It wouldn’t be correct to point to one event as the cause of the Revolutionary War. Rather the war marked the culmination of the tensions between the colonists and the British Empire. Below are some of the reasons that led to the disputes.

Growing Independence

One of the issues was the growing independence of the colonists. The Empire was thousands of miles away and the colonists learned to live in a different manner. In America men and women were virtually equal. Both could run and manage properties as they saw fit.

The vast land meant unlimited resources for the colonists. Within a short time, the colonists became more prosperous than the people back home in Britain. So a major cause of the Revolutionary War was the feeling by the colonists they could go along without the Empire. The feeling was it was time to declare independence from them.

The French – Indian War & Higher Taxes

When the British got involved in a war with the French and Native Americans, the colonists fought with them. The British emerged victorious but they incurred debt, both local and foreign.

To pay for it, they imposed higher taxes on the colonists. Naturally they were outraged. Again the feeling was that there was no need to fight the wars of the British. What made it worse was that they weren’t even consulted on the matter.

Among the highest taxes were on sugar and paper, both vital to American life and business. These were just two of the main causes of the Revolutionary War.

The Incidents in Boston

Several events in the state of Massachusetts would also prove critical. The first was the Boston Tea Party. The British Parliament had recently passed a law that Americans could only purchase tea at the East India Company. The colonists responded by attacking the ship that carried the crates. They proceeded to throw hundreds of the crates into the ocean.

The Boston Massacre came about when British soldiers shot and killed unarmed civilians who were heckling them. To curb the growing protests in Boston, the Parliament passed a law. It stated that all officials in the city had to be appointed by the royal governor. Town meetings were also banned. When looking at the cause of the Revolutionary War, the events that took place in Boston cannot be ignored.

The Shots at Lexington

As tensions escalated, the Empire started to increase the number of troops in the colonies. They also imposed stricter controls. The colonists responded by taking up arms. When the British discovered that militias were gathering armaments in Lexington, they sent soldiers to arrest them. The colonists shot them.

Forced to retreat, the soldiers would later respond by sending in more troops. The US Congress created the Continental Army. It would be headed by a man named George Washington. The rest is history.

When looking at the cause of the Revolutionary War, it’s essential that all these factors are considered. Although they were diverse issues, it can be said that it was also about seeking freedom from oppression.

The building itself is well known throughout the world, but there are some facts about the White House that people may not be aware of. In fact there are some conflicting stories about it, especially why it is white.

Why is it White?

Tradition states that the edifice was originally grey in color. However the building was burned down in 1814 by the British. This was in retaliation for the burning done by the Americans during the 1812 conflict. To cover the burn marks, the entire building was repainted white all over.

But some contend that the building was already white years before the burning incident (in 1798 to be exact). According to the story, it was painted white to preserve the sandstone used to build it. If this is indeed the fact about the White House, then it was already white years before the burning.

The Naming

The name itself didn’t become official until 1901 with the decree of President Theodore Roosevelt. It was originally called the President’s House and there are actually some disagreements as to how it got the name. The most popular explanation is that it was so called due to its color. Others however, claim that the name was taken from the White House Plantation where George Washington met his wife.

A Short History

The idea for the building came from George Washington. Its planning was supervised by Charles L’ Enfant. The design was conceptualized by James Hoban and work started in 1792. It took eight years to finish. The facts about the White House will show that Washington didn’t actually reside in it. The first to do so was President John Adams in 1800.

Over the years, several parts were added to the complex. The west wing was added in 1902, which would become the focal point of the President’s activities. During the war years (1942) the east wing was added. In 1952 a bomb shelter was added as the Cold War intensified. Through the years there have been renovations done, some of the most extensive ones taking place in 1948-52.

Facts and Figures

There are 132 rooms in the edifice. There are also over 30 bathrooms, 8 stairways, and 28 fireplaces. There are 5 chefs working there. The facts about the White House will show it can also cater and serve up to 140 people.

570 gallons of paint were used on the outer façade alone. The second and third floors are the residence of the First Family. The ground floor is used for numerous functions. The west wing houses the Oval Office and where most of the staff is based. The East Room is where guests are hosted.

Other Information

The records will show that President James Polk was the first one to have his picture taken in the building. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) became the first one to go on a foreign trip while staying in the residence. While Theodore Roosevelt was the first to go there in a car, Franklin Roosevelt was the first to fly in a plane.

The facts about the White House reveal a lot of interesting details about US history in general. For all the figures though, its meaning remains the same: it is where the President resides and vital policies are made.

Historians and laymen can produce many reasons why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. Below are some of the most frequently cited ones.

Nobility and Dignity

What set Rizal apart from the others were his methods. Instead of relaying on the sword, he relied on the might of the pen. Using this method he was able to produce novels and poems that touched the Filipino’s soul.

Without resorting to violence, he made Filipinos realize the oppression they were going through under the Spaniards. In his poems he also made it clear how important it was to love one’s country.

It was a noble approach and something unique. Instead of raising arms, he embedded in the Filipino an idea. Unlike warriors, an idea cannot be killed. It is this reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines.

Showing the Filipino Potential

Rizal was a brilliant writer and poet. He was able to speak several languages and highly skilled. He was able to use his intelligence to set forth his beliefs and opinions clearly. As such, he was able to show his countrymen and the world what the Filipino could be capable of. By becoming a novelist, engineer, writer etc Rizal showed that there was no limit to the ability of the Filipino.

Fighting for Freedom

Through his works, Rizal was able to revolutionize the way that the Filipino thought. That is another reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. Even without making rousing speeches or bold declarations, he was able to stir the people’s inner spirit.

He showed that without killing another man, one can fight oppression. He also demonstrated how the power of the pen could be stronger than the sword. He also showed how someone could bring about change without resorting to violence.

A Reformist

Rizal was also different from the other revolutionaries in other ways. He didn’t just want freedom for the people. He wanted reforms. Through his works he wanted to show how important it was for the Philippines to be civilized.

The reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines is because he looked far beyond overthrowing the Spaniards. He was interested in the long term situation of the country.

Dying for His Country

Even though he carried no arms, Rizal was very brave and courageous. He used his pen to expose the hypocrisy of the Spanish authorities. He was not afraid of the authorities even when they threatened him with execution.

In the end, his written works cost him his life. But he knew that his death was not in vain. The man knew that while they could kill his mortal body, the idea of freedom was forever in the minds of the people.

It was a concept that would burn in the minds of every man. As long as the ideal was burning in the heart, the death of Rizal would only be in the physical sense. In spirit, he was in every individual.

The ideals that he fought for are still alive today. There are many challenges facing the Filipino. But the reasons why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines continues to inspire the Filipino to march on.

Most history students know that over six million Jews were slaughtered during World War II. However there are actually several theories as to why Hitler hated the Jews.

Theory of Superior Race

The most prevalent is the race theory. In his speeches and conversations, Hitler stated his belief that the Germans were descended from the mighty Aryan race. It was the destiny of this race to rule the world. Others races like the Jews and Slavs were to be their servants. As time went on, this hatred led to his belief that they should be killed.

Conspiracy against the Germans

When Germany lost World War I, there formed this belief that it was due to a conspiracy outside the battlefield. According to this theory, the Communists and Jews living in Germany conspired against the military. That was why Hitler hated the Jews. He believed that had it not been for their interference, Britain and the allies would’ve lost.

A Jewish / Communist Link

Most of Hitler’s speeches showed he blamed most of Germany’s problems on the Hebrew people and the Bolsheviks. Why he thought there was a link there isn’t clear but the two became virtually interchangeable.

Jealousy

The other reason was envy. After World War I, he saw that a lot of Germans were without jobs and struggling. Instead of looking at the war as the root cause of the economic problem, he blamed it on the Jews.

Even during the hard times, the Hebrew people were able to make good in Germany. Through sheer resourcefulness they were able to land jobs as lawyers, doctors and skilled professionals. That was another reason why Hitler hated the Jews. He saw them as taking away opportunities that belonged to the Aryan people.

Childhood Experience

Some theories suggest the hatred was rooted in childhood. It’s possible that he was influenced by the anti Semitic book Protocols of Zion. The dictator also said that he was denied entry to the Vienna Academy of Fine Art because of Jewish professors. Others suggest that his parents were racists.

During the period before and after World War I, anti Semitism was common in Europe. In some circles the rumor circulated that WW I was concocted by Jewish businessmen. Based on the hypothesis, the reason why Hitler hated the Jews was rooted in childhood.

Propaganda

Some historians have suggested that the hatred was just concocted for political reasons. When he formed the Nazi party, he knew that having a scapegoat was needed to win popular support. Realizing that anti Semitism was already prevalent, Hitler just upped the ante. In short, he told people what they wanted to hear.

It’s entirely possible that all of these elements contributed to his detestation. It’s also possible that in the beginning it was just used for political purposes but eventually became real hate.

Whatever the reasons why Hitler hated the Jews, the end result became apparent only after the war. It was then that the world came to realize the horrors of the Holocaust.

John Wilkes Booth etched his name in U.S. history when he conducted the successful assassination of then-U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. As one of the most remarkable leaders of the country, it is very interesting to find out why John Wilkes Booth killed Abraham Lincoln. Here is a quick trip back to the past and learn some of the important details and circumstances that eventually led to such gruesome event.

Reason for the Assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln

Why did John Wilkes Booth kill Abraham Lincoln? Because of the consistent efforts made by Lincoln to promote the rights of black people to vote, the irate Booth has decided to kill the president. On the 11th day of April in 1865, he attended a speech of the president that seriously backed the voting rights of black people. The speech went directly against the principles of the Confederates. After this, he carefully designed and organized a plan to assassinate the president.

Aside from being a popular actor during that time, Booth also worked as a spy for the Confederates. The initial plan was to kidnap the president. They would then use him in exchange for the release of captured Confederates. When he heard about the president’s call to grant blacks their voting rights, Booth decided to kill the president instead.

A chance came when he learned about the president’s plan to watch the play entitled “Our American Cousin.” The show was performed at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. on April 14, 1865. The plan also included the assassinations of Secretary of State William H. Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. As Lincoln was busy enjoying the play, Booth waited for the moment when the president’s bodyguard was not around.

When this moment arrived, he then made his way to the special box where the president was seated. He timed the assassination pefectly. Once he was in position, he drew the 0.44 caliber Derringer that he brought with him. He fired a single shot which hit the back of the president’s head. At some point after the assassination, he fought Major Henry Rathbone before he was able to escape. Before leaving the scene, he clamored the words ‘sic semper tyrannis,’ which mean ‘thus always to tyrants.’

For 12 long days, Federal agents conducted a manhunt. When they finally caught up with Booth, they cornered him and then shot him to his death. Bullet fragments entered his skull and into his brain. He was in a state of coma until he died the following day, which was April 15th, 1865. This event made U.S. history when Lincoln became the very first ever president to be successfully assassinated.