Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2016 August 12

= August 12 =

Did the United States exist as a sovereign state before the ratification of the Articles of Confederation?
Did the United States exist as a sovereign state (not just as an alliance between thirteen independent republics) before the ratification of the Articles of Confederation?

And if it did, did it have a head of state? 70.95.44.93 (talk) 06:25, 12 August 2016 (UTC)


 * The US wasn't really a sovereign state even after ratification of the Articles, which specify that they are an agreement by which the 13 sovereign states agree to form a confederation and give up certain powers. The Treaty of Paris (1783) likewise specified that the 13 states were sovereign.  It was the Constitution which really changed things. --69.159.9.219 (talk) 06:39, 12 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Historians usually trace the beginning of the history of the "united" colonies to the First Continental Congress held in 1774. The President of the Continental Congress is sometimes considered as a proto-Head of State. --Xuxl (talk) 09:59, 12 August 2016 (UTC)
 * There's a continuum of sovereignty here; it's not a binary condition. Where any nation lies on the continuum is, of course, up for debate at various times.  The U.S. as an entity was certainly on the way in 1774, made big leaps in 1776, and was fully there by 1789.  By contrast, look at Canada, which traveled the continuum at a much more leisurely pace, from 1867 (Constitution Act, 1867) to 1982 (Canada Act 1982).  -- Jayron 32 15:45, 12 August 2016 (UTC)

Precise location of Soros Fund Management Headquarters
Where is the current address of Soros Fund Management's headquarters? Has it already been relocated or not? The wiki page for Soros Fund Management, as well as the page for 888 7th Avenue indicates that Soros's company is located there. But, some news suggests that he has relocated while some don't. Please kindly help! Thank you! Tseung Kwan O Let's talk 06:59, 12 August 2016 (UTC)
 * The firm doesn't have a website, which might have helped. You need to cite your sources saying it has relocated. FWIW this source gives the address as 250 W 55th St. --Viennese Waltz 07:41, 12 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your reply. The problem is, there is no unison in the reliable sources. I see both sources indicating Soros Fund Management LLC's (SFM) headquarters on the old site and the possible new site. In other words, currently, there are reliable sources that says SFM is in the old site and there are reliable sources that says no. It is for certain that SFM is moving. The problem is that I do not know if SFM has already completely relocated. Before I change wikipedia, I need to convince myself first (which hasn't happened yet). Therefore I am asking if any fund managers who know about soros fund management llc could answer me. Thank you very much! Tseung Kwan O Let's talk 10:16, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * As I wrote above, what I need you to do is provide links to what you are calling reliable sources. Then I will be able to evaluate whether they are in fact reliable or not. --Viennese Waltz 15:25, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * This link indicates a change of address - to 250 WEST 55TH STREET - around September last year. -- zzuuzz (talk) 15:39, 13 August 2016 (UTC)

Benghazi and politics
I have read the article on the Benghazi attack, including the section on U.S. government response. Are there any other articles specifically about the political reaction in the US? For example, is there an article concerning the seven (?) congressional hearings on Benghazi? What about Secretary Clinton's response and Mr. Trump's attacks on her responses in the presidential race? --RoyGoldsmith (talk) 20:38, 12 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Type "Benghazi attack" into the Wikipedia search bar, and press the section at the bottom that says "containing...". Lots of promising articles show up. Loraof (talk) 22:26, 12 August 2016 (UTC)

Philome Obin
I want to talk to the originator for Philome Obin's page. Does Philome have a son named Robert Jovia Obin, and a grandson named Philip Robert Obin? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.52.83.155 (talk) 21:46, 12 August 2016 (UTC)


 * The page was originated in the year 2006 by User:Nedhop, who has not contributed since February 2015. So I don't think he is likely to be contactable. However, there are various other contributors to the article, listed at, who you might try to contact by clicking on "talk" next to their name. Loraof (talk) 22:18, 12 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Philip Robert Obin certainly believes that he is the grandson of Philome Obin, because last year, he posted a question here asking for details of his grandfather's service in the Haitian Army. Nobody knew. Alansplodge (talk) 16:21, 14 August 2016 (UTC)