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Who wrote the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan called for two legislative bodies, with representatives from each state in proportion to population. The upper house representatives would serve seven-year terms and be elected by the state legislatures, while the lower house members would serve three-year terms and be voted in by the people of each state. This plan was met with some resistance by the proposed New Jersey plan, calling for equal legislative representation from each state, and ultimately modified with the Connecticut Compromise to form the current federal legislature, comprised of the House of Representatives a..

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How long was the Cold War?

During the Cold War, tensions were high between the two sides, but tensions never escalated into a shooting war -- except on a small scale through proxy countries. Both sides, however, armed heavily, with the philosophy that "mutually assured destruction" in the case of war would deter either side from attacking openly. Ultimately, a series of revolutions against communism, primarily in Europe, caused the fall and dissolution of the USSR, ending the Cold War.

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Why was Mao Zedong so important?

"The Great Leap Forward" was Mao's attempt to create what he considered to be a more "Chinese" form of communism. It included taking control of agricultural and industrial production. This led to the famine and deaths of millions of people. He then launched the "Cultural Revolution" in 1966 to help purge the country of its impure elements as well as rebuild a nationalist revolutionary spirit. One and a half million people died during this period and much of the Chinese cultural heritage was destroyed.Mao was born on December 26, 1893, to a peasant family in central China. He trained as a ..

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Where did the Phoenicians settle?

The Phoenicians had a notable cultural impact, with their alphabet becoming the basis of the Greek alphabet. They were known as traders and merchants, specializing in ivory and wood and dealing in cloth, dyes, embroideries, wine and wood. The Lebanese Global Information Center states that the Phoenicians built several East Mediterranean cities, including Beirut, Tripoli and Tyre, that remain standing in modern-day Lebanon.

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What kind of clothes did people wear in ancient Mesopotamia?

Mesopotamia, the area between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, saw several civilizations rise and fall. The first were the Sumerians, whose civilization prospered between 3,500 and 2,000 BC. They were followed by the Babylonians, who were replaced by the Assyrians in 1,000 BC. Mesopotamia became a part of the Persian Empire in 539 BC.Sumerians wore skirts made with sheepskin. The longer the skirt, the higher the status of the wearer. By about 2,500, Sumerians learned the art of spinning and weaving sheep's wool and started making it into skirts and cloaks. Jewelry made of precious metals ..

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What are the beliefs of the Iroquois?

The spirits of the Iroquois were thought to go to the afterlife upon their deaths. However, this afterlife was very different than what the Whites imagined to be a "happy hunting ground." Iroquois people actually believed that spirits did not eat so there would be no use for hunting in the afterlife. Ghosts of the tribe did remain interested in the tribe though and were believed to attend the wintertime feasts and raiding parties.\nThe Iroquois of upper New York joined the ideas of mourning and war with their belief of a spiritual power that animated all things. When a tribe member would die, ..

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What did Victorian children get for Christmas?

Rocking horses were common toys for younger children in the Victorian era, as were simple motion toys, such as tops, whirligigs and cup-and-ball games. Young girls enjoyed dolls, ranging from simple baby dolls to detailed miniature figures housed in elaborate dollhouses. Tin soldiers were popular for boys, and were often painted to mimic the uniforms of soldiers in the European wars earlier in the century. As railroads grew in prominence, train sets became frequent gifts, usually featuring a clockwork mechanism to drive the train around its track. Building blocks were also common for boys and ..

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What was the most commonly practiced religion in colonial Maryland?

Protestant leadership seized control of the colony's affairs after the death of Leonard Calvert in 1647, though it was quickly reclaimed by another Calvert, Cecil Calvert. The second Baron Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, thought that the concept of religious freedom was weakened by the lack of official law solidifying the concept. He wrote the Maryland Toleration Act, passed in April 21, 1649, to protect Christian rights, so long as those Christians believed in the Trinity. Those of different faiths or other Christian sects could be punished harshly under the law.

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Where did Darwin travel on the HMS Beagle?

Captained by Robert FitzRoy, the HMS Beagle left England in December, 1831. It travelled south to the Madeira and Canary Islands, though Darwin was unable to disembark at either due to sickness and quarantine. From there, the ship travelled further south to Cape Verde, then on to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, the Galapagos islands and several other island groups off continental South America. After South America, the Beagle crossed the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand and Australia, stopping at Tahiti in French Polynesia along the way. From Australia, the ship crossed the Indian Ocean t..

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When were aprons invented?

Aprons are typically part of uniforms for several types of workers including nurses, housekeepers, hair stylists and restaurant servers. Depending on the apron's particular purpose, they can be made from various materials, including lead for protection against radiation and rubber for protection against chemicals. Styles vary, with some aprons covering only the waist down while others also cover the chest. The word apron comes from the French word "naperon."

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