History

Refine Search

What impact did Napoleon have on Europe?

The French Revolution was a tumultuous time in France. Political upheaval was constant, as the people of France suffered through a successive cycle of regimes taking power and then failing. Napoleon ended this when he took power. He gave the country a strong economy backed in silver and gold. He established religious freedom and low prices for basic foods to keep the citizens from starving. Not only did he improve life in France, but he established legal precedents for civil law that are still recognized today.These legal precedents, referred to as the Napoleonic codes, divided civil law into ..

Continue Reading

What ended World War II?

World War II spanned 1939 to 1945, and it was a global war. Most of the nations throughout the world had involvement in the war. The great powers of the world essentially took sides, resulting in the formation of two military alliances opposing each other. As the largest war in history, more than 30 countries and more than 100 million people took part in the war, using their full economic, scientific and industrial capabilities.

Continue Reading

What motivated Martin Luther King, Jr.?

King was born in Atlanta, Ga., on January 15, 1929. He lived in a segregated city and grew up experiencing first hand the devastating effects of racism. King would later become both a Baptist minister and a civil rights activist. He had a powerful impact on race relations in the country. His famous "I Have a Dream" speech given in 1963 is well known by many.King was able to play a substantial role in ending the legal segregation of black people and in creating the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for all of his hard wor..

Continue Reading

What disease did Abraham Lincoln have?

In 1962, based on photographic evidence, Dr. A. M. Gordon of Cincinnati suggested that Abraham Lincoln suffered from Marfan syndrome. This was solely based on the appearance of Lincoln as a tall, lanky figure with slightly longer hands than is normal.\n\nMarfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the heart and the lungs. In more severe cases, the valves of the heart do not function properly. The disease may also affect the eyes, the spinal cord and the skeleton.\n\nThe syndrome was first studied and identified by a French pediatrician named Antoine Marfan in 1896. It is a genetically i..

Continue Reading

What are some facts about the Chinook tribe?

The Chinook were skilled traders who traded mostly with tribes that were in close geographic proximity. The famed Lewis and Clark expedition encountered the tribe in 1805 along the lower Columbia River, and the meetings were friendly. The two groups even exchanged gifts.\nA Chinook village was always led by a man. The clan leaders could female or male. Chief Tumulth is one of the most famous Chinook Indians, as he was the one who signed the 1855 treaty that created the Grand Ronde Reservation.\nThe tribe wove beautiful baskets, which were both functional and a form of art. The culture of the C..

Continue Reading

How did Thomas Jefferson change America?

Jefferson first rose to fame during the Revolutionary War as a member of the Second Continental Congress. There, he authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, generally seen as a model for the First Amendment. From there, he became the Governor of Virginia and held other positions in government before his election as President in 1800. In this role, Jefferson opposed a strong central government, preferring to leave power to the states.

Continue Reading

What was a colonial weaver's job?

In the 18th century, dyes used in weaving were produced from natural sources. Red was derived from the cochineal, an insect native to South America. Brown came from walnuts while blue came from indigo, which is derived from a type of plant. Turmeric made yellow, and extract from the Spanish log tree made purple.

Continue Reading

What were the Federalist Papers?

The Federalist Papers were collected and published in book form in 1788. The writer, Publius, was later revealed to be a group pen name for Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.\nAt first, the 85 essays were referred to as The Federalist. Only in the 20th century did scholars begin calling them The Federalist Papers.

Continue Reading

What are the religious beliefs of the Kickapoo?

The Kickapoo religion is based on animism, the belief that all objects and living organisms are endowed with a soul or spiritual essence. These beings include intangible natural phenomena such as wind, thunder and darkness as well as geographical features such as mountains, forests or streams. This gives rise to a great number of deities or supernatural beings who are capable of interacting in human affairs. The Kickapoo of Mexico practice the most traditional form of their religion while other groups deviate from it to an extent.\nOne branch of Kickapoo who live east of the Mississippi River ..

Continue Reading

Why were video games invented?

Baer became chief engineer of Sanders Associates, and with the help of William T. Rusch and William H. Harrison, he created the first prototype that could be connected to a standard TV. By 1968, the team had produced "Brown Box" and created several basic interactive games, including Checkers and Chase Game. In 1971, Baer partnered with Magnavox to create the Odyssey console, which included paddle controls and screen overlays for false-color visuals.

Continue Reading
Showing 6231 to 6240 of 8554 (856 Pages)