10 Interesting Facts in US History
Welcome to my interesting facts page! All facts (except for one) in the following list cover the range of dates that we have studied so far. I hope that you all enjoy these tidbits of information, and I hope you come to understand that history is much more interesting than what it first appears to be. If you remember or find more interesting facts during the time period leading up to about 1800, feel free to leave a comment so that we can keep this list growing!
1.
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| Thomas Jefferson was a redhead. If only he took off his wig more often... |
2.
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| When Thomas Jefferson was president, he would greet his guests quite informally by wearing a robe and slippers. |
3.
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| The people of Salem killed two dogs during the witch trials. One dog was put out of its misery after being bedeviled by a witch and the other was shot for supposedly bewitching a girl. |
4.
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| In 1820, a trial was held in Salem against tomatoes for being “poisonous.” One has to wonder whether the tomato still reserved the right to confront the witnesses against it. |
5.
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While the Sons of Liberty tarred and feathered colonists who did not abide by the non importation agreements, the Daughters of Liberty were a more pleasant bunch. Instead of tar and feathers, they used molasses and flowers.
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6.
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| While many people erroneously believe that George Washington's dentures were made out of wood, they are actually made of ivory. |
7.
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| Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair. This fact was referenced in his epic rap battle against Frederick Douglass. |
8.
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| Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, was quite crafty. He invented bifocals, a stove, and discovered that lightning is made of electricity. |
9.
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| After Metacom (aka King Philip) was defeated by colonists, he was drawn and quartered, and his head was displayed on a pike for 25 years. His wife and children were sold into slavery. |
10.
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| Legend has it that before crossing the Delaware river, Washington nudged Henry Knox and said, “Shift that fat ass, Harry, but slowly, or you’ll swamp the damned boat.” This quote is most likely a modified version of what was actually said. |
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