History

Refine Search

What are some examples of civil disobedience in U.S. history?

Civil disobedience is an option when a person feels that a law is immoral or against her personal conscience. Henry David Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" is one of the main texts about the practice, and states that when a person's conscience and the laws clash, the conscience must win. Thoreau's arrest for refusing to participate in the United States' war with Mexico in 1849 was one example of civil disobedience in the United States, and protests against the Vietnam War and Gulf War utilized many of his tactics.\nThe Civil Rights movement had many instances of..

Continue Reading

What was the primary goal of the NAACP?

The NAACP explains that the historical purpose of the organization was to promote racial equality in politics, education, the work place and society at large. The organization was founded in response to the horror some citizens felt at a time when public lynching was common and local laws disenfranchised many members of the African American community. The NAACP set out to combat codified bigotry by seeking to overturn unfair laws and to raise awareness about racial injustice.\nAccording to History.com, the founders of the NAACP were ideologically opposed to the gradualism espoused by nationall..

Continue Reading

What was the Sumerian religion?

The Sumerians believed the universe consisted of a flat earth surrounded by salt water and covered by the closed dome of heaven. Every part of this cosmos was controlled by one of many divine and immortal deities. The original deity of the dome-shaped heaven was named An, while Ki controlled the earth. An and Ki gave birth to Enlil, who became the leader of the Sumerian pantheon and served as god of the air. Besides Enlil, the second generation of gods included: Inanna, goddess of warfare and female fertility; Nanna, god of the moon; and Ninurta, god of war, agriculture and wind. All of the Su..

Continue Reading

What did William Crookes discover?

As a result of this discovery, thallium became a beneficial treatment for venereal diseases, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, and was used as a treatment for tuberculosis and an agent to remove excess hair, reports Medscape. The importance of Crookes' discovery of thallium is reflected today by its use in optical equipment, artist's paints, electronic components and as a contrasting agent for cardiac and tumor visualization.

Continue Reading

Who colonized Japan?

The Japanese colonial empire extended in East Asia and the Western Pacific. Some of the Japanese colonies included the Kurile Islands, Taiwan and Korea. The Japanese avoided foreign intrusion and only allowed the Chinese and the Dutch to have trading depots on their territory for years. They chose to limit Western trade as much as possible as they were aware of the implications foreign trade had on other Asian countries such as China.

Continue Reading

What was the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819?

The treaty also provided Spain with areas of Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona. The treaty would not be ratified until 1831 by the United States. Spain was forced to bargain with the United States and create the treaty in order to avoid losing Florida without any land gains.

Continue Reading

Why was Birmingham so important in 1963?

The purpose of the campaign was to end the segregation that existed in the city. Lunch counter sit-ins, boycotts of local businesses and marches on city hall all contributed to the campaign, which served as a turning point for the Civil Rights Movement in America. The launch of the campaign came at a high cost. The people of the city reacted cruelly to the protests, turning powerful water hoses and police dogs on the participants. In the end, however, the "black only" and "white only" signs commonly found around the city were removed. The Civil Rights Movement was, from this point on, a force ..

Continue Reading

What does the greek key symbol stand for?

The Greek key symbol is named after the Meander river in Turkey, because of its long and winding shape, which was featured in Homer's "Iliad." It is often associated with the labyrinth of Crete, built by King Minos to house a minotaur. It may also represent snakes, waves or cardinal points such as the four seasons. In Greek culture, the fret symbol can be used to represent various ideas or objects, but it can also be used for purely decorative purposes.

Continue Reading

Why did the watergate break in occur?

The year 1972 was an extremely contentious time in American history, with the increasingly unpopular Vietnam War escalated by Nixon's administration late the previous year. During the 1971 holiday season Richard Nixon employed a strategy of heavy bombing over North Vietnam. According to an article in "The Harvard Crimson" published in January 1972, the escalation brought the Vietnam War "back onto the front pages." Nixon was in danger of alienating a large enough segment of the voting public to potentially cost him the election. The people who broke into the Watergate were associated with..

Continue Reading

When was the toilet invented?

Harrington's design was the forerunner for the modern toilet with its flush valve and water wash-down system that helped empty and clean the bowl. Although he installed one at Richmond Palace, Queen Elizabeth I said it made too much noise and refused to use it.\nIt wasn't until the 1800s that people began to realize unsanitary conditions increased the spread of illnesses and diseases. This created a push to make affordable, flushable toilets for the general public.

Continue Reading
Showing 8371 to 8380 of 8554 (856 Pages)