Page 97 - All About History - Issue 12-14

History answers

Which is the oldest political party
in the world still in existence? YOUR

James Peters, London governments were labelled
The Conservative Party of the it was only a continuation of the TWEETS
Conservative, in terms of membership
United Kingdom is arguably the
oldest still-active political party pre-existing Tory Party, which was Follow us at…
in the world. However, in the formed in 1678. A contemporary spin- @AboutHistoryMag
murky world of political spin and doctor might call the Conservatives Happy my latest issue of
backdoor negotiations, nothing is a ‘rebranding’ of the Tories. However, @AboutHistoryMag has just
come through the door! Loved
straightforward, and some claim the the Conservatives have never quite every issue so far :)
Democratic Party of the United States managed to shake off the old title and @Kaz5190
to actually be the oldest party still in the British press still often uses ‘Tory’ Latest issue arrived today,
existence today. as shorthand for a Conservative. hooray! Can’t wait to dive in
Officially, the Conservatives say Pedantically, the US Democratic @wendy_uk
they were formed in 1834 and Party is the oldest one; realistically, Had my first ever All About
WHO IS the modern Democrats say the Conservative Party is. Both parties History mag delivered this
morning, looks so good, can’t
1828 – which would make are not only still fully active, but both wait to get stuck in!
ONLY BRITISH it all seem fairly cut-and- happen to be currently in power, @LisCCollins
dry. However, while with President Obama’s Democrat
PM EVER TO BE the British party was administration in the United States Engrossed in reading about the
War of the Roses.
founded by Sir Robert and Prime Minister David Cameron @AboutHistoryMag is
Sir Robert Peel ASSASSINATED? fantastic. Such a guilt-free
formed the Peel when he wrote his in a coalition government between pleasure
Conservative
Spencer Perceval Tamworth Manifesto and the Conservatives and the Liberal @Lisadiggerley
Party in 1834
his subsequent Democrats across the Atlantic.
Just got my 1st issue, so
impressed!! Finally a glossy,
How many Why did doctors during ballsy mag dedicated to history
stuff!
died in the the Black Death wear @ainemgalvin
Chinese Taiping Would love to see
something on
Rebellion? ‘beak masks’? Horatio Nelson.
@ConnorBagnall
Max Pinckman, Birmingham
Billy White, Christchurch Plague doctors wore a mask with a bird-like
Conservative estimates of the beak to protect them from being infected
dead in the 14-year Taiping
Rebellion in southern China start by the disease, which they believed was airborne. In fact, they
at around 20 million. In contrast, thought disease was spread by miasma, a noxious form of ‘bad
around 17 million soldiers and air.’ To battle this imaginary threat, the long beak was
civilians were killed 50 years later packed with sweet smells, such as dried herbs
during the First World War. The and spices. However, though the beak mask
devastating death toll between
1850 to 1864 certainly makes has become an iconic symbol of the
the uprising one of the bloodiest Black Death, there is no evidence
events in history, with more than it was actually worn at all during
100,000 people killed in three the 14th-century epidemic.
days during the Third Battle of Historians have in fact
Nanking in 1864. However, much attributed the invention
of the mortality rate has been
attributed to disease and famine of the ‘beak doctor’
rather than military conflict. costume to French
Most armies lost from 20 to doctor Charles de How many people did Henry
50 per cent of their forces. The Lorme in 1619.
exact cause is unknown, but is VIII execute? Find out at…
suggested to have been cholera
spread by contaminated water historyanswers.co.uk
sources as well as poor hygiene.
happened on this day in history?

1851 1883 1915 1960
O The Great Exhibition O The first Wild West Show O Archie Williams born U2 incident O
Queen Victoria opens the Great One of the most colourful characters African-American athlete An American U2 spy plane
Exhibition in London. A celebration of the Old West, ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody Archie Williams is born in flying at 18,300m (60,000ft)
of science and culture, it is attended puts on his first Wild West Show. Oakland. Alongside Jessie is shot down over central
by notable figures ranging from This circus-like attraction made Owens, Williams defeats Russia on the eve of a
Dickens to Darwin. The telegraph and of former US cavalrymen and German athletes at the 1936 summit meeting between US
vulcanised rubber are two of the new Native Americans re-enacts heavily Berlin Olympics, debunking the President Eisenhower and
technologies on display. embellished famous battles. Nazi view of Aryan supremacy. Soviet Premier Khrushchev.

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