askhistorians

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In the movie, "Mary, Queen of Scots," both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I are depicted as having a diverse court (see description for examples). This was refreshing, but also surprising. How racially diverse were their courts, and was this typical in 16th century Britain and Europe?	445
Did Nazi doctors or scientists who experimented on people in concentration camps make any significant contributions to their fields due to their experiments? If so, how beneficial were those contributions to humanity?	438
In Lyndon Johnson's first speech as president, he said of JFK that "the dream of an all-out attack on mental illness... [has] been vitalized by his drive and by his dedication." What did JFK do to combat mental illness?	51
In the US, criminal law is a state matter. In Canada it’s a federal matter. Was the decision to make criminal law a federal matter in Canada a response to lessons from the US? // More generally, how was the development of the Canadian constitution influenced by lessons from the US, if at all?	46
“Kill all the lawyers”, the Shakespearean quote goes. What historical event(s) caused the legal profession to be viewed so negatively?	40
Early Zionism had many strains. Notable is the "Jewish Home" variety that advocated for a Jewish homeland shared with the Palestinians. Why did that strain die out within Zionism and how did its demands migrate to to some pro-Palestinian movements (like the pre-Oslo PLO)? Also, book recommendations?	22
What do we know about Abraham Lincoln's depression, and is Joshua Shenk's "Lincoln's Melancholy" accurate in its examination of the issue?	10
How accurate is Martin Ling's historiography in his book on the founder of Islam, "Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources", and how should one feel about his use of "the earliest sources"?	8
In the US, criminal law is a state matter, but in Canada, it’s federal. The US Bill of Rights is absolute, but the Canadian Charter allows for violations to one’s freedoms if there is a pressing/legitimate need. How was the writing of Canada’s constitution influenced by the US experience, if at all?	1
Donald Trump ran for president between Oct 1999 and Feb 2000. More specifically, he unsuccessfully contested the Reform Party's nomination. Why did he not contest the Republican Party's nomination that year?	0

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