On October 30, 1735, John Adams, the man who would become America’s second president, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy). Adams grew up on a small farm but quickly distinguished himself through education, graduating from Harvard College at age 20. Originally planning to be a minister, he instead turned to law, becoming one of the most respected legal minds in the colonies. His dedication to justice was evident early on—he famously defended British soldiers after the Boston Massacre of 1770, insisting that the rule of law must rise above popular anger.

Adams was a driving force behind American independence. In the Continental Congress, he fiercely pushed for the Declaration of Independence, even selecting Thomas Jefferson to draft it. As a diplomat during the Revolution, Adams secured crucial support from France and the Netherlands, helping sustain the American cause abroad. His intellect and stubborn integrity often set him apart, earning both admiration and frustration from his peers.

As president from 1797 to 1801, Adams faced challenges in keeping the young republic stable amid growing tensions between France and Britain. His decision to pursue peace, rather than war with France, was unpopular at the time but later praised for preserving American independence. After his presidency, Adams retired to his farm in Quincy, where he lived to see his son, John Quincy Adams, become the sixth U.S. president.

Fittingly, John Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—on the same day as his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson. His final words were said to be, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” — little did he know, Jefferson passed just hours before.

On October 30, 1938, millions of Americans tuned into CBS Radio to hear Orson Welles’ broadcast of “The War of the Worlds”—and some believed the world was ending. The hour-long program, based on H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel, was presented as a series of realistic “news bulletins” describing an alien invasion in New Jersey. With Welles’ deep, dramatic voice and eerily convincing sound effects, the program created a sense of chaos that fooled listeners who missed the opening disclaimer explaining it was fiction.

Across parts of the country, panic broke out. Reports told of people fleeing their homes, praying in churches, or calling the police to find out where the Martians had landed. In Grover’s Mill, New Jersey, the supposed site of the invasion, locals even armed themselves, ready to defend their town. While later studies showed the mass hysteria wasn’t as widespread as newspapers claimed, the event revealed the immense power of radio and public trust in the media at the time.

For Welles, then just 23 years old, the broadcast was both scandal and sensation. It launched him to national fame and paved the way for his legendary film career, including directing “Citizen Kane” just three years later. Though CBS issued apologies, the incident led to new FCC regulations requiring clearer announcements for fictional programs.

“The War of the Worlds” broadcast remains one of the most famous moments in media history—a haunting reminder that even in the age before the internet, mass communication could blur the line between fact and fear.

Knocker Uppers🪨
Before alarm clocks, there were "knocker-uppers" who shot peas at windows to wake people. In industrial England, people hired knocker-uppers who used long poles or pea-shooters to tap on bedroom windows until workers woke up - it was an actual profession that lasted until the 1970s in some areas.

Vatican ATM💰
The Vatican has its own ATM with instructions in Latin. The Holy See's cash machine offers Latin as a language option alongside Italian and English - you can literally withdraw euros while reading "inserere scidulam quaeso ut faciundam cognoscas rationem" (insert your card please).

Monopoly Invention🎲
Monopoly was originally invented to teach people how terrible capitalism is. Elizabeth Magie created "The Landlord's Game" in 1903 as anti-capitalist propaganda showing how landlords exploit tenants - Hasbro turned her socialist teaching tool into the world's most popular capitalism celebration game.

Ronald Robs Wendy🍔
A man named Ronald McDonald robbed a Wendy's in 2005. Ronald McDonald from Manchester, Connecticut actually robbed a Wendy's restaurant - police arrested a real person named Ronald McDonald for robbing McDonald's competitor, creating the most ironic arrest report in history.

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