Founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (1830)

Shortly after Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon in 1830, he officially founded The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints—also known as the Mormon Church—in Fayette, New York. The church flourished but was forced to relocate frequently. It was violently expelled from Missouri, and a mob killed Smith in Illinois in 1844. His successor, Brigham Young, led followers to Utah three years later. Tensions with the US government continued to escalate, culminating in what war? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gerald Joseph “Gerry” Mulligan (1927)

Mulligan was an important baritone saxophonist and one of the best-known exponents of cool jazz, a delicate, understated offshoot of bebop. He began his career in the mid-1940s as an arranger for Gene Krupa and Claude Thornhill and played on the historic Miles Davis nonet recordings in 1949. He gained considerable success with the quartet he formed with Chet Baker in 1952, and he led ensembles of various sizes thereafter. Mulligan served jail time after he was arrested in 1953 for what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Nepalese Royal Massacre

On June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal opened fire on family members attending a royal party, killing his father, King Birendra, and 9 others before shooting himself. Dipendra remained in a coma for 3 days before succumbing to his wounds and was proclaimed king during that time. Because constitutional law and tradition prevented officials from accusing Dipendra of mass murder while he was alive, they initially claimed the shooting had been accidental. What was Dipendra’s alleged motive? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

US President Franklin D. Roosevelt Forbids Hoarding of Gold (1933)

Executive Order 6102 required US citizens and businesses to turn in all but a small amount of gold to the Federal Reserve in exchange for $20.67 per ounce. It came in the midst of a banking crisis, when the stability of paper currency was in doubt. Consequently, many tried to withdraw their money and redeem it for gold, which was considered safer. However, there simply was not enough gold in the US—or the world—to cover the nation’s debts. How many people were prosecuted for violating the order? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Rama Navami

The Hindu festival of Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, who was the first son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya. According to Hindu belief, the god Vishnu was incarnated in 10 different human forms, of which Rama was the seventh. Because Rama is the hero of the great religious epic poem, the Ramayana, Hindus observe his birthday by reciting stories from it. They also flock to temples, such as that in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, where the image of Rama is enshrined, and chant prayers, repeating his name as they strive to free themselves from the cycle of birth and death. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis (1908)

American screen legend and two-time Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis made her Hollywood debut in 1931 and, after several flops, won acclaim for her role in 1934’s Of Human Bondage. Her electrifying performances and intense characterizations of strong women made her a prime box-office attraction between 1935 and 1946, but her popularity declined thereafter. Undeterred, she launched a comeback and continued acting until shortly before her death. Why did she disinherit her daughter? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Amazons

The Amazons are a mythical nation of female warriors whose place in Greek mythology may have been inspired by Sarmatian warrior women who, according to ancient historians, went to battle alongside their men. Archaeological evidence seems to confirm this theory; a quarter of the Sarmatian military graves that have been discovered belong to women, many of whom were buried with bows. What extreme form of body modification were Amazons rumored to practice in order to improve their marksmanship? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary