Regents Review Unit 1 Geography and Development of the United States
The The states is home to more than 327 million people. It remains the state of the free and the home of the brave, but information technology's not ever the place of the most well-informed people, and this widespread knowledge deficit even includes facts about the United States itself.
These facts nearly the United States are likely not common knowledge, regardless of your age subclass. See how many of these facts you already know.
If You're Having a Tough Day, Consider the Knox Expedition
The Knox Expedition, likewise known every bit the Noble Railroad train of Artillery, should help put your own troubles in perspective. In 1775, Colonel Henry Knox of the Continental Army was tasked with transporting a supply of immensely heavy weaponry 300 miles during the winter. These were the years that independence was truly won for America, and information technology wasn't like shooting fish in a barrel.
Knox and his men moved a whopping 60 tons of weaponry over the course of a brutal three-month wintertime. It took men, boats, ox-drawn sleds and horses to move that weight from Ticonderoga, NY to Boston. So what's on your plate today?
The U.S. Camel Corps
But when yous thought that American military ingenuity was in its gilded age, you find out about the U.s.a. Camel Corps. And naturally, you wonder why the Camel Corps isn't a staple of modern battlefields.
The Camel Corps was actually only relevant during the mid-1800s. What started with camels being shipped in to assist westbound settlers evolved into the U.Due south Regular army training them for utilise in the western U.s.a.. Unfortunately, the Civil War brought an end to the Camel Corps experiment.
The Designer of the Electric current American Flag Was a Teenager
Robert G. Heft has been referred to as the Betsy Ross of the current, 50-star American flag, though he does not receive nearly the publicity that Ross does. Heft, who passed away in 2009, designed the 50-star flag as function of a school project, beating over 1,500 other designs.
It'south phenomenal that Heft does not agree a larger role in American history, but more phenomenal still is that Heft was a teenager when he designed the flag. He was merely 17 at the time.
Country of the Free, Abode of the Venus Flytrap
The The states is the proud birthplace of and then many things. The cheeseburger, rock and roll music, Meryl Streep — there's no denying that many popular things were created within the borders of the United States. Weirdly plenty, you tin can count the Venus Flytrap in that number besides.
While this strange and predatory plant might seem like it had to have come up from exotic land, the truth is that it'southward native to the East Coast of the The states. Who would take guessed that such a plant was as American as apple pie?
Lake Superior…No Kidding
Do you have any idea how a lake similar Lake Superior gets its name? Hither's a hint: its name is non coincidental, nor is information technology ironic. While the name really comes from the French term for "upper lake", the sheer size of Lake Superior makes it, for lack of a better discussion, superior to all other freshwater lakes.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake on the face of the planet judging past surface surface area. If you are ranking freshwater lakes by volume, it ranks third. If you say the U.S. contains the largest freshwater lake, you're not wrong.
Centralia, PA: An American Ghost Town
Centralia is a town in Eastern Pennsylvania that is nearly equally close as it gets to a ghost town — except it all the same has a few residents. As of 2017, the population of Centralia was somewhere between 5 and 10 people, depending on which source you consult.
That is a massive drop from the 1,000 people who lived in Centralia circa 1980. It doesn't appear to exist a hot spot for immature professionals either, as the median age at last bank check was 64. A coal mine burn has been burning beneath Centralia since 1962, .
Americans Admittedly Beloved Pizza
You practise not accept to spend much fourth dimension in the U.s. to realize that Americans love their pizza. Whether you are in the eye of Brooklyn, a 7-Eleven in the centre of Idaho, or somewhere in between, there's a high likelihood that you can take a pizza in your hand in 30 minutes or less.
But the extent to which Americans truly love pizza is amazing. Americans eat an estimated 100 acres worth of pizza every day, the equivalent of three billion pizzas each year, and 46 slices per person in America (as of 2015).
The Majority Of American Presidents Have Served
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 26 of the 45 American presidents take served in the military. Some of the standouts in terms of armed forces valor include Ulysses S. Grant, who steered the Wedlock Ground forces to victory in the Ceremonious War, George Washington (naturally) and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who played an instrumental role in winning WWII.
It's not a prerequisite for a president to take served in the war machine, as the presidencies of Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Barack Obama tin adjure to. It turns out, however, that existence a military veteran — and better yet, a hero — doesn't injure.
The New River Is 1 Old River
If you are looking for artifacts of the by in Due north America, you can't find anything that is much older than the New River. The New River is considered past most to exist the oldest river in Due north America. It runs from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina into parts of Virginia and West Virginia.
The river is approximately 320 miles long, and some scientists believe that it may be even older than the Appalachian Mountains through which it makes its path. That's ane old river, but you can just call it the New.
Did Y'all Receive Your Civil War Pension This Calendar month?
Odds are you don't receive a Civil War pension, just if you're Irene Triplett, you very much exercise. Some fantastic life circumstances resulted in Irene Triplett standing to receive a Civil War alimony fifty-fifty in the 21st century.
Irene'south male parent, Mose, served in the Civil War when he was xvi. He had Irene with his wife — who was 50 years younger than him — when he was 84! Ever since Irene'southward mother and father passed away, she received Mose's $73.13 pension check each calendar month from the U.S. government. She was 90 at the showtime of 2020.
Come on in, Canada!
While Canada and the United States accept similar cultures, they remain incomparably carve up countries. That may seem like a foregone decision today, but there was once the possibility of both nations being one
The Articles of Confederation served as the United states' first constitution and stated that America's neighbor to the north could become the 14th state (at the fourth dimension) so long as they renounced their loyalty to the crown of England. As it turns out, that did not happen, and Canada remained, well, Canada.
America the Generous
While there are some people who say many Americans are cocky-centered, the people of the United States are likewise objectively altruistic, at least by one measure. Co-ordinate to the Earth Giving Index, America is the most generous nation on the face up of the planet.
Admittedly, the index relies on self-reporting from Gallup Surveys, and who is going to admit that they oasis't volunteered or given to charity in the by ten years? It's too truthful that richer countries are more likely to make donations in the first identify, since they tin beget to give. Fifty-fifty so, the Giving Index all the same counts!
Do You Know Your State Vocal?
Almost every American is of the national anthem, fifty-fifty if they've forgotten or never learned the words. Only even the most patriotic Americans may not be aware that many states too have their own song. Some even take a country canticle in addition to a state song.
Accept "Become, Mississippi" for example. Mississippians out there, have you ever heard of information technology? Have y'all sung it? Perhaps Nevadans out there are familiar with "Abode Ways Nevada", while Californians may know the lyrics in "I Love You, California. Maybe, but probably not.
The U.South. Supreme Courtroom Loves to Ball
The United States Supreme Court is an important institution, simply not exactly a thrilling ane. While knowing each of the justices who have defended their lives to crafting the police force of the land is important for civic-minded Americans, the Supreme Court just isn't as exciting every bit, say, a game of basketball game
Except for when the two are the aforementioned matter. Surprisingly, a former storage room on the superlative floor of the Supreme Court edifice was converted into a basketball courtroom where the justices and their clerks can decompress with an occasional game of hoops.There's no word on whether all the judges actually get together to play, but nosotros'll nonetheless imagine Ruth Bader Ginsberg dunking on John Roberts.
Kentucky and Bourbon Are Inseparable
It'southward almost impossible to overstate the extent to which the identity of the land of Kentucky is tied to bourbon, a barrel-aged whiskey made primarily from corn mash. Estimates for how many barrels of bourbon are currently crumbling in Kentucky range from viii.5 million to more than 9 million.
For perspective, the population of Kentucky is expected to be around four.6 million past the time the 2020 census is complete. That means every resident of Kentucky could have approximately 2 barrels of whiskey to themselves — and that's merely what's in the barrels.
Some States Are More than for Cows Than Humans
When nosotros talk about population growth, commonly humans are at the heart of the conversation. Only in certain states, information technology is not the threat of humans overwhelming resources that is almost pressing. Instead, cattle outnumber humans, and by a large margin.
Of all usa in the union, South Dakota has the greatest cattle-to-human being ratio, with 4.6 cattle to each S Dakotan. In that location are 3.5 cattle in the state of Nebraska for each human being resident, while in New Jersey in that location is less than one percent of a cow or steer for each person.
St. Augustine, Florida Is Older Than Jamestown
Even the well-nigh bare-bones American history courses teach students virtually the commencement English settlement on the continent: Jamestown in 1607. And if y'all polled a group of Americans, you would probably become more a couple who believe Jamestown is the oldest metropolis in America.
That's not quite the case, even so. While Jamestown is considered to exist the oldest English language settlement in the country, St. Augustine, Florida was founded earlier by the Spanish in 1565.
You lot Can Thank Abe for Your Turkey
Do you know how Thanksgiving came to fall on the 4th Thursday of November every year? Well, like for many things, you tin can give thanks the meridian-hatted genius Abraham Lincoln for making your Turkey Day as consistent as possible.
In Oct of 1863 (how many score agone is that, once again?) Honest Abe decreed that the quaternary Thursday of every Nov would be designated for giving thank you and eating turkey. FDR tried to move Thanksgiving to the third Thursday in November simply ultimately relented when Congress insisted they follow Abe'southward original mandate.
America: Reigning Rugby Champs
If you follow Rugby, you know that the United states of america is not typically top of the scrum when information technology comes to winning international competitions. Nations such as New Zealand, England, Commonwealth of australia and fifty-fifty Fiji have more storied, well-funded and successful rugby programs than the United States.
You might exist surprised and then to acquire that the almost recent Olympic gold medal in the sport went to the Americans … in 1924. That was the last time rugby was played as an Olympic sport, and other nations oasis't had a chance to reclaim the gold. Who cares? Usa! USA! U.s.!
All Most State Constitutions
The United states Constitution gets a lot of love. It'south the single document at the heart of the Us. It's definitely important, just you know what documents don't become nearly enough dearest? State constitutions.
Take Alabama, for case. It's the longest constitution in the world, with over 389,000 words outlining the basic principles that Alabamians chose to live by when they adopted the current version in 1901. Massachusetts has the oldest state constitution from 1780, while Rhode Island'southward is the newest, having merely been ratified in 1986.
Louisiana: The Hippo Land
When the World'due south Fair came to New Orleans in 1884, water hyacinths establish were brought in to add vibrancy to the metropolis's waterways. However, the problem with water hyacinths are that they spread apace, so the new plants quickly took over local waterways. In order to combat the problem, someone came upwards with a novel solution: bring in hippopotamuses.
Hippos are known to eat water hyacinths, so a bill was proposed to allocate $250,000 to bring in hippos to New Orleans. Fortunately (or unfortunately, for all you hippo enthusiasts out at that place), the neb never passed, and New Orleans remains complimentary of wild hippos.
July 2nd: The Real Independence Twenty-four hour period
Whether it'due south considering they dearest beer and hotdogs or setting off fireworks, well-nigh Americans know that Independence Day is celebrated on the Fourth of July. Still, according to history, July 2nd is the real Independence Day.
The 2nd Continental Congress met on July 2nd, 1776 in Philadelphia. There they voted to approve a resolution to become a nation contained from Not bad Great britain. While July 4th is the solar day of official adoption, July 2nd is arguably more significant.
NASA: Ladies Welcome
If yous look back at many of the most historic space missions and the movies based on them, they generally involve men. Space exploration was a decidedly sexist affair back in the day, but don't permit that fool you into thinking American women oasis't achieved anything smashing in space.
In fact, the astronaut who set the American record for most cumulative time spent in space was Peggy Whitson. (The Russians are all the same in the lead.) Female astronauts go on to achieve astonishing things in space, including Christina Koch, who fix the tape for longest space flight by a woman (and fifth overall) in 2019.
Sacagawea Was One Bad Mother, Literally
The term 'bad female parent' can refer to somebody who sets their own rules, achieves astonishing things and simply doesn't give a, ahem, hoot. By that measure, Sacagawea, who helped Lewis and Clark discover a prissy chunk of uncharted America, was definitely a bad mother.
In add-on to having the skills necessary to navigate a big clamper of the continent, Sacagawea was literally a mother, which makes the title 'bad mother' all the more fitting. She gave nascence to her son just 2 months earlier leading the trek and even took her newborn forth for the trip.
Mustangs: Icons of the Old West, Not Really American
Whether y'all're talking about the equus caballus or the car, mustangs are quintessentially American. While the Ford Mustang is an American-made classic and certainly not an import, some may exist surprised to acquire that the horse is non native.
Despite existence synonymous with the American West, the mustang horses that y'all tin can withal discover roaming complimentary in a few select parts of the country were originally brought to the New Globe during the 16th century by Castilian conquerors. Consider the mustang an adopted function of American culture, but of the culture nonetheless.
Don't Forget Amelia
Amelia Earhart remains one of the virtually iconic Americans in history and is amid one of the well-nigh iconic women in history, flow. Unfortunately, she'due south frequently virtually strongly associated with her disappearance, which remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time.
This understandable fascination with Earhart's demise, however, often results in people forgetting about her accomplishments. Perhaps most noteworthy is that she was the second person ever to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean without assistance from a co-pilot or crew. Simply Charles Lindbergh did it earlier her.
Harriet Tubman, Civil War Hero
Harriet Tubman is an indelible effigy in American history. Near know her as a leading figure in the Underground Railroad, the organization of people who helped slaves escape to freedom north of the Stonemason-Dixon Line. Merely fewer people know that Tubman likewise played a role in the Ceremonious State of war try.
In order to further the move towards abolition, Tubman was a watch, spy and nurse for the Spousal relationship army. Like most Ceremonious State of war soldiers, she was not paid much for her service and had to supplement her pay by selling root beer and pies.
Bison: American-Born and Huge
Bison are some of the nearly regal mammals in Due north America and objectively the largest. They tin abound upwards to six feet tall and weigh up to a ton. You don't want to mess with these guys.
While a few 1000 bison roam the plains of Southern Canada, the majority of them live in America, which is why they have become synonymous with the American West. Yellowstone National Park is the just location that has been a continuous dwelling house to the bison since their about-extinction in the late 1800's and early 1900s.
Who Needs College?
Graduating college has go something of a prerequisite for entering many professional spheres today. Whether you desire to exist a lawyer, therapist, engineer or instructor, you lot likely demand a caste to be taken seriously.
But 2 of the most important men in American history, the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, did not go to college, and they invented the freaking airplane. The next time a lack of college education makes either yous a friend feel down, simply think that.
I President Didn't Alive in The White House
It's tradition for American presidents to live in the White Business firm, situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Artery in the heart of Washington, D.C. Information technology offers proximity to the beating center of the nation's politics and culture.
Withal there is one president who never lived at the White House: George Washington, the first president. While he selected the site of the future dwelling house of every other U.S. president, it wasn't completed during his presidency.
Source: https://www.faqtoids.com/knowledge/obscure-facts-united-states-probably-dont-know?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740006%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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