askhistorians

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Why does Michigan have the Upper Peninsula as opposed to Wisconsin or Canada?	51
In 1826, the Janissary Corps was abolished and slaughtered by Sultan Mahmud II in an act known as the Auspicious Event. What led the Janissaries falling out of favor with the Sultan? How did local populations, who often relied on the Janissaries for basic protection and civil functions, respond?	50
How easy would it have been to get away with murder in 16th and 17th century Europe?	50
Why is almost every King of Denmark named either Frederick or Christian?	49
In the contemporary era, conspiracy theories abound. One of the most famous is that America didn't land on the moon. Is this conspiracy purely a modern invention, or were there doubters in the 1960s as well? Did the Soviet government accept it? Did Soviet citizens believe it was Western propaganda?	44
Both the Byzantines and the Ottomans made a vassal out of the Crimean Peninsula, yet the Russians annexed it in 1783. Why did the former states not annex it? Was it THAT inhospitable or was something else at play?	42
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the only President with a disability, and was often in a wheelchair or on crutches. What was the public's opinion on this? Did anyone try to argue he was unfit for office? Was the White House outfitted with ramps/rails to assist him? How difficult was travelling abroad?	41
The Ottoman Empire stretched from Hungary to Yemen to parts of Morocco. How varied was the system of government in say, Yemen, Crimea and Algeria?	40
The US declared independence in 1776. The Holy Roman Empire was around until 1806. Do we know of any diplomatic contact between these two nations?	39
As a historian-in-training, what are some good questions to ask when reading a text that help determine bias?	37

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