Wild Facts

It happens every year on February 2 when Americans gather around to see if a rodent can predict the weather: Groundhog Day. Of course, Groundhog Day is also the title of a popular movie and a phrase that implies the monotony of living the same day over and over and over again.&nbsp;The "will he or won't he?" of Puxatawny Phil's shadow is as much a part of surviving winter as seeing early buds on trees and stepping outside without a coat for the first time. But, when you really think about it, the reason a groundhog is considered an authority on changing seasons isn't exactly obvious. To understand that, you have to know your history.

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Where Groundhog Day Comes From And Why It Matters

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The History Of Groundhog Day, Explained

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Each year, the President of the United States makes remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast. In a country founded on the idea that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/">Church and State</a> are to remain separate, this may seem unusual. The vision of the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, however, "is to promote and share the idea of gathering together in the Spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, adopted by the Senate and House Prayer Breakfast Groups in the United States Congress."The role of the National Prayer Breakfast is, ideally, not to influence government, but to advocate for and facilitate unity and cooperation. In order to understand this, here's a look at the origins of the event, how it has developed over time, and how it brings together spiritual, political, and religious leaders.

The History Of The National Prayer Breakfast, Explained

What Is The National Prayer Breakfast?

The passage of the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt18-5/ALDE_00013845/"> Volstead Act</a>, also known as the National Prohibition Act, in 1919 signaled a new phase in American history would soon begin: Prohibition. The act enforced the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-18/">18th Amendment which prohibited</a> "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United states and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes."In short, booze became illegal. This didn't mean people stopped drinking, however. There were numerous ways to make, sell, and consume alcohol, including making a visit to a speakeasy. Speakeasies were gathering places where patrons enjoyed drinks and entertainment alike. Often accessible via password or entrance card, the locations of speakeasies were shrouded in secrecy, and the risk of going to one was likely part of the overall appeal.&nbsp;Due to the nature of speakeasies, there's limited information about what went on behind those often-disguised doors. Luckily, some individuals who were involved in the processes and activities that went into speakeasy operations and culture did leave behind descriptions and reflections about what actually happened at a Prohibition-era speakeasy.&nbsp;

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What It Was Really Inside A Speakeasy During Prohibition

What It Was Actually Like To Go To A Speakeasy During The 1920s And 1930s

Fascinating trivia and things you didn't know about some of America's most interesting, influential, and controversial people. 

Real American Heroes

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was more than the man behind the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-new-world-wonders/setareh-janda">Panama Canal</a> and the inspiration for the teddy bear. He was a cowboy. A soldier. An explorer.When Teddy Roosevelt, or T.R. as he was commonly known, was a child, he had health issues. He overcame these by living what he called a "strenuous life." That's putting it lightly.&nbsp;These Teddy Roosevelt facts -&nbsp;from stories of Roosevelt exploring unchartered rivers to leading military battles - reveal he lived far more than a strenuous life. He lived one of the most insanely cool lives in American history. Here are some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/craziest-stories-us-presidents/elle-tharp">cool and dramatic things</a> Teddy Roosevelt did.

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The 12 Most Fascinating Facts About Teddy Roosevelt

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Everything you didn't know about the so-called leaders of the free world, from their favorite foods to their pets' names.

U.S. Presidents

US History

The death of a president is always a big deal, whether it is unexpected - such as John F. Kennedy&#39;s assassination - or predictable, like Ronald Reagan&#39;s death after suffering from Alzheimer&#39;s disease for ten years. While former presidents always get the full memorial Monty, the death of a sitting president can cause political upheaval as the successor takes the reigns. But just how many US presidents have died? Sure, you probably have a rough idea, but do you know the circumstances of their deaths and the legacy they left behind?&nbsp;

Looking to the past is crucial to understanding the present. And knowing how all the US presidents died - especially the ones that died in office - can shed some light on our current political situation. In total, 39 US presidents have passed on. Keep reading to learn about all the US president deaths that have happened since the inception of our country.

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How All The Departed US Presidents Have Died

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How All the Departed US Presidents Have Died

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Lists about some of the most extraordinary women who made history, forever changing the world and how we see it.

Well-Behaved Women

Lists about the first ladies who have reached America's highest status (for women) — being married to the President — from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton to Melania Trump. 

FLOTUS: America's Mom

Who are those people who lived in the White House, making appearances and speeches and promises and mistakes? To understand them, you must get to know the spouses, children, and even siblings of U.S. Presidents, past and present. 

The First Family

Julia Gardiner Tyler

Before the revolutionary Eleanor Roosevelt or the glamorous Jackie O, there was Julia Gardiner Tyler, the second wife of President John Tyler. Despite the fact she became First Lady in the 1800s -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/different-waves-of-feminism-and-what-they-mean/rylee_en">a stifling and oppressive era for women</a> - Julia Gardiner Tyler was bold, brazen, and fabulous. The wild side of Tyler's young bride was much gossiped about, but rather than letting the headlines dictate her life, Tyler dictated the headlines. She branded herself into the first celebrity First Lady through her opulent and dramatic lifestyle. She was the opposite of modesty in a time where women were meant to be modest to the core.&nbsp;Wild stories about Julia Gardiner Tyler make her one of the most scandalous first ladies in history. She was a strong, independent woman who did what she wanted when she wanted. These facts about Julia Gardiner Tyler and her unconventional life might make her story even more interesting that that of her husband.&nbsp;

16 Facts About Julia Tyler, The Most Controversial First Lady of the 1800s

16 Facts About Julia Gardiner Tyler, A Scandalous First Lady

Elle Tharp

Lists about the history and quirks of America's highest office.

The American Presidency

Weird History

The health of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst">US Presidents</a> is a well-kept secret, especially while they&rsquo;re in office.&nbsp;The public is on a need-to-know basis, and, generally speaking, the government doesn&#39;t&nbsp;think the public needs to know at all &ndash; especially when it comes to presidents&#39; illnesses.&nbsp;From George Washington to Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama, presidents have suffered from various ailments before, during, and after holding their positions. Considering how unwell some of these guys were, it&#39;s amazing they accomplished anything at all during their <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/us-president-first-100-days/stephanroget" target="_blank">first 100 days in office</a>.

Some presidents were pretty healthy from a young age;&nbsp;others were sickly during their whole lives, and others were plagued with maladies on and off &ndash;&nbsp;no actual instances of plague, though, luckily. However, some of these presidential ailments might just surprise you.

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Every U.S. President &amp; Every Medical Problem They've Ever Had

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Though the U.S. is not even 250 years old, history textbooks already must omit a great deal. Here are in-depth looks at a few of the most fascinating and less flattering events and scenes that took place on American soil.

America's Forgotten History

US Cities

From the early inhabitants of the original 13 colonies, to the pioneers who moved West and South as America expanded, there was one common problem when it came to establishing new settlements: What would they name their city?Some US cities and towns were named after a founder, a nearby geological feature, or a place the settlers had come from, but <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-small-towns/noah-henry">others</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-town-names/laura-allan">had very unusual names.</a>And the city or town could end up being renamed, sometimes multiple times. Here are the stories about how some US cities got their original monikers, and the reason(s) why the name ended up being changed.

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US Cities That Changed Their Names, And The Surprising Reasons Why

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US Cities That Changed Their Names

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In 1856, a 19-year-old girl named Olive Oatman caused a big stir in Arizona. The daughter of white settlers who were&nbsp;murdered on their way to California, she emerged from years of being a captive of the Mohave tribe with a striking and distinctive blue tattoo on her chin. So who was Olive Oatman, and how did she come to live with the Mohave? Her story is one of extreme tragedy that also captures&nbsp;the incredible strength of the human spirit.

The American public was fascinated by Olivia Oatman, and the stories of&nbsp;her time as a captive continue to spark interest to this day.&nbsp;Her journey from&nbsp;desert pioneer to <a href="https://historydaily.org/olive-oatman-the-girl-with-the-blue-tattoo" target="_blank">orphaned Native American captive</a> left lasting marks on her that went much deeper than a tattoo; it was said that she carried around a Mohave staple, a jar of hazelnuts, for the rest of her life to remind her of her experiences.

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The Fascinating Story Behind The Girl With The Mohave Tattoo

The True Story of Olive Oatman, The Pioneer Girl With The Face Tattoo

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Are you already an expert in everything America? Great! No need to read about these fascinating facts and important events that have shaped the US as we know it today.

US History You Should Know

Fort Knox US Bullion Depository Kentucky

Located in Kentucky, Fort Knox is a United States Army base which&nbsp;houses most of the US&#39;s gold reserves. One of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-break-ins/megan-summers" target="_blank">most&nbsp;secure</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/inaccessible-places/kellen-perry" target="_blank">inaccessible places</a> in the world, the facility once held the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.&nbsp;

Only one president has ever been inside -&nbsp;and the US Mint remains largely mum on the contents of the vault -&nbsp;making Fort Knox a hotbed for conspiracy theories. Many&nbsp;question the amount of gold that supposedly exists in the vault,&nbsp;and wonder what else hides within the building&#39;s&nbsp;walls. So, what&#39;s really inside Fort Knox? The public may never know.

Fort Knox Is So Mysterious And Heavily Guarded, Only One US President Has Ever Been Inside

Fort Knox Is More Mysterious Than You Think

Only One President Has Ever Been Inside Fort Knox... Why Is It The Most Mysterious, Heavily Guarded Place In America?

Fun facts and interesting trivia to know about religious beliefs and practices around the world.

Cultural  Differences

It’s easy to assume that whatever customs, systems, processes, and general facts of life you’re accustomed to are the “norm.” However, as soon as you venture out of your home country or region, it becomes extremely apparent that not everything you do or have at home is the norm elsewhere. For Americans, this means coming&nbsp;across <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-dont-americans-use-bidets/genevieve-carlton">a bidet</a> on a French vacation, or having a tip refused at a restaurant, or being forced to make sense of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-dont-americans-use-metric-system/melissa-sartore">the metric system</a> can come as a shock to the system.The truth is, the US does many things differently from the rest of the world. From minor differences like&nbsp;an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-american-flags-everywhere-in-united-states/megan-summers">obsession with the American flag,</a> to major ones with political or economic implications, like the use of a sales tax instead of value-added tax, or the refusal to recognize the International Criminal Court’s authority, the US is unique in a number of ways. Below you’ll find many things Americans do differently from the rest of the world - and why.

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All The Things The US Does Differently From The Rest Of The World

Why America Does Things Differently Than Other Countries

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Interesting

There are numerous holidays in the United States celebrated annually. Holidays that are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/obscure-local-holidays-united-states/melissa-sartore">local and obscure</a> may receive little to no attention outside of a small group. National and federal holidays can lead to a day off of work or some other much-anticipated acknowledgment but are usually days with no mail and the closure of business and government offices across the country.Knowing when holidays are celebrated is engrained in the American psyche. The reasons specific <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/holiday-dates/brenden-donnelly">holiday dates are chosen</a> are important and often unrealized, as are the actual meanings behind the biggest American holidays.Why do Americans celebrate Memorial Day and Veterans Day? What's the difference? And what's the significance of Juneteenth? How does a country with a divide between church and state afford holiday status to Christmas?&nbsp;These are all questions that deserve to be answered.

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Holiday Meanings: What The Biggest American Holidays Actually Mean

American Holiday Meanings: Every Major US Holiday, Explained

These United States came <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-revolutionary-facts/melissa-sartore">from humble beginnings in 1776</a>, where founding fathers in funny wigs signed a document forming the country. Since then, America has had many highs and many lows, from incredible, groundbreaking moments like the moon landing and women's suffrage, to the bitter and violent battles waged over race and systemic oppression. Considering it all, the good and the bad, when was the nation actually at its best?We've provided each decade's peak achievements, major moments, and presidents. How you define the best is up to you. It could be a time with a cultural spirit you connect with, or one with new technologies you found the most beneficial.&nbsp;As you vote, remember this: Each decade had its good and bad, triumphs as well as tragedies. A vote up certainly does not condone the “bad” that happened in that decade, just as a vote down does not ignore the good.

What Decade Did America Peak?

There are<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/origins-of-easter/emily-mast"> holidays for just about everything</a> nowadays, from National Hot Dog Day to Super Mario Day. However, there are only 11 federally-recognized holidays in the United States (plus one more in a year with a presidential election).&nbsp;The oldest holidays on this list were ratified more than 150 years ago, while the newest is just a few years old. While you're likely familiar with most of the holidays on this list, do you know where they came from? How they came to be?&nbsp;While some holidays represent celebrations of people or events, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/christian-holidays-with-pagan-origins/ryan-sargent">others were born</a> out of darker origins. Who knew that Labor Day came to be after dozens of deaths from strikes and riots? And while some of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/history-of-valentines-day/tracey-graham">America's holidays</a> can be controversial, some groups are working to change how we view and think about these days rooted in centuries of tradition.&nbsp;

How Holidays In The United States Actually Came To Be

The Real History Of Holidays In The U.S.

Emily Pogue

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US Government & Politics

As the amount of money the US owes to its debtors, the national debt is a subject for politicians, the media, and observers worldwide.&nbsp;The national debt of the United States has gone up and down throughout its long history, as one might expect, and is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/historical-debt-outstanding/historical-debt-outstanding">tracked by the US Treasury</a>. Multiple factors influence the rise and decline of the national debt - everything from annual budget surpluses and deficits to massive war funding.&nbsp;As a result, paying off the national debt is not easy. From the outset, the US Congress controlled the “purse strings” of the government, specifically the House of Representatives. The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Power-of-the-Purse/"> US Constitution articulated:</a><blockquote>All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills. (Article 1, section 7, clause, 1)No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time. (Article 1, section 9, clause 7)</blockquote>&nbsp;That said, cooperation among Congressional houses as well as with the President of the United States is needed to a large extent, especially when political parties enter into the mix. The role of Congress in establishing a debt limit for the nation has also been a factor in how the two branches interact and just how much the debt has increased. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/debt-limit">According to the Treasury Department,</a> “Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit” since 1960.&nbsp;All of this is why the timeline of the national debt of the US is a fascinating glimpse at the history of the nation and its role on the global stage.&nbsp;

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What The National Debt Of The US Was At The Beginning And End Of Every Presidency

Every state&nbsp;in the American union loves to boast its superlatives, from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-haunted-house-in-every-state/mick-jacobs" target="_blank">its most famous haunted houses</a> to its <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-famous-movie-from-each-state/mason-weigel" target="_blank">most famous movie sets</a>. The competition is great for tourism and trivia alike, and helps set each&nbsp;state apart from its 49 brethren.&nbsp;When it comes to most notable historical figures from each state, though, the details may surprise you. After all, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-people-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous historical figures</a> aren't always associated with the state of their birth. For example, the famous Illinois senator-turned-president Abraham Lincoln wasn't actually born in Illinois at all, but Kentucky!&nbsp;Which state has produced the most silver screen figures? It’s not California. And what about beloved New England poet Robert Frost? He's actually from California.Where historical figures were born doesn’t predict where they ended up in the annals of history but each state can claim someone of historical significance... even Rhode Island! Read on to see &nbsp;which of America's states claim lauded historical people.

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These Are The Most Significant Historical Figures From Every State

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