The adoption of the metric system by the USA was hindered when pirates hijacked the ship transporting the standardized meter and kilogram in 1793, preventing the delivery of the measurements to the country. Consequently, the USA did not fully transition to the metric system.
In 1918, Iowa Governor William F. Harding…
In 1918, Iowa Governor William F. Harding signed a proclamation banning all languages other than English for public conversation, education, speeches, or church services. Some churches had to close and people were fined for speaking German on the phone.
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After making up the state name Idaho…
After making up the state name Idaho, the politician George Willing created a fake etymology, claiming it came from a Shosoni word meaning “Behold! the sun coming down the mountain.” Despite lacking evidence, this fake etymology was repeated in many textbooks through the 20th century.
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In 1763, King George III issued…
In 1763, King George III issued a royal proclamation that forbade British settlement in North America west of the Appalachians, reserving the land for indigenous peoples.
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The United States originated the con…
The United States originated the concept of National Parks by the establishment of Yellowstone in 1872. Canada followed in 1880’s, Great Britain, Japan and Mexico by the 1930’s. Today there are over 3,000 national parks worldwide.
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In the 1800’s, Americans drank…
In the 1800’s, Americans drank, on average, 90 bottles of whiskey per year, or 1.7 bottles per week. This was because at the time, whiskey was sold at twenty-five cents a gallon, making it cheaper than wine, beer, tea, coffee and even milk.
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In the United States the reason…
In the United States the reason voting takes place on a Tuesday is in 1845 it could take rural farmers up to a day of travelling by horse and cart to get to a voting station. Wednesday was typically market day and Sunday was the Biblical Sabbath so Tuesday was chosen to allow ample travel […]
Many African-Americans have Irish…
Many African-Americans have Irish last names (e.g. Shaquille O’Neal) because Irish and Blacks lived side by side in the ghettos of 19th century America. 00
On average, every person older than 15 in colonial America drank…
On average, every person older than 15 in colonial America drank the equivalent of 7 shots of alcohol per day.