AskHistorians

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Did widespread availability of the birth control pill have any affect on marriage or divorce rates?	81
The eradication of smallpox required global coordination among hostile geopolitical rivals at the height of the Cold War. How was this accomplished?	80
(Some of) Martin Luther King Jr's family now disputes that James Earl Ray was his lone killer. What do historians have to say on the subject?	80
Contrary to public perception, about 2/3 of America's soldiers were drafted into service for WWII, as opposed to 1/4 who were drafted into service for Viet Nam. Was there any resistance to or protest against it, or was it just accepted and understood that this was a necessary fight?	80
In 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, the US government held a popular election. Was there ever a question of whether that election would be held? Was it ever suggested that the government might put off elections til the fighting was over?	79
During the NYC draft/race riots of 1863, one of the targets of the mob's ire was the New York Times, whose offices were defended by staff (including the paper's founder) manning Gatling guns. Was this just random, or was the crowd's anger targeted?	78
How did Christianity manage to transition from arguably the most persecuted population of Rome, under Diocletian, to the official state religion in less than 70 years?	78
What was the rationale for the United States denying asylum for Jews fleeing the Holocaust on the St.Louis? Was this standard policy or a special case, and why was it handled that way?	78
'All in the Family', the most popular show in the '70s, reflected the contentious politics of the day being hashed out around the dinner table, in a way never really seen before or since. Was public, inter-familial discourse like this reflecting something in the zeitgeist, or did they create it?	77
Why are most elections in the United States historically held on Tuesday and not on weekends?	77

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