» Geography

Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as new capital of Canada.

charles-feigelstock — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:08:09 +0000

Queen Victoria is one of the longest reigning monarchs in history. At 17 she became queen, and at 18 she was officially coronated. In 1876 she also gave herself the title of Empress of India, as the United Kingdom came to control much of India. At 21 she married her cousin Prince Albert, and they had 9 children. From there, 34 grandchildren were born, 26 survived, and they married throughout Europe’s nobility which made Queen Victoria “the grandmother of Europe.”

On this day December 31^st, in 1857, Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as the new capital of Canada. Ottawa is in the state of Ontario. Ontario’s largest city is Toronto, a place famous for its nightlife, towers, and a generally relaxed demeanor.

Ottawa is the second largest city. 2011 census stated that Ottawa’s population was 880,000, while its metropolitan area boasts over 1.3 million people. This city has been deemed one of the cleanest cities in the world. It has many canals, and part of the city is built around Ottawa sits on top of a dormant fault line which has been known to cause numerous earthquakes.

Gadsden Purchase: The United States buys land from Mexico for 10M to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.

charles-feigelstock — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 07:08:00 +0000

As the Industrial Revolution continued to progress, many traders saw an opportunity. They saw an untapped market, the trade between the South and the Pacific Coast. California, Oregon, & Washington, had of late become populated through the Gold Rush and were only growing. Cities along the way could also be involved by the new railroad track to be laid.

On this day December 30^th, in 1853, an American Ambassador to Mexico, James Gadsen, signed a treaty with would give land to the United States for a total of $10 million. Adjusting for inflation, today that would be about $260 Million. Land acquired totaled 27,600 sq. miles, and covers parts of Arizona and New Mexico.

With the railroad age coming around, traders knew that it was important to connect all of the U.S. They also came to realize that part of it would have to dip into then Mexican land. What ended up coming from this was a Southern Route of the Trans-Continental Railroad to the west. The Senate approved and ratified the Gadsden purchase April 25, 1854, and it was finalized by Mexico June 8, 1854.

The Treaty of New Echota is signed, giving all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.

charles-feigelstock — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 07:08:09 +0000

Today New Echota is preserved as a landmark and historical site. New Echota was the Cherokee capital from 1825 till the 1830’s. The Cherokee moved to New Echota from Chota after having ceded the land to the United States.

On this day December 29^th, in 1835, the Treaty of New Echota is signed between Georgian officials and representatives of a small division of the Cherokees known as the Tree Party. Many Cherokee objected the terms of the Treaty because it did not have the approval of John Ross, the main chief of the Cherokee.

In this treaty, the Cherokee relinquished their claims on land East of the Mississippi River, and agreed to move west into Indian territory. This Treaty gave justification for what had already been occurring, the Trail of Tears. The purpose of the Trail of Tears was to forcibly remove the Natives from their homes so that white settlers could live there. President Andrew Jackson was one of the leaders and strong advocate of the Trail of Tears campaign, as he was also known for his virulent hatred of Native Americans.

Iowa is admitted as the 29th U.S. state.

charles-feigelstock — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:08:08 +0000

Iowa’s name originates from the Native American Indians that lived there, the Ioway people. In 1760 there were 1,100 Iowayans, but by 1804 there were 800 because of their lack of immunity to diseases Europeans brought such as smallpox. The tribe ended up moving to Indian Territory and became the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

On this day December 28^th, in 1846, Iowa is admitted as the 29^th state of the United States. Iowa has been called the “food capital of the world” and is known for its corn. Corn has become a major food staple in the United States.

Iowa has a relatively small population, with only 3 million in the state approximately. Its capital is Des Moines, which has slightly over 200,000 people. Des Moines is known for its financial district, including insurance companies. Iowa’s state flower is the beautiful wild rose, and Iowa’s bucolic setting is one to be cherished.

On the HMS Beagle Charles Darwin sets out on the Pacific on an expedition which will later help shape his theory of evolution.

charles-feigelstock — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 07:08:05 +0000

Charles Darwin is the father of Darwinism and Evolution. He was a 19^th century scientist, explorer, and naturalist. His book On the Origin of Species has become one of the most widely read books in the world. The premise and postulation of the book is that humans originally were a species closer related to that of the apes.

On this day December 27^th, in 1831, on the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin sets out on the Pacific, on the expedition which will later help shape his theory of evolution. Robert Fitzroy was the captain of the HMS Beagle, and while it was being revamped, Charles Darwin decided to join the voyage.

The ship was scheduled to leave in October, but did not do so until December 27th. Darwin went onto land and surveyed the areas taking samples and keeping a collection of objects found. Darwin got sick during this time but still kept precise notes in his journal. In this same voyage Darwin also visited the famed Galapagos Islands which helped form his theories.

As a result of Austria’s defeat to Napoleon’s French Army, the fourth Treaty of Pressburg is signed.

charles-feigelstock — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 07:08:18 +0000

The first Treaty of Pressburg was signed in 1271 between Bohemia and Austria. Pressburg is currently known as Bratislava, which is the capital of Slovakia with 460,000 people living there. The city borders both Hungary and Austria.

On this day December 26, in 1805, the Fourth Treaty of Pressburg is signed. The truce dictated that Austria was to give France a considerable amount of territory. In addition to the territories Austria was made to give France 40 million francs. Vinitia, Istria, and Dalmatia went to the Kingdom of Italy.

This truce effectively ended the Holy Roman Empire with Francis II when he transformed into the Emperor of Austria. This came from the Battle of Ulm which lasted a few days, October 16-19. Napoleon’s army had 150,000 troops while Austria had less than half with 72,000. Ulm is a city in the German state of Württemberg.

The city of Natal, Brazil is founded.

charles-feigelstock — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 07:08:02 +0000

Beginning in 1501 European explorers, primarily Portuguese, led voyages starting out from a port approximately 20 miles away from current day Natal. In 1597 the Portuguese Governor of Brazil decided to oust the French pirates and buccaneers who had ruled much of the commerce. He was successful.

On this day December 25, in 1599, the city of Natal, Brazil is founded. Natal, a word related to “nativity” for having been founded on Christmas, was built around the Fort of the Holy Kings. This fort was named after the biblical Three Wise Men. There couldn’t be a more perfect name for this newly founded town.

Natal is the capital of the Brazilian state Rio Grande de Norte, with over 800,000 people in its city and over 1.3 million in the outlying areas. Natal is most notable for its beautiful beaches and in particular the Morro do Careca – the Cliff of Dolphins, which draws in tourists throughout Brazil and Europe. Natal was also selected to be one of the hosts for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook.

charles-feigelstock — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:08:00 +0000

James Cook was a British explorer who was one of the earliest Europeans to explore parts of Australia, the Hawaii Islands, and New Zealand. He mapped a great deal of unknown territory and began his life at sea at seventeen when he joined the Royal Navy. Cook’s cartography skills helped pave the way for many after his death. He died in an altercation with Hawaiian natives at the age of 50.

On this day December 24^th, 1777, Kiritimati is discovered by James Cook. It earned itself the nickname Christmas Island after being discovered on Christmas Eve. Kiritimati has the biggest area of coral atoll. A coral atoll is a coral island which encompasses a lagoon.

This island has only about 5,000 people living on it, but it’s famous for its bird-watching and surfing. During the 1950’s, nuclear testing took place on the island. The inhabitants of the island were not evacuated, and many residents stated they have been impacted by the radiation. The testing took place during the cold war by the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ireland is divided into two parts, each having its own parliament.

charles-feigelstock — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 07:08:40 +0000

Civil conflict in Ireland is well known, especially Bloody Sunday, when British Military killed 26 unarmed protestors – which is memorialized in U2’s hit song “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Earlier in history, in 1914, King George V called Irish Nationalists and Unionists to come to an agreement, which failed. Ireland was divided against itself, between the Catholics and the Protestants.

On this day December 23^rd, in 1920, the Government of Ireland Act is passed dividing Ireland into Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland. The intention was for each half of Ireland to become self-governing.

This didn’t turn out as planned for the British who planned to maintain control over both North and South Ireland. Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1922 after the Irish War of Independence. The Irish State was replaced by the Republic of Ireland in 1937 with a new constitution. The Act was repealed by Northern Ireland in 1998 and by Southern Ireland in 2007.

The Lincoln Tunnel opens, connecting the Big Apple to New Jersey

charles-feigelstock — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:08:24 +0000

So a tunnel was to be built connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and Manhattan, New York, and it was to be named Midtown Vehicular Tunnel. In New York City, however, there is the George Washington Bridge, so how could another a great road have such an unimportant name?

On this day December 22^nd, in 1937, the Lincoln Tunnel, now renamed, opens. It was engineered by a Norweigan-American civil engineer named Ole Singstad. He revolutionized underwater tunnels, like the Lincoln Tunnel.

The biggest challenged in building the Lincoln Tunnel involved allowing for the carbon-monoxide released from cars to also leave the tunnel, or else people would die of carbon-monoxide poisoning. It had taken over 3 years to complete the tunnel, costing $85 million during the 1930’s, and it solved the problem of air circulation with giant fans at the entrances, the same technique used earlier at the Holland Tunnel nearby. The tunnel carries over 40 million vehicles a year making it one of the busiest vehicular tunnels in the world.