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Photograph:Thomas Jefferson (left), detail of an oil painting by Rembrandt Peale, 1800, and John Adams …

Part I: Thomas and John

Jefferson and Adams were friends and political foes as well as U.S. presidents, and both of them died on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the defining event in their young country's life. In commemoration of U.S. Independence Day, Britannica is highlighting its extensive coverage of the Founding Fathers in a new four-part series. We start with the amazing friendship between these seminal statesmen. Features Archive

Daily Features

Biography of the Day

Cecil Rhodes.Cecil Rhodes, born this day in 1853, was a financier and statesman of British South Africa who served as prime minister of Cape Colony, organized the diamond company De Beers, and created the Rhodes scholarships at Oxford.

This Day in History

The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem.Passed this day in 1950 by the Knesset, the Law of Return granted Jews the freedom to immigrate to Israel and receive immediate citizenship, but it proved controversial when the question “Who is a Jew?” raised other issues.
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One is not born a woman, one becomes one.
Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex
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Contributor's News

According to Amy Lifson of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Battle Cry of Freedom helped launch an unprecedented national renaissance of interest in the [American] Civil War." Its author, James McPherson of Princeton University, won a Pulitzer Prize for this book, and he's a member of Britannica's Editorial Board of Advisors. This classic book is available from the Britannica Store.

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Editorial Board

Sudoku The number-and-logic puzzles known as Sudoku are an international craze, captivating young and old alike. In How to Solve Sudoku: A Step-by-Step Guide, mathematician and best-selling author Robin Wilson, author of Britannica’s entry on Sudoku, offers tips and tricks and practice grids for honing your Sudoku skills. Appropriate for beginners as well as the most seasoned fans of Sudoku.

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