History

Refine Search

Why was Google invented?

In 1998, Google was launched in Susan Wojcicki's garage with an initial funding of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim. Google left the garage the following year and moved into a new office with a team of eight people. Google quickly grew over the years to become the leading search engine on the Web.

Continue Reading

What was child labor in the late 1800s and early 1900s?

Child workers offered a host of advantages for employers of the time. Children were small, so they could get into tight spaces in mines and machinery where adults couldn't fit. Children were also easier to teach and control than adults, and they were less likely to refuse potentially dangerous work. Most advantageous, however, was the fact that children would work for considerably less money than adult workers would demand.\nThe dangerous conditions children faced in these occupations led to a growing movement to ban or at least regulate child labor in the 1800s, and by 1900, the movement..

Continue Reading

What were Samuel Adams' accomplishments?

After serving as a Massachusetts legislator, Samuel Adams served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. During this period, Samuel Adams played an integral role in pushing for America to finally become completely independent of Britain. He also served as Massachusetts governor for three years, from 1794 through 1797.\nSamuel Adams was a vital figure in fighting against unfair taxes from the British Parliament. When the Tea Act passed in 1773, many workers were put out of business because of unfair advantages given to East India Company, which was one of Great Britain's primary commerc..

Continue Reading

Which presidents are depicted on Mt. Rushmore?

George Washington was chosen for the sculpture because of his role as the first U.S. President and because he is considered the father of the country. He represents independence from tyranny and freedom for all people. Thomas Jefferson was honored because of his writing of the Declaration of Independence and his influence in pioneering democracy in the United States. Theodore Roosevelt was picked for his role in pushing through the Panama Canal and creating a new link between East and West. Abraham Lincoln was selected for his preservation of the Union during the American Civil War and his cha..

Continue Reading

What is the history behind the fried food fest of regional, county or state fairs?

The practice of frying foods in oil is ancient, based on evidence from the fifth century BCE that suggests Egyptians deep-fried small cakes. A late medieval cookbook containing a recipe from Portugal demonstrates that Europeans were deep-frying fish before 1300, a practice that the Japanese adopted in the 17th century, when they invented tempura. In the 1830s, the Belgians and French deep-fried potatoes, and the English then paired deep-fried fish with "French" fries to give us "fish & chips." Deep-fried food really took off in the United States in 1930, when Harland Sanders of Kentucky starte..

Continue Reading

Where can you find details about history and use of the yellow page phone book?

Reuben H. Donnelly is the inventor of the yellow pages. In 1883 while printing a telephone directory in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the printer ran out of white paper and substituted yellow, rather than waiting weeks for a new shipment.\nIn 1886 he published the first yellow pages directory, which included categories for type of service, business name and phone number. As early as 1906, coupons began to appear in the directory, offering businesses new ways to attract customers. Categorizing businesses also made it easier to connect consumers with necessary services and products.

Continue Reading

Who was Dred Scott?

After marrying another slave, Scott tried to buy their freedom, but he was refused. To gain freedom, he took the case to court. Dred Scott first sued for freedom in 1847 in the Missouri courts. He eventually won in the St. Louis circuit court, but it was appealed and overturned by the Missouri supreme court. After 10 years of appeals, the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford went before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and had no right to sue. Southerners celebrated the ruling, while northerners were upset. Dred Scott v. Sandford beca..

Continue Reading

Where did Isaac Newton work?

Newton's work gained the attention of the mathematics community and led to a position at Cambridge University in 1669. Following the publication of his book "Principia," Newton's popularity led to new opportunities. In 1689, he won an election to parliament as the result of his increasing interest in public affairs. After several years in parliament, Newton attained his desired position: warden of the Mint.

Continue Reading

What did William Taft accomplish in office?

Taft expanded the U.S. Postal service by placing 35,000 postmasters and 20,000 skilled workers in the Navy under civil service protection.\nTaft broke up twice as many trusts as his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, including Standard Oil and American Tobacco. Under his leadership, 90 antitrust suits were filed during his administration. Taft won a lawsuit against the American Sugar Refining Company, thus breaking up the "sugar trust" that rigged prices. He even moved to break up U.S. Steel, which garnered criticism from Roosevelt.\nHe encouraged the passage of the 16th Amendment, giving the Un..

Continue Reading

What are some characteristics of Thomas Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson, best known as the author of the Declaration of Independence, was born to wealthy parents in Virginia. He attended college and then studied the law under a local, well-reputed Virginia attorney. (There were no law schools in the United States at the time.) A lawyer by trade, Jefferson also served as U.S. minister to France and U.S. secretary of state, and he was vice president under John Adams.\nAccording to the White House website, Jefferson was tall and awkward. He was uncomfortable speaking in public. He was an eloquent writer; he preferred writing letters and statements of..

Continue Reading
Showing 291 to 300 of 8554 (856 Pages)