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Who invented direct current?

In the early days of electric power, there was no practical way to change the voltage from the generator to the load, its intended source. Because incandescent lights were the primary target for electricity, most DC voltages were kept around 100 watts. This low voltage allowed for safe electricity distribution and minimized insulation needs. Gradually, alternating current, or AC, became the dominant form of power transmission because of its ability to vary voltages and transmit over longer distances.

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When was the Renaissance?

The Renaissance was a historical period when the church-dominated Middle Ages gave way to an interest in learning and the arts. There were significant advances in science during the Renaissance, thanks to an increased interest in intellectual thought. Art, literature and music also thrived during the Renaissance. Though the word Renaissance is French for "rebirth," the Renaissance actually began in Italy before spreading throughout Europe. The term Middle Ages generally defines the period between classical and modern civilization.

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Who invented the rifle?

The Winchester rifle is widely considered to be the earliest repeating rifle, invented by John Moses Browning, who is known as "the father of modern firearms." He also invented the Colt 45 automatic and the pump shotgun. John Moses Browning's goal was to improve the speed and reliability with which multiple rounds of ammunition could be fired.

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Who invented the lightbulb?

In 1840, a British inventor, Warren de la Rue, invented an early light bulb that incorporated platinum, since platinum could withstand high degrees of heat. Unfortunately, platinum is very expensive, which made commercial production of the bulb impractical. Ten years later, Joseph Wilson Swan, another British inventor, created a light bulb using carbon. Due to its short lifespan and the lack of technology needed to power it, the carbon bulb was also not considered viable enough for production.

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What was the encomienda system?

When the conquistadores presented the Spanish crown with a conquered new land, they also presented a quandary: how to govern a vast new territory without setting up a rival government. The Spanish king decided to create vast landholdings that would be presented to the conquistadores, rewarding them while also creating a decentralized governing structure answerable primarily to the king. Unfortunately, the conquistadores were not beneficent landowners but brutal soldiers who cared little for the indigenous inhabitants.\nAbuses arose swiftly. Natives were forced to work the fields or mines of en..

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What is a summary of the Federalist Papers?

The Federalist Papers addressed items in the newly drafted Constitution that were either poorly understood or publicly debated. In each essay, the writer or writers sought to lay out a coherent and logical explanation for why an item was included or excluded, as well as the philosophy behind the design. They further argued that the Constitution as written was the best guarantee of states' rights with a strong central union that could properly defend the nation. While The Federalist Papers have no official legal standing, they are often studied by constitutional scholars and constitutional..

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What is the Nemesis family tree?

Nemesis is the goddess of divine retribution and revenge. She punished those guilty of hubris. In the earliest Greek religion, Nemesis was worshipped as a fertility goddess. Legend said that while Zeus was in the form of a swan and she was in the form of a goose, they copulated. The result of that union was an egg. That egg hatched a baby who became Helen of Troy. Later versions of the legend claimed that Leda was the mother of Helen.\nToday the word nemesis is used in the English language to describe an arch-enemy. It is an opponent or rival that cannot be overcome.

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Where can you find a list of the 13 original colonies?

The first 13 states admitted into the United States were former colonies of Great Britain. Revolutionary-War.net contains information on the original 13 colonies and their struggle for independence from the mother country. The website lists the colonies in the same order as their founding, starting with the colony of Jamestown (later, Virginia).\nAbout.com provides a chart naming the colonies in order of founding, their founders, and the year they became official royal colonies. Not all of the 13 were royal colonies. Royal colonies were ruled by royally appointed governors; other colonies had ..

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What were the major accomplishments of Patrick Henry?

As a lawyer and powerful orator, Henry had been chosen as a delegate to the Continental Congress. Having spoken out against British rule on several occasions, he was a known supporter of the Revolution. He vehemently opposed the Stamp Act, a measure that allowed Britain to tax all printed paper used by the colonists.\nJust nine days after being sworn in to the House of Burgesses, the legislative body of the Virginia colony, he introduced the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions, which claimed that the colonies had the exclusive right to tax their citizens. The boldness of Henry's resolutions ca..

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What are some historical facts about the Santa Fe Trail?

Although the Santa Fe Trail was established by Mexican traders, Americans were quick to use the route for trade and other purposes. Americans who wanted to claim free land on the frontier sometimes used this trail when traveling west. In 1846, the U.S. Army used the route during the Mexican-American War. As a result of the war, the United States expanded into what is now known as the Southwest, and the Santa Fe Trail helped connect the new territory to the rest of the country.\nDuring the 1860s and 1870s, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a railroad that ran parallel to part of t..

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