History
Exploring "Why" questions about History
491 articles
Why doesn’t Italy seem to get the same share of responsibility for World War II as Germany or Japan?
I think it's mostly that Italy did so shittily in WWII that they never really invaded much of anything else. Germany took over France and a huge amount of Eastern Europe, Japan took over a substantial
Why are there so many “Chinatown” neighborhoods in different North American cities? Was there a large exodus from China some time last century or so?
The railroad. At the time those big cities like San Francisco were really "booming" was during the time of the railroad. Chinese immigrants were largely responsible for building the railroad but were
Why is the Federal DOT standard for road markings and signs not compulsory?
Federal standards for roads only apply to interstate roads. All Intrastate roads (the majority of them) set their standards at the State, County, and city level. To attempt to have the Federal standar
Why are migrants and refugees attacking and harassing European citizens?
Because among these millions of refugees there are also plenty of people who didn't come here because they wanted to live in a society with nice Western ideals. They just ended up here because they di
Why do cats not get sick from licking their ass all day long?
Cat saliva has antiseptic properties. Even their asses are no match. This does not mean that anything they find in their asses won't harm them.
Why is it easier to whistle after licking your lips?
Not a lubricant, a sealant. It's the same principle behind moistening a suction cup before trying to stick it onto something. When your lips are dry, they don't fit together as perfectly.
Why is the drinking age in america higher than other country’s?
Because in the 60s and 70s there was a rash of drunk driving fatalities caused by drunk teenage drivers. There were pretty much two choices available -- raise the drinking age, or raise the driving ag
Why is it controversial to suggest England should have a say in Scottish independence?
Three main reasons the way I see it: - Lot of bad history between England and Scotland, esp. where Oliver Cromwell and the larger scope of history between the two. - Scotland has a lot of oil and gas
Why does everyone make me say cheese before taking my picture?
Saying a long E sound out loud causes your mouth to form a smile. You could also say "bees!" or "sneeze!"
Why do workout instructors always remind everyone to keep breathing and why is it my instinct to hold my breath when I’m working out?
I'm not a fitness guru by any means, but when you lift you tighten muscles and push hard. People might have to train themselves to not strain the diaphragm as well (the muscle that pushes your lungs).