9 Historical Facts You Missed in High School

We all had days we didn’t pay attention in high school history, but here’s your chance to catch up. The following are eight facts you might’ve missed in class.

1. George Washington Wanted to Be A Surveyor

   

   George Washington never thought he’d be the leader of a new nation. Hardly anyone knows that his original dream was to be a successful surveyor in the county of Culpeper, Virginia.

2. Kim Jong-Il Wrote 6 Operas

   

   Continuing the pattern of national leaders with surprising aspirations, Kim Jong-Il claims to have penned 6 separate operas. It’s completely understandable why you probably don’t remember this one.

3. Socrates Was Killed With Hemlock

   

   This one is a little more well-known and to be honest I’m a little surprised that this one passed you by. Socrates was forced by his political opponents to commit suicide by drinking poison hemlock. It’s probably the most interesting story in the whole Greek Philosophy unit.

4. The Great Molasses Flood

   

   Oh, this fact is really incredible. It’s a shame you didn’t learn it. On January 15, 1919, a huge storage tank holding molasses burst open, flooding Boston with 2.3 million gallons of molasses. This one is really bizarre, so it really should have stuck in your head.

5. The Fall of the Berlin Wall

   

   Wow. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall is one of the most important events of the 20th century. When that wall fell, it signaled the end of an era of Cold War tension, but somehow you didn’t hear about it. Did you sleep through that class? I don’t really understand.

6. The Sinking of the Titanic

   

   Even if you weren’t paying attention in class, Titanic is a really incredible film that explains the whole story. Well, you missed it, so I’ll give you a rundown. There was a huge boat, it hit an ice cube, it sunk to the ocean floor. Go look it up, it’s important.

7. The First African-American President

   

   Have you not turned on a television in 8 years? I’m starting to worry about you. So you didn’t pay attention in class, you clearly don’t follow films, and now I’m learning that you don’t even know who leads the free world.

8. Henry Ford is the Founder of the Company Ford

   

   With no knowledge of history, I feel like you could have figured this one out. His name is literally the name of the company. There’s no puzzle here, no knowledge required, just basic common sense. I’m starting to think you’re a lost cause. Prove me wrong.

9. World War II Was the Second World War

   

   I give up on you.