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10 U.S. History Facts You Probably Didn't Know

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You probably know that George Washington was the first President of the United States and that the U.S. entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Those key facts are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to America history. Brush up on your history with these 10 facts about the U.S. that you probably didn't know.

Sitting Presidents Have Gone into Battle with Troops

The president has the title commander-in-chief of the military, but few of them have actually joined troops on the battlefield. George Washington led the militia to Bedford in 179Eighteen years later, James Madison borrowed dueling pistols from his secretary and headed to the streets of Washington to confront the British during the War of 181Lincoln later was present at the Civil War Battle of Fort Stevens.

George Washington Is the Highest Ranking Member of the Military

When George Washington retired from public service after leading the Revolutionary Army and serving as the country's first president, he was a lieutenant general. In 1976, he received a new title: General of the Armies of the United States, in recognition of his contributions to the American military system. No one can have a higher title.

A Slave Introduced the Concept of Inoculation to the Country

Cotton Mather's slave, Onesimus, talked of the African practice of scratching infected cells from a sick person into a healthy one. He got the chance to prove how this practice worked when smallpox broke out in Massachusetts. Although the colonists did not accept this practice, it did show up on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War.

No One Knows What Started the Salem Witch Trials

Salem history may be forever tied to what eventually became known as the Salem Witch Trials. In Arthur Miller's play based on the event, he suggests that the trials started after the reverend's slave confessed to working for the devil as she endured torture. The truth is that no one knows for sure exactly why the people in Salem succumbed to their fear of evil in the village and started arresting and executing people without solid evidence. Some possible theories include ergot poisoning, Lyme disease and family rivalries.

Slavery Took Place in the Northern States

The colonists practiced slavery in all of the original 13 colonies. By 1804, all of the northern states had signed documents officially ending the practice within their borders, but it took a few more years before everyone in those states enjoyed freedom. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to free the slaves in the southern states. The thirteenth amendment made this the official law of the land.

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The Colonies Voted for Independence on July 2

Although the U.S. celebrates its birthday on July 4, representatives from the colonies voted for independence two days earlier. The second president of the new country, John Adams, refused to attend Fourth of July celebrations because it wasn't the right birthday.

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Only One President Was Born on July 4

This honor goes to Calvin Coolidge, who was born on July 4, 187He was president from 1923 until 192Two former presidents died on Independence Day. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826.

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No One Who Signed the Declaration of Independence Was Born in the United States

Since the United States didn't exist as a country when the Declaration of Independence was signed, there's no way any of the signers could have been born in it. All of them were born in one of the colonies that eventually became the United States.

There Was No Official U.S. Currency Until After the Civil War

The early United States government tried to create currency called the Continental dollar, but it had no true value. Before the Civil War, there were several different types of money produced by individual banks. Eventually, Congress authorized new national currency and a national banking system.

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The Elephant and Donkey Symbols Were Originally a Joke

Artist Thomas Nash created the elephant and donkey symbols that now represent the Republicans and Democrats. It all dates back to 1874 political cartoon published in Harper's Weekly. This is the same man responsible for our modern image of Santa Claus.

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