Some Useless History Facts
America purchased Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000—about 2 cents an acre.
In the Declaration of Independence as first written by Thomas Jefferson, there was a clause abolishing slavery. Because of popular pressures, however, Jefferson deleted the cause.
During the American revolution, more inhabitants of the American colonies fought for the British than for the Continental Army.
The area sold by France to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase was first offered to England, who refused it. The price paid by the United States for the land, some 100 million acres, averaged out to 4 cents an acre.
The Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4th. It was signed in Philadelphia on July 8th, and was first read before Washington's army the following day. Nor did all the delegates sign the document in 1776. Thomas McKean of Delaware did not add his name until 1777. After its ratification, the Declaration of Independence was moved from place to lace, finding shelter in ten different cities and five different states between 1776 and 1951. During this time it twice escaped destruction by fire and was almost captured by the British in both the revolution and the War of 1812. Since 1952 the document has been kept in the National Archives in Washington D.C.
The Americans lost the Battle of Bunker Hill. They ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat. Further, the Battle of Bunker Hill was not fought at Bunker Hill at all. The actual skirmish took place at Breed's Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts.