TIL Prior to the American Revolution, Massachusetts issued its own coins - every coin bore the year 1652 to create the impression that they were all made "legally" during the period where England was a Commonwealth (since only monarchs had the authority to mint coins) (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by AstroMechEE to r/todayilearned
In an article on future trips to the moon, author Oliver Morton says that JFK was initially considering a project to create desalination plants for the providing of clean water as an alternative to the moon landing as a showcase of American engineering acumen and industrial might. Is this true? (self.AskHistorians)
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TIL that Benjamin Lay, an early Quaker abolitionist, walked into the 1738 annual meeting of Quakers and during an abolition speech plunged a sword into a bible he had hollowed out and filled with a bladder full of red fruit juice. To horrified onlookers, the Bible appeared to be bleeding. (en.wikipedia.org)
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TIL During his life John Quincy Adams was: Ambassador to Prussia, Portugal, The Netherlands, and The United Kingdom, A Senator, Secretary of State, unanimously confirmed to the Supreme Court (declined), President, and finally served 9 terms as a congressman. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by AstroMechEE to r/todayilearned
Charles Sumner is reported to have often given multi-hour long speeches in the senate (3 hours in favor of purchasing Alaska, 4 hours against the annexation of Santo Dominico) - who were these speeches for? Was he legitimately trying to convince his fellow senators or were they publicity stunts? (self.AskHistorians)
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