Let’s talk about all the historical events worse than this year’s elections!
There’s no doubt that this year’s elections are pretty intense. From the harsh debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump to the hundreds of messages Biden received urging him to step out of the presidential race, leading to his eventual decision to drop out and endorse Kamala Harris for president.
The world of politics is pretty crazy, but we can’t forget about all the historical events that shaped the world we know today. They’re even worse than this year’s elections. America is one of the most influential countries in the world, and its history is full of both surprising and shocking events.
So, if you want to learn more about the things that happened in the past and get your mind off the elections for a couple of minutes, this article’s for you! Without further ado, here are the historical events worse than this year’s elections!
1. The Trail of Tears (1838)
The first important historical event we’ll talk about today is the Trail of Tears. This was the displacement and movement of Native Americans from their homelands to Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) in the Western United States.
The initial mention of the phrase dates back to 1831 when it described the expulsion of the Choctaw Nation. There were many members of the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and Choctaw nations among these groups. Unfortunately, in the process of traveling to their destinations, several native Americans lost their lives to malnourishment, exposure, and famine.
During the journey, approximately 4,000 out of the 15,000 Cherokee people were relocated to a new territory. After 46,000 Native Americans from these southeastern states were forced to leave their ancestral lands by 1837, 25 million acres were made available for European American settlement.
2. The Dred Scott Decision (1857)
The Dred Scott Decision was one of the toughest historical events our country has ever faced. It was a ruling by the United States Supreme Court stating that people of African descent, whether enslaved or free, could never be American citizens and were not protected by the Constitution.
Moreover, it maintained that the Congress of the United States lacked the power to outlaw slavery in federal territory. Slaves couldn’t file lawsuits in court since they weren’t citizens, as the Court further decided. Finally, the Court decided that slaves couldn’t be seized from their owners without due process since they were chattel, or private property.
3. The Battle of Antietam (1862)
The first huge battle in the American Civil War that took place on Northern soil was the popular battle of Antietam, which happened on September 17th, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek. Experts say that it was the bloodiest single-day battle in the history of our country, with over 20,000 people injured or killed.
This giant number of fatalities represented around 25% of the federal force and 31% of the Confederate. According to sources, more people died on that terrible day than on any other day in America’s military history. Some of the most popular generals who lost their lives on this day were Major Generals Joseph K. Mansfield, Israel B. Richardson, and Brig. Gen. Isaac P. Rodman of the Union side (all mortally wounded) and Brig. Gens. Lawrence O. Branch and William E. Starke of the Confederate side (killed).
4. The Stock Market Crash (1929)
Another historical event that shaped America was the stock market crash in 1929. A sharp drop in stock market value kicked off the Great Depression, which lasted until World War II brought economic growth that helped us recover. Both wealthy and poor nations suffered a lot during this harsh time. Profits and prices fell, and so did personal income, tax revenue, and international trade, which dropped by half to two-thirds.
According to sources, unemployment soared, reaching 33% in some countries and 25% in the US. Cities, especially those that relied on heavy industry, were highly affected. In many places, construction nearly stopped. Farming and rural communities also struggled, with crop prices falling by about 60%. I guess it’s safe to say this historical event was worse than this year’s elections, am I right?
…Did you know that internment means the imprisonment of people, typically in large groups, who aren’t charged or intend to bring charges? The term is especially used for the confinement of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects. Keep reading to discover what we’re talking about!
5. Interment Camps (1942)
Let’s continue with these historical events by discussing internment camps. To curb potential Japanese espionage, the US government decided that interning Japanese-American citizens was the least bad option available. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19th, 1942, around 100,000 Japanese-Americans were sent to camps.
This order forced Japanese Americans on the west coast into internment camps, affecting about 120,000 ethnic Japanese. Among those interned, 62% were Nisei (American-born, second-generation Japanese Americans) or Sansei (third-generation Japanese Americans), both groups being American citizens. The rest were Issei, first-generation Japanese immigrants, and resident aliens.
6. Bay of Pigs (1961)
The operation at the Bay of Pigs is another historical event worse than this year’s elections. This battle was an unsuccessful attempt by US-backed Cubans to topple Fidel Castro’s government. This was first approved by President Eisenhower and later by President Kennedy.
One of the main reasons why the operation failed was the fact that the CIA, which was in charge of the operation, didn’t have preparation. According to sources, the degree of public support for Fidel Castro’s government and the power of the Cuban military were both overestimated by the CIA.
Most of the invaders were either killed or captured in only three days. The Kennedy administration was severely embarrassed by the incident, which also improved Castro’s standing in Cuba and brought him closer to the Soviet Union.
7. The Vietnam War (1960s)
The Vietnam War was a huge conflict between South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations, and North Vietnam, backed by its allies. The goal of the war was to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. After the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964, America became heavily involved, escalated its military presence, and deployed hundreds of thousands of troops.
The battle was characterized by fierce guerrilla fighting, bloody jungle skirmishes, and a high death toll among civilians, all of which were made worse by the controversial deployment of Agent Orange and Napalm. Despite having better weaponry and guerrilla warfare, the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong put up a fierce fight against the United States.
Rising casualties, growing public discontent, and widespread anti-war protests led the U.S. to start withdrawing troops in 1969. With Saigon’s collapse in 1975, the war came to an end, and communist rule returned to Vietnam. Both American and Vietnamese societies bear the profound scars of the conflict, making it one of the most important historical events.
Do you know of any other major historical events that shaped America as we know it today? Let’s chat in the comments below! If you love history and would like to know more about all the events that made the US the great force it is today, here’s a good book for you.
If you want to read more about other historical events that left their mark on America, leave a comment below, and we’ll do Part. II. Until next time, check out this article: Hitler’s Physician Josef Mengele: The Top 9 Most Unsettling Facts About Him
