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The Panama Canal is a shipping canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It is located in the country of Panama and is 77.1 km (48 mi) long. Work commenced on the Panama Canal in 1881 and was completed in 1914. The Panama Canal has been owned by Columbia, France and America, but is now owned by the country of Panama providing important income for the country’s economy. The Panama Canal has been named one of the seven wonders of the modern world. So why was this amazing shipping route built? Read this article to learn the reasons.

Nelson Mandela is best known as the first black President in South African history and the first President to be elected in a fully democratic elections in South Africa. Prior to these impressive feats he was one of the most important activists in the fight against apartheid, which was a government policy of racial discrimination. He was the co-founder of an organization called Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) in 1961, which carried out a number of bombings designed to sabotage key facilities. It was Mandela’s involvement with this organization that led to his arrest and imprisonment.

Modern day New Jersey is located in the north-eastern region of the United States of America. It is part of the Middle Atlantic region and is encompassed in the metropolitan area of New York City and Philadelphia. It is has a large ocean border with its southeast and south sides bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It also shares borders with New York State to the north and east, Pennsylvania to the west and Delaware to the southwest. The state of New Jersey was first settled by the English in 1664. Prior to this date New Jersey was once part of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands.

The Monroe Doctrine is a policy that was introduced by the President James Monroe in 1823 in his seventh State of the Union Address to the Congress. The policy warned that any further European attempts to colonize land or interfere with any independent nations in North and South America would be treated as an act of aggression with the backing of Great Britain. In return the United States vowed not to interfere with the existing European colonies and would not interfere on the continent of Europe. The doctrine has been invoked many times since 1823 and is considered to be one of the most important developments in U.S. foreign policy. Let’s find out the circumstances that led to this doctrine being issued.

Prohibition occurred in the United States between the years of 1920 and 1933. Prohibition was a national ban on the manufacture, transport and sale of alcohol. The ban in the United State was backed up by a legal amendment to the U.S constitution, which was the 18th amendment made. The 18th amendment set out which intoxicating liquors were banned and how the ban was to be enforced. It was hoped that the banning of alcoholic substances would create a more peaceful, moral and productive society. The amendment was highly unpopular and was repealed in 1933. The repeal of prohibition is the only repeal of a constitutional amendment in the history of the United States.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a multi country military alliance. The agreement signed by the member countries states that they will defend each other if attacked by a third party. In fact, article 5 of the agreement states that an attack on any member is considered to be an attack on all member countries. The September 11 attacks were the first time that this article was invoked. As of July 2011, there are currently 28 countries that are full members of NATO and it is expected that more countries will join in the near future.

Ivan IV of Russia is often called ‘Ivan the Terrible’. But how did Ivan receive such as awful name? What did he do to deserve being called ‘terrible’? This post will tell you just why Ivan IV is called Ivan the Terrible.

Alexander the Great is one of the most famous historical figures known around the world. But why was Alexander the Great so great? What did he do to deserve the word ‘great’ after his name? This post will give you a list of reasons why Alexander the Great really is great!