History's Dark Side: Shocking Facts You Schools Never Taught You

History's Dark Side: Shocking Facts You Schools Never Taught You

Find out about history's dark side and shocking facts schools never taught you: hidden wars and disturbing events that could open your eyes to untold stories that shaped the world.

Introduction

When we reference history, we usually reference a story of great leaders, or heroic battles, or ingenious inventions. Schools tend to share stories of our victories and how far humankind has progressed. But what about the darker chapters? The ones that didn't make it into history?

The truth is, the dark side of history is rife with shocking facts, brutal mistakes, and hidden events that reveal the darker side of mankind. These hidden histories are not just questioning what we think we know about the world, they are also reminding us of the perils of forgetting.

In this article we will look at some shocking evidence that schools never taught you: hidden history that may change everything about how you view the world.

1. The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

In January 1919, in Boston, a giant tank that was capable of holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst. A giant wave of sticky goodness sped through the streets of Boston at 35 mph, destroying buildings, crushing cars, and killing 21 people.

This sounds insane, and I assure you, the “Molasses Flood” was one of the weirdest, and deadliest accidents in American history, both of those facts are true.

2. The 1518 Dancing Plague

One of the strangest events in European history occurred in Strasbourg (modern day France) when people began wallowing and dancing uncontrollably. Some danced & would not stop dancing for days as they eventually collapsed from exhaustion and died.

Historians have suggested that this was a product of mass hysteria, or classically bad bread, but to this day, the 1518 dancing plague remains one of the oddest mysteries in history.

3. Operation Northwoods - A Shocking Proposed U.S. Plan

In the 1960's, during the Cold War, the U.S. military prepared Operation Northwoods; described by U.S. military officials as a 'proposed series of false-flag terrorist attacks on American soil to justify a second world war with Cuba'.

Fortunately, this plan was never completed; however it shows in history how far governments will go to manipulate the minds of the public.

4. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

One of the darkest acts in medical history happened in the United States from 1932 to 1972. Researchers wrongly withheld treatment from hundreds of African American men with syphilis, even after a cure was available (penicillin).

This unfortunate experiment was hidden from the public for years and is a reminder of how unethical acts can hide behind science.

5. The Kyshtym Nuclear Accident (1957)

Everyone knows about Chernobyl, but very few have heard about the Kyshtym Disaster in the Soviet Union. A nuclear waste tank exploded and irradiated a vast area. Entire towns had to be evacuated. This incident was covered up for years.

This hidden disaster is one of the worst nuclear accidents in history, yet almost no textbooks mention it.

6. The Lost Colony of Roanoke

In 1587, a group of English settlers stayed on Roanoke Island in North America, but when supply ships made their monthly trip to the colony, it was empty; only the word "CROATOAN" was found carved in a tree.

We still don't know what happened to them, whether they joined local tribes, died of disease, or relocated, and the mystery is still one of the most haunting in American history.

7. Unit 731 – Japan's Secret Biological Warfare Program

Throughout World War II, Japan operated a clandestine unit, called Unit 731, where thousands of prisoners were subjected to heinous experiments including exposure to deadly diseases, exposure to freezing temperatures, and vivisection.

The most unbelievable part? Most of the scientists were never penalized after the war. Some were even granted immunity in exchange for their data.

8. The Year 536: The Worst Year in Human History

Historians and scientists refer to 536 A.D. as "the worst year to be alive." A mysterious fog descended on much of the world and blocked sunlight for months on end. Food production completely failed, famine spread, and global temperatures dropped dramatically.

It was ultimately due to a large volcanic eruption, but people living at the time surely thought it was the end of the world.

9. The Radium Girls

In the early 1900s, factory workers (mostly young women) were tasked with painting watch dials with glow-in-the-dark radium paint. They were instructed to lick the brushes to provide a fine tip.

Before long, the workers were experiencing horrific health complications including the disintegration of their jaw bones. Their incredibly tragic story serves as a reminder of how the pursuit of profit has historically caused harm.

10. The Atrocities of the Congo Free State

While it is true that many schools will touch on European Colonialism over the years, the extent to which King Leopold II ruled over the Congo Free State is not covered in the full context. Millions of Africans were enslaved, mutilated, and murdered - what some historians have deemed to be one of the worst genocides in human history.

The dark side of colonial history represents the very dark conditions behind the accumulation of wealth for European empires.

Why These Stories Are Stifled

So why are we not learning these shocking truths in school? There are a couple of reasons why:

Politics and power: Governments will bias what versions of history are taught to school children.

Image: Countries prefer portraying winning narratives instead of failed narratives.

Narrowing: History classes often tell, solely, a story around "big events," while erasing the more complex and uncomfortable parts of the story.

However, no matter what is ignored about history, that does not make it vanish. If anything, ignoring the dark side of history makes the chance of repeating it that much more likely.

The Lessons We Can Take from the Dark Side of History

Although history is about the past, it contains the present and the future. As previous chapters have described, it is important to study events that have been forgotten or silenced, because:

* Recognize the perils of unchecked power.

* Recognize the human toll of greed and ambition.

* Understand the significance of ethics in science, politics, and business.

* Understand how fragile society can be in times of disaster.

Final Thoughts

The darker aspects of history are not intended to frighten us, but to inform us. By revealing the shocking truths that schools will never tell us, we obtain a deeper, more honest understanding of humanity.

History is far more than great leaders making heroic decisions during fierce battles. It also comes with error, tragedy, and uncomfortable truths. We cannot possibly build a better and more just future without recognizing these truths. So next time you think history is boring, remember: often the stories that shock you most, you did not learn in school.