Browsing: Misconceptions

A Brief History On August 8, 1918, the Allied offensive known as the “Hundred Days Offensive” began with the start of the Battle of Amiens.  Allied forces swept 7 miles into German lines, an incredible distance when in the previous 4 years, progress had been measured in feet or yards.  The Battle of Amiens was the first in a string of victories that would carry the Allies to victory in World War I but also inevitably sow the seeds of World War II! Digging Deeper Both sides experienced tremendous effects on morale due to the huge early Allied success of the…

A Brief History On August 4, 1693, the monk Dom Peringnon is traditionally believed to have invented Champagne.  This belief is not the case, but many people still believe he did, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.  Many historical “facts” believed by the general public are simply not accurate.  On July 23 and July 24, 2014, we listed 10 such errors.  Here we list 10 more common misunderstandings.   Digging Deeper 10. General Short and Admiral Kimmel were scapegoats. The Pearl Harbor debacle was blamed on the Army and Navy commanders of the U.S. forces in Hawaii, although many people…

A Brief History On August 1, 1831, the new London bridge spanning the River Thames in central London, was completed.  Replacing a medieval stone arch bridge, the new bridge was also of stone arch construction and is what we normally think of when “London Bridge” is referred to. Digging Deeper Prior to 1176 a series of wooden bridges had spanned the Thames, but the sturdy construction of the stone bridge completed in 1176 would last over 650 years.  This “old” bridge was built with a chapel in the middle dedicated to Thomas Becket and had shops crowded along its way. …

A Brief History On July 24, 1814, British forces under Phineas Riall marched to the Niagara River to halt an American force from invading Canada.  The War of 1812 is misunderstood by many Americans, with most Americans assuming the US won the war, when the truth is much more like a tie at best.  The British never intended to conquer the US, as they were busy with Napoleon and bigger issues than the US.  The war was more about a punitive expedition by the British.  The final battle, after the war was over, in New Orleans was an American victory…

A Brief History On July 23, 1903, the Ford Motor Company sold its first car.  For some reason many Americans are under the impression that Henry Ford invented the automobile and that Ford was the first brand of cars.  Although Ford got into the business early in the industry’s infancy, he was far from the first.  These sort of misunderstandings, myths, and mistakes fill our minds and our history books.  We are listing 10 such erroneous “facts” to help set things straight.   Digging Deeper 10. Thomas Jefferson Freed His Slaves When He Died. Hardly.  Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves and…