History Facts

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British politician known mainly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historical writer, and an artist. Churchill is one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world. Check out these interesting facts about it.

Fact #1 - Winston Churchill was born with a speech impediment.

It’s hard to believe that one of the greatest orators in history was born with a speech impediment. It must have taken him a lot of time and practice to overcome his disability. After many years, he finally stated, “My impediment is no hindrance.”

Fact #2 - Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

On the outbreak of WWII, Churchill was a proponent of rearmament and advocated joining forces with France and the Soviet Union in a fight against Nazi Germany.

Fact #3 - Winston Churchill is famous for his “finest hour speech.”

One June 18, 1940, just weeks after Hitler had major victories that led to the fall of Paris, Churchill delivered one of the most recognizable speeches in history to the British House of Commons. It ends with this: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour’.”

Fact #4 - When Winston Churchill passed away, his body lay in state for three days and a state funeral service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

No other state funerals have been held for non-members of the Royal family since Churchill’s in 1965.

Fact #5 - In a poll by the BBC in 2002, Winston Churchill was ranked #1 on a list of the 100 Greatest Britons of All Time.

That’s quite an honour.

Tennessee is a state rich with history dating back thousands of years. Most people think of the American Civil War and country music when they think of Tennessee history, but in fact, it goes much deeper then that. There are stories untold and Indian artifacts yet to be unearthed. Continue reading for some of the top Tennessee History Facts.

Fact #1 - Paleo-Indians are believed to have hunted and camped in what is now Tennessee as early as 12,000 years ago.

It’s hard to even imagine what the country was like 12,000 years ago. That’s before the time of the Egyptian Pyramids! Researchers still debate today how and when humans first got to the Americas. Some say they crossed a frozen land bridge over the Bering Strait. Whatever the method, they eventually made it to what is now Tennessee.

Fact #2 - Hernando de Soto, in 1539–43, is credited as being the first European to set foot in what is now Tennessee.

Hernando de Soto’s expedition ranged throughout the entire southeastern United States including up to the Mississippi River, where he eventually died. War and disease from the Europeans evetually wiped out a majority of the Native Indian population living in the Tennessee area.

Fact #3 - Tennessee is an American state and a constituent part of the United States of America. It was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796.

Tennessee was the 16th state to join the union. Tennessee was initially part of the North Carolina territory, but when North Carolina petitioned for statehood, the broke off at the Smokey Mountain border and gave the Tennessee land to the federal government.

Fact #4 - Having ratified by popular vote its connection with the fledgling Confederacy, Tennessee became the last state to withdraw from the Union.

After only being a state for 60 years, Tennessee left the union in 1861. Tennessee’s cities and farms were home to more Civil War battles than any other state, except Virginia.

Fact #5 - National attention came Tennessee’s way during the trial of John T. Scopes, the so-called “Scopes Monkey Trial.” In 1925, the General Assembly, as part of a general education bill, passed a law that forbade the teaching of evolution in the public schools.

Tennessee is known for their strong religion values, so it’s no surprise that they passed a law to forbid the teaching of evolution in public schools. After eight days of trial, it took the jury only nine minutes to deliberate. Scopes was found guilty on July 21 and ordered to pay a $100.00 fine.