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What was the Great Leap Forward?

Mao's Great Leap Forward involved dividing China into a number of communes, each containing around 5,000 families. In each commune, all property was shared in order to eliminate self-interest.Although Mao achieved some success toward his goal, in 1959 communes became largely untenable because of the political demands made of them. Mao was forced to resign, and by 1960, private ownership had returned, while communes were greatly reduced in size.

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What is the Sudetenland and how does it relate to World War II?

The Sudetenland encompasses parts of northern Moravia as well as parts of northern and western Bohemia, which are in the region of the Sudeten mountain range and boarder Germany. The region was incorporated into Czechoslovakia during the 1918-1919 border determination.The citizens of Sudetenland were primarily German, and many came to embrace the ideals set forth by Konrad Henlein, then-leader of the Sudeten-German Party in the 1930s. The Munich Pact, signed in 1938, confirmed the annexation of Sudetenland by Germany.

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What was Cro-Magnon man?

Scientists discovered that Cro-Magnon Man had a fungal infection at the time of his death. He was younger than 50 years old, and his intact skull showed signs of fungus. The other adults showed long-term traumatic injuries. Cro-Magnons were the ancestors to modern humans. They lived in Western Europe and came from a similar species in Africa. Through the findings, scientists also learned about group behaviors and daily life indicative of Cro-Magnons.

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What did the miners eat during the Gold Rush?

In the initial months of the California gold rush, food was at a premium, with a slice of buttered bread selling for as much as $2. As prices stabilized, miners who had struck it rich in the gold fields and had money to spend were eager to eat better food at hotels and high-end restaurants in California cities such as San Francisco. Grocers in the cities began to stock more foods appealing to miners, including smoked halibut and cod, eggs, preserved meats, ham, cheese and chocolate, as well as spices. A dish that became particularly associated with miners was the Hangtown fry, which probably o..

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What were some scandals during the Obama administration?

Four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, were killed in the Benghazi attack. Soon after, questions arose of if the administration had prior knowledge of the risk of the attack. Obama's then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was accused of failing to respond sufficiently to warnings of the attack. Some questioned if the president, heading into reelection, misled the American public about the perpetrators and motives of the attack.\nOne of the president's key pieces of legislation, the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as "Obamacare," has been repeatedly challe..

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Why did Thomas Jefferson send Lewis and Clark on an expedition?

Jefferson sent a letter to Congress in Jan. 18, 1803, asking for $2,500 in order to fund the Lewis and Clark expedition. Meriwether Lewis was chosen by Jefferson to lead the expedition because he had the necessary skills, military discipline and experience. Lewis chose Clark, a former rifleman whom he had served with in his company, to aid him in leading the U.S. Army expedition, which is known today as the Corps of Discovery.

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Who was Cyrus the Great?

Cyrus the Great lived from around 600 or 576 B.C. to 530 B.C. He is best remembered as a benevolent, tolerant and upright leader, declaring the first known Charter of Human Rights, although there are other interpretations of this action. He allowed more than 40,000 Jews held in Babylon to leave and return to Jerusalem. It is widely held that Cyrus respected the culture and traditions of the peoples that he conquered.

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When did the Pilgrims and Native Americans meet?

About 20 tribesmen were abducted from the Nauset, which led to their hostile engagement with the Pilgrims. Samoset was a Eastern Abenaki Native American from the modern-day state of Maine. Samoset had met numerous English fishermen and captains who taught him how to speak English. He was visiting the local Wampanoag chieftain Massasoit and, upon hearing of their arrival, went to greet the Pilgrims. He brought five Wampanoag men to trade deerskin, but it was Sunday, so the Pilgrims refused, giving them some food instead. On March 22, 1621, Samoset returned with Tisquantum, commonly known as "Sq..

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What are some facts about the New Hampshire colony?

Dover, the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire, was founded in 1623 by Captain John Mason along the Piscataqua River. In 1638, Reverend John Wheelwright, the brother-in-law of the infamous Anne Hutchinson, first established the city of Exeter after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony due to the Anitnomiam Controversy. In 1640, the colony existed as part of a coalition with Massachussetts. The coalition lasted until 1680, when the king appointed a president and council and charged the residents with electing a house of representatives. This spirit of liberty and independen..

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What was life like in 1914 ?

Many famous people debuted in 1914, including Charlie Chaplin and Babe Ruth. The Federal Reserve opened, and the U.S. Trade Commission was established along with the inauguration of the Panama Canal.\nWhile Henry Ford was making Model T's, many Americans couldn't afford a car with a price tag of around $200. Old Brothers Dodge Touring Cars were closer to $500, and a gallon of gas cost about 12 cents. The cost of buying a house for an average-sized family was approximately $3,500, and it was common for extended families to live in the same home to share the expense and the work.\nThos..

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