Changes

__NOTOC__

{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">

[[File:Plato Academy MAN Napoli Inv124545.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px]]

The Academy, founded by the philosopher Plato in the early 4th century BCE, was perhaps one of the earliest institutions of higher learning. While it was not like a university where people would enroll and obtain advanced degrees, it functioned as one of the first places for dedicated research into scientific and philosophical questions, at least in Europe, took place by gathered scholars. Its main function was to teach Plato's philosophical understanding, but it also challenged its scholars to develop a new understanding of our universe. {{Read more|What was Plato's academy and why did it influence Western thought?}}

</div>

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">

[[File:The_Alien_and_Sedition_Acts_of_1789.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px]]

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were four laws that were passed by the predominantly Federalist Congress and signed by John Adams to strengthen the national security of the United States. These acts not only restricted the ability of an immigrant to become a citizen, but made it easier to deport non-citizens who were either deemed dangerous or were citizens of hostile countries. Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the new laws criminalized the printing or speaking allegedly false statements about the federal government. Not surprisingly, these laws were incredibly controversial and strongly opposed by Thomas Jefferson's opposition Democratic-Republican party.{{Read more|The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798: Interview with Terri Halperin}}

</div>

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">

[[File:Thomas_Jefferson_by_Rembrandt_Peale,_1800.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px]]

==[[Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Fathers and Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby]]==

Recently on Twitter, a debate broke out between Annette Gordon-Reed, Sam Haselby, and John Fea on the nature of Thomas Jefferson's religious beliefs. Instead of recreating the debate, it made more sense to contact one of the participants, Sam Haselby, whose recent book ''The Origins of American Religious Nationalism'' (published by Oxford University Press) examines how a conflict with Protestantism, in the decades following US independence transformed American national identity.{{Read more|Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Fathers and Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby}}

<div class="portal">

[[File:Wc0107-04780r.jpg||left|thumb|200px]]

====[[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in World War Two?]]====

Winston Churchill led a remarkable life, but perhaps the most remarkable element in his life was how he became prime minister in 1940. Just a few years earlier he was widely seen as politically isolated and was widely ridiculed for his views. Yet in 1940, he was appointed his nation’s Prime Minister at its darkest hours and became the leader of the fight against Nazi Germany.