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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding at Madison Square Gardens may go down in history as one of the most star-studded and elaborate nuptials the city has ever seen. The event all but overshadowed America's 4th of July Independence Day celebrations.

Now that the confetti has settled, people are getting the chance to reminisce on years gone by in the land of the free and the home of the brave. But they're not just discussing the general historical facts that you'd likely find in a history text book.

Someone asked, "On Americas 250th anniversary what’s one crazy fact about its history you wish more people knew about?" and some of the answers might surprise you. Bored Panda has put together a list of the best responses for anyone eager to find out more about what makes the United States truly unique.

#1

Hands holding a Holy Bible and a small American flag, symbolizing America facts about faith. The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.

abovedafray , RDNE Stock project/Pexels Report

Robin Roper
Community Member
18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Say that louder so the Republican Party can hear.

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America might celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July but that's not actually the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Continental Congress voted to gain independence from Britain on the 2nd of July, 1776 and formally adopted the declaration two days later on July 4. It wasn't fully signed by all signatories until August.

Former president John Adams was so adamant that American independence should be commemorated on July 2, that he reportedly refused to take part in 4th of July celebrations throughout his lifetime.

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    #2

    America: Soldiers in uniform and helmets, seated on the ground, listening to an instructor. To date, the most decorated regiment by a wide margin was made of Asian Americans during WW2. During the time we treated them worst, they gave America the best it would ever get

    Between 18k men, the 442 Regiment earned

    *21 Medals of Honor (The highest military decoration in the United States)

    *52 Distinguished Service Crosses

    *588 Silver Stars

    *22 Legion of Merit Medals

    *15 Soldier Medals

    *More than 4,000 Bronze Star Medals

    *9,486 Purple Hearts (Earned by soldiers wounded or k****d in action)

    *7 Presidential Unit Citations (The highest unit level award).

    ImportantQuestions10 , U.S. Army Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    442nd Infantry Regiment. 1500 of the volunteers had been held captive by the US in internment camps; their families remained imprisoned by the USA while they fought. 'in 2012, all surviving members were made chevaliers of the French Légion d'Honneur for their actions contributing to the liberation of France and their heroic rescue of the Lost Battalion'. I don't have the words. Link follows.

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    #3

    The Business Plot of 1933. This was when a bunch of wealthy right-wing business owners tried to plan a coup to overthrow Roosevelt and establish a f*scist regime. Their plot involved getting a half-million disillusioned WWI vets to create a paramilitary force to march on Washington.

    To lead their effort, they approached Major Butler. Instead of going along with their effort, he acted as an informant. In 1934, he went before Congress and testified against the right-wing fascists.

    It is important to note, however, that even though this was all found credible, not a single one of those right-wing wealthy fascists suffered any consequences.

    So what we are seeing now isn't the first time we have faced wealthy right-wing fascists trying to overthrow the government. It's just the first time that they're succeeding.

    Xyrus2000 Report

    B Parke
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a separate justice system for wealthy people just as there's a separate justice system based on skin color. Unofficially of course. If justice is blind, then she must have psychic abilities.

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    America’s independence didn’t just happen overnight. There were many factors leading up to it, including a general fed-up attitude towards colonial ruler Britain and its insistence on slapping unfair taxes and policies on Americans, despite refusing to give them equal rights in parliament.

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    “Taxation without representation,” or being taxed without consent became a major sticking point and caused widespread unrest in the American colonies that eventually triggered the American Revolution.

    #4

    The Tulsa m******e. I didn't learn about in school, in fact I didn't learn about it until an episode of The Watchmen talked about it. Seems like something that every American should know about.

    lotrmemescallsforaid Report

    Jeanbore Dilford
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Germany has confronted the demons of its past but American children are taught nothing about the incredible number of demons in America's past....

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    #5

    You know the stories of early settlers fleeing from the European oppressors in favour of freedom of religion? Well they were our religious loonies. There's a reason why Americans have such a problem with religious fanatics, it's because they descend from those weirdos.

    MINKIN2 Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The problem those religious extremists fleeing to America had is that they couldn't convince their European neighbours that their idea of 'religion' should be imposed on everyone. They were running away from religious freedom so they could enforce their own brand of religious intolerance.

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    #6

    Historic map detailing the original boundary milestones of the District of Columbia, showcasing facts about America. Almost all of the original boundary stones for Washington DC are still in the same spot they were placed in 1790-91. Even the ones in Virginia that aren't part of DC any more. The city was originally a diamond shape, but everything west of the Potomac was returned to Virginia in 1846.

    The stones are in all sorts of odd places, peoples yards, in the woods, one is in the middle of a street. The wiki page has pictures of the locations.

    Flacksguy , Wikimedia Commons Report

    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is one in the parking lot of the church I attended as a child. No longer a member of the flock, but I'm kind of proud that the church got kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention.

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    “The Stamp Act was the first direct tax levied upon the colonies, requiring a stamp to be placed on paper goods such as newspapers, legal documents, bills of sale, and diplomas,” explains the Boston Tea Party site. “This was followed by the Declaratory Act which ended the unofficial policy and ‘Salutary Neglect’ and reasserted Parliament’s political dominance in the American colonies. The Townsend Acts and Tea Act would follow.”

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    One of the main reasons Britain imposed taxes on American colonies was to fund its massive wars.

    #7

    America: Black and white photo of men walking down a dirt road in a historical setting. Wilmington, NC, 1898. The only successful violent overthrow of a democratically elected government in United States history.

    In the 1890s, Wilmington, North Carolina, was a thriving, majority-Black city governed by a biracial "Fusion" coalition of Black Republicans and white Populists. Furious at losing power, wealthy white Democrats orchestrated a sophisticated white supremacy campaign in 1898. They used heavily armed paramilitary groups, like the Red Shirts, alongside racist media propaganda to violently intimidate Black voters and manipulate the state elections.

    On November 10, 1898, two days after the election, an armed mob of roughly 2,000 white men attacked and burned down the city’s Black-owned newspaper. The violence quickly escalated into a coordinated m******e in the streets, resulting in the m****r of an estimated 60 to 300 Black residents. Later that afternoon, the mob marched on city hall and forced the democratically elected mayor and biracial board of aldermen to resign at g*npoint, immediately replacing them with coup leaders.

    Following the coup, prominent Black citizens and their white political allies were forced onto trains and permanently banished from the state. The newly installed regime used Wilmington as a blueprint to pass sweeping Jim Crow laws, including poll taxes and literacy tests, which effectively stripped Black citizens of their voting rights across North Carolina for generations. For over a century, the event was covered up and falsely framed as a "race riot" until a 2006 state commission officially recognized it as the only successful violent overthrow of a government in U.S. history.

    NoBot-RussiaBad , Internet Archive Report

    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    See Battle of Athens, Tennessee, tell me that don't count as well.

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    #8

    Recent fact I have learned this last week from the African American History Museum is that the White House and other different historic buildings in DC were all built by slaves. It was common during construction to see slaves working as well as being transported and sold right in front of the White House. They had “s***e pens” CONNECTED DIRECTLY to the White House, that were built to keep the slaves together with no water or cover during heat. It was just like pig pens. It really shows that even our most patriotic monuments and historical areas are tainted. I feel that often slaves are mentioned in our reconstruction, but not many people know the extent or blatant mistreatment that our country endorsed in those times.

    RepresentativePop158 Report

    Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47)
    Community Member
    Premium
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And Trump and his MAGAts are doing their best to hide this by defunding and taking apart museums and organisations that cover this.

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    #9

    Painting of Benjamin Franklin reading, representing a key figure and facts about America's past. So most people know the trivia fact that Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird but that's not exactly accurate. He was distressed that everyone else wanted the bald eagle and in a letter to ... I think it was to his sister? ... he said 'I'd almost rather have the turkey as the national bird, as silly as that sounds.'.

    SuspiciousTheory2633 , David Martin Report

    Kristy Marion
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, it's certainly a more appropriate bird while Trump and his cronies are in charge

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    Americans may not all sit around scrolling through historical facts on Independence Day but many do love a good hot dog. In fact, Hawaii's Khon2 News reports that around 150 million hot dogs are eaten every 4th of July. To put it into perspective, the BBC reveals that's enough hot dogs "to stretch from Washington D.C. on the east coast of the USA to L.A. on the west coast more than five times."

    And the obsession with hot dogs isn't confined to the 4th of July. “Americans eat an estimated 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day,” says Eric Mittenthal, president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

    #10

    American flag at half-mast over the U.S. Capitol building, symbolizing important facts about America. The US Constitution is intentionally arranged in the order it is to show the branches’ importance.

    The most powerful branch is supposed to be Congress. The weakest branch is supposed to be the Judiciary. The President and the executive branch fit right in the middle.

    When the United States was created, the capital city was intentionally left out of a State; otherwise, that State could hold the whole Country hostage.

    britishmetric144 , David Dibert/Pexels Report

    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And, to this day, the citizens of Washington, DC are subject to taxation and legislation without representation. In other words, they live in a tyranny.

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    #11

    A portrait painting of George Washington, highlighting America facts. George Washington’s favorite drink was called a cherry bounce and it is really f*****g good

    It’s a 1700s-era spiced cherry cordial that was a personal favorite of George Washington. According to his diary, he carried it with him on long journeys, including his presidential tour of the South in 1791.

    It’s not just historical trivia—this stuff is delicious. It’s rich, fruity, and complex after aging, and it makes a great sipper or cocktail base.

    Ingredients:

    •⁠1 quart brandy (VS or VSOP works great)
    •⁠1 lb fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
    •⁠¾ cup sugar
    •⁠Zest of 1 lemon
    •⁠1 cinnamon stick
    •⁠2–3 whole cloves

    Instructions:

    1. Muddle the cherries and sugar together in a large mason jar or wide-mouth bottle.
    2. Add the lemon zest, cinnamon stick, cloves, and brandy.
    3. Shake the jar every few days.
    4. After steeping, strain through a fine mesh or cheesecloth. Bottle and store.

    His wife Martha also had a great Rum Punch recipe he kept in a tureen near the entrance at Mount Vernon and have a ladle of it coming into the house.

    typhoidtimmy , Gilbert Stuart Report

    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From Mount Vernon dot Org: "While excavating Washington’s cellar during the Mansion Revitalization Project, Mount Vernon’s archaeologists unearthed 35 glass bottles, mostly containing preserved cherries... Of the 35 bottles, 29 are intact and contain perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants." Discovered in 2024.

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    #12

    TULSA RACE M******E.
    Believed to be the single worst incident of racial violence in American history, the bloody 1921 outbreak in Tulsa has continued to haunt Oklahomans. During the course of eighteen terrible hours on May 31 and June 1, 1921, more than one thousand homes and businesses were destroyed, while credible estimates of deaths range from fifty to three hundred. By the time the violence ended, the city had been placed under martial law, thousands of Tulsans were being held under armed guard, and the state's second-largest African American community had been burned to the ground.

    Spiritual-Echidna957 Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please add Greenwood Fla to the list as well. Anytime white citizens decry 'woke' curriculum, I ask if they've ever heard of these 2 events. Invariably, the answer is no. "Don't you think kids should be taught about this, so it doesn't happen again?" Invariably the answer is yes. "Congratulations, you are now woke".

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    #13

    Black and white photo of actors Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal, America facts from pop culture. That in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game for the Polk High School Panthers in the city championship game!

    jasm0714 , Fox Broadcasting Company Report

    #14

    That the Epstein files are damning to twump and his entire criminal class.

    asmashingbore Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, that's only conjecture, since the OrangeRapist refused to release the full Epstein files. I mean, he promised in his election campaign he'd release the lot, but for some strange reason, we don't seem to have seen everything... 🤔

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    #15

    Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, an important figure in America's history, highlighting facts about America. Thomas Jefferson believed giant sloths were still alive in the West and instructed Lewis and Clark to be on the lookout for some.

    ThVos , Rembrandt Peale Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I'm pretty lazy, and I live in Southern California, so I suppose he may have been correct ;)

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    America: Portrait painting of a man with powdered hair, wearing a dark military-style coat. Lafayette was only 19 when he ignored the King of France’s request that he not depart for the colonies where he used his considerable wealth to help fund the Continental Army. He eventually convinced France to help the colonials in their fight for independence, which was the turning point for the Revolutionary War. 141 years later, US troops would arrived  win France to give aid during WW1. Led by Colonel Stanford, the men visited Lafayette’s grave on July 4,1917 to announce “Lafayette, we are here!”.

    OutlawJoseyMeow , Joseph-Désiré Court Report

    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think there are a dozen or more counties/cities/towns named after the Marquis in the US.

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    #17

    America: Old State House in Boston with American flag, a historic building. When they first announced the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House in Boston, nobody could understand what the soldier tasked with reading it was saying, so they had to make him stop and get a different guy.

    Sparky_321 , Robert Linsdell Report

    StPaul9
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'What did he say?' 'Something about hanging a pair of bear arms.'

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    #18

    The Moroccan flag waving in front of the Hassan Tower. Discover facts about America and other nations. Morocco was the First Nation to recognize americas sovereignty. That is why I am cheering for them versus Canada today in World Cup.

    papasnork1 , Earth Photart/Pexels Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope everyone cheered Belgium on as they defeated the US cheats in the match today (7th July). US cheats? Yeah - the OrangeRapist bullied FIFA into lifting US striker's Folarin Balogun's one match red card ban. Link follows.

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    #19

    The confederate flag only started being flown at people’s homes in the 1950s and 60s as a direct response to the Civil Rights movement.

    AvengingBlowfish Report

    #20

    Abe Lincoln was an elite, trash-talking wrestler. Out of around 300 matches, he was only defeated once (or so they say). His legendary strength and grappling skills earned him an "Outstanding American" honor in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. My favorite line he spoke was “I'm the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns!”

    Absolute legend. No wonder Tyler Durden wanted to fight him.

    adonaes Report

    Frank Ropen
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So Abe was the President Camacho prototype

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    #21

    The statue of Liberty was given to the US to celebrate the abolition of slavery. The creator wanted to display her removing slavery chains more prominently but had to settle with having her stepping out of chains at her feet; the chains aren't visible in most pictures and depictions of the statue. But they're there.

    QuintusNonus Report

    NightOwlPanda
    Community Member
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The gift commemorated the Franco-American alliance during the American Revolution.

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    #22

    A Conch Republic flag hanging from a balcony, showcasing unique America facts. The story of the Conch Republic; when Key West, FL seceded from the U.S. and declared war on the U.S.

    Brucedx3 , Dragfyre Report

    #23

    Close-up of a waving American flag, representing iconic America facts. The preamble of the Constitution explains *why* we have the government we formed:

    We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

    mcampo84 , Roxanne Minnish/Pexels Report

    #24

    During the peace negotiations after the Revolution, the US wanted the British to return the escaped slaves who joined British ranks for the promise of freedom (both Washington and Jefferson notably wanted theirs back too).

    The British refused, intending to keep this promise.

    enygma9753 Report

    #25

    That the CIA created a genocide in Indonesia.

    Mtfdurian Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    16 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True! 1965 to 1966. Still nobody knows how many Indonesians were deaded. Somewhere between 500 thousand and 1 million deaths.

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    #26

    Rows of white gravestones in a military cemetery. Explore facts about America's history and sacrifices. Arlington Cemetery was the property where Robert E. Lee's home stood. People started leaving the corpses of soldiers that died in the Civil War (both sides) in his front yard and eventually they had to be buried. It just became a graveyard.

    Also the construction of the Washington Monument was halted for years because of the war. All effort and materials went to the war effort and that's why the stones appear to be different colors.

    TufTooth , Laszlo Magyar/Pexels Report

    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Construction stopped in 1854 due to lack of funding. The Civil War started seven years later, in 1861.

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    #27

    Black Panther Party members standing in front of a banner. Learn interesting facts about America. The first g*n control laws in the US were passed after the Civil War to keep recently freed black slaves from arming themselves and attacking white people. California under Reagan also cracked down on gun ownership when Black Panthers started patrolling the streets when the police wouldn't protect their neighborhoods.

    dalgeek , Wikimedia Commons Report

    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not to mention the fact that school lunch programs were started partially because J. Edgar Hoover hated that the Black Panthers were getting good publicity from feeding school kids in black neighborhoods, so government versions were put in place to block them.

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    #28

    Despite all the talk of “the Deep South”, the southernmost state, geographically, is Hawaii.

    If Puerto Rico ever becomes a state, however, it will supplant Hawaii as the southernmost state and Maine as the easternmost state.

    n_mcrae_1982 Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not sure anyone, even us ignorant Americans, thinks that "The Deep South" actually has anything to do with the literally-most-southernmost state XD

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    #29

    America: Historic illustration of people voting in Orange County, New Jersey. In 1790, Women had the right to vote in New Jersey. This was taken away in 1807.

    Blinkshotty , Library of Congress Report

    Charlotte
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And yet, some women are so sure this could never happen that they are voting for people who openly state that they want this to happen

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    #30

    US military and society treated literal N**i prisoners better than black US soldiers.

    Since bases were segregated, black soldiers weren’t allowed to use white facilities or drink the good stuff like Coca Cola. So they would have to bribe N**i pows on base who had access to those things to get it for them.

    Sometimes, the Nazis got to go into town and eat at the diners and the white business owners would embrace the Nazis and be kind, gracious hosts while kicking the black soldiers out or throwing their food at them out the back door.

    squiddlebiddlez Report

    SaraCapybara
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a story about Lena Horne who was to entertain at an army camp. When told the Na*i prisoners of war would be up front and the black GIs in the back, she refused to perform.

    #31

    Germany actually declared war on the USA during WW2, not the other way around.

    StargasmSargasm Report

    Hume
    Community Member
    15 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I, as a non-American, actually thought this was (kind of) common knowledge? Hitler publicly declared war on the USA after Pearl Harbour. You might wonder why on earth he would do such a seemingly stupid thing? Well, it was basically obvious that America was going to declare war on Germany anyway. Hence, Hitler made a rather political move by declaring war first: he took the chance to show Japan that Germany stands with them in the war (who knows, maybe there's still a chance that Japan might declare war on Russia also?) and by finally having declared war German submarines could now openly sink transport ships heading to the UK which might lead to Britain comming to the peace table. In other news, Germany did invade Russia during the summer. The idea was to win as fast as possible, as the Germans knew they could not win a war of attrition against the Russians. Hitler made huge gambles and mistakes, but it was not all completely crazy, insane ideas with no thoughts of possible success.

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    #32

    A close-up of macaroni and cheese in a white bowl. Uncover facts about America's favorite foods. Thomas Jefferson absolutely LOVED macaroni, and regularly ate mac and cheese.

    casapantalones , Valeria Boltneva/Pexels Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a lot of people don't know is that the earliest known recipe for macaroni cheese is English. 😁 Link follows.

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    #33

    Until the January 6th insurrection the closest the Confederate flag was advanced in violence on the Capitol was 4 miles, at the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 11–12, 1864.

    President Abraham Lincoln was present at the Battle. Lincoln became the only sitting American President to come under direct enemy fire, prompting an officer to famously insist that he take cover.

    Approximately 360,000 union soldiers died under the Stars and Stripes between 1861 and 1865, yet the Confederate Battle Flag entered the U.S. Capitol building around 2:15 p.m. EST on January 6, 2021.

    Rioter Kevin Seefried, among the first group to breach the building near the Senate Wing Door, carried the Confederate battle flag inside and was later photographed marching with it through the halls.

    Current US president watched on TV for more than 2 hours, ignoring pleas from top aides and his children to defend the Capitol. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) urgently called the Department of Defense, the acting Attorney General, and the governor of Virginia to request military backup.

    Searchlights Report

    #34

    The Vikings arrived in North America 620 years before the Plymouth Rock Pilgrims landing of 1620 or the Columbus continental 1492 visit.

    mattpeloquin Report

    nicholas nolan
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jamestwon was settled in 1607. I do no understand the obsession with the Pilgrims as the "start" of something in this country.

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    #35

    Louisiana already had a black governor and lieutenant governor and Mississippi had a black senator and secretary of state in the 1870s.

    LorenzoApophis Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Without voter repression, there'd be plenty of that in the South today.

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    #36

    Up into the 1980s the US government pushed hard for indigenous women to get sterilized, doctors would pressure them into it, even at times performing the procedure without consent.

    GoofinBoots Report

    Robin Roper
    Community Member
    17 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the US south it was poor white and then mostly black women. All supported by the some of the most "respected" families in the US - Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Kellogg, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Harriman, Ford, Mellon, and more.

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    #37

    An illustration depicting a Civil War battle scene. Read about fascinating facts about America's past. After Vicksburg fell in 1863, the city did not celebrate the 4th of July for over 80 years.

    nom-nom-nom-de-plume , Thure de Thulstrup Report

    Jeremy
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More context: a Confederate army trapped in Vicksburg, Mississippi finally surrendered to Union forces after a 47-day siege. The date of the surrender was the 4th of July.

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    #38

    In 1835 Ohio and Michigan Territory almost went to war with each other over Toledo. The conflict was due, in part, to inaccurate maps. Michigan eventually gave the Toledo strip to Ohio in exchange for the Upper Peninsula. Lucrative copper deposits were discovered in the UP a few decades later.

    charleychaplinman21 Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If only there was some form of context in the post from which one could infer which Toledo was meant /s

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    #39

    George Washington was not technically the first president.

    Technically, John Hanson was the first person to hold the exact title "President of the United States in Congress Assembled" under the Articles of Confederation in 1781. However, George Washington is universally recognized as the first president of the modern United States under the U.S. Constitution.

    While Hanson's position was primarily a ceremonial presiding role rather than the head of an executive branch, seven men held the title of President of Congress prior to Washington.

    Heavy_Surround779 Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being the presiding officer of a legislative body is not the same as being one of a nation.

    #40

    July 4 1776 is NOT when the US became a sovereign country, July 4 is when we told the Brits to kick rocks. September 3 1783 the Treaty Of Paris was signed ending the Revolutionary War and the true founding of the USA.

    weaselkeeper Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ahem. When the American colonial traitors signed their declaration of independence, they were Brits - traitors to their king and all that. 1783 was when the 13 American colonies were officially recognised as independent in a series of treaties between the American colonies, Great Britain and the nations that supported the American cause, including France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic. Link follows.

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    #41

    How utterly brutal and bloody the American Revolution was, esp in the Southern theater. Families were split in half. Neighbours k*****g each other. Mass arson, pillaging, t*****e, maiming...really partisan warfare esp between militias.

    That war traumatized people for a generation.

    vipergirl Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many supporters of the king left for Canada, not always voluntarily.

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    #42

    Historical map showing America's regional divisions with cities like Oklahoma, Dallas, and Fort Worth, highlighting facts about America. Oklahoma has a panhandle because Texas refused to give up slavery, so they gave up their land above the 36°30' parallel instead.

    CaptBobAbbott , Wikimedia Commons Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    19 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Texas rebelled against Mexico because Texians refused to give up slavery. If Mexico hadn't abolished slavery, Texas might never have joined the USA. Link follows.

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    #43

    Andrew Jackson was the fistfighting-est president we ever had. Theodore Roosevelt is usually thought of for this distinction, but his were all formal boxing matches, mostly at Harvard. Jackson would just brawl with people he disagreed with, if he didn't challenge them to a duel, that is; he participated as a principal combatant in more than a dozen of them.

    Edit: I feel like it's relevant for me to add that he is one of my least favorite presidents.

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    nicholas nolan
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Man. To think, he was easily my(and I wager this person's) least favorite president until 2017.

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    #44

    The United States has multiple archeological sites that contain arenas for a variation of the Mesoamerican ball game (Pok-ta-pok in mayan but obviously called something different in Aridoamerica or Oasisamerica).

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    #45

    Most people don't realize that during the American Revolution, the Continental Army was actually smaller and less equipped than many modern urban police forces. The war wasn't won by overwhelming military might, but by sheer persistence and a series of strategic blunders by the British that we were just lucky enough to capitalize on.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What even more people don't realise is that the reason the American colonial traitors won their war of independence is that they were supported by Spain, France, and the Netherlands who all three fought against Britain. The Americans just had to hang on while their global superpower allies did most of the dirty work.

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    #46

    People should know about Victoria Woodhull: First female presidential candidate (before they were even allowed to vote), first female to operate a brokerage firm on Wall Street, staunch advocate for free love and equal rights, founder of a newspaper which published the first English version of the Communist Manifesto.

    Among other things, some of which are a bit unsavory.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's oh so very easy to tarnish a reputation with a few trigger phrases. People *should* know about Victoria Woodhull - but they should learn about her by reading properly informed sources. This short description here misrepresents her very badly. No, I'm not going to provide a link - look her up yourself.

    #47

    At one point Abe Lincoln considered creating a brand new state to put all the black people in, after the Emancipation Proclamation.

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    B Parke
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Today this is known as "gerrymandering".

    #48

    Fun fact: there was a dude, Joshua Abraham Norton, who declared himself emperor and everyone just went along with it in San Francisco

    Terrible fact: read up on William Howard Taft in the Philippines. It’s horrifying.

    Fun fact: the father of modern psychiatry, Dr. Benjamin Rush, is also the guy who got Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to rekindle their friendship.

    Terrible fact: honestly I don’t want to think about more terrible facts. I’m still bummed out for the last one, and there’s too many to choose from.

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    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine today someone presenting themselves as an American monarch and people going along with it!

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    #49

    After the Civil War, Union soldier William Monks of Missouri returned and sued the widows of the confederate supporters who gave him up to the Confederate army. He spent nearly the rest of his life hating on former confederates and the K*K, and became the most hated man in southern Missouri. His own brother would never return to the county after the war because he was a Confederate.

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    #50

    I have yet another one:

    Abraham Lincoln said that one of the books that defined his political ideology was "Sufferings in Africa-The Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce"

    Its the story of an American shipwreck off the coast of Africa, and how the crew were taken into slavery by Arab tribesmen and marched across the Sahara. Beaten, Starved, traded, forced to drink their own and camel urine, its an incredible story of survival as told by the Captain of the Commerce -James Riley.

    An updated version of the story "Skeletons on the Zahara" by Dean King is available, and is a book I recommend on here regularly.

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    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep yep! On my list!

    #51

    The US flags of the previous official star counts never "go obsolete" - they always remain legally-recognized national flags.

    You want a Stars-And-Stripes to symbolize the USA? You have 27 to choose from.

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    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Marge: "There are only 49 stars on that flag." Grandpa: "I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!"

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    #52

    James Wilkinson, the head (Senior Officer, now called “Commanding General”) of the United States Army was for most of his professional career **a spy for the Spanish Empire**. He is the highest ranking confirmed traitor in American military history.

    He would later be instrumental in Aaron Burr’s arrest for treason, having doctored a letter allegedly from Burr to make it look like Burr was guilty of a plot to separate the American western frontier from the United States: a plot Wilkinson himself pitched to Spain in the 1790’s but they declined to fund it.

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    Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47)
    Community Member
    Premium
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now Trump is the highest ranking American to be a confirmed traitor to the country.

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    #53

    John Quincy Adams regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac as part of his morning health routine while President.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except... Going swimming back then was a normal exercise routine, and also back then, no-one would have thought of wearing clothes while doing so.

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    #54

    Lincoln was almost the first governor of the Oregon territory but his wife didn’t want to move out there.

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    #55

    Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States

    The Declaration of Independence was not actually signed on July 4th. Most of it was written on July 2nd, but there were minor changes and the final draft was approved on July 4th, but the actual signings were in August. In fact, Matthew Thornton did not sign it until November when he took his seat and Thomas McKean didn't sign it until 1777 (or even later).

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    nicholas nolan
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Adopted and signed are two different things. What matters, in this case, is the day it was adopted, July 4th, 1776.

    #56

    Service wages are a left over from slavery era.

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    #57

    There was a quirky conflict called the Pig War with the United Kingdom. The only casualty was a pig, yet the two nations nearly went to war. UK/USA have such a funny relationship.

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    That’s all I yam
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "The Pig War was a confrontation in 1859 between the United States and the United Kingdom over the British–U.S. border in the San Juan Islands, between Vancouver Island (present-day Canada) and the Washington Territory (present-day State of Washington). The Pig War, so called because it was triggered by the shooting of a pig …. Despite being referred to as a "war", there were no human casualties on either side." (Pig War 1859, Wikipedia)

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    #58

    That Mel Gibson did not actually serve in both the Revolutionary War or the Vietnam War. He was just acting.

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    Robin Roper
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, please don't tell me he wasn't William Wallace fighting in the First War of Scottish Independence?

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    #59

    While the United States is largely considered a young country, we are one of the oldest countries still operating under it's original founding documents/government with no government collapse, revolution, collapses, etc.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, only that's utter nonsense. According to the US, the US dates itself to 1776. It wasn't recognised as a nation until 1783.The US didn't get a constitution - the 'founding document' - until 1789, but it's no longer operating in its original form. The US was violently torn apart in 1861 by the secession of the s***e states, leading to the US civil war - sounds like some sort of revolution to me. The most recent update to the 'founding documents" (constitution) of the USA was the 1992 Twenty-seventh Amendment. Meanwhile: England has existed since circa 927 AD and wasn't created by documents.

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