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
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.’.
Image source: SuspiciousTheory2633, David Martin
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.
#2
Oklahoma has a panhandle because Texas refused to give up slavery, so they gave up their land above the 36°30′ parallel instead.
Image source: CaptBobAbbott, Wikimedia Commons
#3
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.
Image source: Flacksguy, Wikimedia Commons
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.
#4
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.
Image source: britishmetric144, David Dibert/Pexels
#5
Thomas Jefferson believed giant sloths were still alive in the West and instructed Lewis and Clark to be on the lookout for some.
Image source: ThVos, Rembrandt Peale
#6
The story of the Conch Republic; when Key West, FL seceded from the U.S. and declared war on the U.S.
Image source: Brucedx3, Dragfyre
#7
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.
Image source: mcampo84, Roxanne Minnish/Pexels
#8
The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.
Image source: abovedafray, RDNE Stock project/Pexels
#9
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.
Image source: typhoidtimmy, Gilbert Stuart
#10
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.
Image source: Sparky_321, Robert Linsdell
#11
After Vicksburg fell in 1863, the city did not celebrate the 4th of July for over 80 years.
Image source: nom-nom-nom-de-plume, Thure de Thulstrup
#12
Thomas Jefferson absolutely LOVED macaroni, and regularly ate mac and cheese.
Image source: casapantalones, Valeria Boltneva/Pexels
#13
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!”.
Image source: OutlawJoseyMeow, Joseph-Désiré Court
#14
In 1790, Women had the right to vote in New Jersey. This was taken away in 1807.
Image source: Blinkshotty, Library of Congress
#15
That in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game for the Polk High School Panthers in the city championship game!
Image source: jasm0714, Fox Broadcasting Company
#16
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.
Image source: TufTooth, Laszlo Magyar/Pexels
#17
Morocco was the First Nation to recognize americas sovereignty. That is why I am cheering for them versus Canada today in World Cup.
Image source: papasnork1, Earth Photart/Pexels
#18
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.
Image source: dalgeek, Wikimedia Commons
#19
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.
Image source: NoBot-RussiaBad, Internet Archive
#20
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).
Image source: ImportantQuestions10, U.S. Army
#21
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.
Image source: Searchlights
#22
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.
Image source: AvengingBlowfish
#23
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.
Image source: n_mcrae_1982
#24
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.
Image source: Xyrus2000
#25
The Vikings arrived in North America 620 years before the Plymouth Rock Pilgrims landing of 1620 or the Columbus continental 1492 visit.
Image source: mattpeloquin
#26
At one point Abe Lincoln considered creating a brand new state to put all the black people in, after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Image source: Thicc-Anxiety
#27
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.
Image source: DifferentShallot8658
#28
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.
Image source: squiddlebiddlez
#29
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.
Image source: RepresentativePop158
#30
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.
Image source: charleychaplinman21
#31
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.
Image source: adonaes
#32
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.
Image source: El-Royhab
#33
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).
Image source: Intelligent-Soup-836
#34
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.
Image source: Heavy_Surround779
#35
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.
Image source: weaselkeeper
#36
Germany actually declared war on the USA during WW2, not the other way around.
Image source: StargasmSargasm
#37
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.
Image source: QuintusNonus
#38
Louisiana already had a black governor and lieutenant governor and Mississippi had a black senator and secretary of state in the 1870s.
Image source: LorenzoApophis
#39
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.
Image source: lotrmemescallsforaid
#40
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.
Image source: uwumorganuwu
#41
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.
Image source: ImmaZoni
#42
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.
Image source: vipergirl
#43
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.
Image source: MINKIN2
#44
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.
Image source: GoofinBoots
#45
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.
Image source: Flacksguy
#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.
Image source: WhatevMannnnnnnnnn
#47
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.
Image source: enygma9753
#48
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.
Image source: Fortunes_Faded
#49
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.
Image source: Spiritual-Echidna957
#50
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.
Image source: WhiskyPelican
#51
That Mel Gibson did not actually serve in both the Revolutionary War or the Vietnam War. He was just acting.
Image source: roujiamo_enjoyer
#52
Service wages are a left over from slavery era.
Image source: mac-dreidel
#53
That the Epstein files are damning to twump and his entire criminal class.
Image source: asmashingbore
#54
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.
Image source: On_the_Cliff
#55
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.
Image source: Bland_Boring_Jessica
#56
John Quincy Adams regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac as part of his morning health routine while President.
Image source: BangBangMeatMachine
#57
That the CIA created a genocide in Indonesia.
Image source: Mtfdurian
#58
Lincoln was almost the first governor of the Oregon territory but his wife didn’t want to move out there.
Image source: sourcreamus
#59
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).
Image source: Present-Algae6767
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