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Who were the Quakers?

The Society of Friends originated in Europe during the 17th-century Protestant Reformation, when discontented Christian factions pushed for improvements in the Catholic Church. Early Quakers were part of a splinter group that wanted to abolish fundamental Catholic practices such as paying clergy and baptizing disciples.\nQuakers believe disciples should find God within their own hearts and use that inner light to guide their actions. These concepts strongly conflict with institutionalized Christianity, which typically values sacramental rites, sacred texts and the religious superiority of the ..

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What country did Ferdinand Magellan sail for?

Magellan departed from Spain and sailed to West Africa and Brazil, searching for a West African strait that would take him to the Pacific. Failing that, he continued down the coast of Patagonia, eventually finding what would be called the Strait of Magellan on Oct 21, 1520. It took 38 days to pass through the strait and an additional 99 days to cross the Pacific. On March 6, 1521, Magellan landed on Guam, becoming the first explorer to cross the Pacific.

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How did Theodore Roosevelt change the presidency?

Before Roosevelt, business interests held inordinate power in the government, and the country's biggest employers were generally allowed to do whatever they liked. Roosevelt began regulating businesses, even going so far as to break up trusts that had gained too much market share and become effective monopolies. Roosevelt still recognized the value of large businesses to a healthy economy, but he insisted the public must be protected as well.\nRoosevelt also saw an increased role for the president in foreign policy. His often repeated motto "Speak softly and carry a big stick," described ..

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Who was Joseph-Armand Bombardier?

Joseph-Armand Bombardier was born in Valcourt, Quebec in 1907 and was disassembling and reassembling mechanisms at an early age. He created and painted locomotives, boats and tractors with internal clock mechanisms. He built a steam engine out of an old sewing machine and a miniature cannon out of a broken 12-caliber gun. His snowmobile was crafted with an old Model T Ford engine. His tracked vehicle designs were used during World War II. He also developed tractors.

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What was the purpose of the Hartford Convention?

The Federalists were the dominant political party in New England and favored peace and trade with the British. The Federal Government's involvement called for the United States to support France in its battle against Great Britain, which would place a strain on the trade relationship. The Convention also sought to address the policies of the two successive presidents Jefferson and Madison from the Republican party. Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act of 1807 that banned foreign trade in order to convince Great Britain and France that the United States could survive as a neutral power; t..

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Who invented the smartboard?

The initial concept of the Smart Board was as a device that would allow people to interact in an electronically shared space. Funding for the first version of the Smart Board was partially provided by investment from Intel. As of 2014, the Smart Board models available are the Smart Board 800 and the lower-cost Smart Board 400 series. Companies that use the Smart Board include Ford Motor Company and Proctor & Gamble.

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How did Southern blacks lose rights after the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments?

The 13th Amendment forbade the practice of slavery in the United States. The former slave states responded to it with legal challenges, however, and passed a series of laws called the Black Codes that disenfranchised African-American residents in various ways.\nThe existence of the Black Codes led Congress to revisit the issue of civil rights and to ultimately pass the 14th and 15th Amendments. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States and extended equal protection under the law regardless of race. It also addressed the right to vote, removing Congressiona..

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What are the natural barriers that protected Ancient Egypt?

Ancient Egypt was protected from other civilizations by these natural boundaries, but that does not mean they had no contact with other civilizations. Egyptians traded with several of their contemporaries, especially the Greeks. Nevertheless, their relative isolation allowed their culture to develop uniquely.\nEgyptians benefited greatly from their geography. In addition to the protection afforded by the nearby mountains, seas and deserts, they were able to develop an agrarian culture thanks to the annual flooding of the Nile River. Each year, the river would swell and eventually overrun its b..

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How much did things cost in 1956?

The average cost of a new house in 1956 was $11,700, and the average monthly rent was $88.00. In terms of commodities, the average cost of a gallon of automobile gas was 22 cents. A new car costed approximately $2,050. The price of ground coffee per pound was about 85 cents.

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Did Galileo receive any awards?

Galileo was well known in his own day for his work in mathematics, physics, engineering and natural philosophy. He authored several books on motion and mechanics, but it was his work in astronomy that was to be the source of his ultimate fame. Though controversial at the time, his work confirming the heliocentric nature of the solar system is widely regarded as seminal. He is considered by many to be the originator of the modern scientific method.

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