"Crossing the Rubicon" is a popular expression that means to go past a point of no return by doing an action so powerful that it is irreversible. It is believed that the phrase originated when Julius Caesar took his armies past the Rubicon Barrier that no general had ever crossed, and marched on to Rome. This was considered an act of war that solidified his power and changed the world forever.

Think of a fateful decision that someone has made that has had a significant and irreversible impact on the world. What was this decision and what was its short-term and long-term impact?

Write an essay explaining the fateful decision you have chosen and why it would be considered "Crossing the Rubicon." Be sure to include specific details and examples to support your response.

Develop a response that includes examples and evidence to support your ideas, and which clearly communicates the required message to your audience. Organize your response in a clear and logical manner as appropriate for the genre of writing. Use well-structured sentences, audience-appropriate language, and correct conventions of standard American English.