History

Refine Search

Why did apartheid happen?

Strategies for apartheid began in earnest in the 1940's, when South Africa gained independence from Britain and when ethnically Dutch white forces (Boers or Afrikaners) gained the political majority, despite the fact that they were demographically the minority. Formal apartheid laws were first launched in 1948, but were widened and made progressively more severe by the 1960s with what was ultimately called "grand apartheid."\nAlmost every corner of life was affected by apartheid laws. Interracial marriage was banned. Additionally, apartheid created a work environment in which many importa..

Continue Reading

What was used as transport in the olden days?

This was followed by the travois, or netting tied between two sticks that were dragged behind an animal. In 3.500 B.C., the wheel was invented, allowing humans to make carts that could be pulled by humans or attached to animals. Roads and transportation infrastructure were revolutionized by the Ancient Romans. The Ancient Egyptians were the first to build large ships for sailing and transporting goods.

Continue Reading

When did the Mongols invade China?

In the 13th century, China was divided into two halves, the northern Kin dynasty and the southern Song dynasty. After about a decade of raids by Genghis Khan, the Kin emperor surrendered and agreed to pay tribute.\nIn 1267, the Mongols decided they wanted the Song dynasty as well. They began invading in the southwest, conquering the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. Outflanked, the Chinese steadily lost ground. The last Song emperor, 8-year-old Emperor Bing, died when an attendant leaped from a cliff into the ocean with him to avoid capture.

Continue Reading

Why are Americans called "Yanks"?

The song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" originated in England and was sung by both the British and early Americans, its lyrics changing as it made its way back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, according to National Public Radio. The English used lyrics that made light of Americans, while the Americans changed the lyrics to poke fun at the British.\nAccording to NationalGeographic.com, many Americans embrace the term Yankee in an affectionate way. Fans of the New York Yankees baseball team, for example, are proud of the name. Many southern Americans, how..

Continue Reading

What were some of the key events of World War II?

Major events leading up to the formal declaration of war by France and Britain are Germany's annexation of Poland in 1938, the Treaty of Munich that same year, and the invasion of Czechoslovakia the following year, which was in violation of the treaty. The invasion of Poland in September of 1939 led France and Britain to finally declare war on Germany.\nGermany occupied Denmark and Norway and began their "blitzkrieg" attack on Belgium and Holland in May of 1940. Italy entered the war on Germany's side in June of 1940. Germany also occupied France under armistice in this month, and th..

Continue Reading

Who was the first US President to be impeached?

Andrew Johnson, the moderate southern Democrat who succeeded to presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, was impeached as the result of a political rift that developed between his office and the Republican radicals, who dominated both houses of Congress. The disputes between Johnson and the radicals culminated in Johnson's removal of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a radical ally with whom he often disagreed, from his cabinet. This action breached the Tenure of Office Act, thus prompting the House of Representatives to vote impeachment. A trial was then held by the Senate, b..

Continue Reading

What are some achievements of Mesopotamian civilizations?

One of the things still used by people daily is the concept of an hour being 60 minutes, along with the number of degrees of a circle, which was a product of the Sumerians. The Akkadians were one of the first to make new changes to the political system and introduced a clear separation between church and state. There were numerous other accomplishments by the people in the Mesopotamian area. They found that mixing select metals created bronze, which in turn produces new weapons and tools. The Assyrians were great engineers and created numerous buildings and gardens that hadn't existed bef..

Continue Reading

What is the oldest continent?

Because of the age of the fossils and stromatolites found in Australia, the continent is considered one of the best to find unique artifacts involving both geology and evolution.Australia is a good example of the evolutionary principle of isolation, because animals that live on that continent are some of the most unique animals found on Earth. This includes animals such as the platypus, kangaroo and the spiny anteater, known as the echidna.

Continue Reading

Do we live in an Information Age?

While the Internet was developed in the 1970s and personal computers were common in the 1980s, it was the 1990s that truly saw the dawn of the Information Age. Surfing the net became quite common, but speed was an early problem with Internet access. Faster network connections were developed, and a growing mobile technology trend has surfaced, spawning a wide variety of electronic equipment as the Information Age evolves.

Continue Reading

What was life like after World War II?

The United States had exited the war with over 300,000 casualties, yet this number was small compared to that of the other major players in the war. With a skilled workforce and returning veterans, the majority of white Americans had more opportunity for upward mobility. The economic boom that followed saw a quadrupling of automobiles produced over the next 10 years, a growth of major corporations and a prosperous housing market. The gross national product of the United States nearly doubled from the end of the war until 1960, solidifying the country as one of the richest in the world.\nThis p..

Continue Reading
Showing 3291 to 3300 of 8554 (856 Pages)