Columbia Encyclopedia

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state of emergency

(Encyclopedia)state of emergency, situation in which a government or a government body is empowered to act with enhanced powers in order to respond to a crisis. The enhanced or emergency powers, and in many cases i...

Missouri Compromise

(Encyclopedia)Missouri Compromise, 1820–21, measures passed by the U.S. Congress to end the first of a series of crises concerning the extension of slavery. By 1818, Missouri Territory had gained sufficient popul...

church and state

(Encyclopedia)church and state, the relationship between the religion or religions of a nation and the civil government of that nation, especially the relationship between the Christian church and various civil gov...

Waite, Morrison Remick

(Encyclopedia)Waite, Morrison Remick wāt [key], 1816–88, American jurist, 7th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1874–88), b. Lyme, Conn. Admitted to the bar in 1839, he became prominent when he represen...

Linden, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Linden, city (1990 pop. 36,701), Union co., NE N.J., in the New York metropolitan area; inc. 1925. During the first half of the 20th cent., Linden changed from an agricultural district to a city of di...

Jericho, town, United States

(Encyclopedia)Jericho, uninc. town (1990 pop. 13,141), Nassau co., SE N.Y., on Long Island. Chiefly residential, Jericho has some light industries. ...

Larkspur, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Larkspur, city (1990 pop. 11,070), Marin co., W Calif., a prestigious residential suburb of San Francisco near Mt. Tamalpais; inc. 1908. The region's scenic beauty and excellent beaches attract many v...

Lackawanna, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Lackawanna lăkəwäˈnə [key], city (1990 pop. 20,585), Erie co., W N.Y., on Lake Erie; inc. 1909. Formerly a major steel-making center, Lackawanna experienced the rapid and total decline of its for...

Laconia, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Laconia, city (1990 pop. 15,743), seat of Belknap co., central N.H., near lakes Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee and on the Winnipesaukee River; settled c.1761, inc. as a city 1893. It is a popular summer...

Laurel, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia)Laurel. 1 Town (1990 pop. 19,438), Prince Georges co., central Md., about halfway between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore; patented in the late 1600s, inc. 1870. Primarily residential, Laurel has ligh...