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MRS. HOFFMAN'S HODGEPODGE OF HISTORICAL FACTS
The overload of historical facts has given rise to a multitude of pages for these facts. This will allow the researcher to go to a particular month to find facts. For research purposes - my facts are from such a long extensive list of books, sites, applications, etc, that it would difficult to list them all. I pick a fact based on what interested me that day when I wrote it down.
Also, please be aware that some months have no facts yet. That is because this blog was created in May of 2011, so several months do not have facts yet. They will be under construction until I reach that month.
Disclaimer - please keep in mind these facts are not listed in chronological order. Just as the page states - it is a hodgepodge of American History Facts
Think of this as a treasure hunt. You never know what delightful fact you might learn that day.
Enjoy
Mrs. Hoffman
October 1, 2011 - Who were the Sons of Liberty? We all know the Founding Fathers, but the Sons of Liberty were just as important. They were a group of regular colonists - shopkeepers, printers, tradesmen, etc. who were opposed to the Stamp Act. They formed in 1765 and were successful. The Stamp Act was repealed, but continued their work to keep Britain from further actions.
October 2, 2011 - Several of the slaves who worked for President Washington in Philadelphia later escaped. Oney Judge became Martha Washington's body servant and followed her everywhere to assist her. Before she could become a gift to Mrs. Washington's granddaughter, she escaped. Helped by friends, she hid until she could be ferried to New Hampshire.
October 3, 2011 - Have you every heard of the Swamp Fox? if you're from Chicago, you think of a coach for the Chicago Bears, but if you're a history buff you know it's really Francis Marion who fought in the Revolutionary War and helped defeat the British in South Caroline in many deadly skirmishes.
October 4, 2011 - Do you know what Sputnik is? It's a Russian satellite with one man that orbited the Earth in 1956. Once this happened, the space race began. It wasn't long before men were hading into space. Yuri Gaggarin was the first cosmonaut in 1961. The first American was Alan Sheppard.
October 5, 2011 - who likes MacDonalds. Well today is Ray Kroc's birthday. He was born on October 5, 1955. In a more scientific vein, Robert Goddard, an American Rocket scientist was born in 1882.
October 6, 2011 - How long did it take Columbus to reach the New World? He left Spain on August 3, 1492, landed in the Canary Islands on August 12 to get supplies, and finally reached San Salvador (that's what he called it) on October 12, 1492. Imagine traveling that long on a ship and not knowing when you would find land. So - how many days was it?
October 7, 2011 - How did we get the Jefferson Memorial? Did you know the sight was supposed to be for a memorial for Theodore Roosevelt first? A design contest was held in 1925, but when Franklin Roosevelt became president, he decided the sight should be for Thomas Jefferson. Don't you feel bad for Theodore Roosevelt? Well at least they named a small island in the Potomac for him.
October 8, 2011 - If you live in Chicago you know this day very well - The Great Chicago Fire started on October 8, 1871. Several years ago, Alderman Ed Burke put Mrs. O'Leary's cow on trial to see if it was truly responsible for the fire. After the trial, they found the cow innocent of all charges.
October 9, 2011 - the Washington Monument finally opened to the public on this day in 1888. Unfortunately, right now it's closed. Structural engineers are still testing the walls to make sure it's safe. There are visible cracks in the sides from the earthquake that shook DC in August of this year (2011).
October 11, 2011 - Do you know who Lydia Darragh is? A Quaker woman in Philadelphia, the British let a room in her home. One night they ordered her family to bed early. She suspected something was amiss, so she listened at the keyhole and learned they planned to attack General Washington at White Marsh. Slipping from her home, she managed to meet up with one of the colonial regulars - Captain M'Lean who passed the information on to Washington. Of course the British were furious and asked her if anyone in her family had spied on them during the night. She replied all were asleep. They knew her to be asleep because when they knocked on her door, she did not answer right away. Completely baffled as to how Washington learned of their plan, they left her home frustrated. A brave woman!
October 12, 2011 - Why did the British abandon Philadelphia without much of a fight? They knew they could not win a war in the north - the weather made it too difficult. They chose instead to travel to the south. This was to be their downfall. Remember Cornwallis lost in Virginia? Guess the British, who were not accustomed to such winters did not realize that once they abandoned the north, they lost.
October 13, 2011 - What is the Wilson Bill? This bill provided for free entry of wool, coal, iron ore, lumber and sugar. This was 1894.
October 14, 2011 - We take lights for granted, but if not for Thomas Edison we would be reading in the dark. Well, maybe not - maybe someone else would have discovered the lightbulb. On this day in1878 - Edison started the Edison Electric Company.
October 15, 2011 - Not many people realize Theodore Roosevelt was only 42 years old when he became president. President McKinley was assassinated and a young Roosevelt had to take over the office. many recall his famous saying "Walk softly but carry a big stick!"
October 16, 2011 - In 1846 President James Polk delivered an address to Congress to outline the reasons for war with Mexico. At the time, the US was attempting to purchase California and New Mexico from Mexico but the country would not let them go. The current government was overthrown and our ambassador tried to negotiate with the new Mexican government. Texas had already been annexed but fighting kept occurring along the border. President Polk felt it necessary to defend this land since Mexican soldiers had crossed our borders and were killing innocent people.
October 17, 2011 - 160,000 men met at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederates under Lee had 70,000 and the Union under Meade had 90,000. For three days the battle raged and is known as the bloodiest battle in history. Although the Union won, it lost more men than the Confederates. More than 30,000 were killed or wounded.
October 18, 2011 - On April 9, 1865 Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. They speak of the past, each one recalling the other fondly. Grant does not think Lee must truly remember him since there is 16 years difference, but Grant acknowledges the stately manner of General Lee. Grant writes out the terms of surrender and Lee signs. Supplies and rations are given to his army so they can eat. When Grant's men attempt to fire off rifles in salute to the victory he stops them. Now is not the time to celebrate he tells them.
October 19, 2011 - Since our local high school is called William Howard Taft, I figured a few facts about him might be called for - President Taft went to Yale University and loved the law. He was Secretary of War for President Roosevelt who wanted him to succeed him. He served as our president from 1909-1913.
October 20, 2011 - Over two hundred years ago, the Louisiana Purchase was approved by the US Senate. The expansion added on territory which became the following states: Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska as well as parts of Minnesota, most of North Dakota and South Dakota. We gained part of New Mexico, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Even though France did not really own all of that land, they sold it to upset Spain. The cost - $15 million (today that's $219 million).
October 21, 2011 - There were 7 things that separated America from Britain = 1. aristocracy - there was no aristocracy in the colonies; 2. ownership of land - besides slavery, most land was worked by the people who owned it; 3. variety of religions - not just the Church of England anymore; 4. less poverty in the colonies (evidenced by the fact the colonists were 3 inches taller than the British - a sure sign of good health); 5. not much urban development - only Philadelphia had 20,000 people. Most people lived in rural areas; 6. 80% of white males could vote - as opposed to in England because more people owned land in the colonies; and finally 7. slavery - One-fifth of the people in America were enslaved whereas slavery was not widespread in England.
October 22, 2011 - Our first National Bank was established by Alexander Hamilton in an attempt to organize the new nation's debts. Hamilton felt a centralized bank would help the nation repay debts and consolidate the money. Many people did not like the idea of one bank, but it continued. As a matter of fact, the Second National Bank was organized in 1811 after the first one expired. Twenty years later, the charter for the second bank expired. Another charter was not written until the 20th century.
October 23, 2011 - Not many people know it was Jefferson's idea to start a monetary system based on the 10 dimes. He should have been placed on the dime instead of the nickel then. He is also on the 2 dollar bill, a bill not many people see anymore because it is so widely ignored.
October 24, 2011 - Let's give a big "Huzzah!" out to Henry Ford. On this day in 1916, he awarded equal pay for women - $5 a day. Also today - Abraham Lincoln receives the first transcontinental telegraph in 1861.
October 25, 2011 - Did you know Ulysses S. Grant is a descendant of Matthew Grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630? His own great-grandfather served in the French and Indian War and his grandfather served in the Connecticut militia during the Revolutionary War. His real name is Hiram Ulysses Grant. He received the name we know him by through his appointment to West Point. The "S" was given to him in recognition of his mother's maiden name - Simpson. Since he never liked Hiram, he readily took Simpson and was forever known as Ulysses S Grant.
October 26, 2011 - What is the Missouri Compromise? In 1820, Missouri wanted to join the Union but there was a balance between slave states and free states. Each state did not want the other state to be too powerful in Congress. When Massachusetts broke into two pieces, Maine joined the country as free so Missouri could join as a slave state. But there was one clause - the territory north of the 36th parallel had to prohibit slavery.
October 27, 2011 - Did you ever wonder where Martha's Vineyard got its name? Bartholemew Gosnold sailed there in the 1602. This was before he landed in Jamestown, but did not settle at Martha's Vineyard. Many believe he named the island after his child who died as an infant. Originally inhabited by the Wampanoags, the English began to settle there.
October 28, 2011 - Did you know one president was only in office for 1 month? William Henry Harrison became president on March 4, 1841 but died on April 4, 1841. He served in the Indian campaign as an aide-de-camp for General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Later he became Secretary to the Northwest Territory and then its delegate in Congress. He became the governor of the Indiana Territory and obtain titles to Indian lands for people to settle there. So how did he die? He caught pneumonia. He was the first president to die in office and his Vice President - John Tyler - became our 10th president.
October 29, 2011 - Why are there different names for the same battles during the Civil War? In the North it was called Bull Run, but the South called it the Battle of Manassas. The North named battles after the closest body of water - in this case a stream/river, but the South named them after a town or other land name. The battle, fought on July 21, 1861, is the first true battle of the war. Many people came out to see it in carriages and thought to picnic. Before long, people were scurrying for safety. This is the battle where Thomas Jackson became known as Stonewall. The North lost 2,952 and the South lost 1,752.
October 30, 2011 - The Jay Treaty was signed on November 19, 1794. The United States granted trade status with Britain and agreed to pay all debts to British merchants. In return, Britain agreed to leave the forts in the US and compensate ship owners for any ships confiscated. The boundary between the US and Canada were decided upon.
October 31, 2011 - Why did they choose those four presidents for Mount Rushmore? The idea for Mount Rushmore came about to bring tourists to the state. These four were chosen to represent the first 150 years of our history. George Washington was chosen because of his years as a general and finally because he was the first president. Thomas Jefferson was chosen because he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Abraham Lincoln was chosen because he ended slavery and preserved the country. Finally Theodore Roosevelt was chosen because of his contributions to conservation, the building of the Panama Canal, and what he did for business during his presidency.
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