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What were some of the most memorable events of 2014?

In addition to the three aforementioned events, the year 2014 bore witness to a few more memorable occurrences. In regards to political movements, pro-democracy protests erupted in Hong Kong in defiance of Chinese rule of the former British colony. After a referendum, Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom.\nIn terms of economics, economies in the Eurozone slid again, marking the third economic recession in the region in the past 5 years. Also, oil prices collapsed by nearly half as a result of the advent of hydraulic fracturing in the United States, as well as a fall in global de..

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What did Thomas Jefferson do?

Thomas Jefferson, born on April 13, 1743, served America in various ways during his lifetime. An avid supporter of liberty, Jefferson studied law at the College of William and Mary. After college, he went on to become a member of the Continental Congress where he was recruited to draft one of the country's most important documents in 1776, the Declaration of Independence. He left congress that same year and went on to serve in the Virginia State Legislature. In 1790, Jefferson became secretary of state and in 1796, he became vice president. In 1801, Jefferson became president of the Unite..

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What were the routes of Sir Francis Drake?

Sir Francis Drake left England for his famous circumnavigation of the world in December of 1577. After sailing along the west coast of Africa to Cabo Blanco, he crossed the Atlantic to Brazil and made his way down the east coast of South America. Abandoning two of his ships, he passed through the Strait of Magellan and made it to the Pacific Ocean by September of 1578. One ship was destroyed, and another sailed back to England, so he was left only with the Pelican, which he renamed the Golden Hind.\nAs Drake traveled up the American coast, he plundered unguarded Spanish ports and galleons. Bef..

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How did Augustus die?

When it became apparent that Augustus was very ill, he rested for a few days in Capri before moving back to the mainland where he passed away. After his death, Augustus's body was taken back to Rome for burial. In Rome, he was given a grand funeral and then cremated. His ashes were laid to rest in his mausoleum there. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Tiberius, son of Augustus's wife, Livia, from another marriage.

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Where can you find the history of Leif Eriksson?

To find the Leif Eriksson article on History.com, type "Lief Eriksson" into the search bar at the top of the page. On Biography.com, click the small magnifying glass symbol at the top of the page for a similar search feature.\nLeif Eriksson was a Norwegian explorer who lived sometime approximately from 1000 to 1100 A.D. He was the son of Erik the Red, founder of the first European settlement in Greenland. Eirksson explored a region he called Vinland, which is believed to be part of modern-day Newfoundland or Nova Scotia, both in Atlantic Canada. He claimed the land grew wild grapes and remarke..

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Who was Matteo Ricci?

The maps that Ricci made were considered far more accurate than the ones even made in Europe. The Chinese for the first time had a clear picture of the world as it was known then and its proportions. He was also important in the world of mathematics because he translated numerous important works into Chinese and opened many doors for the culture to advance.

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What were the draft laws in the north during the Civil War?

Before 1862, neither the Union nor the Confederacy practiced mandatory conscription. The Militia Act of 1792 required all men to own a rifle and join their state militia, but it had never been actively enforced. Legislation passed in 1862 gave states the ability to conscript soldiers, but this was largely used as a psychological goad to encourage free enlistment. The Enrollment Act of 1863 was the first mechanism by which American citizens were actively conscripted into military service.\nThe substitution and commutation clauses of the Act caused a significant amount of civil unrest. The fact ..

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What is Black History Month?

In 1915, historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which later became the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. This organization inaugurated the first formal acknowledgement of African-Americans' place in U.S. history by designating the week that included February 12 as "Negro History Week" in 1926. This week was chosen because February 12 was President Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and February is the month of famed African-American abolitionist Frederick Douglass' birthday.\nIn the late 1960s, the ..

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What was the "Era of Good Feelings?"

The term "Era of Good Feelings" described the general mood of U.S. citizens following the War of 1812, and it reached its height in 1820. That year, President Monroe won re-election by receiving all but one electoral vote. During this era, the Democratic-Republicans were the only political party active in the country. However, the party was divided over issues such as slavery.

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What is the Dowsing Machine?

Within the window of a player's game, the Dowsing Machine locates items that are on-screen and a small distance off-screen. Players take possession of the item by directly facing the hidden item and pressing the A button. A player cannot obtain the Dowsing Machine if the character is standing on the exact location where the hidden item rests.

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