David Koresh and the Siege on Waco
Research Paper: Each student will write a 3 page research paper over a topic in US History from 1877 - 2008 this paper should be in a research paper format and NO LESS than 3 pages, a works cited page should be included. Follow MLA formatting guidelines, including citations and a works cited page. Paper must be double spaced Times New Roman font, 12 point. Please review rubric for grading criteria. Before you write your paper, post your topic in the appropriate discussion board. This is to make sure you choose a topic that falls into the scope of this class. If you do not post in the discussion board and get your topic approved you risk receiving a zero for the paper. You must use at least 3 college level academic sources. . No textbooks can be used for this paper.Please leave out opinion-marking terms like, "I think" or "In my opinion."
My research paper topic is David Koresh and the siege on Waco.
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David Koresh and the Siege on Waco
Historical accounts offer outstanding education by providing awareness and a sense of the development of varying societies, systems, and values. Regarding David Koresh and Waco Siege, a researcher evaluating the events that took place would question tactics that this individual utilized to gain such a committed following and the factors that led to the high loss of life. This review of the historical account informs the modern world of the danger that people could be misguided through the spread of extreme ideologies and finds that the FBI officers were resilient enough to prevent the siege from blowing out of proportion.
David Koresh was born in 1959. He never met his father until he became a teenager, and his mother left him with his grandparents during his early days. David Koresh spent most of his early years lonely, studying the Bible and playing musical instruments. This life played a crucial role in igniting a massive obsession for Koresh. For instance, he memorized and interpreted the New Testament. Unfortunately, he was fired from the church after telling the pastor that God had instructed Koresh to marry his 12-year-old daughter.
His life ended during the FBI's efforts to capture him and dismantle the growing sect. The 33-year-old man became a cult leader in his early years (Palmer 143). This individual was crucial in 1993's Waco siege (Wright 60). He devised a religious sect called Branch Davidians, an offshoot of the Seventh-Day Adventists. Making himself the Messiah, the person claimed to be the sect's final prophet. Various followers were attracted to Koresh's interpretations of the Seven Seals and the Book of Revelation. His charismatic hold allowed this man to take extreme liberties with members of his denomination. For example, Koresh told his followers what to think, where to sleep, where to work, and what to eat. As a self-proclaimed prophet whom God had sent, Koresh convinced these people on how they should lead their lives. Moreover, Koresh degraded Steve Schneider by discussing the sexual experience he had with his wife, Judy. Schneider would never become angry or confront him because he strongly believed in Koresh.
Due to the great control that Koresh held over his followers, they were ready to stay inside the compound inside the compound. This argument is true as several telephone conversations were made with people inside the compound refusing to come out. Around 50 people, in telephone conversations, informed the negotiators about their willingness to stay with Koresh in the compound (U.S. Department of Justice n.p). Koresh and his follower showed their hatred for the ATF by ambuscading the agents that came on February 28 with a genuine search and arrest warrant. The ATF raid reinforced Koresh's status as the head of his followers since their perception agreed with Koresh's earlier expectation of confrontation. After the raid, Koresh progressed, giving his preaching about the standoff with the FBI an extension of the catastrophic battle between the federal government and the Davidians. Koresh desired law enforcement during some of the conversations. During the discussion, he also made several threats, such as the threat to blow the FBI's armored vehicles into the air and ignite World War III and the threat to shoot FBI agents if they attempted something pointless.
Before the siege, allegations of Koresh's involvement in several misconduct behaviors spread. For example, some of his former Branch Davidian associates accused him of child sexual abuse and polygamy. Specifically, allegations of stockpiling of weapons attracted the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). The ATF initiated investigations of Koresh and his followers' actions. In 1993, the confirmation of these allegations later led to the involvement of the FBI, who launched a raid on the members' Mount Carmel compound (Dawes 54). The move led to a 51-day standoff between the group's members and the FBI officers.
Evidence regarding a plan for mass suicide exists (Dennis n.p.). For example, although the FBI officers did not fire any bullets at the compound, many cult members who died during the siege had bullet wounds. The leader, David Koresh, was shot in the forehead. Children who were in the building also had bullet wounds. However, it is unclear whether the decision to end their lives was unanimous or whether a few people held some cult members against their will. One would guess that the extremist members shot some people to prevent them from escaping. As a result, 70 followers of David Koresh die during the raid (Palmer 145). Analysts argue that the resid...
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