United States of America. USA. 40,000-20,000BC Asians settle. 1492-1776 Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands, Britain colonize. 1776 American Revolution. 1783 Thirteen Colonies independent. Manifest Destiny. 1845 +Texas. 1848 +California. 1867 +Alaska. 1898 +Hawaii, Puerto Rico.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1948. United Nations list of rights to be accorded people by their governments. Rejected by USSR, China, Poland, Yugoslavia, Ukraine, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, many Moslem countries. Signed by Russia, 1996.

Usury. Maximum interest rates: Rome 50BC: 12%, 529: 8%. Islam 622: 0%. Christian 1311: 0%. England: 1623 8%, 1651 6%, 1713 5%, 1854 eliminated. USA, by State: 5-45%

Utrecht, Treaties. 1713-14. Ended War of Spanish Succession. Austria gains Netherlands. France cedes Newfoundland, Hudson’s Bay, Nova Scotia to England. Spain cedes Gibraltar, Minorca to England.

Utrecht, Union of. 1579. United Provinces alliance created vs Spanish rule in Netherlands.

Vagrancy Acts. England. 1459 Authorized imprisonment. 1530 whipping. 1535 mutilation. 1597 included entertainers. 1713 branding prohibited.

Van Goyen, Jan. 1596-1656. Dutch landcape painter of familiar, commonplace.

Varangian Guard. 977-15C. Byzantine infantry recruited from Scandinavia and later England.

Vasa. 1523-1818. Swedish dynasty. Ruled Poland 1587-1668. Dominated 17C Baltic.

Victoria. 1819-1901. Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, 1837-. Empress of India 1876-. Colonial expansion. Strict moralist. Lost Hanover Crown by Salic Law.

Vienna, Congress. 1814-15. Redrew map of Europe after Napoleon. Prussia gains Rhine, Westphalia. Swiss borders and neutrality confirmed. Netherlands created from Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg. Malta and Cape Colony ceded to Britain. Russia gets Poland. Austria trades Netherlands for north Italy. France reduced to 1792 borders. Metternich.

Vienna, Treaty. 1725. Spain, Austria pledge to aid Stuart restoration in England. 1738 Ends War of Polish Succession. 1809 =Schönbrunn Treaty. 1864 Denmark cedes Schleswig- Holstein to Prussia. 1866 Seven Weeks War. Austria cedes Venice to Italy.

Vigeland, Gustav. 1869-1943. Norwegian sculptor depicting man’s struggle for life. Frogner Parken.

Vikings. Scandinavians who raided Europe 530-12C. Discovered Greenland, 982, North America, 10C. Norsemen. Varangians.

Villein. Feudal serf bound to land. Performs services for lord in exchange for protection and land use.

Vilnius Dispute. 1919-39. Poland, Lithuania dispute over city.

Vinland. ~1000. Region of northeast North America discovered by Leif Eriksson. L’Anse aux Meadows.

Wager of Battle. Trial by Combat. 8C-1817. Norse custom in England. Accused challenges accuser to combat-acquitted if he refuses.

Wairau Affray. 1843. Maori kill 22 English Settlers in New Zealand. Maori Wars.

Waìtangi, Treaty. 1840. Britain annexes New Zealand from Maori.

Waldenses. 1170-. Austere heretical Christian sect. Founded by Waldo at Lyons. Persecuted in France, Italy, England.

Wales. Celts. 55BC Rome. 7C +England. 8C Divided. 9C Re-united. 11C Norman. 1284 English suzerainty. 1536 Union with England.

Wales, Statute. 1284. England annexes Wales.

Walking Purchase. 1737. Americans cheat Indians in buying Delaware land by running instead of walking to determine land size. French-Indian Wars 1754-63.

Wang Wei. 699-759. Chinese poet, landscape painter.

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