How well versed are you in American history? Sadly, as time
passes the education children receive in school is giving them a distorted view
of our country’s founding and its patriots. History books have been altered to
agree with political correctness instead of stating facts. While it is true
there are dark days and tragedies in our historical record, wiping them off the
printed page doesn’t take away their existence. We can learn from mistakes and
we can profit from leadership accomplishments.
This week we recognize President’s Day, a combination of
President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. I would like to
share some little known facts about these two great leaders because so little is known today about actual history. I saw a survey conducted on a street corner asking people historical questions such as "When was the War of 1812?" Hmmm, let me think now, DUH! The answers were so astounding it was embarrassing.
George Washington
- George Washington did not have a middle name.
- Washington did not throw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. This river is one mile wide and no matter a person’s strength, the feat could not be accomplished. Also, there were no silver dollars during this time period.
- Young George contracted smallpox while on the island of Barbados in 1751. Surviving this disease gave him lifelong immunity which saved him during the smallpox epidemic during the American Revolution. During the war he also ordered his troops, who were dying by the hundreds of this malady, to be inoculated which stopped its spread.
- At the battle of Monongahela in 1755, George Washington had two horses shot out from under him and four musket balls made holes in his coat but he was never seriously wounded in battle.
- Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have a beard.
- He patented a system to alter the buoyancy of steamboats in 1849.
- One week before he died, Lincoln had a dream of someone crying in the White House. When searching out the room where the noise came from, he asked who had died. The man in the room replied, “The President.” Abraham looked into the casket and saw his own face.
- He created a national banking system in 1863 which resulted in a standardized currency.
- Mary Todd’s parents did not want her to marry Abe because he was from a poor background.
Finding factual details about our country and its founders
is necessary to have the correct view of our country.
What is your opinion of the way history is treated today?
Sources: www.mountvernon.org., www.alincoln-library.com. For further reading check out www.wallbuilders.com.
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