There are wars, battles, and major events in American history that we all hear about over and over, like the Battle of Gettysburg, D-Day, and Martin Luther King Jr’s March on Washington. Some historical events are significant yet not discussed much in school books. A recent online message board voted on some of the following most interesting historical moments.
Attempted Kidnapping of Kaiser Wilhelm
“After the end of World War I, eight American soldiers went AWOL in an unauthorized attempt to kidnap Kaiser Wilhelm II and drag him to France where he would face a trial for war crimes,” said one user. This band of soldiers actually made it to the Kaiser’s exiled home in Holland, but ultimately, they were not able to capture him.
Oregon Bombing in WWII
“A Japanese balloon bomb killed 6 Americans in Oregon. It was kept under wraps until after the war, so as not to incite panic,” said a commenter. The Mitchell Monument in Bly, Oregon, commemorates the only spot in the continental United States where Americans were killed by enemy action in World War II.
The Independent Republic of Vermont
For 14 years, from 1777-1791, Vermont was its own independent republic. Around the time of the American Revolutionary War, Vermont maintained its status as neither British nor American and even had its own constitution and currency separate from the rest of the country.
Indian Boarding Schools
A dark period in American history enabled Indian Boarding Schools, a government-funded initiative beginning in 1819 that created 523 different schools where Native American children were forcibly abducted from their parents and sent to religious boarding schools. The program was intended to stop the children from speaking their own native languages and assimilate them to white culture, but most children were mistreated and abused, while many even died.
Japanese Invasion of Alaska
In 1942, Japanese forces attacked the military base at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. This resulted in a 13-month battle called the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the only military campaign in the Second World War to be fought on United States land.
The 1985 MOVE Bombing
“The Philadelphia police conducted an aerial bombing of a house belonging to a black liberation group and killed 11 people, after firing a documented 10,000 rounds of ammunition into the house,” said one user. This massive bombing caused major devastation; another commenter said, “almost an entire block of homes destroyed. Of the 11 dead, 5 were children. The attack left over 250 people homeless.”
Russian Colonization of America
From 1732 to 1867, Russia colonized parts of America, including outposts in Alaska, Hawaii, and one colony in Northern California. Russian explorers initially came to this area with an interest in fur trapping.
Tulsa Massacre
The Tulsa Massacre, also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre, occurred in 1921 when a white supremacist terrorist group attacked and destroyed a prominent, wealthy black community in Oklahoma. This tragedy is one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the U.S., where 35 neighborhood blocks were burned, and over 800 people were hospitalized.
The Battle of Blair Mountain
It’s surprising how few people have heard of this event, considering that it was one of American history’s largest armed labor uprisings. In 1921, roughly 10,000 coal miners on strike in West Virginia took up arms against strikebreakers and local officials.
Boston Molasses Disaster
One of the oddest tragedies in American history, the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, occurred after a 2.3 million-gallon tank of molasses burst and flooded the streets of Boston. 21 people died, 150 were injured, and the area smelled of molasses for decades afterward.
Source: Reddit
10 of the Biggest Mysteries Throughout History
Strange disappearances, lost civilizations, and unsolved murders make up this list of the biggest mysteries throughout history. Some are current-day active investigations, and some are thousands of years old, with the answers lost to time. According to an online message board, the following unexplained phenomena were voted as the top unsolved mysteries.
Read more: 10 of the Biggest Mysteries Throughout History
10 Things We Thought Everyone Knew, But They Don’t
Have you ever learned something that everyone around you already knew for years and you just found out about? Or maybe you’ve been the one to tell people something you thought was common knowledge but no one else knew about it. This list, culled from an online message board, features several facts people thought were widely known, but, as it turns out, are not. Who knows! You might learn a few things in this article that you never knew before!
Read more: 10 Things We Thought Everyone Knew, But They Don’t
The Best Hidden Gems in Each of the 50 U.S. States to Add to Your Bucket List
From remote waterfalls and secretive caves to historic towns and untamed coastlines, these hidden gems are perfect for travelers looking to venture off the beaten path. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a casual traveler, this list of hidden gems across all 50 states will inspire you to uncover the beauty and mystery that lies just beyond the familiar.
Read more: The Best Hidden Gems in Each of the 50 U.S. States to Add to Your Bucket List
