Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

territory

(Encyclopedia)territory, in U.S. history, a portion of the national domain that is given limited self-government, usually in preparation for statehood. Territorial governments have been similar in form to those of ...

Confederation, Articles of

(Encyclopedia)Confederation, Articles of, in U.S. history, ratified in 1781 and superseded by the Constitution of the United States in 1789. The imperative need for unity among the new states created by the America...

West Florida Controversy

(Encyclopedia)West Florida Controversy, conflict between Spain and the United States concerning possession of Florida. By the Treaty of Paris of 1763, Britain received Florida from Spain, and from France that porti...

Fong, Hiram Leong

(Encyclopedia)Fong, Hiram Leong, 1906–2004, U.S. politician, b. Honolulu as Yau Leong Fong. The child of poor Chinese immigrants, he graduated from the Univ. of Hawaii (1930) and Havard Law School (1935). He prac...

Murray, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia)Murray. 1 City (1990 pop. 14,439), seat of Calloway co., SW Ky., near the Tenn. line; inc. 1844. There is light manufacturing. Tobacco and grain are grown, livestock and poultry are raised, and there ...

extradition

(Encyclopedia)extradition ĕkstrədĭshˈən [key], delivery of a person, suspected or convicted of a crime, by the state where he has taken refuge to the state that asserts jurisdiction over him. Its purpose is to...

Montgomery, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Montgomery, city (1990 pop. 187,106), state capital and seat of Montgomery co., E central Ala., near the head of navigation on the Alabama River just below the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa r...

Puyallup, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Puyallup pyo͞oălˈəp [key], city (1990 pop. 23,875), Pierce co., W Wash., on the Puyallup River; inc. 1890. It is located in a fertile farm valley noted for its berries and daffodil bulbs. Manufact...

gambling

(Encyclopedia)gambling or gaming, betting of money or valuables on, and often participation in, games of chance (some involving degrees of skill). In England and in the United States, gambling was not a common-law ...

California Institute of Technology

(Encyclopedia)California Institute of Technology, at Pasadena, Calif.; originally for men, became coeducational in 1970; founded 1891 as Throop Polytechnic Institute; called Throop College of Technology, 1913–20....
 

Browse by Subject