Things most Americans (and others) don't know

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rklenseth
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Things most Americans (and others) don't know

Postby rklenseth » Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:26 am

The official name of the our nation is 'These United States of America' not 'The United States of America'.

There are only 47 states in 'These United States of America'. Massachusetts and Virginia are commonwealths and Texas is a republic.

'In God We Trust' was added to Union mint during the American Civil War to unite the Union under the sense that the fight against the Confederacy was one supported by God.

The first Constitution of 'These United States of America' was the Articles of Confederation which was later replaced by the United States Constitution.

Slave States sided and fought for the Union during the American Civil War (ie. Kentucky, Missouri).

War was never officially declared by either the Union or the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

African Americans first fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, most of them were 'free blacks'.

New York City seceded from the Union during the American Civil War.

The Battle of New Orleans, during the War of 1812, occurred after the Treaty of Paris, ending the war, had been signed by both sides. Neither commanders were aware that this had happened.

California and most of the American northwest was given to These United States of America after the Mexican-American War by the defeated Mexican government but the Mexicans did not have claim to the land and was actually claimed by the French government and some parts by the British Empire.

Alaska was sold to These United States of America for less money then it is to buy a candy bar from a store today.

During the first ten years of These United States, New York and Massachusetts declared war on each other and fought over the Vermont. The Federal government intervene and made the territory of Vermont which later became the state of Vermont.

Canada was about to invade These United States of America during the American Civil War but the invasion was called off after the commanders of the army got drunk at an American bar during a scouting mission into American territory and blabbered off their plan. (Don't worry, my fellow Canadians, they weren't Canadian but British commanders who were in command of the Canadian army.)



I'll find some more unknown facts that most people don't know later.
rklenseth
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Postby rklenseth » Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:38 am

Oh yeah, a few I forgot;

Under the Articles of the Confederation, the Federal government could not mint their own money, tax the people, or have an army for any reason. These are a few reasons why the Articles were scrapped later for the Constitution.

These United States Supreme Court was not given the power to interpret the United States Constitution but it gave itself the power to do so after interpreting the US Constitution.

President Andrew Jackson removed Cherokee Indians from the Carolinas forcefully, a decision later deemed Unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court. President Jackson told the Supreme Court to enforce the law themselves and that he was going to enforce the law his way.

'These United States of America' was changed to 'The United States of America' culturally after the American Civil War to show that whole nation had united and become one again. It was never officially changed and it is still 'These United States of America' under the US Constitution.

Just as many Americans died during the American Civil War (600,000 died) than all the wars that America has ever fought (not counting the Civil War) combined.
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kroner
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Re: Things most Americans (and others) don't know

Postby kroner » Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:39 am

Badger (rklenseth) wrote:Alaska was sold to These United States of America for less money then it is to buy a candy bar from a store today.

says in my textbook $7.2 million. expensive candy bar...
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Postby new.vogue.nightmare » Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:47 am

Maybe he meant per certain unit of land--maybe per acre? I don't have time for math :P
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Bran-Muffin
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Postby Bran-Muffin » Sat Mar 27, 2004 10:48 am

Heres what mine say.

U.S. Secretary of State William Seward negotiates the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million, 2 cents/acre. Treaty signed March 30. Transfer occurs at the Russian Alaska capital, New Archangel / Sitka on Oct. 18.
trage
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Postby trage » Sat Mar 27, 2004 12:04 pm

Another interesting fact

Texas is the only "state" that can fly it's flag as high as the nation's flag and when it wants to can become four seperate states.
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Re: Things most Americans (and others) don't know

Postby ephiroll » Sat Mar 27, 2004 12:55 pm

Badger (rklenseth) wrote:
There are only 47 states in 'These United States of America'. Massachusetts and Virginia are commonwealths and Texas is a republic.



Actually there's aren't 47, there's 45. Rhode island is a province and Kentucky is a commonwealth. There may be one or two others I can't remember.
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grayjaket
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Postby grayjaket » Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:14 pm

Badger (rklenseth) wrote:These United States Supreme Court was not given the power to interpret the United States Constitution but it gave itself the power to do so after interpreting the US Constitution.



LOL


Oh, and while were on the subject of Texas *cough*
Texas can get away with whatever it wants, cuz well....it's practically it's own country :) Got it's own language and everything
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rklenseth
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Postby rklenseth » Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:06 pm

That is why Texas is a republic and not a state. It is isn't the State of Texas but the Republic of Texas. :wink:
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Postby Meh » Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:08 pm

And Ohio was not offically a state until fifty or so years ago. The deffered the discussion in congress and never got back to it. Damn paperwork. Someone 100 years later found the omission while doing reserach for the states' anniversary.
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Lone Wolf
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Postby Lone Wolf » Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:09 pm

I'm not offended by the invasion comment at all but I thought I'd add this

The War of 1812

Meanwhile the British colonies far to the east found themselves involved with the United States in a new war that threatened to end their existence under the English flag. The declaration of war announced by the United States had several causes. Chief among these was Britain's insistence on its right to search American vessels for deserters from its own navy during the war against Napoleon. In addition, England had interfered with American trade with Europe. It was claimed too that the British in Canada had been inciting the Indians against the American settlements along the northwestern frontier.

The early hopes of the United States to drive the British entirely from North America were dashed by a series of defeats at the hands of British regulars and Canadian militia forces. Fort Michilimackinac, at the entrance to Lake Michigan, was captured by the British soon after the outbreak of fighting and was not recaptured during the remainder of the war. An American attack across the Detroit border was not only forced back but, under the brilliant generalship of Gen. Isaac Brock, ably assisted by the Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh and his warriors, was turned into a disastrous defeat. The army defending Detroit was forced to surrender, and the fort itself fell into British hands. Later the same year, the United States launched an attack on the Niagara frontier. Brock was killed early during the fighting at Queenston Heights, but the invasion was repulsed.
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trage
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Postby trage » Sat Mar 27, 2004 7:15 pm

Hmmmmm interesting Lone wolf.
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Re: Things most Americans (and others) don't know

Postby new.vogue.nightmare » Sat Mar 27, 2004 8:59 pm

ephiroll wrote:
Badger (rklenseth) wrote:
There are only 47 states in 'These United States of America'. Massachusetts and Virginia are commonwealths and Texas is a republic.



Actually there's aren't 47, there's 45. Rhode island is a province and Kentucky is a commonwealth. There may be one or two others I can't remember.


I know Pennsylvania is officially referred to as a commonwealth.
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trage
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Postby trage » Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:01 pm

Gah. We have are missing so many states in America. :(. Hawaii isn't a state it's an island :P.
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1959 Apache
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Postby 1959 Apache » Sat Mar 27, 2004 11:42 pm

Pennsylvania is indeed a Commonwealth and not a state. It would be good to have the right facts before posting "things most Americans don't know", unless you are including yourself.
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