Office Communication Top Ten List Entry #3 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Office Communication Top Ten List Entry #3 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog This is the third entry in our “Top 10? list for you to consider when communicating with our office and applying. Number 3 Avoid copying several parties on the same email and avoid long emails. I understand the temptation to copy four or five different parties on the same email, but most often this only leads to delays in getting a response. I know my inclination when I see four or five people copied on an email sent to me is that I am going to let someone else answer the email.   The problem?   Everyone else may think the same thing and you do not get a response. Or, I may want to check with others before sending my response and the result of one email is four or five more emails just to find out who is going to answer. Therefore I highly recommend sending your email to one recipient address.   If the person at the address is unable to assist you, rest assured it will be passed on to someone who can assist you. The second part, avoid long emails, is a tough one to explain because I know “long” is relative.   I guess the best way I can put it is that some tasks are better done in pieces or in chunks if you will.   Sometimes we get emails that are extremely long and detailed and it takes a lot of time to dig through them.   If you have multiple questions, it might not be a bad idea to try to break them up into separate emails over a short time period.   This will allow us to respond in a more efficient manner. This series of “top 10 tips” is an example of what I am talking about.   At first I was going to post a single entry with all 10 tips in it.   Then I thought about my own behavior I tend to only glance at really long emails in my personal Gmail account. If I would have put all 10 tips in one entry it probably would have taken you 15-20 minutes to read it and visit any associated links.   I came to the conclusion that it would be more effective and easier to digest if it was broken into 2-3 minute chunks. This is probably the most ambiguous tip, so use you own judgment.   There is no one answer and its is very much open to your interpretation.     I will say that sometimes people will apologize when they send more than email.   No apology necessary!   This approach might just be more effective.   On the other hand, a separate email for each and every question might be overkill.   Again, use your best judgment.

What Is Internal Energy

In chemistry and physics, internal energy (U) is defined as the total energy of a closed system.Internal energy is the sum of potential energy of the system and the systems kinetic energy. The change in internal energy (ΔU) of a reaction is equal to the heat gained or lost (enthalpy change) in a reaction when the reaction is run at constant pressure. Internal Energy of an Ideal Gas The internal energy of an ideal gas is a good approximation of a real-world system. In such as system, the particles in an ideal gas are considered to be point objects that have completely elastic collisions with each other. The real behavior of the monatomic gases (e.g., helium, argon) mirrors this model. In an ideal gas, internal energy is proportional to the number of particles of moles of a gas and its temperature: U cnT Here, U is internal energy, c is the heat capacity at constant volume, n is the number of moles, and T is the temperature. Sources Crawford, F. H. Heat, Thermodynamics, and Statistical Physics. Rupert Hart-Davis, London, Harcourt, Brace World, Inc., 1963.Lewis, Gilbert Newton, and Merle Randall. Thermodynaics, revised by Kenneth S. Pitzer and Leo Brewer, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1961.

Discrimination And The War At Appomattox Court House

Discrimination Whether we like it or not, discrimination is a problem that has been occurring for thousands of years and is one that will continue to occur for years to come. American history has seen its share of discrimination, perhaps none more evident than the mid-19th century. Political tensions between northern and southern states concerning states’ rights and slavery sent the country into turmoil. The bloodiest battle in American history soon began and the country would never be the same again. However, after the conclusion of the war at Appomattox Court House, the definition of American citizenship and personal liberties would be changed forever. Unfortunately, discrimination has continued to take place within the nation’s borders against other groups of people. Recently, discrimination against homosexual individuals has been quite an intense topic of debate. Although I do understand the logic behind people’s beliefs, it is astonishing to me that there ar e people in this world that aggressively disallow others to be who they are and live the life that they so choose to live. Persecution of others for religious or political beliefs, although understandable, is a devastating problem to the entire world. In my eyes, how can America be the land of the free and the home of the brave when citizens are unable to be free in their choices and are forced to be brave to act against these unethical doings? We have seen reforms take place to minimize discrimination throughoutShow MoreRelatedThe Legacy Of Lincoln And Andrew Johnson1017 Words   |  5 Pagesestablished. The Freedmen’s Bureau provided assistance to emancipated African Americans Abolished in 1872. The following month in April Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox court house. Joseph E Johnston’s surrenders to North Carolina on April 18th effectively ends the civil war. A week after the civil war ends President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Then Andrew Johnson the vice president becomes president. Seven Months after the 13th Amendment became ratified and the southernRead MoreRacial Discrimination Has Been A Chronic Problem854 Words   |  4 PagesOne of man kind’s most baffling imperfections is discrimination. For some reason most men cannot accept that it is okay to be different from each other and also, that being different does not make one person less than. Throughout history racial discrimination has been a chronic problem. African’s were sought after as the premium slave. Racial slavery was a global trade that lasted for hundreds of years. When America was formed slavery transferred over to the new country. In America there were supportersRead MoreThe End Of The Civil War1446 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil War, fought from 1861 thru 1865, not only divided the nation into north and south but also became the bloodiest war in American history with over 600,000 casualties. Furthermore, ties between the a lready unpopular President Abraham Lincoln and congress, to include majority of his cabinet, broke making it ever more evident the discontent of the political body with the decisions the president would make in the months leading to the end of the war. As the war came to an end and the roadRead MoreThe Divisive Politics Of Slavery2638 Words   |  11 Pagesjoin. Conflict Leads to Secession Dred Scott was a slave in possession of a slave owner who moved from Missouri to the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin and later back to Missouri. He appealed against the free court to be a free man for living in a free state but after years in court he was ruled against due to the ruling and fifth amendment which protected property, including slaves. In order for Scott to be free his slave master must have deprived him of his property. Stephen Douglass wasRead MoreAfrican Americans from 1865 to the Present2215 Words   |  9 Pagesfor many years. African Americans worked day and night, not as people but as property. The nation was very much divided in the 1860s because the south highly supported slavery while the north did not, and that division helped bring on the civil war. The war ended but that did not mean the winner got what they wanted. In 1865, The Thirteenth Amendment that outlawed slavery was submitted to the states, â€Å"AMENDMENT XIII Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment forRead MoreHow Did David Walker Stir Controversy With His Actions?2544 Words   |  11 PagesModules). David Walker was the son of a slave father and free black mother, who later got involved with and chose to associate with prominent black activists, he proceeded in Joining Organizations that rejected slavery in the South and rejected discrimination in the North. Walker would become involve with the nation’s first African American newspaper, the Freedom’s Journal, and contribute to it frequently, which would sub sequentially lead to him becoming Boston’s leading spokesman against slaveryRead MoreSlavery During The 19th Century2090 Words   |  9 Pageswere these African Americans forced to live in a society where they were looked down upon as inferiors, they were transported there through the Triangular Trade, a system that treated them like profitable merchandise. Africans who were prisoners of war, committed of petty crimes, or simply kidnapped were herded like animals into the ships against their will. Nearly 15 percent of the captured Africans died on the s hip before reaching America. Many died because of the abuse endured prior to the voyageRead MoreEssay about The Slave Trade in Colonial America4298 Words   |  18 Pagespass laws called slave codes. In general, these codes prohibited slaves from owning weapons, receiving an education, meeting one another or moving about without the permission of their masters, and testifying against white people in court. Slaves received harsher punishments for some crimes than white people. A master usually received less punishment for killing a slave than for killing a free person for the same reason. Slaves on small farms probably had more freedom thanRead MorePre-Columbian Period9302 Words   |  38 PagesEnglish settlers was the 1622 Powhatan uprising in Virginia, in which Native Americans had killed hundreds of English settlers. The largest conflict between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century was King Philips War in New England,[21] although the Yamasee War may be been bloodier.[22] The Plymouth Colony was established in 1620. The area of New England was initially settled primarily by Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630.[16] The Middle Colonies, consisting

Does Parole Work Free Essays

Does parole work? That is an important question as it relates to criminal justice and more specifically community corrections. How do we measure if parole is working? One way is to look at the recidivism rate of parolees. This policy paper will take an in depth look at this question. We will write a custom essay sample on Does Parole Work? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Also, this paper will study the current parole policy, my policy recommendations, and finally my conclusion of this problem. Parole is a very important tool for criminal justice in the United States of America. But does this tool work in reducing reoffending by released prisoners. Statement of the Problem Does parole work? One way to measure this by looking at recidivism rates by paroled prisoners who are released after serving their time. The proper question should be, does parole work in reducing recidivism rates? In the U.S. Justice System, parole is a thoughtfully used community correction option (Walker, 2015, p.288). One way to look at this is politically. The two sides are the right or Republicans and the left or Democrats. The right said that high-risk predators are let go into society and the left stated that release outcomes were based on less than scientific standards (Walker, 2015, p.288). The left’s position was formed before sentencing guidelines were established (Walker, 2015, p.288). According to Samuel Walker, parole provided valuable tools to both inmates trying to get out and prison officials trying to get compliance from inmates. Parole was also a way to combat the ever-rising population in correction institutions (Walker, 2015, p.288). According to an Urban Institute study (2009) it queried, does parole work on reducing recidivism rates of released inmates? The answer after studying the statistics is it has little to no effect on re-offending or parole violations committed by former inmates (Walker, 2015, p.289). The Urban Institute study (2009) did not say the practice of releasing prisoners early or the idea of parole was a bad idea. However, they found there is no system of community corrections that performs better than another system (Walker, 2015, p.289). According to Christopher Zoukis (author and contributor for the Huffington Post), examining statistics of greater than 25,400 ex-prisoners released home-free or on community corrections during 2005 revealed 49.3% had been rearrested within eight years of release. The study included arrests for new crimes and for violating their conditions of parole. The ex-inmates that were released in 2005 included 31.7% that were convicted and 24.7% who were incarcerated again (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-zoukis/report-documents-us-recid_b_9542312.html). The re-arrest rates for released ex-inmates (52.5%) was greater than those released on probation (35.1%). According to the study, most released or paroled individuals committed new offenses within two years of their release at an average of 21 months (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-zoukis/report-documents-us-recid_b_9542312.html). Parole was meant to reintegrate prisoners back into society as productive members of society not as an opportunity to reoffend. This creates new victims and cost tax payers millions in the mechanizations of the criminal justice system (Zoukis, 2017). Current Policy Here is the current United States Parole policy as follows: Federal prisoners serving a sentence of less than thirty years prior to November 1987 can apply for an initial parole hearing within 120 days of being incarcerated. This can happen through an application process for eligible prisoners (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). According United States Department of Justice, D.C. Code offenders get a parole hearing sometime in the nine months before they become eligible for parole. The date is determined by the Bureau of Prisons. Inmates who get parole are given a date of release based on the parole release guidelines. These guidelines have been developed to make release decisions fair for all inmates giving credence to the system used (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). Federal prisoners are entitled to interim hearings every eighteen to twenty-four months. The Parole Commission holds these hearings that are dependent upon the length of the prison term. During these hearings the Parole Commission must decide if there are enough positive or negative factors to legitimize changing the original release date (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). D.C. A review is done before the release date of each inmate. This is done to assess the prisoner’s record while incarcerated and they have met conditions of release (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). Inmates are given a decision of their parole hearings by a Notice of Action. Federal inmates can appeal any parole decision if they feel that they have been treated unfairly by the Parole Commission. This appeal will trigger a subsequent review by the National Appeals Board (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). According to the United States Department of Justice, prisoners of the federal system let out on parole or through mandatory release must report to their parole officer upon release. Paroled inmates must follow a set of rules set-up to aid in supervision and keep the public safe. D.C. offenders let go are supervised by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). If the parolee commits a new offense and/or violates the terms of their release, then the Parole Commission is contacted. The Parole Commission then puts out a warrant for the parolee’s arrest and the parolee is picked up. Finally, a hearing is called to rule on the allegations and if the parolee is found in violation of their terms of parole, they may be returned to prison to serve out the rest of their prison sentence (https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works). Why is the parole policy and procedures not alleviating the recidivism rates of offenders? The main problem is that parole makes certain assumptions or predictions when releasing offenders into community corrections. When it comes to parole, the United States Justice system has been trying to predict who will be successful on parole since the 1920’s. Experts have tried out many formulas that attempt to predict what individuals will have success on parole. They hope these predicting formulas show who is ready to re-enter our society. These experts have had little success in predicting who is ready for release. The fact is that they are no closer today then they were in the 1920’s (Walker, 2015, p.290). According to Samuel Walker, Martinson and McKenzie stated that only particular programs work for certain inmates. Matching these inmates to the program that works best for them is a shot in the dark. Even using risk prediction instruments, like in California, is no more efficient than other programs (Walker, 2015, p.290). Policy Recommendations/Action Plan My policy recommendations are three-pronged. First, after the offender is released, the government should aid in employment. This would allow the offender to become a productive member of society and they would be able to earn a living. This would save the taxpayers millions by not having to pay for further incarceration. The next prong would be helping with housing for the first six months after release. Although this would cost the taxpayers, it would still be cheaper than housing them in prisons and the cost of all the procedures in the criminal justice system. Finally, therapy specific to an offender’s needs would be beneficial for the offender and basically everyone in our society. This would help provide mental tools to aid in rehabilitation. The biggest hurdle to implementing my recommendations would be how do you pay for it? I believe this would also cause political problems. Providing funding for government programs usually does create political push back. I believe policy makers would be on board for employment and therapy. I do not believe they would support the housing. Conclusion Does the United States parole policy work? When we release offenders on parole, is there a big difference in the recidivism rates versus that of offenders serving out their full term in prison? The answer is sadly no. The problem with all community corrections is that it creates a prediction problem. As we all know, predicting human behavior is at best fifty/fifty. I do believe the policy recommendations I made would help, but it is not one-hundred percent fool proof. It all comes down to free will and free choice. Works Cited United States Department of Justice. (2015). How Parole Works. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/uspc/how-parole-works. Walker, S. (2015). Sense and nonsense about crime, drugs and communities. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Zoukis, C. (2017, December 6). Report Documents U.S. Recidivism Rates for Federal Prisoners. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-zoukis/report-documents-us-recid_b_9542312.html. How to cite Does Parole Work?, Papers

Kite runner creative free essay sample

Creative Writing The way I saw It Inspired from the book, Kite Runner By Chalked Hostels Its a hot and stuffy afternoon which didnt help with the disgusted and hurt feeling I felt inside. I never thought that I would be betrayed by my best friend Emir maybe he was scared of being hurt by Safes- I dont blame him for being afraid but I wish that he helped me that day. I was hanging up the washing when I heard a voice say, Come with me. To my surprise I turned to see Emir and I was so happy to see him, but at the back of my mind I was also curious about what he wanted to show me.I followed him to the hillside where he used to read all his stories to me. He was a talented writer and I enjoyed listening to his stories all the time. We will write a custom essay sample on Kite runner creative or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He already made It to the top of the hill, wait! I shout desperately trying to catch my breath. I finally reach the top and there Is an awkward silence between myself and Emir while we stand there looking at each other. I try to make conversation by asking how his school was and what he was learning. I am always fascinated by what he had learned at school and sometimes it made me wish that I went to school too.It is eating too hot to think of things to say to him, so I think it is best to stay quiet. We then move to sit under the pomegranate tree to cool down. However the ground is far too hot to sit on and we decide to stand under the tree. We stand there again in silence- not a word was said. I could tell that Emir wanted to say something to me but he didnt say anything. Maybe he wants to talk about what happened and that he was sorry for abandoning me with Safes. I look up to find him looking around searching for a fresh pomegranate I think he must be thirsty from this hot weather.Finding one he asks, What would you do If I hit you with this? HIS question stunned me; It Is not like him to say this. Maybe Its a Joke or a test to see how loyal I am to him. Im always loyal to Emir and would never do anything to hurt him. Without saying a word I suddenly started to feel sticky and I look down to see the fresh Juices of the fruit covering me. I freeze. Before I knew it Emir Gaga is throwing pomegranates at me one by one. I sense fear and guilt from him which made me upset. He starts to shout at me and telling me to hit him, but I didnt want o do that.His shouts got louder and I want him to stop because now my top is drenched from the Juices. The only way to get him to stop was to do something; I didnt know what to do. Suddenly the sound of his shouts began to muffle out and I find myself grabbing a fruit from the ground and I press It firmly against my forehead. Do you feel better now? I say. I run all the way back home and quickly wash up before my father sees me. It is nightfall, and I need time to think about what happened. Emir is not himself better day tomorrow, because its Emirs birthday.

101 Naysayers and Annotated Bib Professor Ramos Blog

101 Naysayers and Annotated Bib Quick Write Quick Write What is activism? What are modern protests that you can think of? Gladwell â€Å"Small Change† Malcolm Gladwell â€Å"Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted† (399) Gladwell discusses the arguments promoting social media as a key component in social activism starting in paragraph 7. He says, â€Å"The new tools of social media have reinvented social activism. With Facebook and Twitter and the like, the traditional relationship between political authority and popular will has been upended, making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate, and give a voice to their concerns.† He discusses revolutions in Moldova and Iran and quotes a former senior State Department official who believes social media can be used to fight terrorism. He  brings up these opposing views (his â€Å"they say†) after an extended description of the Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-ins. He begins to refute these views in paragraph 8. 2/2/60 Greensboro, N.C.: A group of Negro students from North Carolina AT College, who were refused service at a luncheon counter reserved for white customers, staged a sit-down strike at the F.W. Woolworth store in Greensboro 2/2. Ronald Martin, Robert Patterson and Mark Martin are shown as they stayed seated throughout the day. The white woman at left came to the counter for lunch but decided not to sit down. Sit-in participants are bullied and have food and drinks dumped on them. Chp 6 Skeptics May Object Chapter 6 introduces a different sort of â€Å"they say†: the naysayer. The naysayer, or counterargument, appears after the conversation and after you have made some points. Including what the objections might be helps you make a more thorough point and adds credibility to the writing. Be careful to treat the objection carefully and fairly. Do not present a weak argument or a simplification of it because that can lead to a number of fallacies including the Strawman fallacy. The book offers suggestions for including the Naysayer or Skeptic. Anticipate Objections Entertain Objections in your own writing. Name the Naysayers. Introduce objections formally or informally Represent Objections Fairly Answer Objections Make concessions and stand your ground. Playing the Role of Naysayer We are going to be working in small groups. Before that, answer these questions. What is the topic or thesis of your research report? Have you anticipated the naysayers? List the people who have a say in your topic. In groups, take turns stating your topic or thesis. The other members will take the role of a naysayer and give their objections to the argument and give themselves a label. Audience you are writing for: Expert Novice Peer Annotated Bibliography An annotated bib is a works cited or references page with additional information added to each citation. You begin with the correct reference citation for your sources. For this assignment we will have at least five sources. Here is a good explanation of  citations in MLA. Explanation and example of an  Annotated Bibliography  from Cornell Example 2  Annotated Bibliography  from Purdue OWL Here is the format: Author(s). â€Å"Article Title.†Ã‚  Source, vol. #, no. #, season year, pp. xx-xx.  Database,  URL. Example: Kong, Les. â€Å"Business Sources for Education Majors.†Ã‚  Education Graduate Students Journal, vol. 75, no. 4, 2014, pp. 12-19.  JSTOR, jstor.org/stable/52506788. To each entry you will add the annotation, the paragraph or two that explains the source, why you are using it, and its reliability. Each professor you will have in the future may have specific guidelines for what to include in an annotated bibliographic entry. Always follow their instructions. For this assignment, you should include: Summary of Source, 2-4 sentences How you are using it in your report, 1-3 sentences Reliability of source, 1-3 sentences In total, you should have a short paragraph, 4-10 sentences, explaining the three points above. MLA Style We will be going over the 8th edition MLA citation Style. You can look under our  resources page  for MLA or APA guides. There are three things to consider for each style guide you use: Page Formatting In-Text Citations /References Page Here is a  Power Point presentation covering MLA style 8th edition  and the recent changes. Krikorian, Mark. â€Å"Two Immigration Priorities.†Ã‚  National Review, Dec, 2016, pp. 18-20, SIRS Issues Researcher,  www.sks.sirs.com. This article goes into detail on some of the other less talked about factors of the changes in how we deal with illegal immigrants under our new president and his policies. The author is the director of the Center for Immigration Studies so I assume he is a credible expert in immigration. I will use this source to get more specific in my critique of the border wall proposal. Krikorian, Mark. â€Å"Two Immigration Priorities.†Ã‚  National Review, Dec, 2016, pp. 18-20, SIRS Issues Researcher,  www.sks.sirs.com. This article goes into detail on some of the other less talked about factors of the changes in how we deal with illegal immigrants under our new president and his policies. The author is the director of the Center for Immigration Studies so I assume he is a credible expert in immigration. I will use this source to get more specific in my critique of the border wall proposal. In total, you should have a short paragraph, 4-10 sentences, explaining the three points above. Any questions before we move on? Creating Structure There are many different ways to structure a report. Decide on the final type of report you will be writing and we can begin to outline the structure. There are as many ways to organize a report and there are types of reports. Here are some examples: Organize by date, time, or sequence Organize by magnitude or order of importance Organize by division Organize by classification Organize by position, location, or space Organize by definition Organize by comparison/contrast Organize by thesis statement Organize by genre (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia, News Report) You do not have to develop your own structure from scratch, although you can. Look at examples of the type of report you are writing to help determine the structure for your report. Example: Look at a Wikipedia entry similar to your topic. How is it structured? What order do they present information? Quick Write How are you organizing your report?

Hernando Cortez - Spanish Conquistador

Hernando Cortez - Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez was born in 1485 into a poor noble family and was educated at the University of Salamanca. He was an able and ambitious student that focused on a military career. With the stories of Christopher Columbus and the land across the Atlantic Ocean he became enamored with the idea of traveling to the territories of Spain in the new world. Cortez spent the next few years working as a minor legal official in Hispaniola before joining Diego Velazquezs expedition to conquer Cuba. Conquering Cuba In 1511 Velazquez’s conquered Cuba and was made governor of the island. Hernando Cortez was a capable officer and distinguished himself during the campaign. His efforts placed him in a favorable position with Velazquez and the governor made him clerk of the treasury. Cortez continued to distinguish himself and became a secretary to Governor Velazquez. During the next few years, he also became a capable administrator in his own right with responsibility for the second largest settlement on the island, the garrison town of Santiago. Expedition to Mexico In 1518, Governor Velazquez decided to give Hernando the coveted position of commander of the third expedition to Mexico. His charter gave him the authority to explore and secure the interior of Mexico for later colonization. However, the relationship between Cortez and Velazquez had chilled over a preceding couple of years. This was the result of the very common jealousy that existed between conquistadors in the new world. As ambitious men, they were continually jockeying for position and were concerned with anyone becoming a potential rival. Despite marrying the sister-in-law of Governor Velazquez, Catalina Juarez the tension still existed. Interestingly, right before Cortez set sail his charter was revoked by Governor Velazquez. Cortez ignored the communication and left on the expedition anyway. Hernando Cortez used his skills as a diplomat to gain native allies and his military leadership to secure a foothold at Veracruz. He made this new town his base of operations. In a severe tactic to motivate his men, he burned the ships making it impossible for them to return to Hispaniola or Cuba. Cortez continued to use a combination of force and diplomacy to work his way toward the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. In 1519, Hernando Cortez entered the capital city with a mixed force of disgruntled Aztecs and his own men for a meeting with Montezuma II the emperor of the Aztecs. He was received as a guest of the emperor. However, the possible reasons for being received as guest vary wildly. Some have reported that Montezuma II allowed him into the capital to study his weakness with an eye to crushing the Spaniards later. While other reasons given relate to the Aztecs viewing Montezuma as an incarnation of their god Quetzalcoatl. Hernando Cortez, despite entering the city as a guest feared a trap and took Montezuma prisoner and began to rule the kingdom through him. Meanwhile, Governor Velazquez sent another expedition to bring Hernando Cortes back under control. This forced Cortez to leave the capital to defeat this new threat. He was able to defeat the larger Spanish force and force the surviving soldiers to join his cause. While away the Aztec’s rebelled and forced Cortez to recapture the city. Cortez with the use of a bloody campaign and a siege lasting eight months was able to retake the capital. He renamed the capital to Mexico City and installed himself absolute ruler of the new province. Hernando Cortez had become a very powerful man in the new world. News of his accomplishments and power has reached Charles V of Spain. The intrigues of the court began to work against Cortez and Charles V was convinced that his valued conquistador in Mexico might set up his own kingdom. Despite repeated assurances from Cortez, he was eventually forced to return to Spain and plead his case and ensure his loyalty. Hernando Cortez traveled with a valuable horde of treasure as gifts for the king to demonstrate his loyalty. Charles V was suitably impressed and decided that Cortez was indeed a loyal subject. Cortez was not awarded the valuable position of Governor of Mexico. He was actually given lower titles and land in the new world. Cortez returned to his estates outside Mexico City in 1530. Final Years of Hernando Cortez The next years of his life were spent quarreling over rights to explore new lands for the crown and legal troubles related to debts and abuses of power. He spent a significant portion of his own money to finance these expeditions. He explored the Baja peninsula of California and afterward made a second trip to Spain. By this time he had fallen out of favor in Spain again and could barely even gain an audience with the king of Spain. His legal troubles continued to plague him, and he died in Spain in 1547.