Why » History

Why is Gettysburg important?

Hari — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:32:22 +0000

The town of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania played a very important role in U.S. history. This particular town was the site of the famous battle during the American Civil War called “The Battle of Gettysburg.” This battle served as the defining moment for the Union soldiers as they defeated the Confederate troops in what was planned to be an invasion or takeover of the North. Because of this battle, the Confederate troops were forced to retreat back to Virginia. The Gettysburg Battle also became known for the most number of casualties in the American Civil War. This battle, which lasted for 3 days, cost the lives of about 50,000 soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies.

The time was July 1-3 in 1863 when Gettysburg became the site of what was to be the end of the Confederate troops. Because they were defeated, it was touted as their last hurrah or last attempt to invade the northern part of the United States. If they were successful back then, they would have been able to force the Union States to negotiate and perhaps agree to some of their terms and demands. But the Union troops, led then by Major General George Gordon Meade, were able to foil the said invasion attempt of the Confederate troops headed by General Robert Lee. Fresh from his success in overcoming the State of Virginia, General Lee planned to go up north to take his cause to the Union leaders and politicians.

After the famous battle, then President Abraham Lincoln also gave his famous speech in the same town. His speech was a sort of memorial and dedication to all soldiers who fought and lost their lives during the battle of Gettysburg. This speech is famous as “The Gettysburg Address.” This speech was delivered just months after the famous battle that took place in this famous town.

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Why is Hamlet insane?

Hari — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:59:04 +0000

Hamlet refers to one of the most popular of Shakespeare’s works. It is a tragedy that is considered to have endless possibilities for being applied to present situations in life. Hamlet the play is a favorite in many schools across the world, and it tells the story of the main character, Prince Hamlet, who sought revenge for the death of his father. His father was the reigning king of Denmark but was killed by Claudius, who happens to be Prince Hamlet’s uncle. All throughout the play, Prince Hamlet’s character showed several signs of madness or mental disturbance making people think of him as an insane person.

The thought of Hamlet as being truly insane has been debated for a long time, and up to today many people have different takes on the situation. Some people justify Hamlet’s insanity or mood swings, as others would say, by pointing to the obvious plot of the whole play or story. For Hamlet’s character, he had to go through a difficult situation with his father murdered by his own uncle. Even in real life, a situation like this could make one insane, and so some people do not wonder why Hamlet is portrayed as having an unstable mind all throughout the play.

But some experts also suggest that Hamlet’s character actually portrayed himself as mad in some parts. It is said that Hamlet was trying to fake his mental state so he could eventually plan out his revenge for his father’s death. Though in some parts of the play, the same experts would agree that Hamlet could have really been insane because of his words and actions. Like in the portion where Hamlet was supposedly having bad dreams, or confessing to be melancholic, or being restless at some points, these instances are considered possible symptoms of insanity and madness. Because he supposedly showed many signs of mental disturbance in the play, many people simply think Hamlet had become insane.

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Why is Leviticus in the Bible?

Hari — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:01:01 +0000

There are some people that question the book of Leviticus and its inclusion in most Bibles, including Christian versions. This particular book was supposed to be some form of instruction to the Levites. Traditionally, it is the Jews that promote their teachings using details taken from the book of Leviticus. But as for the Christians, some would argue that this particular book may not be relevant to their faith. But when the experts are consulted on the subject, even if Leviticus focused so much on the duties of priests and of the laity, it also talks about God being a great and holy figure. With this argument alone, one can say that Leviticus is a relevant source of information even for Christians. For the experts, this is what made Leviticus part of Christian Bibles.

Leviticus was said to be written at around the time of Moses. Much of the book involved teachings related to sacrifices and bringing offerings as symbols of worshipping God. Included also are instructions for priests and stories relating to priesthood. The book also discusses several ideas on being unclean in terms of the food people eat, what they do, and how they speak. For many people around the world, these entries serve as a guide for their daily lives in terms of the choices they make. A significant part of Leviticus also tackles various means of being holy. Several examples are given on ways that people can follow to become good followers of God and to obtain holiness.

Most of the entries in the book of Leviticus may be directed towards the Levites, but the main ideas can be applied to any religion or sect. As for the experts on the subject, the stories presented in the book are considered relevant even to the Christian faith, thus making it part of the Bible.

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Why is Abe Lincoln famous?

Hari — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:49:49 +0000

Abe Lincoln, or Abraham Lincoln, is one of America’s most famous presidents if not the most famous. During his time, Abe Lincoln was the country’s 16th President. The main reason that he became popular with the people is because he was a strong opponent of slavery across different states in the U.S. It was during his time that there was widespread slavery in many Southern States of the U.S., and he strongly urged people to stop this wrongdoing and let every American live free.

Abe Lincoln also led the preservation of the U.S. by winning the American Civil War against the secessionist states called then as the Confederate States of America. It was also during his time that various laws were signed that eventually led to the abolition of slavery across the U.S. With the issuance of the “Emancipation Proclamation,” the rights of all people across America were slowly being honored and respected including those of the slaves. Eventually, Abe Lincoln’s actions led to the total abolition of slavery across the U.S. through the passage of the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

But aside from Abe Lincoln’s huge part in eradicating slavery in the U.S., he also became famous for his other good deeds. Known to have humble beginnings, many people looked up to Abe Lincoln as a good example of success which is earned through hard work and discipline. Back then, most of America was awed at Abe Lincoln for his good leadership and integrity. It was also said that Abe Lincoln’s style of governance involved conversations with other people. He became known as a great storyteller which earned him the nickname “Father Abraham.”

Abe Lincoln also became famous because of his words and speeches. He was always quoted when he spoke in public because of his wise and intelligent words. His assassination as President was a very sorrowful period in U.S. history and never forgotten.

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Why is war necessary?

Hari — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:31:58 +0000

There is a separate thinking and mental strategy for each one of us to deal with the situations in the world. There are so many duties and responsibilities for humans explained by various religious groups. Some people tend to show the world their own peculiar way of living different from all other religious verses. Whatever may be the life style of the person, it would be all right and peaceful until the person harms another. There are many desires, demands, and cravings for various resources among the people of a family, state, or nation, or even among the people living in different countries.

This world has many natural resources provided by nature distributed all over. If one location has tremendous water resources, the other location will be rich in oil. There are some places where people die of hunger while some people at other places live luxuriously with resources available more than what they need. It is the basic necessity for mankind to help each other and live together. It is beautiful to see the world where the natural resources of two regions are shared by the people living in those regions.

The idea of war starts from a small issue and later gets portrayed as an international problem. The war arises to satisfy the selfish ends of a person or a country as a whole. If the problems of a country are looked into with patience, and if they are resolved gradually no matter the time it may take for the resolution, wars can be avoided. People of two countries, or people of two states or two people in a family, can come to an understanding by discussions and bring in peace. To make peace, whether it is at the individual level or an international level, the basic characteristic of either party is to possess a feeling of brotherhood and positivity. This will help all the people to live with harmony and peace.

There are people like Mahatma Gandhi who turned the other cheek when one of his cheeks was slapped. There are also people like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, etc. who created wars to satisfy their egos. The ego-led wars always end with lot of destruction. “Wars” by definition refer to “destruction.” If we think in terms of the good for all mankind, wars are not necessary. Any big problem can be solved by being together and fight against the evils of negativity which exist in the minds of people who vote for war.

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Why is Sacramento the capital?

Hari — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:13:53 +0000

When people talk about the state of California, most would think that the big cities of Los Angeles or San Francisco are the capital city. These people would be surprised to know that the city of Sacramento is the state capital. Although Sacramento is also a large city, it’s just not one of the most popular cities to be considered as the state capital.

Back in 1849, the original capital city for the state of California was Monterey. During this time, the first ever Constitutional Convention and state elections were held in this city. It was also agreed upon during the said convention that San Jose will be the new capital city after Monterey. It stayed this way until 1851, and a year after the state capital was moved again to the city of Vallejo. After another year, Benicia became California’s state capital. Only after this city did Sacramento became the official capital of the state of California. By 1879, it was resolved by the Constitutional Convention to make Sacramento the permanent capital city of California.

Back in those times, Sacramento was the obvious choice for the state capital. During the Gold Rush period, people from across different states would pass through Sacramento for their activities. Sacramento back then attracted many people which stimulated and boosted the city’s economic and business climate. Most of the powerful politicians of the time were based in Sacramento making it an obvious choice for the state’s capital. The location of Sacramento was also a perfect choice back then against possible invasion from foreigners because it was not near the ocean. But with major rivers nearby and its proximity to other major cities like San Francisco, Sacramento thrived to become a bustling city in those times. With all these factors involved, the city of Sacramento became the state capital of California.

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Why is civilization important?

Hari — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:12:26 +0000

Civilization has such a complex and broad meaning that many people may actually refer to different things when talking about it. Being “civilized” may mean one thing for one person but may actually have a different meaning for others. Most people, though, consider civilization as a process or development involving humans in terms of the way they live, the way people do things, and including the way people organize. Others also define civilization along the terms of the material progress achieved by mankind in terms of labor, science, and/or technology. But with all these references to civilization, one will be able to grasp the idea that it is an important part of people’s lives. Knowing the activities and processes of the past is very essential as it serves as a form of guide in doing things at present times.

Other people also relate civilization with culture. With this correlation, civilization can be taken as something to do with human society and people’s basic way of life. In ancient times, people were forced to hunt for food and gather supplies to literally prepare for rainy days ahead. Over centuries and decades, people have found ways to better communicate with each other, to organize groups for different purposes, and to acquire things through the concept of paying for goods and services. Along with the developments in these aspects, mankind also gained more knowledge over time. Knowledge and experience gained in the past was utilized in inventing new things, improving existing processes, and finding better ways for everyone. With all these things coming from previous civilizations, it is clear that people consider it an important part of the present lives we all have today. Without the lessons of the past, people today would have a harder time coping up with what’s going on in the world.

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Why do Latinos come to America?

Hari — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:02:47 +0000

Hispanics or Latino Americans are those who originate from Hispanic locations of Latin America or Spain. The Latin American population has its roots from all the continents and is known to have many ancestries. The Latino Americans are diverse racially, and they form an ethnic division instead of being called a race. Their name can be chosen as either Hispanic or Latinos depending on the region where they stay. Those who stay in the eastern United States are called Hispanics while those who stay in the western United States are usually termed as Latino.

The Hispanics or Latino group occupies around 16.3 per cent of the entire United States’ population. Among all the minority groups, Latinos form the second largest group, the African Americans being the first. This group existed from the 16th century onwards.

The present-day United States was pioneered by the Spanish. The fact that the Europeans came to the continental United States was confirmed for the first time in 1513 by the entry of Juan Ponce de Leon. Before the formation of New England in the United States, there was New Spain. The Spanish colonized the American Southwest from the 16th century onwards. The Spanish-speaking people of the United States who immigrated to this place after the Mexican War are known as Mexican Americans. They started to rise in their numbers due to immigration. They came from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central America, South America, and from the Dominican Republic. All these people put together were called Hispanics or Latinos. The Latinos or Hispanics have immigrated for enjoying economic opportunity and release from political persecution. Most of the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans came to the United States to make a better living and to come out of poverty.

Latinos form the fast growing ethnic minority currently in the United States. Around 60 per cent of these Hispanics or Latinos have their origins in Mexico. Inside this group of Latinos there are several subgroups with diverse ethnic origins. The subgroups are African Americans, pure Europeans whose families were in America since many generations, and American Indians. Some people represent the combination of different cultures as they have descended due to intermarriage. Many of the Mexican Americans have a U.S. national origin though their ancestors were living in the Southwest long before the Mexican War. It is found that 86 per cent of the Mexican Americans are occupying Colorado, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The population in California and Texas constitute around 50 per cent of the Hispanic population in the United States. Around two-thirds of Puerto Ricans are known to be staying in the New York and New Jersey areas. Florida has about 60 per cent of its population originating from Cuba.

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Why do Arabs want Israel?

Hari — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:16:36 +0000

Map of Israel

It is observed that Arabs have about 640 times more land than what the Israeli people have. The population of Arab countries is about 60 times more than that of Israel. The Arabs have very abundant oil resources. The territory of Israel is 21,000 sq. km. while that of the Arab’s is 13 million sq. km. But still the Arabs claim the land of Israel, and they always desire to fight with Israel for the land and do not want to maintain any peace and harmony with them.

From the years 1517 until 1917, the countries of Israel, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan were under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. After the event of World War I, the empire was mandated. France included Syria and Lebanon while Great Britain annexed Jordan and Israel which was called Palestine. According to the Balfour Declaration that was signed November 2nd, 1917, the Jews were given their own territory which was called their homeland. Jews were allotted land, and they started to renovate their construction and develop their area. This became attractive to the Arabs, and they started to immigrate to the land of the Jews.

In the year 1923, again Great Britain made this land of the Jews into two administrative states and designated a part of the land which is on the west side of the Jordan River for the Jews. The rest was named “Transjordan” which was taken away by Great Britain. After about a 24-year period, Great Britain made Transjordan a separate Palestinian state.

Slowly, the Arabs started attacking the Jews out of nationalistic feelings, and they revolted against the Jews during the period between 1936 and 1939. This internal fighting did not bother Great Britain very much as they were in need of the extensive oil reserves in the Arab territories. The Jews did not stop battling against the Arab Palestinians, and this was brought to the attention of the United Nations. In the year 1947 on the 29th of November, the United Nations voted for the division of Palestine into Jewish and Arab Palestinian states. The Arab Palestinian state is now Jordan. Most of the part of the land offered to the Jews was an extensive desert. But this proposal was not accepted by the Arabs.

In the year 1948 on the 14th of May, the Jews declared Palestine as their independent country of Israel. The neighboring Arab countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi-Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, and Syria declared war against the Jews. The Arab leaders were keen on killing the Jews and occupying the state completely next to them. The Arabs who were living in Jewish Palestine started leaving that place as they thought that they can reenter the state when all the Jews are killed in the war. However, Israel fought with all the Arab nations and managed to defeat them. Jordan became a place which harbors the terrorists to attack Israel every now and then. In the period between 1949 and 1967, Egypt and Jordan were controlled by Arabs. No separate state was formed for the Arab Palestinians. The organization called the PLO was formed to destroy Israel completely which has not been possible to do even now

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Why Do English Lawyers wear Wigs?

Hari — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:23:00 +0000

Why Do English Lawyers wear Wigs?

Initially, when the English barristers started wearing wigs, it was only to maintain style. They followed uninterruptedly wearing the wigs as it was not stopped by anyone. Wigs are costly and the barristers were offered stipend to pay for their wigs. Sometimes there was necessity to buy their own wigs by the barristers and some lawyers used to buy the wigs that were already used by others. There is an opinion about the reason for the lawyers to follow the tradition of wearing the wig as they tried to keep up their dignity of law towards the accused people. There is also another opinion by the people that the lawyers might not be recognized by others outside the court, if they use wigs. It will act as an element of disguise that protects the lawyer from those who try to harm them outside the court.

In earlier days, a head cover of one kind was used by the lawyers. After that the tradition of using the ‘black flat bonnet cap’ was in use. Then the lawyers began using wigs in the year 1680. From that period the legal wig was seen as white or grey colored hair for about 150 years. Later in the year 1822, a wig that is meant only for the lawyers called as legal wig was invented by ‘Humphrey Ravens croft’. This wig was comprised of greyish white horse hair which was not having curling, powdered, perfumed and frizzing characteristics.

Till the capital punishment was stopped in the year 1969, the lawyers were wearing black caps when they were announcing death sentence. Then the wigs were started to be used for the purpose of fashion. The manufacturing of wigs was done by taking the hair from the people for money. There was a trading done with the hair of the dead. It was found that the lice that were present in the wigs were spreading to the original hair of the lawyers. To maintain the hygiene they used to shave their head beneath the wigs. Now, the tradition has continued and wearing wigs has become a part of the court dress.

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