embryo gets a full set of chromosomes.
#More to explore
Cell • DNA • Genetics
Chumash
The Chumash are Native Americans
who originally lived along the coast of
southern California. They were known
for the high quality of their crafts.
Most Chumash lived in villages made up
of dome-shaped homes big enough to
house several families. Chumash who
lived on the coast or on nearby islands
fished in the Pacific Ocean. They also
hunted seals and sea otters. Farther
inland, the Chumash hunted large game
animals. Both groups relied on acorns as
a source of food. They ground up the
acorns to make flour.
Chumash women made baskets that
were woven so tightly they held water.
Chumash men made objects of stone
and whalebone. They also crafted canoes
from wooden planks.
The Chumash first met European
explorers in 1542. Their first lasting
contact with outsiders came in the early
1770s, when Catholic priests began
establishing missions in the area. Soon
most of the Chumash lived and worked
in the missions, sometimes against their
will.
The Chumash were freed from the missions
in 1834. By that time many had
died from diseases caught from the
Europeans. After 1849 the survivors
struggled as American settlers and gold
seekers invaded their lands. By the end
of the 1800s only a few Chumash were
left. The Santa Ynez Reservation was set
aside for them in 1901. At the end of
the 20th century there were about 3,000
Chumash. Most lived on the reservation
or in nearby towns and cities.
#More to explore
Missions, Spanish • Native Americans
Long ago, Chumash people painted pictures
on cave walls.
116 Chumash BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Church
A church is a public place of worship,
usually for people of the Christian religion.
Some Christian denominations, or
groups, also have buildings called cathedrals.
A cathedral serves as the central,
or main, church for a geographical area.
The layout and design of churches can
vary greatly. Still, many churches share
some common features.
Most churches include an altar, or a
raised platform. The people who perform
the religious services are called the
clergy. They stand at the altar during the
services.
All churches have a seating area for the
congregation, or people attending services
in the church. Usually people sit in
long wooden benches called pews. Some
churches have separate seating areas for
the choir, or people who sing at church.
Many churches have a bell tower containing
one or more bells. The bells ring
before and after services, to celebrate
religious holidays, and sometimes to
mark the time of day. Many churches
also have stained glass windows. These
colorful windows often show stories
from the Bible.
Protestant churches tend to be more
simple in their design than Roman
Catholic churches and cathedrals. Protestant
churches usually have fewer religious
statues and other decorations as
well.
#More to explore
Cathedral • Christianity
Churchill,
Winston
Winston Churchill was the government
leader who led the United Kingdom
(Great Britain) to victory during World
War II. He was one of the greatest public
speakers of his time. He was also a
bold soldier and a gifted writer.
Early Life
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was
born on November 30, 1874, in
Oxfordshire, England. His father was a
wealthy politician. His mother was from
the United States.Winston went to private
schools and then to Sandhurst, the
British military academy.
In 1895 Churchill entered the British
Army. In 1899 he joined the Conserva-
Many churches have a tall bell tower. tives, a British political party. He was
Many
Christian
churches have
been built in
the shape
of a cross.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Churchill, Winston 117
elected to Parliament (the British legislature)
in 1900.
Cabinet Member
In 1908 Churchill joined the top rank
of government leaders, called the Cabinet.
In 1911 he took control of the British
Navy. He made sure that the navy
was ready for war. DuringWorldWar I
(1914–18), however, he planned some
attacks that failed. For a time he went
back into the army. After the war
Churchill held several important government
jobs.
Wartime Leader
In 1939WorldWar II began. The British
knew that they needed a strong
leader. Churchill became prime minister
(head of government) in May 1940.
Soon after Churchill took office, the
Germans bombed Britain. Churchill
stayed strong through the attacks. He
made speeches that gave hope to the
British people. In 1945 Britain and its
allies—the United States, France, and
the Soviet Union—won the war.
Later Life
Churchill lost his position as prime minister
after the war. In 1951 he became
prime minister again. In 1953 he
received the Nobel prize for literature.
The prize honored his speech making as
well as his writing.
Churchill retired as prime minister in
1955. But he stayed in Parliament and
continued to write. In 1963 the United
States made him its first honorary citizen.
Churchill died in London, Britain’s
capital, on January 24, 1965.
#More to explore
Parliament • United Kingdom •World
War II
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) is a
national holiday in Mexico. On that
date in 1862 Mexican troops defeated
