askhistorians

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A National Review column argues that the Spanish Inquisition was was “ahead of its time”, “pioneer of many judicial practices we now take for granted”, and that the conventional wisdom of a repressive and fanatical court "is the product of Elizabethan propaganda". Is this column correct?	1567
In several WWII films and TV series, snipers stay behind in abandoned locations to kill occupying forces. These snipers were always killed after inflicting a few deaths. (1) Was this a common tactic on all sides? (2) How did they get snipers to engage in such suicidal behavior?	1383
Last night, on Question Time, the BBC's flagship political show, Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the use of concentration camps in the Boer War. He asserted that the mortality rate in the camps was similar to that of Glasgow, and that the occupants of camps were interned for their own safety. Is he right?	889
In the film Patton (1970), the Allies competed with each other to be the first to seize strategic locations. It seems as if this competition made the war effort more risky and caused unnecessary casualties. Did competition of this type actually occur and did it incur significant unnecessary costs?	823
How have the micro/small states of Europe (Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino) remained sovereign states for so long?	427
Was the treatment of European Catholic immigrants to the US in the late 19th and early 20th century comparable to the way Americans treat Hispanics immigrants and Europeans treat Muslim immigrants today (with a lot of suspicion and discrimination)?	166
Was there any push for restoring the German monarchy after WWII? Did any of the actors involved in the drafting process of the West-German constitution consider it?	96
How did standards of living compare between the Soviet Union and the West?	81
Why didn't a Scandinavian defence union pan out after WWII? Was it ever a realistic option?	72
The Reagan administration has often charged with neglecting the AIDS crisis. The history surrounding Reagan's role in the AIDS crisis seems very contested though. To what extent are the charges against Reagan correct?	65

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