For many years it was called Bombay. In 1995 the name was changed because Bombay was given by the British. By removing it, the vestiges of colonialism were removed. As the history of Mumbai will show though, there is more to it than just name changes.

Before the British Occupation

The area began as a group of seven islands. They consisted of Mumbadevi, Colaba, Mazgaon, Parel and Worli. According to ancient accounts, the earliest dwellers were the Kolis who lived there c. 3,000 BC. Then came a succession of rulers including the Mouryas. They were followed by the Silaharas and then the Yadavas.

Of the islands, Mahim was the most prominent. It was the place where a lot of the people lived. It was also the site of trade and commerce. By the 13th century, it had become the capital of Raja Bhimedo. Renamed Mahivakti, the history of Mumbai reveals that the Raja oversaw construction of numerous roads, buildings, and fabulous temples.

As a port city it attracted foreign investors and visitors. Europeans and Arabs conducted business in the city, making it very prosperous.

The Muslim and Portuguese Conflict

In the 13th century the islands came under attack from the Muslims. They took over the land. However their rule would not last. They were under constant pressure from the Mughals. When the Portuguese came in 1509, they joined the Muslims in repelling the attackers. But eventually the Portuguese took over the whole area. In 1534 the lands were handed over to Portugal.

Under British Rule

A study of the history of Mumbai will show the lands would remain under the control of Portugal for over 126 years. In 1662 the lands were handed over to the British king Charles II. It was a marriage gift as he was engaged to Princess Catherine of Portugal.

Under British rule, the city became a port. The city prospered and its population grew. From 1661 to 75, the population grew from 10,000 to more than 62,000. By the 1730s a dock had been built and newspapers were in circulation.

The 1850s saw the creation of Bombay University. By the 1900s trains were running all around the city. In 1928, the history of Mumbai will show that the first electric train was introduced in the city.

The City Today

Today it is regarded as the finance capital of India. More than 8% of industry and factory output is produced in the city. Almost half of income tax is obtained here and 60% of customs duty is collected there.

Its attractive business climate has made it the home of various foreign companies. The early years saw it relying on garments and textiles. Nowadays, the IT and engineering sector are growing as well.

It is also the home of TV and major movie houses. The largest publishers are also stationed in the city. Outsourcing companies are also prominent. An indication of its prosperity are the increasing number of billionaires there.

The history of Mumbai shows how far it has gone in both economic and cultural terms. Today it offers some of the best that India has to offer, both in business and leisure.

On the 4th day of July, 1776 America, specifically the Thirteen Colonies, formally declared its independence from Great Britain. For more than a year before this, Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies had been waging war against each other. In summary, here are events leading to when did America gain independence.

Tax Disputes

US independence from Great Britian all started during a tax dispute between the Colonies and the British Parliament. The Colonies were grossly misrepresented in Parliament. Hence, the colonists felt that Parliament had no right to impose taxes on them. This was especially so when it was making a new round of tax increase. The tax increase was due to the economic crisis in Great Britain then. This triggered the American revolution, starting the series of developments leading to when did America gain independence.

Parliament Tax Revenue Acts

To save the indebted economy of Great Britain, Parliament policies or Acts. Examples are the 1765 Stamp Act and the 1767 Townshend Acts. These gave rights to the Parliament to levy increased taxes on Americans to keep British presence in the Colonies. Unreasonable tax increases often trigger social unrest. This brought about the first social upheavals leading to the US independence from Great Britain. Some history experts trace back the time of when did America gain independence here.

Irreconcilable Differences on the British Constitution

Add to the tax crisis the divergent opinions on the British Constitution. The differing views on the Constitution had long been going on. The tax issue served as fuel to the fire. Soon, the heated debates led to war and to the formal declaration of US independence from Great Britain, written by Thomas Jefferson. This hatched the exact day of when did America gain independence.

The Boston Tea Party

In 1774, the Parliament wanted to punish the whole province of Massachusetts for the alleged provocative Boston Tea Party. So it passed the bill on Coercive Acts. The Colonists saw this as a breach of the British Constitution and of civil liberties. This led to the First Continental Congress in 1774, making the move for US independence from Great Britain more pronounced.

Thomas Paine Wrote His Piece

In the first month of 1776, Thomas Paine wrote his famous “Common Sense.” It was an argument for American independence. It also promoted republicanism as against hereditary and monarchial rule. In February of the same year, American ports were forcibly closed. American vessels were tagged as enemy ships by Parliament. The move for independence became stronger, especially with the participation of John Adams.

When did America Gain Independence?

On July 2, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence. Finally, on July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies officially decided and declared they were no longer part of Great Britain. The declaration was approved and released by Congress.

The date of the end of World War 2 was September 1945 with Japan’s surrender. But the events that led to it began in late 1942.

The Battle of Midway

The turning point in the Pacific came on June 1942. The Japanese attacked the island of Midway which is northeast of Hawaii. Initially the Japanese held the edge against the Americans when 35 of 41 US planes were taken down. But the American attack forced the Japanese to fly low. When they did, American bombers retaliated. By the battle’s end four large Japanese vessels had sunk. Momentum swung over to America.

The Americans launched a counterattack. It would take them all the way to Guadalcanal. The Japanese would be in retreat until the end of World War 2.

Stalingrad

In Europe the tide turned in the summer of 1942. The Germans continued to press in Russia specifically towards Stalingrad. In a few weeks, over 40,000 civilians were killed. But the German 6th Army ran short of supplies. Hitler refused to order a withdrawal. The end results were the deaths of over 260,000 German soldiers. The Soviets would counterattack and the 6th Army surrendered in 1943. The Soviets began driving the Germans back out.

The Invasion of Italy

Following the British Army’s triumph in El Alamein, the Germans and Italians retreated to Egypt. Over 200,000 British and US reinforcements came. The Axis troops surrendered. This paved the way for the Allies’ invasion of Italy. This would prove pivotal to the end of World War 2. In July of 1943, the Allies managed to enter Sicily. In the same month Mussolini was overthrown.

D Day

The series of Axis defeats allowed the Allies to plan an invasion of Nazi occupied France. It took place on June 1944. With aircraft supporting the ground troops, the Allies stormed in. By August Paris had been freed from the Nazis.

Germany’s Surrender

The defeat of France led to the bombing and invasion of Germany itself. By early 1945 the US and British were advancing from the west. The Russians were coming from the east. On April 30, Adolf Hitler killed himself. On May 7 Germany surrendered and that was the end of World War 2 in Europe.

The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

While the war in Europe ended, the Japanese continued to fight. By 1944 onwards, US planes rained bombs in Tokyo every day. But the Japanese fought hard. In Iwo Jima, the Americans lost 5,000 men to gain 700 yards.

After taking Okinawa, the US decided against invading Japan itself. On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. 80,000 died on the spot. 10,000 were evaporated completely. For 4 miles, everything was flattened. The next day another atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. Thousands of people also died. The Japanese finally surrendered.

By the end of World War 2 over 50 million lost their lives. More importantly it ushered in the Atomic and eventually Nuclear Age. The means to destroy humanity has thus become the war’s most resonating legacy.

Filled with patriotic lines and inspiring thoughts, the “Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the U.S. Derived from the poem written by Francis Scott Key, it tells about the importance of bravery and sacrifice for the love of the country. Up to now, U.S. citizens continuously use it to inspire themselves in whatever event they are doing. Today, they play it during special occasions especially in national sporting events such as hockey, baseball and basketball. For those who wish to learn when the “Star Spangled Banner” was adopted, let’s take a glance at its colorful history.

History

When was the “Star Spangled Banner” adopted? On March 3rd in 1931, then-U.S. President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution making this song the official U.S. national anthem. When Francis Scott Key wrote its lyrics in 1814, he was inspired greatly by the valiant efforts of his compatriots against the attacks of the Royal Navy ships at the Battle of Baltimore in Maryland. This historic event was part of the War of 1812.

Considered as the largest state in the U.S. when it comes to area, Alaska is officially recognized the 49th state of the country. It is located at the northwestern region of the continent of North America. At the east of Alaska, travelers can find Canada, while at the west as well as south is the Pacific Ocean. More than half of the state’s population lives at the Anchorage, an urbanized metropolitan area. Below are some of the historical events that can help individuals who want to know when did Alaska become a state. Other important details related to the discovery and recognition of the place as a U.S. state are also discussed.

History of Alaska

When did Alaska become a state? Alaska was formally recognized by the U.S. as one of its states on the third day of January in 1959. To know more about the history of the place, it is best to look at the important events that happened in the state from the 1700s to the 1900s.

Russian explorer Vitus Bering is the first European who found the state. An expedition to Alaska that was led by Bering happened in 1741. Because of the expedition, the Russians found the place to be rich in sea otter pelts, which were considered as the finest fur at this time. After 43 years, the Russians established a community in Alaska and a colonization program was initiated by Russian-American Company. The program was implemented until the mid 1800s, however, trading between Russians and Americans did not succeed. The Russians lost interest in colonizing the state and because of this, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward initiated the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million in 1867.

Miners resided in the area in the 1890s due to gold rushes. An increased in the number of immigrants in Alaska was observed during this time. In 1912, the place received official territorial status from the U.S. Congress. When the Second World War occurred, the area became an important military base. Many officials and members of the U.S. Army Air Corps and Navy submariners stayed at the place until the early 1950s.

Because of the continuing population growth in the area, the statehood of Alaska was proposed in the mid 1950s. In 1958, the proposal was approved and a year after, Alaska was proclaimed as the U.S. 49th state. Other important historical events in the state in the late 1900s are the Trans-Alaska Pipeline’s construction in 1977 and the oil boom in the late 1980s.

Today the Big Apple is known as the business center of the United States and in many respects, the world itself. As the history of New York City will show, it has almost always been at the forefront of development in the country.

The Early Settlers

Exactly how long the area has been occupied is unknown. According to the latest archaeological findings, Native Americans had lived in the area for more than 10,000 years. Long before the colonists came, the Indians had already settled there and it was the center of a thriving population.

All this changed when Giovanni di Verrazano arrived in 1524. Coming from what is now New York Bay, the explorer saw the potential of the land. As with the other parts of the New World, the land was settled by the colonists in the 1530s.

The 1620s

In the early history of New York City, the site was called New Amsterdam as it was settled by mostly Dutch people. In time the colonists established their business and engaged in trade with the locals. Eventually New Amsterdam became New Netherlands and eventually “New York”. Although the land generally brought prosperity, the weather also affected the people. A lot of the new settlers found it difficult to adjust to the weather.

The 1790s

These problems were overcome and its population grew. By the time of the Washington Presidency, the city was a major sea port. Over 30,000 people had settled in and it was becoming the center of business and trade. In terms of the arts and culture, it had become only second to Philadelphia.

The Early 19th Century

The history of New York City underwent some of its biggest expansion in the 1800s. From a population of just over 60,000 in the 1800s it exploded to over 250,000 less than 20 years.
This period is sometimes referred to as the “Gilded Age’. It was marked by the influx of Europeans, who took advantage of the business climate to establish their ventures. By the mid 1800s, several impressive mansions were being built across Fifth Avenue, which would become as iconic as the city itself.

It was also along Union Square that several structures were built to conduct business, the predecessor of the modern skyscrapers. By 1850, there were over one million people living in the metropolis. In terms of growth it was one of the fastest in the history of New York City.

The 1900s to World War II

The population growth continued in the early 1900s. Millions of Europeans had heard of the growing business opportunities there and came in droves. In 1900 there were 3 million people in the city. Three decades later it had reached over 7 million. Although the city was affected by the Great Depression, it survived and thrived. During and after World War II, the Big Apple became very prosperous.

From the 1960s to the Present

The city was not without problems. During the 60s and 70s sections of it, particularly Times Square, became synonymous with crime. During the 1980s and 1990s however, a massive cleanup drive helped reshape the image of the city.

The history of New York City serves as a microcosm of the American Dream: through hard work and determination, a person or group of people can overcome the odds. To this day, when people see the Big Apple, they see two things: hope and opportunity.

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most popular and historic landmarks in the U.S. It was built in honor of Abraham Lincoln, who is the 16th president of the country. Situated in Washington D.C., this structure was also the setting for one of the most influential speeches of Martin Luther King. As much as 3,600,000 people visit this place yearly. Let’s take a quick glance at the history of this place and find out when the Lincoln Memorial was built.

History

When was the Lincoln Memorial built? This historic place was built and dedicated on May 30th, 1922. Before that, various significant events took place. In March 1867, the U.S. Congress incorporated the Lincoln Monument Association. It came with a plan to create a memorial in honor of the past president. However, the site for the plan was selected not until 1902. On February 9, 1911, the Congress finally authorized the construction of the structure. The project started on February 12, 1914, which was the birthday of Lincoln. On May 30, 1922, the memorial was finally finished and dedicated.

Since then, the building has been serving as a constant reminder of Lincoln’s significance and valuable contributions to the history of the country. The structure has 36 huge columns. According to historians, 11 of these represent the seceded states while the other 25 represent the states of the country during the death of Lincoln. One of the most captivating parts of this building is the beautiful sculpture made by Daniel Chester French. On October 15, 1966, this place became an official part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Additional Information and Other Significant Details About the Place

Throughout the years, this place has been the site for various historic events including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 as well as the inauguration of George W. Bush as U.S. President in 2001. Because this structure tells a lot about the history and culture of the country, numerous people from all parts of the world love to visit this place. In fact, the estimated number of people who visit this place every year is more than 3.6 million.

The American Institute of Architects considers this memorial as one of the all-time favorite architectures in the U.S. Henry Bacon was the architect for the main building. Meanwhile, Daniel C. French was the designer and architect for the famous statue of Lincoln. The U.S. National Park Service is assigned to govern and maintain the place.

Additional Reading on the Lincoln Memorial

• The Lincoln Memorial

The history of women’s property rights took years of struggle before decrees were passed. Before laws were enacted, women in the United States had very few ownership rights.

In Colonial Times

When the settlers came to the New World they adapted a lot of the laws from England. The law in the British Empire stated that the woman’s father held control of all her belongings. If she got married, ownership and rights would be transferred to her husband. This wasn’t just the rule in England. It was also used in France, Spain and other countries.

However, the colonists’ outlook started to change and little by little privileges were given to women. The history of women’s property rights began with passages of laws in the late 1600s.

Property Laws for Women

The first of these was passed in Maryland in 1674. The law stated before a man could sell a woman’s belongings, she had to be interviewed by the judge. The objective was to ensure she approved of the sale. In 1771 a law called Act to Confirm Certain Conveyances and Directing the Manner of Proving Deeds to Be Recorded was passed.

Prior to selling or transferring ownership of her property, a man had to have his wife’s signature on the document. The law also said that a judge had to speak with the woman to confirm her approval. This was vital to the history of women’s property rights.

In 1809, a measure was passed in Connecticut permitting women to create and execute wills. The succeeding years saw prenuptial agreements come into being. It allowed women to let someone else oversee their properties. In Mississippi a law was passed in 1839 allowing a woman to exercise control over slaves.

The Married Women’s Property Act

One of the landmark acts for women in the US, it provided for more privileges than ever before. The act was passed in 1848 in New York. It was copied in other states. Led by Elizabeth Stanton, Paulina Davis and Ernestine Rose, it was hailed as a triumph for females in America. In 1860 the law was expanded even more. This act is regarded as one of the most significant in the history of women’s property rights.

Contents of the Law

The law stated that even if she were to marry, a woman doesn’t lose her right to her properties. Her husband can’t use it to pay off his debts. She alone had the right to dispose of it. In addition, she would get sole control of the profits of her properties if she decides to sell.

There were also provisions that allowed the woman to accept gifts and other items from other people and maintain control over it. She was also allowed to use whatever legal means available to profit.

Eventually the laws spread throughout the whole country. In no uncertain terms did it encourage women across the country to demand equal rights. The history of women’s property rights gave them the strength to seek equal protection and privileges.