Ask Mr. History

Welcome to Ask Mr. History, brought to you by HistoryNet.

Here we want to share the best reader questions we’ve gotten, along with the response by our very own research guru Mr. Jon Guttman. We can’t answer all questions we receive, but if you have a question for our Ask Mr. History expert please send him an email at askmrhistory@historynet.com! Check back each week as we update the questions and answers. Any images sent to Ask Mr. History must be free of copyright restrictions.

• Ask Mr. History

  Did Ethiopia fight in the Crusade Wars?

  Did Ethiopia fight in the crusade wars? And were the Sacarens black Africans or Arabs? Charles E.   ???   Dear Charles E., The term “Saracen,” derived from the Greek “Sarakenoi,” was a collective European term for anyone...

• Ask Mr. History

  What was the Conscription Age for Northern Italy?

  Hello, I am writing a book about my mother’s life during WWII in northern Italy. I read that in 1941, Italy was on the brink of military disaster and Mussolini needed more able-bodied men to equip his army. I read he changed the...

• Ask Mr. History

  Questions about the Me-109

  Dear Mr. Guttman, I wrote about the Avia S-199’s role in Israel’s war of independence. I’m presently putting together a follow-on article about this troubled fighter, which, as you know, was derived from the Me-109. Hence...

• Ask Mr. History

  Why was New Jersey Suffrage taken Away?

  In their state constitution of 1776, New Jersey allowed single or widowed property-owning women and free black men to vote. This suffrage was taken away by the New Jersey legislature in 1807. Why? We’ve done a little research on our...

• Ask Mr. History

  What was Temple Mount like during the Sasanian Empire?

  Dear Sir, The Persian Sasanian Empire conquered Jerusalem from 614 – 628 CE. What was the physical condition of the Temple Mount at Second Temple under the Sasanian Empire? Looking forward your kind response. Thank you. Kalam Minda...

• Ask Mr. History

  Questions about Diseases in the California Gold Rush

  I have a few questions about the history of California and the pneumonia epidemic associated with the Wild Wild West and medicine before the antibiotic was created. Do you have any information about who those doctors were or why their...

• Ask Mr. History

  When did the last soldier of the Civil War die?

  When did the last soldier of the Civil War die in the United States? Martha Dailey   ???   Dear Ms Dailey,   The last verified Civil War participant, Albert Henry Woolson, was born in Antwerp, New York on February 11, 1850....

• Ask Mr. History

  Question on WWI Injuries

  I have been a civilian trauma nurse for 30 years. I was watching a documentary on WWI. The camera panned around 30 + soldiers laying on cots. All of them had the same facial injuries & mostly on the same side of their faces.  It...

• Ask Mr. History

  Any Good Books On WWII Italy?

  Would you have any suggestions for books that talk about Italy’s role in WWII? Thank you, Bob Peters   ???   Dear Mr. Peters, Although there is a wealth of books focusing on aspects of Italian participation in World War II,...

• Ask Mr. History

  Why did Marshall Oppose the Recognition of Israel?

  Why did Gen. George Marshall oppose the recognition of the state of Israel in 1948? Kenneth A Hill   ???   Dear Mr. Hill, George C. Marshall’s official reasons for opposing recognizing the state of Israel in 1948 are well...

• Ask Mr. History

  Where did the 1500-hour Requirement for ATP come from?

  Do you know where the 1500-hour requirement to get an ATP came from?  When and why? Is it just an arbitrary number someone came up with years ago?   Thank you. Curt Boettcher   ???   Dear Mr. Boettcher, The crash...

• Ask Mr. History

  What Effect did the 1833 Force Act have on the Civil War?

  The 1833 Force Bill would have given President Jackson an “authority (?)” to use force against the State of South Carolina, then threatening to secede if the 1828 tariff was not annulled by Congress. All of the states...

• Ask Mr. History

  Questions Regarding World War I

  Dear Mr. History,  I have three questions about World War I that I am hoping you can answer. What were the worst conditions soldiers in WWI went through? How long did it take to dig up the trenches soldiers fought in? Are countries...

• Ask Mr. History

  Where did American Patriots get their Canons?

  Where did the American patriots acquire cannons for their fledgling navy besides re-purposing cannons from captured British ships? The French? Or were captured cannons their only source? Many thanks in advance Mary Dover   ???  ...

• Ask Mr. History

  Who Is This Quote About?

  Who was the subject of the following quote: “If you ask him the time of day, he’ll give you the history of the watch.”? I think it might be Eisenhower, in references to his rambling press conferences, but I’m not...

• Ask Mr. History

  Any Recommendations for a Reconstruction Book?

  Dear Sir/Madam,  I have been reading your America’s Civil War for years and love it.  Would you please recommend a book on Reconstruction that is not completely slanted to the North or the South’s perspective for...