(Encyclopedia) Kansas-Nebraska Act, bill that became law on May 30, 1854, by which the U.S. Congress established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. By 1854 the organization of the vast Platte…
(Encyclopedia) Russell, John Russell, 1st Earl, 1792–1878, British statesman; younger son of the 6th duke of Bedford, known most of his life as Lord John Russell. He became a Whig member of…
(Encyclopedia) Bonus Marchers, in U.S. history, more than 20,000 veterans, most of them unemployed and in desperate financial straits, who, in the spring of 1932, spontaneously made their way to…
(Encyclopedia) shoebill stork, common name for a large (up to 54 in./122 cm) tall, storklike bird, Balaeniceps rex. Also known as the whalehead, it is noted for its large head and unusually long and…
(Encyclopedia) Falls Church, independent city (2020 pop. 14,917), NE Va., a residential suburb of Washington, D.C.; inc. as a town 1875, as a city 1948…
(Encyclopedia) Nottingham, Daniel Finch, 2d earl of, 1647–1730, English politician, son of Heneage Finch, the 1st earl. A staunch supporter of the Church of England, he disapproved of James II's pro–…
(Encyclopedia) Dallas, Alexander JamesDallas, Alexander Jamesdălˈəs [key], 1759–1817, U.S. secretary of the treasury (1814–16), b. Jamaica, West Indies. He went (1783) to Philadelphia, practiced law…
(Encyclopedia) canarycanarykənârˈē [key], common name for a familiar cage bird of the family Ploceidae (Old World finch family), descended from either the wild serin finch or from the very similar…
In April 2004, the U.S. Treasury unveiled its latest redesigned bill: the $50. The new bill features splashes of red and blue, in addition to the black and green ink found on other bills. The…