AskHistorians

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In his famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech, Churchill explores the possibility of an invasion of England by Germany. Was this a legitimate concern to the British government and military leadership at the time?	106
The Mexican ruler Porfirio Díaz lead a revolution against the supposed tyranny of repeated presidential re-election, but later went on to be repeatedly re-elected to the presidency. Did Díaz genuinely believe strongly in term limits at one point, or was his uprising just a cynical power grab?	48
The Mexican ruler Porfirio Díaz lead a revolution because he felt it was tyranny for the prior president to be repeatedly reelected. After taking power, he was repeatedly reelected for decades. Did he ever truly believe term limits were important, or was his uprising just a cynical power grab?	35
How much would a denarii buy me in Rome during Julius Caesar's rule?	27
When I was younger, I was taught that medieval armour was so heavy that knights needed cranes to get onto their horses. I was later taught that this was a myth. Where did this misconception come from?	27
Were the Spartans as effective of a military force as they are often portrayed in popular culture? How did their tactics and training actually compare to other contemporary empires?	18
During the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt helped form the famous "Rough Riders" Cavalry Regiment. Was it common in the 1890s for private individuals to raise military units during wartime? Or is Roosevelt's involvement in raising and training the unit exaggerated?	16
Western Movies often show "Wanted" posters with large rewards for hunting down criminals? Were these sorts of bounties claimed frequently, or is this more of a fictional exaggeration?	15
During the 1848 Revolution in the Austrian Empire, Croatian troops frequently played pivotal roles in defeating revolutionary forces. Why was Croatia seemingly so loyal to the Emperor in comparison to other groups within Austrian territory?	14
What effect did the first WWI tanks have on the morale of soldiers who fought alongside (or against) them?	12

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