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Where did the Civil Rights movement take place?

Montgomery's city bus boycott started when a black woman named Rosa Parks refused to give her up her seat at the front of a Montgomery bus. It was common during that period for an African-American person to be forced to give up a seat if a white person was in need of it. She was jailed for her actions and African-Americans around the city began boycotting the public bus system. This boycott lasted for over a year. While the major protests took place in Alabama, other states, including North Carolina were also home to protests and boycotts.

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Why is the Fourth of July celebrated with fireworks?

After that first celebration in Philadelphia, Boston held its own celebration with fireworks, and the tradition grew from there. Explorer Richard Byrd even set off fireworks in Antarctica. The original tradition behind fireworks was to symbolize the 13 states of the union as 13 fireworks were set off at the beginning and of the celebration. However, it evolved as more states joined the union.

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When did Hong Kong become independent?

The New York Times notes that at the stroke of midnight of June 30, 1997, British soldiers lowered the Union Jack in a ceremony before the Chinese flag was raised, officially ending 156 years of British rule. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, the territory of Hong Kong at the time of its return to China consisted of Hong Kong Island and other areas of land that had either been ceded or leased to the British during their time in power.

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Who were the last 10 U.S. presidents?

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, and belonged to the Democratic Party. Kennedy worked for some of one term from 1961 to 1963, when he was assassinated. Kennedy's vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, resumed office with no vice president from 1963 to 1965. Johnson won a second term from 1965 to 1969, along with Vice President Hubert M. Humphrey.\nPresident Richard M. Nixon was a Republican who followed with two terms. His first term was from 1969 to 1973 with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. Nixon selected Gerald Ford as his running mate for his second term. Nixon r..

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How many children did Winston Churchill have?

Daughter Sarah joined sister Diana and brother Randolph in 1914. Marigold arrived next in 1918 and Mary came along in 1922. Although the children enjoyed a content and happy childhood, they suffered tragedy and many misfortunes. Marigold died suddenly at the young age of three, and Churchill had a tumultuous relationship with Randolph, especially during the boy's adolescent and teenage years. Despite the family's misfortunes, Churchill adored his children and spent as much free time as possible with them. He constructed a tree house for the three oldest children to play in, and built..

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How have computers impacted society?

Computers have created employment opportunities in hardware and software development. There are maintenance and support staff who are employed to work in different computer-manufacturing companies. People can work directly from their homes using computers, which allows convenience and creates additional income streams for households. Computers have improved business operations by automating processes such as payments, electronic money transfer and record keeping. This has improved the ease of doing business because it is easier to buy and sell goods and services.\nComputers have developed new ..

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Why was Panama chosen as the site for a canal?

The French, who had already built the Suez Canal, were the first nation to seriously investigate a trans-Central American canal. After decades of investment, however, poor engineering decisions and regional conflict had nearly halted any construction. The French proposed selling the partly completed Panama Canal to the United States, but the U.S. Congress wanted a canal in Nicaragua. After a volcano erupted in Martinique, a French lobbyist found Nicaraguan stamps commemorating Nicaragua's Momotombo Volcano. He distributed the stamps among U.S. Congressmen, and votes quickly shifted from N..

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What is the significance of "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine?

Paine wrote "Common Sense" in 1776, when a great many people still believed a negotiated settlement with Britain was possible. As stated by USHistory.org, "despite all the recent hardships, the majority of colonists since birth were reared to believe that England was to be loved and its monarch revered.” Paine, on the other hand, presented a different picture. He highlighted the abuses perpetrated by the crown, and he described the British as hypocrites who used or dismissed constitutional law when it suited them. Instead, Paine argued that Americans had the right and the necessity to form t..

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When was the first recorded earthquake?

According to the "Bamboo Annals," people believed that upon Emperor Fa's death, Mount Tai shattered. There are no records regarding the magnitude, casualties or damage to surrounding populated areas, as there was no scientific method for recording or predicting earthquake activity. In 132 AD, Zhang Heng, a Chinese polymath, invented the world's first seismometer, which could detect the direction of an earthquake from over 300 miles away.

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How did the Qin Dynasty come to power?

The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi began his conquest of China from his position as King of Qin. By the time of his ascension, the state of Qin already had a strong military force and capable generals. It followed a legalist philosophy in battle, which encouraged ruthless warfare. This was in sharp contrast with the stance held by other states in China during the Warring States period, which advocated honorable combat.\nThe Qin began their campaign to conquer their five rival states with the swift conquest of the state of Han in 230 BCE. Conquest of the remaining states quickly follow..

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