America: Facts vs. FictionWW

America: Facts vs. Fiction

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Christmas Used to Be Like One Big Frat Party

In the fourth century A.D. Christmas supplanted the Roman Saturnalia festival, but the tradition of wild celebrations continued.

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Air Force One has all kinds of weapons to defend itself... right? And a special skin to protect it? Find out!WWW

02:51

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:The Truth About Air Force One

There were actually two boats of Pilgrims that left England for the US, and Plymouth Rock was not the first place the Mayflower disembarked.WWW

02:51

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:What Really Happened with the Mayflower

Witness how childhood boredom escalated into the mass hysteria that led to the Salem Witch Trials.WWW

02:24

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Salem Witch Craft Hysteria

The Articles of Confederation proved to be more trouble than help, with individual states all pushing their interests and agendas, to the point of threatening the country as a whole.WWW

02:49

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Articles of Confederation

Our vision of Paul Revere's midnight ride is all wrong, especially how it concludes.WWW

02:38

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:The Truth About Paul Revere

George Washington was preceded by several other Presidents of the United States.WWW

02:42

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:George Washington Not our First President

Benjamin Franklin was inquisitive but never crazy enough to fly a kite in an electrical storm as is often depicted.WWW

02:56

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Ben Franklin and That Kite

The negative characterization of Edgar Allan Poe as a paranoid drug addict with the darkest of minds can be traced back to one man who was a rival of Poe's. There is no proof of drugs and his "darkness" is only inferred because of the scary stori ...WWW

02:51

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:The Real Edgar Allan Poe

While Edison is surely one of our greatest inventors, his greatest contribution may have been perfecting existing inventions instead of creating that many new ones.WWW

02:49

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Thomas Edison

There are many common misperceptions about Hoover and FDR as political foes and as lawmakers.WWW

02:43

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Hoover and FDR

Common perception is that the Lincoln and JFK assassinations have many parallels, but not so many when fact is separated from fiction.WWW

02:38

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:JFK and Lincoln's Assassinations

Route 66 is the most famous road built in America except it was actually made by connecting existing major highways together. And it was constantly mutating.WWW

02:35

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Route 66 Myths

Halloween in the early-to-mid-20th century was not a sweet nor pleasant holiday, but an excuse for pranks and general mischief.WWW

02:36

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:How Halloween Has Changed

Was President John F. Kennedy really interested in going to space? And how close we were to not being the first to get on the moon?WWW

02:43

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:Soviets and Americans on Moon at Same Time

Paul Revere has been billed as America?s first action hero after his famous "Midnight Ride" but as truth would have it, he was part of a network.WWW

02:08

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:It Wasn't Just Paul Revere

Some of the most noteworthy photographers from the Civil War would move bodies around on the battlefield in order to achieve dramatic effect.WWW

02:15

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction (Season 2):Staged Civil War Photography

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Harry Houdini was not only known for his illusions but also his myth busting, particularly when it came to the popular spiritualist movement of the 1920s which came about because of the end of World War I and the global influenza pandemic.WWW

02:04

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction (Season 2):Houdini the Original Myth Buster

If all other manners of conflict resolution are exhausted a duel is the last resort.WWW

01:37

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Dueling is the Last Resort

Some of the most noteworthy photographers from the Civil War would move bodies around on the battlefield in order to achieve dramatic effect.WWW

02:15

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction (Season 2):Staged Civil War Photography

Before it was a federal penitentiary Alcatraz housed a military prison, and it was a lot easier to escape. Learn more about Alcatraz including how some prisoners made it off The Rock.WWW

03:03

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Several Prisoners Did Escape From Alcatraz

Incredibly enough the mayor of New York City, Fernando Wood, suggested in 1861 that New York City secede and declare itself a free city because of its lucrative ties to the cotton industry.WWW

02:15

America: Facts vs. FictionW

That Time NYC Wanted to Secede From the US

Many know the research conducted around the first atomic bombs as the "Manhattan Project," but was it really based in New York City?WWW

02:45

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Separating Facts from Fiction Around the Manhattan Project

When it comes to the myths of Thanksgiving, they are plentiful, yet not nearly as interesting as the facts behind the first gathering.WWW

03:33

America: Facts vs. FictionW

Facts vs. Fiction:The Truth About Thanksgiving

Due to their inexperience many airborne troops including those of Fox Company loaded themselves up too much for their jump into Normandy on D-Day.WWW

01:22

Against the OddsW

Carrying Too Much Gear For Jump Into Normandy

Eugene Sledge recounts in his diary how he and his fellow soldiers were being trained in subhuman slaughter before their landing at hellish Peleliu.WWW

02:14

Against the OddsW

Being Drawn Into the Flaming Abyss of Peleliu

Unaware that the NVA was about to launch a new offensive around Dai Do a group of 250 Marines launch their attack against what would be 10,000 NVA.WWW

01:45

Against the OddsW

250 Marines Didn't Know They Were Up Against 10,000 NVA at Dai Do

As part of their effort to put down the Iraqi insurgency in Fallujah, in some of the heaviest urban combat since Hue, Marines had to cross the very wide and perilous Highway 10 to reach a key objective.WWW

02:54

Against the OddsW

The Terror of Having to Cross Highway 10 in Fallujah

With only 79 men Charlie company finds itself in a precarious position surrounded by a vastly superior NVA force in the dense jungle in Vietnam.WWW

02:53

Against the OddsW

Charlie Company is Bloodied and Trapped in the Jungle

The only thing holding up Hitler's plan to divide and send General Patton's 3rd Army back to the sea was a group of 150 National Guardsmen occupying the crucially important Hill 314 in the village of Mortain, France.WWW

02:33

Against the OddsW

150 Men of Old Hickory in Mortain Hold Up Hitler's Plan to Destroy Patton's Army

Canadian George Beurling broke every rule in the book yet became one of the greatest fighter pilots of World War II. A loner and a social misfit, Beurling's disdain for protocol branded him an outcast.WWW

02:34

Air AcesW

Maverick George Beurling

During one of the final battles over Malta, George Beurling might have been in his last dog fight.WWW

02:52

Air AcesW

Death in the Air Over Malta

Despite engine failure and no radio from being shot up over Berlin the crew of this Lancaster bomber defy the odds and make it back home to England.WWW

02:03

Air AcesW

Rough Lancaster Landing