Modern Faqs

Is Canada Day similar to July 4th in the US?

0

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on July 2, 2012 at 3:38 pm

O, Canada! Yes, in many ways it is!

Canada Day was July 1^st! Canada Day celebrates the day that several British colonies in North America joined to become the Dominion of Canada. In celebration here are some facts about Canada from the children’s encyclopedia!

• Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of area.
• While Canada is larger than the United States in terms of area, it has only one-ninth the population of the US.
• Canada has two official languages, English and French.
• Canada’s national symbols are the maple leaf, and the beaver.
• Canada’s government is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen wields very little power in Canada’s government. The head of the government is the Prime Minister of Canada. The current Prime Minister is Stephen Harper.
• Canada has ten provinces and 3 territories.
• Catholicism is the largest single religion in Canada.
• Ice Hockey is by far the most popular sport in Canada. Many of hockey’s greatest stars, including Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky were born and raised in Canada.
• Canadians eat more beef than any other meat.
• Canada produces most of the world’s maple syrup.
• Canada’s best known theatrical event is the Stratford Shakespeare festival.
• Canada has the longest coastline of any country.
• Canada’s northern location gives it a generally cold climate.
• Service industries account for the majority of Canada’s gross domestic product.
• Farmland covers 7 percent of Canada’s land.
• Canada has vast energy resources.
• Two-thirds of Canada’s imports come from the United States of America.
• Canada’s rail system has 29,000 miles of track.
• Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline.

For more information about Canada try an educational website for kids.

Why is Leonardo da Vinci such an extraordinary figure in history?

0

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on July 2, 2012 at 3:04 pm

It is very likely that you have heard of Leonardo da Vinci. You probably know that Da Vinci was a renowned artist from the Renaissance era. You have probably seen pictures of his great paintings, like the Mona Lisa. Maybe you have even seen these paintings in person, or studied them in school. Here are some things from the encyclopedia online you may not know about Leonardo da Vinci.

Fascinating Facts about Leonardo da Vinci:

• While Leonardo was trained to be a painter, his achievements spread into a variety of fields including: anatomy, astronomy, botany, geology, geometry, optics, and the design of machines.
• Leonardo spent time as a military engineer. During this phase of his career, he designed artillery and fortresses.
• For a time, Leonardo lived in the Vatican palace in rooms granted to him by Pope Leo X.
• In addition to being an influential painter, Leonardo changed the art of drawing. Leonardo drew more, and in much greater detail than any artist before him.
• Leonardo was interested in mechanics, and drew designs for great machines including a helicopter. He did not build most of these machines, but the designs were ahead of their time.
• Leonardo was interested in anatomy. He dissected human and animal corpses to try to gain an understanding of how the human body worked. His drawing “Vitruvian man” was based upon these studies.
• Leonardo had planned on writing several books about his studies, but never completed them. His notes, which would have formed the basis of these books, were not widely available to the public until nearly 400 years after his death.
• Leonardo was interested in optics, and it showed in his paintings. His works used a more realistic portrayal of light than any other artist before him.

Find out more about the prolific Leonardo da Vinci and other great figures in history with encyclopedia books by World Book.

What are the Largest Empires in History?

0

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on June 27, 2012 at 11:18 am

As the world continues to globalize and become more connected, its interesting to look back on how it all began. Let’s take a look back in history and remember some of the largest empires in history. All information is taken from the World Book encyclopedia for children.

British Empire:

Over the course of several centuries, the British established a colonial empire so vast that it was said “The Sun never set on the British Empire”. The British Empire at one time included the islands of Britain and Ireland, Canada, vast sections of Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand, and various islands and island chains around the world. The Empire declined in the 20^th century as various independence movements swept through the British Colonies.

Mongol Empire:

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history. At it’s greatest extent, it stretched from the Pacific Ocean to eastern Europe. The Empire’s great size led to it’s rapid decline as it was very difficult for the Mongols to manage such a vast empire.

Russian Empire:

At it’s greatest extent, the Russian Empire stretched from the Bering Sea in the east to parts of Eastern and Northern Europe in the West. The Modern nation of Russia is still the largest country on the planet in terms of land area.

Spanish Empire:

The Spanish Empire was a colonial empire that included colonies all around the world, from South and Central America, to the Philippines, to parts of Europe.

Learn more about history of the world with an encyclopedia for kids by World Book.

Who Are the Most Forgotten US Presidents?

1

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on May 29, 2012 at 2:26 pm

5 Presidents You Might Forget! 

This group of presidents from the World Book encyclopedia DVD set are sure to make you the most valuable player at your next trivia night!

“Martin Van Buren, 

(1782-1862), ran for president three times but won only the first time. He served during the nation’s first great depression, the Panic of 1837. The panic brought financial ruin and misery to millions. Many turned to the government for aid. But Van Buren refused to help. He believed in Thomas Jefferson’s idea that government should play the smallest possible role. “The less government interferes,” Van Buren explained, “the better for general prosperity.””

“Franklin Pierce, 

(1804-1869), served as president during a period of increasing bitterness between North and South that later led to the American Civil War. He won the Democratic nomination for president in 1852 after the four strongest candidates had fought to a stalemate. Pierce gained support because he strongly favored the Compromise of 1850, which sought to settle the slavery dispute. “If the compromise measures are not … firmly maintained,” he said, “the Constitution will be trampled in the dust.” At 48, Pierce became the youngest president of the United States up to that time.”

“Benjamin Harrison, 

(1833-1901), was the only grandson of a president who also became president. He defeated President Grover Cleveland in 1888, but Cleveland regained the presidency by beating Harrison in 1892. Harrison’s grandfather was William Henry Harrison, the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe. William Henry Harrison had died of pneumonia in 1841 after only one month as president. Benjamin Harrison, like his grandfather, was an Army commander and a United States senator before being elected to the presidency.”

“Chester Alan Arthur, 

(1829-1886), became president after James A. Garfield died from an assassin’s bullet. Arthur was the fourth vice president to succeed to the presidency upon the death of a chief executive. Arthur had risen rapidly in the Republican Party machine (organization) of New York City. In 1871, he became collector of the New York Custom House, then the largest single federal office in the United States. Widespread dishonesty in government occurred during this period, and Arthur used his office to reward Republicans and strengthen the party. These actions contributed to graft and waste in the custom house and led to his removal in 1878. As president, however, Arthur surprised the nation by the honesty and efficiency shown by his administration. Protests by reformers about the dishonesty of previous administrations in the appointment of government officials caused Congress to pass the Civil Service Act. Arthur signed the law and administered it faithfully.”

“Warren Gamaliel Harding, 

(1865-1923), was elected president in 1920 by a people weary of wartime restraints and world problems. His supporters expected him to turn back the clock and restore the more carefree atmosphere of the days before World War I (1914-1918). Harding, an easygoing newspaper publisher and senator, encouraged this belief by campaigning on the slogan of “Back to Normalcy.” Actually, Americans would probably have elected any Republican candidate to the White House in 1920 in protest against the policies of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. They opposed particularly Wilson’s definition of American ideals and his unwillingness to accept any changes in his plan for a League of Nations. They wished to reduce their responsibilities in world affairs and to resume their normal activities with as little bother as possible.”

Are Battleships Still Important to the Navy Today?

2

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on May 23, 2012 at 11:36 am

With the feature film “Battleship” coming to movie theaters soon, you may be wondering what real battleships are like. What is the history of the battleship?  What is a battleship like? Are there still battleships in use today? Keep reading to learn more about battleships. Also, check out World Book’s encyclopedia online for more information!

A battleship is a large warship that has thicker armor and heavier armaments than most other fighting ships The only fighting ship that is larger than a battleship is the aircraft carrier

Once upon a time, battleships were once the dominant ships in many of the world’s navies. During World War II (1939-1945), however, they were replaced as fleet leaders by aircraft carriers. By the late 1950′s, the U.S. Navy and most other navies had ceased to use battleships in active duty. In the 1980’s the US Navy re-commissioned several battleships before decommissioning them in the 1990’s.

The British Dreadnought, completed in 1906, was the first modern battleship. At the time it was built, it was the most heavily armed ship in history. According to the World Book Encyclopedia,  “The Dreadnought displaced 18,500 tons (18,800 metric tons) of water and measured more than 500 feet (150 meters) long. It could achieve a speed of 21 knots, and its ten 12-inch guns were more accurate than earlier big guns.” Soon after the Dreadnought first set sail, other nations began building battleships of their own.

During World War II, increased use of military aircraft rendered battleships obsolete. The two largest battleships ever built were Japan’s Yamato and Musashi, both of which were sunk by Allied aircraft. In the wake of this technological development, battleships fell out of favor with the world’s navies.

Battleships did see limited use during the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and several battleships were modernized and re-commissioned in the 1980’s. Several of these re-commissioned vessels were used during the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990’s before being de-commissioned once again.

Find out more war history with American President books from World Book.

Works Cited:

Scheina, Robert L. “Battleship.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012. Web.  17 May 2012.

Is Memorial Day Just About Remembering Wars?

0

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on May 22, 2012 at 12:46 pm

With Memorial Day just around the corner, you might be wondering about the history of one of America’s most cherished holidays. Before you pack your bags and head to the beach to enjoy your long weekend, take a moment, get the kids together, and learn a little about the important tradition of America’s day of remembrance.

10 Facts You May Not Have Known:

Find more resources for kids about history with children’s encyclopedia online from World Book Encyclopedia.

Works Cited:

Uhler, Sharron G. “Memorial Day.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012. Web.  16 May 2012.

What is NATO?

0

X E-mail:
rachellynch09@gmail.com
Info:
Posts by the author (11) Posted by Sean Kelley on May 21, 2012 at 6:24 pm

This Spring, leaders of member nations of the organization known as NATO will meet in Chicago, IL, United States of America, to discuss matters of mutual interest to the alliance. As you read news about this summit, you may be asking yourself “What is NATO?”. You won’t need to pull out your dictionary set for this one as World Book Encyclopedia has got you covered.

NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is a military alliance of 23 member countries, primarily in North America and Europe, who seek to protect the security of its members through military and political efforts. NATO participates in a variety of peace-keeping activities throughout the world.

NATO was founded in the early days of the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of political tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and its allies in Western Europe. NATO was founded by the US and it’s allies to counteract the influence of the Soviet Union. By joining NATO, each nation agreed that an attack one country was an attack on all NATO members. In the 1950’s, the Soviet Union created an alliance of it’s own which was called the Warsaw Pact.

The Cold War ended in the 1990’s with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the Warsaw Pact. Many people believed that without the Warsaw Pact, NATO no longer served a purpose. However, NATO has altered its main objectives. Nowadays, NATO ‘s central aims include resolving international crises and prevention of terrorism.  Many former Warsaw Pact members have joined NATO in the years since that alliance’s collapse. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been involved in many conflicts around the world, including efforts to stop civil wars in the Balkans. Following the September 11^th attacks, NATO was involved with efforts to root out the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. NATO has also recently been active in fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean.

For more information on NATO check out the World Book Encyclopedia 2012 for more details.

WORKS CITED:

Cronin, Bruce. “North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012. Web.  16 May 2012.