AskHistorians

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Given that the Pony Express lasted only one and half years before going bankrupt two days after the construction of the transcontinental telegraph, why does it enjoy such a lasting legacy today?	286
How long have parents been walking to school barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways, under hail of fire?	73
The Americans, Germans, Japanese, and Russians all seem to have simultaneously and independently concluded that atomic energy could be weaponized shortly after the discovery of nuclear fission. What exactly about this discovery led to the logical conclusion of atomic weapons?	49
When did household clocks become commonplace, and what technology made that possible?	25
The US Army was famously segregated in both World Wars. How did segregation work for non-white, non-black men?	23
It is 1830, and the doctor gave me laudanum to help with the pain after I broke my leg, but I eventually got hooked and now waste all my time and money in opium dens. How do I go about kicking the habit and turning my life around? Is it even possible, or am I doomed?	18
Malaria used to be a scourge in the US, accounting for 1.3M cases and 10K deaths during the American Civil War alone. How did it go from being widespread to practically eradicated in the US?	17
What were the original plans for the two atomic bombs had the war in Europe dragged on into the summer? Was one bomb destined for the European theatre and the other for the Pacific theatre, both for Germany, both for Japan, etc?	14
Did the widespread use of defoliants in the Vietnam War uncover any previously unknown ancient sites?	9
How did the famous Nike of Samothrace statue manage to retain her fragile wings but not her arms or head?	5

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