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What did the Pentagon Papers reveal?

In 1967, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara decided that a comprehensive analysis of the United States' involvement in Vietnam after 1945 was needed to help relieve his frustration over the war, according to the University of Virginia. The resulting document was approximately 7,000 pages long and chronicled the involvement of the United States in Vietnam from the end of World War II until the end of the 1968 Tet Offensive, according to the University of Virginia. Parts of the Pentagon Papers were leaked to the press by Daniel Ellsberg, one of the analyst who had helped create the rep..

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What are some facts about World War I?

Before World War I began, various countries had treaties in place that required them to join the battle once an ally was attacked. Before World War I started, exiting alliances included Japan and Britain, Russia and France, Germany and Austria-Hungary, and Russia and Serbia. Britain, France and Belgium were also allies.\nThe desire to take over other global territories, such as those in parts of Asia and Africa, contributed to World War I. Some countries were competing for the resources available in these places. Competition for military power and weapon technology also contributed to World Wa..

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What are some important facts about Ghana's history?

In its early years as the Kingdom of Ghana, Ghana was a powerful force in Africa for centuries. It extended throughout large regions of northern Africa, though not to the modern area of Ghana. This came to an end in the 13th century when the Kingdom of Melle conquered Ghana, causing the land to fragment as members of the conquered kingdom migrated or became slaves.\nEuropeans arrived in large numbers in the 15th century, starting with the Portuguese in 1471. The Danish, the final Europeans to come to Ghana, arrived in 1650. The slave trade at this point was already in full force with England, ..

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How did people communicate in the 1700s?

Letters, prior to the postal system, were typically sent with friends, servants, acquaintances, slaves or travelers. Sending a letter 100 miles away took as long as two weeks. Many times, multiple letters were sent out with multiple carriers to increase the chance that at least one copy made it to its final destination.\nBenjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737 and Postmaster of the United States in 1775. He worked to help organize and produce a working postal system, with offices centered around major intersections with large amounts of traffic. Senders were charged ..

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When were planes invented?

The Wright brothers were always working on different mechanical projects and closely followed the research of a German aviator called Otto Lilienthal. When Lilienthal died in a crash, the brothers decided to start their own plane project. Wilbur and Orville moved to Kitty Hawk, to start their project. When they succeeded in flying the plane, the people did not believe their success. Therefore, in 1908, Wilbur moved to Europe where he hoped to have much success in convincing the public about their invention.

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What religion did Henry VII have?

Henry VII was the last king of England who ruled all of his reign as a Roman Catholic. Henry VII's second son and heir, Henry VIII, goes on to break the country away from the Catholic Church and establish the Church of England in response to the Pope's refusal to grant an annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

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Which technological innovations changed the way war is fought?

The advent of the stirrup allowed for heavier armament and greater control while riding horses in combat. The stirrup’s introduction on the battlefield revolutionized warfare and was a major factor in the creation of the warrior classes in eastern and western cultures. The stirrup dates back to the fourth century A.D. in China and the eighth century in Europe.\nThe advent of the mechanical engine mechanized warfare in the 19th and 20th centuries. The steam engine made possible iron-hulled naval warships and railroads. The United States developed the first iron warship, USS Michigan, in 1844...

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Who was the last Civil War veteran?

Three people who died after Albert Woolson claimed to be Confederate veterans, but in all three cases, the claims were not substantiated. Walter Washington Williams, who died in 1959, claimed to be the last surviving veteran, but surviving census records suggest he was 8 years old at the close of the war, making it unlikely that he ever served.

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How did the Wright brothers change the world?

The Wright brothers owned a bike shop in Dayton, Ohio, before making strides in aviation. They began testing both manned and unmanned gliders, and on Dec. 17, 1903, they had their first successful flights. The first flight lasted only 12 seconds, and the plane only travelled 120 feet. However, the next test flight lasted 59 seconds, and Wilbur was able to pilot the biplane 892 feet. Numerous improvements over the next five years sparked the military to sign a contract with the Wright brothers to begin the building of the first military aircraft.\nOne of the most important technological contrib..

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What did Abraham Lincoln do?

In 1834, Abraham Lincoln was elected to the 30th Illinois Congress, representing the Whig Party. During this time, he studied law and served as a surveyor to make ends meet. In 1837, while still serving in Congress, he opened his own law practice in Springfield, Ill. He declined re-election in 1840, opting to focus on his career as a lawyer. Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1846, Lincoln served only one term before leaving office in 1849. Lincoln was also a gifted orator. During his tenure as president, he delivered the Gettysburg Address on the grounds of the infamous battlefield in November o..

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