Why Abraham Lincoln Nearly Dueled His Rival James Shields
While many have defined Abraham Lincoln by his presidency during the U.S. Civil War, on a personal level he was much more than that.
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The Reason There's A Pyramid On Top Of The Washington Monument
Designed tall and narrow with a pointy triangular top, those with an eagle eye can immediately tell the Washington Monument has been through some trauma.
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How One Pig Caused An Entire War
The incitement of war is typically not a light subject, often relating to the acquisition of resources or a deep-seated desire to spread an ideology.
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The Connection Between The Appalachian Mountains And The Ice Age
Beautiful mountain ranges feel as old as time itself. Did you know, though, that there's a connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ice Age?
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How William Penn Is Linked To A Philadelphia Sports Curse
Philadelphia had a 20-plus-year period where none of their teams won, and fans felt that it was due to the Curse of Billy Penn.
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Why One Wisconsin Town Didn't Learn English For Generations
On the part of a given country's population, adoption of their official language by immigrants is often seen as a natural progression of becoming a citizen.
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The Clever Reason Italian Doctors Faked A Disease During The Holocaust
From the earliest inception of Nazi eugenics in the 1930s to the very end of their reign in 1945, millions were murdered across Europe.
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The Reason The Mob And The Garbage Industry Are So Connected
If a layperson dared to ask what Tony Soprano did for a living to live that lavish life, they would get the less-lavish response, "Waste management."
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The Reason 11 Calendar Days Were Skipped In 1752
Our calendar year isn't always so straightforward, with leap years and lunar holidays, but no one currently alive has ever had to skip over an entire week.
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The Truth About The Kid Who Invented Braille
After experimenting for three years, a blind teenager named Louis Braille created a new and improved version of a reading system first used by the French army.
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This President Was Rumored To Be Aaron Burr's Illegitimate Son
If there was a list of bad boys from the American Revolution, and U.S. history, Aaron Burr would have likely been toward the top.
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The Most Expensive Bibles Ever Sold
Books are big business. Last year more than 750 million printed ones were sold, with an additional 191 e-books appearing on people's devices — a lot of reading.
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Japanese Weapons That Could Have Completely Changed World War II
Japan's fate in World War II was that of a low and steady defeat toward the end as lack of funds, resources, and manpower coupled with some crippling defeats.
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This Is Only Star Trek Episode With No Female Speaking Parts
While most of the cast in "Star Trek: The Original Series" were men, there were also important and vital women characters, including Nichelle Nichols as Uhura.
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Here's Why Benjamin Franklin Wanted To Change The Alphabet
In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin has many other accolades attributed to him.
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The Reason Aaron Burr Left George Washington's Military Staff
While most remember Aaron Burr for a duel with Alexander Hamilton, thanks to a certain popular play, he is also part of history for several other reasons.
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The Reason This Cemetery Rejected F. Scott Fitzgerald's Corpse At First
Not only did he write expertly about the hard partying, promiscuity, and other excesses of the Jazz Age, making a fortune in the process, but he lived it.
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The Mysterious Explosions That Hit Pearl Harbor In 1944
In 1944, when the war was very much going in America's favor, a massive explosion ripped through Pearl Harbor once again and left many Americans dead.
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How The Taj Mahal Was Nearly Destroyed
The Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist destinations and historical landmarks of India but in relatively recent history, it faced possible demolition.
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How Many Different Translations Are There Of The Bible?
It may be surprising to consider here in the 21st century, but there was a time when translating the Bible into another language was extremely fraught.
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How World War I Led To The Creation Of Dr. Dolittle
Dr. Dolittle is a beloved character of children's fiction depicting the titular whimsical doctor and his ability to talk to animals. But do you know its roots?
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Who Really Wrote The Declaration Of Independence?
Written in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was intended to explain to Britain exactly why the colonists were rising up against their colonial rulers.
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The Surprising Reason Pennsylvania Founder William Penn Ended Up In Jail
He is the namesake of the state of Pennsylvania, and aside from founding one of the first American colonies, William Penn was an interesting figure.
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Spiritualism Explained
The Victorian era was a spiritual exploration, with seances a part of high society. Despite being debunked by many, spiritualism remains today.
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Why Abraham Lincoln Once Pardoned A Doll
Abraham Lincoln was known to crack wise from time to time, and when it came to his children, he was a doting and loving father.
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The Most Famous Curses In Royal History
Why wouldn't want to be a royal? These continual and overwhelming tragedies might make you think again. These are the most famous curses in royal history
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Here's How Human Brains Were Once Used As Medicine
Medical cannibalism was related to a theory known as "like cures like," which suggested that injuries of the brain and skull were cured with brains and skulls.
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