans proceeded to capture the entire British squadron. Aftermath MacDonoughs triumph matched that of Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry who had won a similar victory on Lake Erie the previous September. Ashore, Prà ©vosts initial efforts were delayed or turned back. Learning of Downies defeat, he elected to break off the battle as he felt any victory would be meaningless as American control of the lake would prevent him from being able to resupply his army. Though his commanders protested the decision, Prà ©vosts army began retreating north to Canada that night. For his efforts at Plattsburgh, MacDonough was hailed as hero and received a promotion to captain as well as a Congressional Gold Medal. In addition, both New York and Vermont presented him with generous grants of land. Later Career After remaining on the lake into 1815, MacDonough took command of the Portsmouth Navy Yard on July 1 where he relieved Hull. Returning to sea three years later, he joined the Mediterranean Squadron as captain of HMS Guerriere (44). During his time abroad, MacDonough contracted tuberculosis in April 1818. Due to health issues, he returned to the United States later that year where he began overseeing the construction of the ship of the line USS Ohio (74) at the New York Navy Yard. In this position for five years, MacDonough requested sea duty and received command of USS Constitution in 1824. Sailing for the Mediterranean, MacDonoughs tenure aboard the frigate proved brief as he was forced to relieve himself of command due to health issues on October 14, 1825. Sailing for home, he died off Gibraltar on November 10. MacDonoughs body was returned to the United States where it was buried in Middletown, CT next to his wife, Lucy Ann Shale MacDonough (m.1812).

Brand Imitation - Consumer Attitude Toward Purchasing Imitated Brand C Thesis Proposal

Essays on Brand Imitation - Consumer Attitude Toward Purchasing Imitated Brand Clothing in Thailand Thesis Proposal The paper â€Å"Brand Imitation - Consumer Attitude Toward Purchasing Imitated Brand Clothing in Thailand† is an engrossing version of the thesis proposal on marketing. As imitated goods, a multi-dollar underground economy, flourish in almost all kinds of market, consumer tends to choose these kinds of good particularly in Thailand which according to most professionals is the â€Å"primary staging point† (Sheban, 2007) of imitated products coming from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong—the top producer of imitated products accounting to almost ninety percent of the said industry (Kay Ka-Yuk Lai, 1999, p. 179). This kind of patronage of consumers has been affected by many economic aspects both local and international settings. In fact, the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (2004) has been alarmed of its global impact and in 2004 the council drafted preventive measures in combating the growing brand imitation industry.Problem StatementIn viewing the problem of e xisting imitated goods and products in Thailand’s marketplace, people oftentimes only recognize its producers as the primarily liable for this illegal act. Hence, prior studies regarding imitation are mostly focused on understanding the producer side, However, the prospering of imitated products does not only depend on its producer aspect but most importantly on the consumers’ behavior who patronize these kinds of products. Without the patronage of consumers, producers of imitated products will not be able to exist. Furthermore, there are many factors involve why a consumer decides to buy imitated products. In line with this, the essential questions to pose the question: â€Å"What are the factors and its corresponding relationships to the consumer’s behavior in buying imitation products in the marketplace of Thailand?†Significance of the StudyIn view of the fact that this study will relate the aspect of consumer’s behavior towards the imitated pro ducts in Thailand’s marketplace, it is will be significant in the sense that it can provide a comprehensible understanding of how consumers behave towards imitated products. Consequently, this study will be considered valuable information in making social, political/legislative, and economic policies in Thailand. Furthermore, this study will also be of great assistance for making international trade policies by various international organization particularly the World Trade Organization since its policies have a great impact on almost all countries.The hypothesis of the ProblemThe hypothesis for this study is that there exist certain factors regarding consumer’s behavior towards imitated products in the marketplace of Thailand. Also, this study theorizes that the factors involved have a linear relationship to consumer’s preferences of buying imitated products.Purpose of the StudyThe general objective of the study is to investigate consumers’ attitudes tow ards purchasing brand imitation in Thailand and against a background of the increasing prevalence of brand imitation.The particular objectives of the study are:1. To find out what influence consumers’ attitude to purchase the imitated brand clothing.2. To analyze the factors that influence customers to purchase imitated brand clothing.3. To examine the influence of social, personality, and demographic factors on consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing the imitated brand clothing.In regards to preceding researches, there is no research that has been accomplished to examine consumers’ toward purchasing imitated brand clothing in Thailand. Nevertheless, this study will concentrate on other factors or variables which have an effect on consumers’ attitude towards the imitated products’ brand names following to studying in many past types of research. In the context of the dissertation, consumers’ attitude of imitated products’ brand name w ill be an important predictor of his/her intention to buy the imitated product. As well as what factors influence consumer evaluation of a purchasing imitated product becomes the focus of the investigation. The significant factors basing existing literature and pertinent to this the study of imitated product-buying behavior are the following: integrity in terms of lawfulness, attitudes towards the damaging effect of original brands, ethical perspective, and consumer's perceived risk, and price-quality correlation.

New York Essay Example For Students

New York Essay In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano, an Italian exploring for France, sailed into the New York Harbor. He was the first European to enter the harbor. Although Verrazano explored the area, no Europeans decided to settle or further explore the area until much later (Microsoft, New York). The Dutch East India Company hired Henry Hudson, an Englishman, to explore northern America in search for a Northwest Passage to Asia. On September 3, 1609 he and his crew sailed into the New York Harbor on the Half Moon. After further exploration he sailed as far as Albany on the Hudson River, which naturally was named after him (Microsoft, New York). The Dutch East India Company established the first permanent settlement in what is now New York City in 1624. A group of French-speaking Walloons came from Europe in the New Netherland. Almost all of the 110 men, women, and children continued on to Fort Orange, but about eight people stayed on Manhattan Island (Purvis, ?). Soon, in 1625, the small Island community was backed up by more families, and was named community New Amsterdam. The same year the Dutch West India Company made New Amsterdam its North American trade headquarters (Purvis, ?). For a while the colonists suffered good and bad times. Problems with the Indians and to many traders compared to the amount of people who really wanted to settle the colony and build farms. They lived in rude dugouts and bark huts clustered around a trading fort. But gradually things got better. The emphasis changed from completely trading to only partial. They began growing crops and wooden houses were replacing the huts. They started acting like New Amsterdam was their home (Rich, 49). After several years the Dutch began really feeling like this was their home. This is when their life started getting a lot better. They got permanent houses like they had had in Holland. The houses were either built from red or yellow brick or wood with brick ends. The houses were tall and narrow with the side walls rising higher than the front one, and going down in steps, creating a sloping roof of thatch. Some houses were created with fancy brick patterns, and the owners name imprinted in the bricks. Soon red tiles replaced the thatch because the thatch caught fire too easily (Rich, 51). The Dutch houses also had many other things different about them. The houses had doors with a lower and higher half of the door that opened separately. This allowed airflow without the door being opened. Another difference about Dutch houses is that they had steops. A steop is a porch without a hangover. These housing styles are still seen in some places today (Rich, 51-52. New Netherlands first official was Peter Minuit. He arrived on May 4, 1626 and served as director general. Minuit set up Fort Amsterdam to protect the citizens from Indians, and the British. He later purchased Manhattan Island from the Canarsee Indians in 1626, for a mere 60 guilders ($24). Because of differences with the Dutch India Company, he was recalled to Europe in 1631. Later in 1637, he went back to America and built Fort Christina in what is now Wilmington, Delaware. A few months later he died at sea in a hurricane (Microsoft, Minuit). The French initially were on good relationship with the Indians, but when settlers started taking more and more of Manhattan Island things changed. Although at first disputes were minor, Dutch cattle wandering onto Indian cornfields, an Indian dog attacking Dutch livestock, things really got bad when the Dutch tried taxing the Indians to help pay for building Fort Amsterdam. The Indians refused to pay (Americana, 237). .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .postImageUrl , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:hover , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:visited , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:active { border:0!important; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:active , .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub75158cf0af433df9810d31a0708c22b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Forgiveness Phenomena EssayWilliam Kieft, the third governor of New Amsterdam, responded by attacking an Indian village, killing more than 100 men, women, and children. The Indians counterattacked and the war lasted for two years before the Indians were forced to peace. He is also known for buying large amounts of land, for New Amsterdam (Americana, 237). One person who was most responsible for making New York prosper was Peter Stuyvesant. Serving as director general after William Kieft, he improved the city. Stuyvesant straightened the streets, fixed fences and built a canal through the town. Under Stuyvesant, New Amsterdam began, for the first time, to have religious tolerance (Americana, 237). Although the Dutch Reformed Church didnt like the religious freedom, but the government or the population didnt care if and where you went to church. Religious diversity spread through out New Amsterdam (Americana, 237). Today Roman Catholics have the largest amount, claiming 45% of religious adherents. The second largest group is Protestants followed by Jews. One quarter of American Jews live there (Microsoft, New York). The Indians or the citizens of New Amsterdam did not like Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant did settle boundary disputes between the English and the Dutch, but he restrained the Indians in doing so. The citizens hated him because of his harsh policies and heavy taxes. By persuading the authorities in the Netherlands, the citizens were able to get a municipal government, in which they limited his power (Microsoft, Stuyvesant). While Stuyvesant was governor, British and Dutch relations worsened. King Charles II decided to send his brother, James, duke of York, to take over New Netherland. James II landed in New York Bay on in 1644. Stuyvesant tried to convince the citizens to fight, but they surrendered to the British because the preferred British rule over the rule of Stuyvesant (Microsoft, Stuyvesant). In honor of the duke of York, the British renamed New Amsterdam to New York and set up a strong-mayor type government. Under the government, the Mayor appointed the heads of city departments, members of commissions, judges of the Criminal Court, and many other offices. The average citizen had little influence or say in the government (Dictionary of American History, ?). Ten years later the Dutch recaptured New York and named it New Orange, and reintroduced their government. However the Dutch soon gave it back to the British in the Treaty of Westminster in 1674 and it was renamed New York (Americana, 237). The British re-setup their government and required all citizens to swear allegiance to Great Britain. The new government also required that all legal proceedings be in English, instead of one of the other eighteen languages (Americana, 237). The Governors of New York gave away huge grants of land to their friends. This resulted in few landowners. Many of the landowners werent interested in population New York so growth was limited to or close to large cities. Some of the landowners had complete control over their land and turned them into manors, some what like the feudalism. One of these manors was 700,000 acres and covered central Manhattan Island from coast to coast. Although this slowed down growth, New York still grew at a slightly slower pace (Microsoft, New York). In 1683, James granted, through Governor Thomas Dongan, a guarantee of representative legislature and personal freedoms. When James became King James II in 1685, he disallowed the charter and added New York to his multi-colony Dominion of New England (Microsoft, New York). Some people werent happy with the government of New York. One of these men was Jacob Leisler, who had come to New Netherland as a soldier and then married a wealthy widow. He led a local revolt against the Jamess policies and established a government of his own. He considered himself a representative of Dutch residents who had lost power to British newcomers. Soon he seized control of Fort James (Americana, 237). .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .postImageUrl , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:hover , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:visited , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:active { border:0!important; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:active , .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9 .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u424328f07d8ecd6fd42dc5fb00f1daf9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Short Essay on LifeIn 1691 King William III, who had succeeded James II, sent Colonel Henry Sloughter to take charge of New York. Sloughter sailed to Fort James and forced Leisler to surrender. Sloughter set up a special court to try Leisler. He was convicted of treason and was executed. King William III restored Dongans guarantee of a representative legislature and personal freedom (Microsoft, New York). The next important event in New Yorks history was the slave revolt of 1741. At the time nearly 20% of the population was black. The slaves were generally treated bad, and were punished harshly. In 1741 fires swept through New York and it was rumored that the slaves had started it. The arrest of 174 people, of whom 154 were slaves, led to the execution of 32 blacks and four whites (Americana, 237-238). Public services appeared around 1736. To deal with the growth of the city and the problem of poverty housing facilities were created. Soon a police force and volunteer fire department followed (Americana, 238). New York has had one of the best and oldest educational systems. In 1784 a governing body, called the board of regents, was given control of secondary and higher education. Later in 1824, and school system was established.It had school districts in each town. In 1904 the two combined to form the State Education Department. It controlled primary, secondary, and higher public education, and it supervised private schools. The board sets such things as standards for state diplomas (Microsoft, New York). On July 26, 1788, New York became the 11th state to join the United States. Since then New York has continued growing and New York City is one of the biggest cities in the United States (Americana, 23*)