History

Refine Search

Why did Jefferson want to buy New Orleans?

In 1800, under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, France had successfully reclaimed a large swath of land from Spain in the Treaty of San Ildefonso. France had previously possessed the land but lost it to Spain during the tumultuous period prior to Napoleon. Once France regained control of the Louisiana Territory, it began implementing new laws and regulations in its largest cities, specifically New Orleans. New Orleans was one of the largest ports in the gulf, and it served as a major hub for importing and exporting goods.\nThe fledgling American nation relied heavily on New Orleans to bot..

Continue Reading

What was the role of the church in Medieval times?

According to PBS.org, every member of society was expected to live by the Catholic faith. Christian doctrine influenced every aspect of life. The Catholic church asserted that it was the only path to salvation. Individuals who did not conform to the standards of the Church not only risked being ostracized, but were in danger of being labeled heretics and executed.\nThe Church was very influential in political affairs. Throughout the Middle Ages, clergy in many cases held real political power. The Church was sovereign over a number of territories in Italy known as the Papal States, which had th..

Continue Reading

When did slavery start in America?

Because America had no laws to govern slavery, the earliest slaves were treated like indentured servants who could work for several years to earn their freedom. America's first slave laws were passed in 1641, taking away any hope of eventual freedom. Most slaves were purchased by landowners in the Southern colonies where the economy centered around indigo, rice and tobacco crops until the late 1700s. When the cotton gin was invented in 1793, many southern plantation owners switched to growing cotton, becoming even more dependent on inexpensive slave labor.

Continue Reading

How did the Nullification Crisis end?

Politician John C. Calhoun was a primary promoter of the concept of states' rights. The idea of nullification was a precursor to the later secession crisis that triggered the Civil War.\nAn 1828 tariff that raised import taxes angered Calhoun and other South Carolina political leaders. The controversial tariff became known as the Tariff of Abominations in some parts of the United States. Before the issue was resolved, armed conflict seemed possible if South Carolina attempted to secede.

Continue Reading

How fast does an MIG 29 go?

The MIG 29 is a superior fighter jet that was used extensively during the Cold War. Due to the jet's extreme versatility, skilled pilots were able to excel in dog fights. The speeds at which these planes are capable of exerts up to 9Gs of force. A comparable American jet is the famous F/A 18 Hornet. The hornet has a considerably lower top speed, as it is only able to reach Mach 1.8.

Continue Reading

When was King Menes born?

Various historians place the reign of Menes anywhere between the fifth and third millennium B.C. The ancient historian Manetho mentions that the king reigned for 62 years over the unified Egypt before being killed by a hippopotamus. King Menes is credited with the unification of the Upper and Lower Egypt through a series of administrative and military actions.

Continue Reading

Who invented the knife and fork?

In the Middle Ages, the primary eating utensil in Europe was the knife. People brought their own personal knives to the table, using the tool to cut food, spear it and bring it to their mouths. However, beginning in the 15th century, the Italians began to adopt the fork, and its use spread to Spain. Catherine de Medici, an Italian noblewoman who became queen of France, brought the utensil to her new country in the 1530s. By the 18th century, its use was common throughout Europe.

Continue Reading

What was the purpose for Hammurabi´s Code?

Hammurabi´s Code is a collection of 300 laws most famously paraphrased by the expression, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Most of the laws relate to property rights of landowners, merchants, builders and slave masters. While some of the laws were brutal, the death penalty is mentioned at least 30 times, others were enlightened; punishments were at time more severe for those of the higher class than those of the lower.

Continue Reading

Who invented email?

At the request of physicist Les Michelson, Shiva programmed his electronic mail system based on the way in which paper mail was processed within the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. This mail system involved the familiar email components of the subject line, carbon copies and attachments.For his invention of email, Shiva was given honors at the 1981 Westinghouse Science Awards. A later email analysis and sorting system, developed for the White House, won him another award and inspired the creation of EchoMail, a system used in business.

Continue Reading

Why did prohibition start?

Nearly every state was occupied by a Temperance movement at the beginning of the 20th century, and more than 50 percent of the states already had laws prohibiting alcohol by 1916. The 18th Amendment of the constitution was ratified in 1919, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcohol throughout the United States. In the same year, the Volstead Act was passed to clarify the amendment to include all intoxicating beverages such as beer, wine and malts; the act also prohibited the ownership of items designed to manufacture alcohol.\nDuring this time, a new type of gangster arose due to the hig..

Continue Reading
Showing 6801 to 6810 of 8554 (856 Pages)