It seems that in most English writings from 1700 to the late 1800s (both American and British), there is an odd pattern of capitalizing the first letter of various words, even if it's not really a proper noun or at the beginning of a sentence.

What is this cadence? Why did they use it? Why don't we do this today?

EDIT: Probably should have clarified, I meant popular amongst the soldiers while serving in Vietnam, so that being associated with the war is reasonably realistic. But I suppose tastes would have been similar both in America and with those serving, so either works

Serious question. When did people first start using lube for sex? What did they make it out of?

In 1950, Great Britain was the world's second largest producer of automobiles after the United States. Today, there are no major British-owned car companies left, and the few remaining British nameplates (Mini, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Bentley) are owned by foreign companies. What went wrong?

This is a question I had after watching the movie 'Unbroken'

The Japanese guard who tormented Louis Zamperini was listed as one of General MacArthur's 40 most wanted war criminals. However, he was not prosecuted when the US was trying to compromise with Japan.

Why was he one of the people who was not prosecuted when his crimes were truly horrendous? He went on to become an insurance salesman and generally had a successful life instead of being arrested for his crimes.

I'm aware of the Copperheads and their desire to restore the Union "as it was" (read: with slavery), but I'm curious to know if there were any groups that were both anti-slavery and supported the idea of (for lack of a better way of saying it) "cutting the South loose."

Saw this interesting quote today. Is there really substance behind this? I always thought MLK was the father of the civil rights movement

Eg I heard he wanted only a road to the unattached German territory

Were there Jewish slave owners in the USA? I always associated the KKK and other racist organizations in the southern states with Christianity. And the Jewish religious narrative is based on being released from bondage of slavery in Egypt to the promised land. But were they slave owners just the same ?

I know what people wore (well, at least the ones that could afford clothes depicted in fashion plates) but other than that I don't know much about what people's lives were like under the first Empire.

How was France governed while Napolean was on campaign?

What were standards of living like? How did the blockade and the continental system effect people's lives?

What was the role of religion? To what extent did it recover from repression in the Revolution?

What were marriage rates and ages like? How did the number of men under arms effect this?

Would the average German citizen have known about the Schifflein Plan and attacks on European countries? When would they have figured this information out?

Excluding necessities like water and food of course.

I'm greatly interested by Communist (or Socialist) histories, and am looking to study history at university. I've read about countries such as China, Russia and Cuba and am currently reading about the Balkan nations. I also have some more general Communist history books in the pipeline to read.

My question is what other, less prominent Communist regimes, such as those in Africa and South America, make good reading, and can you recommend any works?

I found two dates : 1830 and 1842. However I didn't get an explanation about why there are two occurences. Was there some kind of slavery that was allowed between 1830 and 1842?

Why was it held? What would have happened if they voted Yes? What is the likelihood of another referendum?