Why is the inner div trying to clear other divs? - html

Question

*NEW UPDATED JSFiddle http://jsfiddle.net/qKP2v/8/*
I have a very simple layout of two sidebars floated left and right respectively. In the middle is a #maincontent div that has a #content div within it. The reason for this is so that the main content on the page can stretch to fill the size of the browser resolution.
The problem I have is when I want to insert divs (#rectanglebox1, #rectanglebox2, #rectanglebox3) that clears left and right floats within my #content div. But the #rectanglebox divs are trying to clear the sidebars which doesn't make any sense to me. The #rectanglebox divs are within the #content area which has no float applied to it. So why is the #rectanglebox div being pushed below the sidebars?
Here is my HTML:
<div id="wrapper">
<div id="maincontent">
<div id="aside-left">
<ul>
<li>Link1</li>
<li>Link2</li>
<li>Link3</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="aside-right">
<ul>
<li>Link1</li>
<li>Link2</li>
<li>Link3</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="content">
<div id="ataglance">
<div id="rectanglebox1"><p>Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.</p></div>
<div id="rectanglebox2"><p>Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.</p></div>
<div id="rectanglebox3"><p>Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.</p></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
</div>
</div>
And here is my CSS:
#wrapper {
width:100%;
margin: 0 auto;
background-color: #FFF;
min-height:200px;
border: 1px solid #F0F;
}
#aside-left {
height: 400px; /* guess */
float:left;
width:100px;
top: 0;
left: 0;
border: 1px solid #9C0;
}
#maincontent {
border: 1px solid #9C0;
width:100%;
}
#maincontent #content{
margin:0 130px;
border: 1px solid red;
}
#aside-right {
height: 400px; /* guess */
float:right;
width:100px;
top: 0;
right: 0;
text-align: right;
border: 1px solid #9C0;
}
#ataglance {
border: 2px solid black;
}
#rectanglebox1 {
float:left;
margin-top:5px;
border: 1px solid orange;
width:200px;
}
#rectanglebox2 {
float:left;
margin-top:5px;
border: 1px solid orange;
width:250px;
}
#rectanglebox3 {
float:left;
margin-top:5px;
border: 1px solid orange;
width:300px;
}

Answer 1

try this code it's working for me !
<div id="wrapper">
<div id="maincontent">
<div id="aside-left">
<ul>
<li>Link1</li>
<li>Link2</li>
<li>Link3</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="aside-right">
<ul>
<li>Link1</li>
<li>Link2</li>
<li>Link3</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id="content">
<div id="rectanglebox"><p>Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur</p></div>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
</div>
<!-- <div style="clear:both;"></div> no need for this -->
</div>
</div>
and modify your css :
#rectanglebox {
margin-top:30px;
border: 1px solid orange;
float:left;
}