What often caused great disasters for the Chinese people?
floods
They made everything more easier. It was possible for them to carry large loads of resources from all over the world back to manufacturing plants in England, for example. They were also sturdy and lasted longer than ships made out of wood, and they could also use fuels to go instead of wind which meant that they could go faster and safer.
During the debate over California statehood, the vice president of the United States, John Calhoun, refused to compromise regarding the expansion of slavery.
It happened due to the fact that he considered slavery a "positive good" (using his words). His position had the support of a segment of society and had consequences that even influenced the civil war, later to come.