/r/askhistorians

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"Abe Lincoln got the name 'honest Abe' because of his impartial judgement during cock fights" How accurate is this statement?

692 upvotes • IRidePigs

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Reconstruction historian Mark Summers said in a lecture that there has been no solid estimate on the number of people killed during Reconstruction, but that it is "not a small number". Why has no historian been able to calculate the casualty toll of Reconstruction?

692 upvotes • CockMyBratwurst

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Did murder happen often in Ancient Rome?

692 upvotes • titlorr

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The USSR tried to join NATO in 1954, which was like trying to join an alliance formed to oppose them. Why did they want in, and were they surprised to be rejected?

692 upvotes • RusticBohemian

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It’s pretty commonly known that the only reason American citizens have to calculate their own taxes is because companies that help us calculate those taxes have lobbied politicians to keep it that way. But then why and how did the system come to work like that in the first place?

692 upvotes • RiceEatingSavage

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AMA: I’m Dr Bob Nicholson, historian of 19th century popular culture and presenter of the BBC podcast series ‘Killing Victoria’. Ask me anything!

692 upvotes • DigiVictorian

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Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped by the Mossad and brought to trial in Israël for his role in the genocide by the Nazi's. What was the (legal) reasoning/authority to justify kidnapping and ignoring the judicial processes in Argentina (like asking for extradition)?

692 upvotes • sfb_stufu

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How did the tonfa, a weapon used in an okinawan martial art become a weapon used by police forces worldwide?

691 upvotes • rakust

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I'm a knight in medieval times. How long can I expect my suit of armor to last (say during a period of heavy warfare)? How much, as a percentage of my income/wealth, might I expect to spend replacing parts and keeping it up?

691 upvotes • PolarFrosty

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Has a first lady ever had a job while living in the white house?

691 upvotes • chuckyjc05

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
"Abe Lincoln got the name 'honest Abe' because of his impartial judgement during cock fights" How accurate is this statement?	692	IRidePigs
Reconstruction historian Mark Summers said in a lecture that there has been no solid estimate on the number of people killed during Reconstruction, but that it is "not a small number". Why has no historian been able to calculate the casualty toll of Reconstruction?	692	CockMyBratwurst
Did murder happen often in Ancient Rome?	692	titlorr
The USSR tried to join NATO in 1954, which was like trying to join an alliance formed to oppose them. Why did they want in, and were they surprised to be rejected?	692	RusticBohemian
It’s pretty commonly known that the only reason American citizens have to calculate their own taxes is because companies that help us calculate those taxes have lobbied politicians to keep it that way. But then why and how did the system come to work like that in the first place?	692	RiceEatingSavage
AMA: I’m Dr Bob Nicholson, historian of 19th century popular culture and presenter of the BBC podcast series ‘Killing Victoria’. Ask me anything!	692	DigiVictorian
Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped by the Mossad and brought to trial in Israël for his role in the genocide by the Nazi's. What was the (legal) reasoning/authority to justify kidnapping and ignoring the judicial processes in Argentina (like asking for extradition)?	692	sfb_stufu
How did the tonfa, a weapon used in an okinawan martial art become a weapon used by police forces worldwide?	691	rakust
I'm a knight in medieval times. How long can I expect my suit of armor to last (say during a period of heavy warfare)? How much, as a percentage of my income/wealth, might I expect to spend replacing parts and keeping it up?	691	PolarFrosty
Has a first lady ever had a job while living in the white house?	691	chuckyjc05