Strange American History Trivia

Most people feel history class in high school was boring. Then college history classes were full of political agendas of the professors, many say. Well, I believe if they taught us about some of U.S. History weird and unusual facts we would all listen and pay attention more.

Some of the bizarre facts about the history of the United States over the past 250 years would explain a great deal about our present situation and the direction some regions of this country veer towards. Here are 10 very weird and strange facts about U. S. History I will bet you never learned in the halls of academia.

1. Until the year 1796 there was a state called Franklin (sometimes known as Franklin Land), which eventually became a part of the state of Tennessee. The State of Franklin was a part of Western North Carolina that was ceded to the federal Government after the Revolutionary War in 1784, to help North Carolina pay its debts.
2. The United States Postal Service did not charge anyone to send mail until March 3, 1863
3. President Jimmie Carter was the 6th generation cousin of President Richard Nixon
4. Did you know Paul Revere designed George Washington’s false teeth?
5. The first coast to coast telephone line was completed in 1914
6. The first American Flag with 13 stars was designed with the stars in a circle in the corner section. This was done so that no state would be seen as having greater power or significance over another.
7. The United States armed forces were considered segregated until President Harry Truman issued an Executive Order in 1948 commanding the integration of all armed forces of the U.S.A.
8. When the Pledge of Allegiance was first written (1892) and used in America it did not include the words “under God”. These words were added June 14, 1954.
9. The home of the President of the U.S. was once called the “Presidential Palace” and didn’t really become widely accepted as the “White House” until President Franklin Roosevelt had the name engraved on the stationary he sent out, while President.
10. Income Tax began after the Revolutionary War in 1812 to pay off national debt. It was discontinued in 1817. Then it was re-established in 1862 to pay for the cost of the Civil War.
11. There have been times when it was legal to buy your way out of being drafted for war or paying a substitute to go and take your place
12. Eighteen Year Olds received the right to vote for President in 1971
13. The name “Uncle Sam” is based on a real man from Massachusetts named Sam Wilson
14. The first American state to abolish slavery was Vermont in 1777
15. It is reported that the United States never lost a war “where it used mules”. Hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder.

There are some Historical Facts about the USA you probably never knew and maybe never wanted to!