we underestimate one of Googles most useful tools when it comes to job search Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free!

we underestimate one of Google’s most useful tools when it comes to job search Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free! Im grateful to have colleagues who know about things where I do not have particular expertise. Google Alerts is one of those things! Google Alerts are valuable for job seekers and business owners alike. Heres a great guide on how to use them! Guest post by Susan P. Joyce For most of us, Google has become an integral part of our lives. We use it to find the closest gas station, the best cranberry sauce recipe, the correct spelling for antidisestablishmentarianism, and hundreds of other things every day. And yet we underestimate one of Google’s most useful tools when it comes to job search: Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free! What Are Google Alerts and How Do You Set Them Up? Google Alerts are queries that you design, and that Google runs automatically once you set them up. You receive an email for each alert, with any new content Google has found since the last time it sent you a report. As long as you stay within Google’s 1000-alert limit, you can add, delete, or modify alerts any time you choose. Google offers detailed advice for you on how to set up Google Alerts. Here are some easy basics: Simply go to google.com/alerts, and type in your query and your email address. Once you have entered your query, you can specify the source (web, news, blogs, etc.), language, and region/country. Often, the default settings are fine. If the “Alert preview” shows you the content you want, enter your email address, click on the “Create Alert” button, and you are done. Sit back and eagerly await your reports! Benefits of Using Google Alerts in Your Job Search Spending the time and energy to set up Google Alerts carefully will pay off both now and in the future. If you are a job seeker, you can use Alerts to find the best new job and employer for you and keep your online visibility as positive as possible. Google Alerts may help you with key job search activities: Expanding your personal and professional networks. Finding jobs and other professional opportunities. Researching companies to prepare for job interviews. Gathering information about your industry and/or profession. Learn which employers (and people) to avoid. Think you’d remember to run searches on all these topics every day? Think again. Instead, let Google Alerts do the work for you. The Google “early warning” will help you stay up-to-date and, hopefully, ahead of your competition. To get the benefit of Google Alerts, of course you must actually open and read them on a daily (or at a minimum, weekly) basis. Don’t let this precious information get stale! Google Alerts for Job Search â€" The Breakdown Here’s how to use Google Alerts for some of your most important job search activities. 1. Monitor your online reputation. The Google results associated with your name, even if it isn’t really you, will likely be seen by your network members, as well as by recruiters and potential employers. You can’t afford not to know what Google is showing when people search on your name! While some say that Googling your own name is “ego surfing” or “vanity Googling,” I prefer to call it “Defensive Googling.” So, set up Google alerts on various forms of your name, particularly the one you use most often professionally. Be on the lookout for something “bad” â€" trashy comments in social media, report of a drunk-driving arrest, or any unsavory or unprofessional activity. Then, do your best to distance yourself from that person and situation, including, potentially, sending out a message to recruiters you are working with or your friends in a professional group, carefully explaining that you are not that person. If you want help with researching and managing your online reputation, you might want to check out brandyourself.com. 2. Monitor your target employers. Hopefully, you have a list of specific employers that interest you. You know people who work there, or you are a fan of their products and services, or they are the largest employer in the area. Set up a Google Alert based on each company name. Add additional employers as you find good candidates. Pay attention to the names of senior executives brand names of products and services names of major business partners company location …and consider adding those names as new alerts. Then, when you receive an alert about a person or company that is relevant or interesting, consider reaching out to someoneâ€"for instance, congratulate them on a new award or contract, or ask about the reorganization at their company. 3. Stay up-to-date with your network. Knowing what is happening with old friends and former colleagues can help you strengthen your personal network. Even simple actions, like a short email when a connection receives recognition, becomes a parent, or has some good (or even bad) news, will make a difference. Set up Google Alerts for the favorite names in your network to learn about interesting things happening in their lives. 4. Keep current with your industry or profession. Thinking you have nothing more to learn about your profession can be the beginning of the end for your career, while staying abreast of events and trends in your industry is essential to moving your career forward. So, use Google Alerts to monitor things like emerging technology, major employers, thought leaders, and even national conferences or local professional gatherings. Google Alerts will keep you relevant if you play your cards right! Bottom Line Google has provided us with a very handy tool in Google Alerts. If you’re not using it, you’re missing out on a great resource for your job search. If you’re using Google Alerts already and getting value, or if you start using them after reading this article, please share about your experience! Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a former Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Susan edits and publishes Job-Hunt.org and writes WorkCoachCafe.com.

Decker Surname Origin and Family History

The  Decker surname most commonly originated as an occupational surname for a roofer or thatcher, derived from the Old High German word decker, meaning one who covered roofs with tile, straw or slate. The meaning of the word expanded during the Middle Ages to encompass carpenters and other craftsman and was used to refer to one who built or laid the decks of vessels.  The popular Dutch surname Dekker has the same meaning, derived from the Middle Dutch  deck(e)re, from  decken, meaning to cover. The Decker surname may also derive from the German decher, meaning the quantity of ten; this may also have been a name given to the tenth child. Alternate Surname Spellings: DEKER, DECKER, DECHER, DECKARD, DECHARD, DEKKER, DEKKES, DEKK, DECK, DECKERT Surname Origin: German, Dutch Where in the World Is the Decker Surname Found? According to World Names PublicProfiler, the Decker surname is the most commonly found, based on percentage of population, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is also a very popular surname in the countries of Luxembourg and Germany. The Forbears surname distribution map for 2014 identifies the Decker surname as being very popular in Sierra Leone, based on frequency distribution. Famous People With the Decker Surname Jessie James Decker -  American country pop singer-songwriter and reality T.V. personalityEric Decker - American National League Football wide receiverDesmond Dekker - Jamaican  singer-songwriter and musicianThomas Dekker -  English  dramatist and pamphlet writer Genealogy Resources for the Surname DECKER Decker Family Genealogy Forum — Search this popular genealogy forum for the Decker surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Decker surname query.FamilySearch - DECKER Genealogy — Explore over 1.3 million results, including digitized records, database entries, and online family trees for the Decker surname and its variations on the FREE FamilySearch website, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet - Decker Records — GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Decker surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.Ancestry.com: Decker  Surname — Explore over 2.4  million digitized records and database entries, including census records, passenger lists, military records, land deeds, probates, wills and other records for the Decker surname on the subscription-based website, Ancestry.com Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Theme Of Punishment In Dantes Inferno - 925 Words

In many classic works of literature, heroes venture to the depths of hell. Hell is a place found in literature of all kinds. Why is hell such a common theme found in several literary works? A majority of people believe that there is some kind of hell, and that hell is a form of punishment for things done on Earth after death. Dante Alighieri of Florence in the 1300s created modern society’s viewpoint on hell. He wrote his Divine Comedy, which consisted of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. In The Inferno, Dante discusses Dante the Pilgrim’s journey through the Underworld in order to reach Heaven. A leopard, lion, and she-wolf block Dante’s way to Heaven, so he follows the poet Virgil through hell in order to reach Heaven. Deborah Parker†¦show more content†¦The lustful are found towards the top of Dante’s funnel-like hell, meaning this sin is not as bad as the heretics or murderers. Dante did not consider this a horrible sin because everyone lusts , but the ones that followed their desire were trapped here in the second circle of hell. The seducers in Dante’s Inferno are found in the first Bolgia of the eighth circle of hell. There are only nine circles in Dante’s Inferno, so the shades found in circle eight have committed great sins. The eighth circle is divided into ten bolgia, or ditches. The seducers and panderers are found in the first ditch, above the hypocrites, thieves, etc. Dante describes their punishment by stating, â€Å"I saw horned demons with enormous lashes move through those souls, scourging them on the back,†(159). These shades must run from side to side, all-the-while trying to escape the horned demons that whip them. The souls found in this ditch traded women for their own betterment, so in essence, in death, the panderers are slaves. This punishment is found in Canto 18. Scholar Barolini mentions, â€Å"Inferno 18 is unusually crowded and depicts three groups of sinners, who are divi ded into two bolge. The first bolgia contains two related groups of sinners, both engaged in sexualized sin involving the traffic of women: the pimps and the seducers.†(Barolini). These people sold women and children into slavery, so in eternity, the panderers and seducers will be treated like slaves. One of the worst punishmentsShow MoreRelatedDantes Voyage Through Hell1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Inferno was written by Dante Alighieri around 1314 and depicts the poet’s imaginary journey through Hell. Dante spent his life traveling from court to court both lecturing and writing down his experiences. His Divine Comedy – the three-part epic poem consisting of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso (Hell, Purgatory and Heaven)– is generally regarded as one of the greatest poetic feats ever accomplished. All three parts are incredible literary feats with symbolism so complex and beautiful thatRead MoreThe Inferno And The Systems Theory1220 Words   |  5 Pages Dante’s Inferno is an allegorical tale that reflects a tumultuous time in Florence. The Inferno reflects the common thinking of religion and Christianity at the time and through examination of both the Inferno and the systems theory, a better understanding of life in Florence, at that time, can be better comprehended. The systems theory is a model that explores the intertwined aspects of a given civilization. Dante’s Inferno details aspects of the systems theory that can be used to better understandRead MoreDante Alighieri s Inferno, And The Book Of Revelation1584 Words   |  7 PagesDante Alighieri’s epic poem, Inferno, and the Book of Revelation as told by John in the Bible each regale the natural curiosity of humans involving manifestations of endings and possibilities of new beginnings in the afterlife. The purpose of informing God’s people of these manifestations and possibilities is mutual and key to the preparedness of humans for life after dea th. Still, justice is surely delivered appropriately in Inferno and Revelation, due to God’s brilliant arrangements. DivergenceRead MoreAnalysis of Dante ´s Inferno Essay1606 Words   |  7 PagesDante’s Inferno is a very important piece of literature. There are many things to be learned from it, from the face value knowledge that Hell is a bad place, to a deeper understanding of how God intended us to live; but the most important lesson to be learned here is the power of allegory. Nancy Thuleen says this about it. â€Å"Dantes portrayal of Hell in the Inferno is an undisputed masterpiece of visual and allegorical imagery, enriched not only by extensive use of figurative language, but by concreteRead MoreEssay about Dante’s Version of Hell859 Words   |  4 PagesIn Dante’s Inferno, we followed Dante as he narrates his decent and observations of hell. A wonderful part of that depiction is his descriptions of the creative yet cruel punishments that e ach of the different sinners receive. This story is an integral part of literary history, and even if I were to have the imagination and ability of Dante Alighieri, I don’t believe I would change this tried and true version known universally. Since I have the desire to maintain the validity of Dante’s versionRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Inferno And Thomas More s Satirical Dialogue `` Utopia ``1366 Words   |  6 Pagessetting, characters, and theme.. Dante’s Inferno and Thomas More’s Utopia are perfect examples of the use of irony as they utilized the various techniques throughout their stories. There are a plethora of accounts where irony is apparent, including the sceneries, dialogue, and titles that are portrayed in their work. This essay will examine and compare the uses of irony in Dante Alighieri’s narrative poem, Inferno and Thomas More’s satirical dialogue, Utopia. Dante’s Inferno describes distinctiveRead MoreInside Inferno by Dante Alighieri: A Story within a Story1178 Words   |  5 PagesInferno is only a piece of a much larger story written by Dante Alighieri. The entire story is called the Divine Comedy, which is composed of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Together these three pieces tell the story of Dantes journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise; something that is easily discernible through reading the titles of each part. Dante wrote these poems somewhere around the year 1300. Originally written in what Dante referred to as Latin, there have been many different translationsRead MoreJudaism, Christianity, Islam, and Dante ´s: What Are We? Essay817 Words   |  4 Pages Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Dante’s: What are we? The Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieris epic three-part poem, The Divine Comedy. In this poem, Dante develops many themes throughout the adventures of his travelers from political to religious. The Inferno is a poem that Dante used to explain and show his ideas of Gods divine justice. Throughout this story religion comes up and shows the comparison of the different Hells and beliefs. This paper develops the connectionsRead MoreAnalysis Of Dante Alighieri s Inferno 1556 Words   |  7 PagesThe title of the reading that I chose to do a literary analysis on is Inferno by Dante Alighieri. What was this book about and what message does this particular ancient poem aim to explain? This epic poem was written in the fourteenth century and there were a lot of commentary involved in the story itself. Dante’s Inferno is widely seen as one of the greatest epics to ever grace textbooks. The text itself throughout this story speaks much to the concept of life and death an d what the afterlife isRead MoreDantes Inferno and the Garden of Earthly Delights1252 Words   |  6 PagesThe Garden of Earthly Delights painted by Hieronymus Bosch, depicts many vivid fictional scenes in triptych style. The right wing of the triptych depicts Hell and the causes of mans downfall, which Dante wrote about in the Inferno. Dante tries to convey to all humanity the consequences of human actions and the levels of hell that he believes exist for different levels of sins. Dante divides Hell up into ten different circles, and there is an upper and a lower level of Hell. Dante and Bosch have

Analysis and Application Free Essays

1. Did Officer Smith have reasonable suspicion to make the initial stop of this vehicle? Reasonable suspicion is based on the understanding of circumstances of a person experienced in the field of criminal law. Another way of putting it is a criminal justice professional acting on more than a hunch but less than probable cause [ (quiz law) ]. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis and Application or any similar topic only for you Order Now Based on the definition of reasonable suspicion, Officer Smith did in fact have reasonable suspicion to make an initial stop of the vehicle because not only was a tail light broken which is a traffic law violation but the vehicle matched a general description of the vehicle that was suspected in the roadside killing of another Police Officer. 2. Was the â€Å"pat-down† of the driver legal?  A â€Å"Pat Down† is a quick search of a person’s being in order to determine if any weapons are present. A â€Å"Pat Down† is necessary to ensure the safety of the law enforcement agent and other civilians [ (Kiefer, 2009) ]. According to the case Arizona V. Johnson Officer Smith’s pat down of the driver was legal. Since the description of the car was the same as car used to kill other officer, Officer Smith had reason to fear for his life, therefore had the right to check or weapons. 3. Did exigent circumstances exist for Officer Smith to give chase to this vehicle? Exigent Circumstances means emergency conditions. Circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe that any relevant prompt action was necessary to prevent physical harm to the officers or civilians, the destruction of relevant evidence, the escape of a suspect, or some other consequence improperly frustrating legitimate law enforcement efforts (The lectric law library, 1995-2011). According to cased United States V. McConney (United States V. McConney, 1984), Exigent circumstances did exist for Officer Smith to Chase the vehicle in question because the driver obstructed justice by not providing the officer with her license and registration. Also the driver unusual action of speeding off before the stop came to an end also gave Officer Smith reason to give chase to the vehicle. 4. Was the gun in â€Å"plain view† and legally obtained?  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Plain View† authorizes seizure of illegal evidence visible to a police officer if the officer’s access to the object has a Fourth Amendment justification [ (Cliff Roberson, 2007) ]. According to the plain view doctrine the gun was in plain view because he could see if without physically moving anything or opening anything, but not legally obtained because she was not able to consent to the search of her car due to her being injured in an accident stemming from the chase. 5. Will the marijuana baggie be admissible evidence?  The marijuana will not be admissible in court unless the driver is found to be under the influence of the substance at time of accident because the previous exigent circumstances and reasonable suspicion would be deemed irrelevant due to the fact that the original reason for the stop which was the broken tail light was not in fact broken making the stop improper. Without the stop the officer would not have recognized that the vehicle fitted the description of suspect vehicle and Officer Smith would not have patted down the driver or asked for the driver’s license or registration, which in turn the driver would not have sped off inviting a chase from Officer Smith. Basically, with the reasonable suspicion and exigent circumstances the evidence found is irrelevant. How to cite Analysis and Application, Essay examples

Jhumpa Lahari The Namesake Essay Example

Jhumpa Lahari The Namesake Essay â€Å"The Namesake† by Jhumpa Lahari is book about the family of Bengali that has to move to a new place that has different customs than they were born with. The story is mostly about Gogol (which later changes his name into Nikhil). The theme of the story mostly centered on family. How the relationship between Ashima and Ashoke is? How the relationship between the children and the parents? This family is one of a kind. They all love each other even they are different from each other. This quote, †Being rescued from that shattered train had been the first miracle of his life. But here, now, reposing in his arms, weighing next to nothing but changing everything is the second.†(pg 24) ,explain how the mother was feeling ecstatic when her first son was born and relate it to being â€Å"rescued† from a train wreck. Ashoke is ready for the great blessing that will change her life. Ever since she came to America she had been out of sorts. She is not able to adapt easily with American customs. That’s why she consider her life a â€Å"train-wreck†. But now, she noticed that a very good thing came out of it. â€Å"For the sake of Gogol and Sonia they celebrate, with progressively increasing fanfare, the birth of Christ, an event the children look forward to far more than the worship of Durga and Saraswati.†(p.64) Proves that Ashoke and Ashima love their children and able to adapt to American customs like Christmas for their children, so their children can feel comfortable at where they live. â€Å"Ashoke wonders how closely Gogol resembles himself at this age. But there are no photographs to document Ashokes childhood; not until his passport, not until his life in America, does visual documentation exist.† (p.77) Shows that Ashoke loves Gogol but wants to show him that he was once like his father but Ashoke has no proof to show him, only in his memories. So it was hard to connect with one another. â€Å"He didnt want to go home on the weekends, We will write a custom essay sample on Jhumpa Lahari The Namesake specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Jhumpa Lahari The Namesake specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Jhumpa Lahari The Namesake specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Racial discrimination in US

Racial discrimination in US In discussions that touch on race relations, understanding what is meant by specific terms is important. Race implies that the origin of human beings is common and that they originate from a common species. As a result, human beings are equal and any variations in what they achieve are based on economic, geographical, social, historical and cultural factors.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Racial discrimination in US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Racism is described as any attitude or deed done either consciously or unconsciously with the intentions of subordinating individuals or groups on the basis of race or the color of their skin. It can be perpetrated institutionally or at an individual level. Racial discrimination is therefore the act of treating an individual or groups of individuals on the basis of their race. Power is critical in racial discrimination because the practice relies on the capacity to withho ld or deny facilities, opportunities, social benefits and services that individuals are entitled to. Racial discrimination is a problem that has existed in the US for many years. The victims of the practice have always been the colored communities who include Native Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans. The practice has caused these groups of people to suffer by being denied privileges and opportunities they deserve. There are many factors that have been contributing towards the practice both from within the communities and outside. The first factor is competition for resources. Due to the large number of members of the communities in the US, competition for the scarce resources has been stiff. As a result, some communities have been discriminating against the colored individuals in order to deny them opportunities and privileges. The second factor that leads to racial discrimination in the US is historic prejudice. Prejudice is the prior judging of individuals or formin g wrong opinions about them without full knowledge about them or understanding them fully. In the US, there has always been prejudice against the colored population. These individuals have been discriminated on the basis of their color without trying to understand them and what they are capable of doing. This racial discrimination has caused them to suffer as a result of being denied privileges enjoyed by other Americans.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The third factor that has been encouraging racial discrimination is the need for certain groups of people to dominate the colored population and make them less influential. Domination over them has been associated with social, economic and political benefits for the dominant groups. This has caused the religious and spiritual traditions among the communities to take the issue seriously hence they have been looking for ways of re ducing it. Religion has been a powerful way of dealing with racial discrimination because it has been influencing many people In a bid to deal with the problem, religious bodies in the US have been campaigning for the need to treat colored communities equally. One of the ways through which they have been conducting the campaigns has been through educating members of the particular communities the need to co-exist as brothers and sisters without discriminating one another. In order to fight discrimination from the other individuals, it has been important for them to counter the practice from within. They have been able to do this by agitating for their rights through different channels including the media. In addition, there are government policies that have been guaranteeing all citizens regardless of their color the privilege to enjoy the rights enjoyed by the rest of the citizens. By doing this, they have been able to reduce racial discrimination to a great extent. Reference Jaime s, A. (1992). The State of Native America: genocide, colonization, and resistance. New York: south End Press.

Causes of the Mexican-American War

Causes of the Mexican-American War The origins of the Mexican-American War can largely be traced back to Texas winning its independence from Mexico in 1836. Following his defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto (4/21/1836), Mexican General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna was captured and forced to recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Texas in exchange for his freedom. The Mexican government, however, refused to honor Santa Anna’s agreement, stating that he was not authorized to make such a deal and that it still considered Texas a province in rebellion. Any thoughts the Mexican government had of recovering the territory quickly were eliminated when the new Republic of Texas received diplomatic recognition from the United States, Great Britain, and France. Statehood During the next nine years, many Texans openly favored annexation by the United States, however, Washington rejected the issue. Many in the North were concerned about adding another â€Å"slave† state to the Union, while others were concerned about provoking a conflict with Mexico. In 1844, Democrat James K. Polk was elected to the presidency on a pro-annexation platform. Acting quickly, his predecessor, John Tyler, initiated statehood proceedings in Congress before Polk took office. Texas officially joined the Union on December 29, 1845. In response to this action, Mexico threatened war but was persuaded against it by the British and French. Tensions Rise As annexation was debated in Washington in 1845, controversy escalated over the location of the southern border of Texas. The Republic of Texas stated that border was situated at the Rio Grande as set forth by the Treaties of Velasco which had ended the Texas Revolution. Mexico argued that the river stipulated in the documents was the Nueces which was located approximately 150 miles further north. When Polk publicly supported the Texan position, the Mexicans began assembling men and sent troops over the Rio Grande into the disputed territory.   Responding, Polk directed Brigadier General Zachary Taylor to take a force south to enforce the Rio Grande as the border. In mid-1845, he established a base for his Army of Occupation at Corpus Christi near the mouth of the Nueces. In an effort to reduce tensions, Polk dispatched John Slidell as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico in November 1845 with orders to open talks regarding the United States purchasing land from the Mexicans. Specifically, Slidell was to offer up to $30 million in exchange for locating the border at the Rio Grande as well as the territories of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico and Alta California. Slidell was also authorized to forgive the $3 million in damages owed to US citizens from the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821). This offer was refused by the Mexican government which due to internal instability and public pressure was unwilling to negotiate. The situation was further inflamed when a party led by noted explorer Captain John C. Frà ©mont arrived in northern California and began agitating American settlers in the region against the Mexican government.     Ã‚         Thornton Affair War In March 1846, Taylor received orders from Polk to move south into the disputed territory and establish a position along the Rio Grande. This was prompted by new Mexican President Mariano Paredes declaring in his inaugural address that he intended to uphold Mexican territorial integrity as far as the Sabine River, including all of Texas. Reaching the river opposite Matamoros on March 28, Taylor directed Captain Joseph K. Mansfield to build an earthen star fort, dubbed Fort Texas, on the north bank. On April 24, General Mariano Arista arrived in Matamoros with around 5,000 men.  Ã‚   The following evening, while leading 70 US Dragoons to investigate a hacienda in the disputed territory between the rivers, Captain Seth Thornton stumbled upon a force of 2,000 Mexican soldiers. A fierce firefight ensued and 16 of Thornton’s men were killed before the remainder was forced to surrender. On May 11, 1846, Polk, citing the Thornton Affair asked Congress to declare war on Mexico. After two days of debate, Congress voted for war- not knowing that the conflict had already escalated.