Previous 1
Topic: The History of Politics in the U.S.
no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:13 AM
Edited by smiless on Fri 10/23/09 11:15 AM
Here you can share interesting facts that are hard to find about the United States of America. If you can add small illustrations or photos with it then please do. Have fun with this.




John Hancock was the only man to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July. Most others signed on August 2, 1776.



no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:19 AM
President George Washington never shook hands with visitors, choosing to bow instead.



no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:22 AM
President William Taft had a new bathtub installed in the White House that could hold four grown men. Why? His 300 pound frame wouldn’t fit in the original presidential tub.



no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:26 AM
President James Garfield could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other – at the same time.



no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:29 AM
A historic meeting near the end of World War II, the Yalta Conference involved the three key allied leaders. Left to right, they are Winston Churchill, prime minister of the United Kingdom; Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the United States; and Joseph Stalin, Premier of the Soviet Union.




Dragoness's photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:32 AM
Edited by Dragoness on Fri 10/23/09 11:33 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The signers of the Declaration of Independence: 26 were lawyers, 8 were merchants, 6 were doctors, 7 were farmers, 1 was a printer, 2 were military men, 1 was a minister, 1 was a shomaker, 1 was a sailor, 1 was a surveyor, 2 were politicians, 0 were women. Bibliography -63


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.odd-info.com/declarationofindependence.jpg



John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence was very large, resulting in the modern term "put your John Hancock" which means to sign something. His signature on other documents was rather large too, but he had a particular reason for writing big on the Declaration. Signing the Declaration was an act of considerable bravery, because it would be seen by the King of England as high treason. He wanted King George III, who was farsighted, to be able to see his signature clearly. Bibliography -62, Bibliography -69

http://www.odd-info.com/america.htm

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:33 AM
The pilgrims were on their way to Jamaica. They ran out of beer and "pulled over" at Plymouth to find some fresh water in order to brew some more suds....

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:35 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The signers of the Declaration of Independence: 26 were lawyers, 8 were merchants, 6 were doctors, 7 were farmers, 1 was a printer, 2 were military men, 1 was a minister, 1 was a shomaker, 1 was a sailor, 1 was a surveyor, 2 were politicians, 0 were women. Bibliography -63


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.odd-info.com/declarationofindependence.jpg



John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence was very large, resulting in the modern term "put your John Hancock" which means to sign something. His signature on other documents was rather large too, but he had a particular reason for writing big on the Declaration. Signing the Declaration was an act of considerable bravery, because it would be seen by the King of England as high treason. He wanted King George III, who was farsighted, to be able to see his signature clearly. Bibliography -62, Bibliography -69

http://www.odd-info.com/america.htm



That is what I was thinking also. That he was very brave to sign it first as the others followed a bit later trusting their courage to sign with him. Very interesting! Thank you for sharing that.

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:35 AM
Edited by smiless on Fri 10/23/09 11:40 AM

The pilgrims were on their way to Jamaica. They ran out of beer and "pulled over" at Plymouth to find some fresh water in order to brew some more suds....



no photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:44 AM
According to historians, President Andrew Jackson once served a 1,400 pound block of cheddar at a White House party.



Dragoness's photo
Fri 10/23/09 11:49 AM
One of the United States used to be called Franklin. The name was changed in 1796 to Tennessee. Bibliography -69, Bibliography -94 (page 140)

http://www.odd-info.com/america.htm

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 01:35 PM
Very interesting. Just imagine a state called Franklin. I think Benjamin Franklin would have been happy if that would have happened. drinker

He should have gotten a state with his name. He was a brilliant man. :smile:

Atlantis75's photo
Fri 10/23/09 01:52 PM
Thomas Jefferson - The 3rd president of USA and one of the most influential writers of the Declaration of Independence.



He said this:

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.

he also said:


I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Thomas Jefferson is the most enlightened and my favorite US president of all time. drinker





yellowrose10's photo
Fri 10/23/09 01:57 PM
very interesting...thank you guys. I love facts like thisdrinker

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:03 PM
I agree that Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man. Did you know he had a personal collection of at least 6,500 books that he sold to Congress. He sold them because in 1814 the British had destroyed the Library of Congress and the Capitol at the time.

Simply Fascinatingdrinker

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:15 PM
Edited by smiless on Fri 10/23/09 02:16 PM
Jacqueline Kennedy (1961 - 1963)


Like most first ladies, Jackie had been a tremendous help during her husband’s rise. Once established in the White House, her multilingualism proved a foreign relations asset. The widest furrow Jackie plowed, though, was in the realm of sheer popularity – she was the most glamorously visible first lady in history. Not even Eleanor publicized the presidency as well as Jackie did. When she led a nation in mourning after her husband’s assassination, she sealed her place in history.




heavenlyboy34's photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:16 PM

I agree that Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man. Did you know he had a personal collection of at least 6,500 books that he sold to Congress. He sold them because in 1814 the British had destroyed the Library of Congress and the Capitol at the time.

Simply Fascinatingdrinker


I seem to recall that he donated the books. Did you know he was well versed in the quran, the bible, and several other sacred texts? drinker He's also the only president I really like, even though he did some things that were not so principled. drinks

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:37 PM
I didn't know he was well versed in the Koran(Quran), but I did know that he rewrote the bible. I think he called it the Jefferson's Bible.

Someone who has over 6,500 books in a collection can only be well versed in many things.:smile:

One can tell he was a intellectual and a deep thinker at best.drinker

no photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:44 PM
"All my wishes end where I hope my days will end, at Monticello" – Thomas Jefferson.

His Monticello mansion, in Charlottesville, Virginia was where Thomas Jefferson breathed his last breath. This is the place he longed for when he was in Washington D.C. He is remembered for his fine sense of humor, his writings, his architectural designs and inventions and also his public service.

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most loved presidents of the United States of America.




no photo
Fri 10/23/09 02:48 PM
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. – Benjamin Franklin



Previous 1