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1. A version of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" existed before he wrote it.
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2. Woolly Mammoths still existed at the time The Great Pyramid was built in Egypt.
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3. The Emancipation Proclamation freed ALL slaves.
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4. American botanist George Washington Carver invented peanut butter.
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5. Betsy Ross didn't create the first American flag.
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6. Vincent van Gogh cut off his entire ear.
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7. A six-year-old George Washington chopped down his father's cherry tree and said, "Father, I cannot tell a lie."
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8. Albert Einstein was actually terrible at math.
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9. During the Salem Witch Trials, no witches were burned at the stake.
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10. Marie-Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake."
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11. The American Civil War ended at Appomattox.
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12. The Stegosaurus was already extinct before Tyrannosaurus Rex walked the Earth.
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13. Philadelphia was the first capital of America.
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14. Harvard University existed before calculus was invented.
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15. Harvard University existed before the death of the famous European philosopher, Galileo.
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16. Napoleon Bonaparte was not abnormally short.
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17. Horned helmets were worn by many warriors in ancient times, including the Vikings.
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18. George Washington wore wooden teeth.
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19. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for witchcraft.
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20. People in the Middle Ages only lived to about 30 years old.
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21. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
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22. Before Christopher Columbus, medieval Europeans thought the Earth was flat.
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23. Bram Stoker's classic novel was the first book to link Dracula and vampirism.
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24. Before becoming President, Ronald Reagan was an actor.
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25. President William Howard Taft got stuck in the White House bathtub.
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26. William Henry Harrison was the first President to die in office.
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27. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which leveled the city, was started after a cow kicked over a lantern.
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28. President Zachary Taylor died after eating too many cherries.
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29. The Great Wall Of China is visible from space.
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30. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day.
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31. Goldfish have a memory span of just 3 seconds.
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32. Humans and dinosaurs actually co-existed.
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33. Joseph Stalin, the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, twice.
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34. Humans only have 5 senses.
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35. Iron Maidens were popular torture devices during the Middle Ages.
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36. Ancient Roman Vomitoriums were used by warriors to, well, vomit.
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37. The Pilgrims first landed at Plymouth Rock.
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38. Slaves built the Egyptian Pyramids.
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39. Benjamin Franklin wanted a wild turkey to be the symbol of America, rather than a bald eagle.
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40. Real ninjas only wore black.
There are some historical figures that are just purely American. Take George Washington, for example. The man was a war hero, founding father, and the very first United States President. Read more