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How did Helen Keller change the world?

Helen Keller is considered one of the leading figures in the twentieth century. She lost both her vision and hearing when she was 19 months old due to illness. At the time, doctors called it brain fever. She was devoted to helping others after she was helped by her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Anne worked with Helen to teach her the manual alphabet, words and gestures in sign language, braille and raised type and how to print block letters. Helen could read lips and speak by age 9. Helen has inspired millions of people including Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt and Conrad Hilton (the founder of Hil..

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What are some examples of Revolutionary War artifacts?

The Historical Shop online, which deals in early Americana collectibles, showcases such unique artifacts as an 18th century hoof scraper. The relic, which is 8 inches in size, features an iron blade made with a curved tip, a wood handle and iron ferrule. The item, which was used to scrape stones from the hooves of horses, is a suggested collectible for an equestrian or historical collector.\nItems that were used during the Battle of Camden and Battle of Yorktown, such as swivel shots or small cannons, are part of the Historical Shop's paraphernalia. Grapeshot and musket balls are also fea..

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What did William Henry Seward want to do?

In 1864, Secretary of State Seward learned that Alaska might be for sale by the Russians. He inquired about the possibility to Russian minister Eduard de Stoeckl, who urged the Tsar to agree to a sale for fear that American or British Canadian settlers might overrun the lightly populated territory anyway. In 1867, Stoeckl returned to Seward with an offer and the authority to negotiate on the Tsar's behalf, and the sale of Alaska went through for $7.2 million. In spite of the ridicule directed at Seward's accomplishment, he was vindicated first in 1896 when a large gold deposit was di..

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What are some events in the history of the Cherokee tribe?

For 100 years after their encounter with Spanish explorers, the Cherokee had little if any additional exposure to Europeans. In the 1670s, the tribe began a period of regular contact with Europeans. This sustained contact with Europeans led the Cherokee to adopt certain European mannerisms and customs, which in turn led to the tribe's classification as one of the "Five Civilized Tribes."\nIn the early 1700s, Emperor Moytoy unified various bands of Cherokee into a single tribe and assumed the role of tribal emperor in 1730. Emperor Moytoy agreed to recognize King George III as protector of..

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When did the U.S. join World War I?

World War I consisted primarily of trench warfare, with opponents digging series of trenches on the battlefield in an effort to move troops without exposing them to machine gun fire on open ground. The machine gun was just one of the many innovations brought to the battlefield in World War I, along with modern artillery, airplanes, submarines and gas warfare.

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What kinds of clothing did Navajo Native Americans wear?

Ancient Navajos wore clothes made primarily from animal hides, cedar bark and yucca fiber. Women usually wove the yucca fiber into two-piece aprons or wore deerskin shirts and skirts, while the men wore leggings made from yucca fiber, shirts made from deerskin, and moccasins. Sometimes the clothing only consisted of breechcloth, a type of loincloth tied around the waist, for the men and yucca blankets that the women wrapped around themselves. The moccasins usually consisted of rawhide soles and deerskin.\nLater Navajo Native Americans traded in deerskin and yucca clothing for cotton or velvet ..

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What was the loyalists point of view about the colonies?

Loyalists who openly supported Britain frequently came under personal attack, and people who refused to choose sides faced pressure from both sides. As a result, many Loyalists emerged in opposition to the colonial pressure to enlist and the aggressive tactics of the Patriots, which fueled their fears of anarchy. To many conservative colonists, the Patriots' behavior appeared radical and impulsive, especially as the wider community suffered from British retaliation against rebel events such as the Boston Tea Party.\nPacifist groups, such as Quakers, often became Loyalists by default becau..

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How has transportation in the United States changed over time?

One of the most common methods used to travel long distances in the early years of the United States was to follow the country's long rivers and coastlines. As railroads expanded, they offered a fast and convenient way to move people and cargo over land. In urban centers, bicycles and wagons offered short-distance transport.The 1900s saw the introduction of electric trams and cars, reducing man's dependence on horses in cities. Airplanes were invented and airlines started offering scheduled services. Moreover, freeways and large roads made it easier for cars to travel long distances.

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How did Abraham Lincoln become famous?

Lincoln began his public career in 1832, with a bid for the Illinois state legislature. He lost the election, but his affable nature made him popular in the locality, helping him win consecutively from 1834 to 1840. There, his antislavery position brought him to the inner circle of the state Whig party.\nAround this time, Lincoln passed the bar exam and opened a private practice. He proved to be a skilled litigator. His extensive work in cases related to the new railroad system bolstered both his personal fortune - his $5,000 income exceeded the governor's salary - and his reputation.\nLi..

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Where can I find a timeline for Hernando de Soto?

The timeline on this website provides many important points in de Soto's life, including when he sailed to the New World, when he led an expedition up the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, when he became the first European to see Hot Springs, Ark., and when he reached the Mississippi River.\nAnother good timeline is found at http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/hernando-de-soto--8. It contains much of the same information but also includes information on de Soto's conquests of Nicaragua and Peru.

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