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How many people survived the Titanic?

About an hour after the Titanic struck an iceberg, the captain ordered an evacuation. The process did not go smoothly. The first lifeboat was only about half full when it was launched. This problem was repeated with most of the remaining dinghies. Although tradition mandated that women and children were to be rescued first, many of them were left behind because the evacuation was so disorganized. The ship sank about three hours after the initial incident.

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What were some leisure activities of the 1920s?

The 1920s are remembered as the "Jazz Age," when Prohibition was in effect and flappers wearing short skirts danced in speakeasies. Both adults and children had more free time due to reduced work hours, better pay and a reduction in child labor. Many spent evenings listening to news and entertaining programs on the radio. Families spent money on garden supplies, newspapers, concerts and sports equipment. Children played with magic lanterns, gyroscopes and Tinker Toys.\nMovies were very popular with people in every class. Many neighborhoods had an elaborately decorated movie house. Stars such a..

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How are the Boer Wars summarized in history?

The first Boer War began as a result of the Boer republic Transvaal rebelling against British annexation in 1877. Over a 10-year period starting in 1835, people of largely Dutch descent moved from British-colonized Cape Town to the interior of Africa and started two republics: the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, named after the Orange and Vaal Rivers. The people were farmers, or boers.\nWhen the British made it known that an attempt at annexation would be made, the Boers turned their stance from passive aggression to armed aggression, surprising the British forces. Despite causing the Bri..

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What was the code name for the D-Day invasion?

"Operation Overlord" was executed with the idea that it would bring a swift end to the war. "Omaha," "Utah," "Gold," "Juno" and "Sword" were the code names for the beaches that received the main amphibious assault by allied forces. The United States, Canada and England landed nearly 133,000 troops on the beaches of Normandy, France, on D-Day, and took 10,300 casualties as a result of the main assault.

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What caused the Taiping Rebellion?

Hong Xiuquan was frustrated in his early attempts to join the scholarly elite in China, as he failed the imperial examinations on multiple occasions. After suffering a long illness, he emerged claiming that he had seen a vision that showed him his mission: to get the "devils" out of China. It turned out that the "devils" were the philosophical teachings of Confucius and the corrupt Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty. He began spreading his views about Christianity and fighting Manchu rule, advised by American Baptist clergyman Issachar Jacox Roberts. His sect grew in power throughout the late 1..

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Why is the Mayflower Compact important?

The Mayflower Compact was signed on Nov. 11th, 1620. The document was signed on board the Mayflower shortly after it came to anchor off Provincetown Harbor. The document was crafted by the Pilgrims who obtained permission from English authorities to settle in what is now the Hudson River Valley of New York. The Pilgrims intended to settle near the mouth of the Hudson river; however, dangerous weather forced them to make landfall far north of their permitted destination.\nAn argument broke out among the 102 passengers when the Mayflower dropped anchor. Several of the Pilgrims on board argued th..

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What is the significance of the XYZ affair?

The French began capturing American ships on the seas. While President John Adams started preparing for war against France, he also authorized a diplomatic mission to try to smooth out relations between the two countries. In 1797, Talleyrand, the Foreign Minister, would not receive the American diplomats and sent liaisons instead. They asked for a significant loan and a bribe for Talleyrand. The French delegates also urged Adams to renounce his negative speech against France, and they wanted the U.S. to release the French government from responsibility in the seizing of American ships.\nThese ..

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What is an Indian grinding stone?

The materials used for grinding stones are usually basalt, rhyolite, granite or some other locally available hard stone. In the Southwest, grinding stones used for grinding by hand are known as mano and metate. They range in size from small tools that grinders operated with one hand to larger devices that required two hands to operate. A smooth, hand-held mano resembling a pestle ground material using its smooth surface against a hard, flat stone containing a depression or small bowl that resembled a mortar and grew deeper with use.\nNatives developed various grinding techniques ranging from c..

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How many miles did Ferdinand Magellan travel?

Magellan was the first explorer to cross the Pacific Ocean. He began his expedition with 237 crew members and a fleet of five ships. Only three ships and 18 crew members returned to Spain in September of 1822. Much of what is known about the expedition came from meticulous journals kept by the captain.

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Is Barack Obama a Christian?

During an interview with "Christianity Today," Barack Obama described himself as "a devout Christian" and specifically cited his belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a 2010 press release, the president acknowledged that he came to believe in "the precepts of Jesus Christ" because of the effect they had in his life.

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