Nations have fought wars over seemingly insignificant objects. There was the bloody war about a bucket, the revolution that began with a dispute about an unpaid wig, and the big kerfuffle over […]
The Tree That Almost Caused a Second Korean War
When FDR Couldn’t Make Sense of His Tax Return
If you have ever wanted to pull your hair out in frustration over the complexity of trying to figure out your income taxes, you are not alone.
The Tragic and Largely-Forgotten Story of the Worst Maritime Disaster in U.S. History
There is much about the worst maritime disaster in United States history that is counter-intuitive. For one thing, the story is largely forgotten. It has been overshadowed by events that were smaller […]
The First Turkey Pardoned By a President
The U.S. Constitution gives the President virtually unlimited authority to grant pardons to anyone facing federal charges. Except for William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, all of the nation’s chief executives have […]
How the U.S. Nearly Created a $1 Trillion Coin
Regardless of whether you are a coin collector, you probably would be interested in any currency with a big number on it. It might be something comparatively worthless, such as Zimbabwe’s $100 […]
Mr. Accordion’s Revenge From the Grave
Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois is not your typical graveyard. It receives visitors from all parts of the world who come to pay their respects at the final resting place of […]
Lincoln Shows How to Respect Opponents
For those of us who live in one of the most divisive periods in history, we would do well to follow the example of Abraham Lincoln. He is rightly remembered as the […]
Aspiration, Preparation, Realization
It doesn’t take a lot of sleuthing to figure out that we love presidential history here at Commonplace Fun Facts. That’s why we always make a point to read Presidential History by […]
Compare Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence With the Final Version
You probably learned that Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Although he was responsible for most of the document’s content, the version that was approved contained 86 […]
Depression, Tragedy, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Man Who Overcame Them
He had so many nicknames and titles throughout his life that we’ll just call him G.E. for now. His name isn’t nearly as important as his symptoms. It doesn’t take a psychiatrist […]
Play the Game That Was Invented to Help a President Lose Weight
Dr. Joel T. Boone had a problem with one of his patients. The man under his care was in a stressful job and was in danger of working himself to death. His […]
Lincoln’s Advice About Law and Life
The Unlikely Lawyer Who Represented a Slave Owner
It was a chapter in American history that every decent person wishes had never been written. Slavery was legal — at least in some parts of the country. Slaves were viewed as […]
The Girl Responsible for History’s Most Famous Beard
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most-recognized figures in history. If you ask anyone to describe him, inevitably you will hear that he was tall, wore a stovepipe hat, and had a […]
How the Goverment Made a Huge Mistake By Selling $1 Coins for $1
There is no one smarter, better experienced, or more capable of wise financial management than the United States government. Whoa! Mom wasn’t kidding when she told us what would happen if we […]
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