AskHistorians

Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
It's 1855 and I live in rural Louisiana. My 13 yo son has started to hear voices. What would I do about that? Would he be called for service in the war a fee years later, or excused because of it?	1069
In major US conflicts like WW2, small arms were manufactured by multiple companies from actual firearms companies to sewing machine companies. Today some of these hold more collector's value than others. Did the servicemen of the time find certain company's guns more desirable than others?	146
The Battle of New Orleans was fought after the end of the War of 1812 but before word had reached Louisiana. In the 17 and 1800s, what was standard precedent in handling the results of battles fought after treaties were signed but before that information was spread to those on the front?	57
Blues music originated from slaves in the US and has influenced and permeated almost all Western music for the last century. Is there any evidence of music playing slave owners adopting "black styles" of music? If so, how was this perceived by other whites?	34
When did the "pop" drum set as we know it today first appear in music? And what are its roots?	24
Is the prevalence of English worldwide more attributable to England's past influence or America's more recent widespread influence?	23
When was the Bible first split into it's verses? Who decided what constituted a "verse" and why was it determined that way?	23
In most countries during WW1&2, the same firearms were manufactured by a multitude of companies and factories. Collectors today consider the specific manufacturer heavily when it comes to value. Is it known if the servicemembers carrying them cared at all about where the rifle came from?	9
Why did the US, unlike other countries of the time, feel the need to adopt a standard issue semiauto infantry rifle in the mid 30s?	8
Overall, did convenience stores become gas stations, or did gas stations become convenience stores?	5

« < > »