AskHistorians

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What was the public reaction like when the US created seatbelt laws, drunk driving laws, and driver's license laws? Basically, how much push back did the public give to all these laws "limiting freedom" to drive a car however I want?	75
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is crucified next to two thieves. How much would they have had to steal in order to get crucified?	71
My grandmother told stories of being able to call a doctor for bedside visits at her house when she had the flu. Were "house calls" really so affordable and common back then? If so, how did the practice of house calls die off?	65
What was a July 4th celebration like on a Southern plantation before the civil war? In particular, what was the experience for slaves?	56
When the Soviet Union dissolved, how was the process handled in the UN? In particular, was there a period of time where no one was able to exercise the Soviet/Russian veto on the security council?	51
I'm a student at Cambridge in 1300. I've been accused of cheating on an exam. What are the standards of evidence needed to discipline me, and what is my punishment?	50
I recently learned that white southerners could take out a "mortgage" to purchase a slave on credit. How did emancipation affect these lines of credit? Is there any link between these creditors and Jim Crow practices that entrapped former slaves in indentured servitude?	39
I've heard Argentina was one of the world's 10 wealthiest nations in the early 1900s. Was this wealth evenly distributed? In particular, what was life like for an indigenous/immigrant/otherwise poor person during this time period?	38
How did the siesta (afternoon nap) become a staple of Spanish culture, but not of any other European culture? Why don't former Spanish colonies observe the siesta?	34
Japan used biological weapons on China in WWII. Did the US make any preparations for the Japanese using biological weapons against the US?	33

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