Buddhism Facts

Buddhism Facts Introduction

Facts about Buddhism can give us a peaceful feeling. Many Buddhism facts teach us about Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama’s teachings became the foundation of the religion that would become Buddhism, and Gautama is known as the Buddha.

Buddha translates roughly as the enlightened one, and Buddhists, or followers of Buddhism, see the Buddha as a wise teacher who taught lessons about escaping suffering and achieving Nirvana. Nirvana is the quieting of the mind after desire, illusion and ignorance have been extinguished.

1. 1 of 8 Sages Said That Siddhartha Gautama Would Be a Buddha

The story of Gautama’s life is important when it comes to learning about Buddhism. Many interesting facts about Buddhism can be revealed by a brief study of the Buddha’s life. For some Buddhists, the way in which Gautama led his life is one of his greatest teachings.

Some of the hardest Buddhism facts to establish are those regarding the Buddha’s life. His teachings were first passed along through oral tradition before being written down many years, perhaps even centuries, later. Gautama was born in eastern India, sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.

Because the Buddha’s teachings led to the creation of Buddhism, there have been many biographies written about him. These biographies tend to be fantastic, as Gautama tended to be elevated and deified by some later Buddhists.

While many facts are disputed, most accounts agree that Gautama was born into a higher-class family. His father was a chieftain, or an oligarch. Legend has it that his mother died in childbirth and that his father summoned eight sages of the Vedic tradition to forecast Gautama’s future. Seven of the eight sages said that Siddhartha would be a great king or a great holy man. The eighth predicted that he would become a Buddha.

2. The Buddha Had a Mid-Life Crisis When He Was 29 Years Old

While many of the stories of the Buddha’s life are difficult to confirm, they provide us with important Buddhism facts because they tell us about the time in which the Buddha lived, and the religious environment that led to the start of Buddhism.

According to tradition, Siddhartha was given all the comforts of a prince. His father may not have been a king, but he provided everything his son could possibly want. As legend goes, Siddhartha had limited knowledge of spiritual teachings because his father wanted him to be a great king, rather than a great holy man.

It is also said that Siddhartha lived a sheltered life and did not know much suffering. He was married through an arranged marriage at the age of 16 years old. Siddhartha became a father, and continued to live a life of luxury.

When he was 29 years old, as the story goes, the Buddha left his home for the first time to see the world outside his palatial surroundings. During his first visit away from his home, Siddhartha saw an old man. When he asked the driver of his chariot what was wrong with the man, the driver explained that all people get old.

This intrigued the sheltered Siddhartha, who had seen little of the world. He went on more trips outside of his home and is reported to have seen a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic.

For the first time in his life, Siddhartha witnessed suffering. Perhaps it was the shock of seeing all these things that influenced Siddhartha to do what he did next. Siddhartha left his life of luxury, and his family, to pursue the life of an ascetic. After seeing suffering, death, and disease, Siddhartha felt the only way to avoid these was by practicing asceticism.

3. The Buddha Was a Religious Innovator like Jesus of Nazareth

At the time Gautama left his life of luxury, the Vedic religion, which would eventually become part of Hinduism, was practiced along with other religious rites in India. The Vedas, from which the Vedic religion got its name, are a collection of ancient Indian religious texts. The concepts and vocabulary used in these spiritual texts would become part of the Buddhism facts we know today.

Gautama pursued his spiritual quest in this religious environment. He was learning the Vedic tradition, along with other ancient Indian spiritual traditions. Later, when he would explain his insights, he would use words and concepts from these traditions. This made it easier for Gautama to explain and relate his message to his audiences, including his early disciples.

In some ways, Buddhism is an extension of ancient Indian spiritual practice, with new insights provided by Gautama. This is very similar to Christianity, which many see as an extension of the older Jewish religion, with new insights provided by Jesus of Nazareth.

4. The Buddha Starved Himself Pursuing Inner Peace

Siddhartha pursued the life of an ascetic. He left his home and began begging on the street. One of the surprising Buddhism facts is that Gautama learned yoga from two different teachers. According to legend, he was not satisfied with the level of training he received from his first teacher and, despite reaching higher planes of meditation with his second teacher, he still sought a greater awakening.

Siddhartha was not happy with the current spiritual practices in India. His yoga teachers could not provide him the escape from suffering that he sought. Siddhartha continued on his spiritual quest and, as legend has it, he had five friends with him. They all took their asceticism further, depriving themselves of food and worldly positions.

One day, while he was bathing in a river, Siddhartha collapsed and almost died. He collapsed from lack of nutrition. He recognized that extreme poverty was not going to bring him any closer to enlightenment.

5. The Buddha Attained Enlightenment by Meditating for Almost 50 Days Straight

After he collapsed in a river from starvation, legend tells us that Siddhartha sat under a tree in an area known as Uruwela. This is perhaps the most important of all Buddhism facts: the 35-year old Siddhartha meditated under the tree, and refused to leave until he had achieved enlightenment.

He knew from his early life that extreme luxury would not bring an end to suffering. He knew from his travels that extreme poverty would not bring an end to suffering. After nearly 50 days meditating under the tree, Siddhartha reached the destination he had sought in his spiritual journey — enlightenment.

Meditating under the tree, Siddhartha discovered that the Middle Way was the path to enlightenment. This is one of the core Buddhism facts about the doctrine of Buddhism. The core principles of Buddhism that the Buddha first proscribed include avoiding any extremes, and searching for the middle path that provides clarity and true detachment.

When Siddhartha achieved enlightenment, he became known as the Buddha. The tree he meditated under became known as the Bodhi Tree, and the surrounding area became known as Bodh Gaya. This location appears to be more certain than the disputed Buddhism facts about where exactly the Buddha’s birthplace was. For modern Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important place of pilgrimage.

6. After Meditating for 49 Days, the Buddha Revealed Four Noble Truths

After his awakening under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha began to preach the insights he had achieved. The Buddha discovered the end of worldly suffering through meditation. He described the end of suffering through another one of the important Buddhism facts: the Four Noble Truths. These Noble Truths would become the core of the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha’s teaching would become known as the Dharma.

The first Noble Truth is that suffering exists as part of life; in birth, aging, disease and death. This suffering is a type of attachment to worldly life, which is called dukkha. The next three Noble Truths teach us about dukkha, and how to find release from the attachment to suffering.

The second Noble Truth teaches us how dukkha comes to be in our lives. Through sensory cravings, we become more attached to worldly suffering. These cravings even include the craving to have a sense of self that is continuous throughout one’s life. And, as the Buddha learned to avoid extremes, the craving to not exist and to be separated from dukkha is another craving that actually brings more attachment to dukkha.

The third Noble Truth is that we can escape from dukkha, and experience a state of non-attachment to worldly suffering. The suffering still exists, and we acknowledge that, but we have risen above it by following the Middle Way.

The fourth Noble Truth is the path that leads to the cessation of attachment to worldly suffering. Through the wisdom of meditation on dukkha, and by following the Middle Way, we can take this path away from suffering.

The fourth Noble Truth would be expanded to describe the Noble Eightfold Path. This path includes: right sight, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. These parts of the Noble Eightfold Path are not completed in sequence. They are all practiced on the road to enlightenment.

These teachings would form the Dharma. This collection of the Buddha’s teachings is one of the Buddhism facts that is debated by the different sects of Buddhism in modern times. The core precepts of the Four Noble Truths are widely agreed upon, but interpretation of these truths is where disagreement occurs.

7. Buddhism Spread from Six People to 1,000 People in Only One Month

Buddha first preached his insights to the five friends that had accompanied him on his path to enlightenment. These five friends, along with the Buddha, formed what is known as the Sangha. This is the community of Buddhist monks or, in a larger sense, the Buddhist community.

Within months, the Sangha would grow to over 1,000 people from the original six! This is one of the amazing facts about Buddhism: it spread quickly in the beginning. Although he was hesitant at first, the Buddha eventually allowed women to become Buddhist monks. This is reported to have occurred five years after the formation of the Sangha.

It’s one of the important Buddhism facts that the Buddha saw the path to enlightenment as being open to all. Every person, regardless of gender or background, has the ability to attain enlightenment by studying the Dharma.

8. The Three Jewels of Buddhism Don’t Include Diamonds, Rubies or Emeralds

Within five years of his experience under the Bodhi tree, the religion that the Buddha taught was growing rapidly. The religion would become known as Buddhism, and followers as Buddhists.

Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels. These Three Jewels are the founder of the Buddhism — the Buddha, and his teachings — the Dharma, and the community of Buddhists — the Sangha.

9. Indian Emperor Ashoka Converted and Spread Buddhism after 100,000 People Died

In another one of the Buddhism facts that calls to mind Christianity facts, it would be an emperor and not a priest who would spread Buddhism across the Indian continent, into China, and other parts of Asia.

Ashoka Maurya was an emperor who would be the first to rule almost the entire Indian subcontinent. Ashoka converted to Buddhism after waging a bloody war that resulted in over 100,000 people dying. This is one of the Buddhism facts that is difficult to prove. It’s clear, however, there was a large-scale war at the time, and that Ashoka converted to Buddhism after the war.

After converting to Buddhism in around 260 BCE, Ashoka made it the state religion of the empire. This is very similar to when Caesar Augustus converted to Christianity and spread the religion throughout the Roman Empire.

Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism was vital in helping establish Buddhism facts. During this time, Ashoka built shrines at important locations in the Buddha’s life. Had these locations not been identified at the time, it would be even more difficult for us to establish facts about Buddhism today. For instance, we know the location of Bodh Gaya, because Ashoka built a large temple there.

10. Disagreements Split Buddhism into Two Main Branches

The early teachings of the Buddha that formed the Dharma were not written down. They were transmitted by word of mouth from the Buddha to his disciples and then to new members of the Sangha. As the religion spread and became more established by Ashoka, the Dharma began to be recorded in written record, forming a canon of texts that are studied by Buddhists today.

During the course of transmission from oral teachings to written doctrine, some disagreements occurred over interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings. These disagreements continued, and escalated, after the Buddha’s passing.

As a result of these disagreements over interpretation, two main branches of Buddhism emerged: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

In the Theravada tradition of Buddhism, the Buddha was an ordinary man, who attained enlightenment by discovering the Four Noble Truths. This possibility is open to any ardent spiritual practitioner. In Theravada Buddhism, people today can become Buddhas by following the path to enlightenment.

For Mahayana Buddhists, the Buddha is much more than an ordinary man. He is the projection of an unchanging, omnipresent being. The Buddha has the status of a god, and he is above lesser gods of the ancient Indian tradition.

As Buddhism spread throughout Asia, more Buddhism facts were established. Wherever Buddhism flourished, it absorbed parts of the local culture as the roots for its growth. As a result, the different sects that developed within Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism reflect the various cultures in different parts of Asia.

Some of these sects even include local gods and deities as part of their practice. Buddhism allows for a wide range of interpretations, and the doctrines that develop in each sect often reflect existing religious practices in that area.

Facts about Buddhism Summary

This flexibility in interpretation, and a willingness to absorb local customs, has made Buddhism one of the fastest growing religions to ever exist on Earth. A message of escaping from worldly suffering was spread throughout the world from the teachings of one man. Despite the difficulty in establishing early Buddhism facts, it’s clear that the historical Buddha did in fact exist, and preached the core principles that would become Buddhism.

Eventually, Hinduism emerged in India as the predominant religion, despite the efforts of Ashoka to make Buddhism the main religion of the country. In other parts of Asia, however, particularly Southeast Asia, Buddhism is the main religion. Each day, nearly half a billion people worldwide follow the Four Noble Truths, which were discovered by Siddhartha Gautama while meditating under a tree over 2,000 years ago!

Buddhism Facts

Jackie Robinson Facts

Jackie Robinson Facts Introduction

Many Jackie Robinson facts can teach us about Black History in the United States. Jackie Robinson was an incredible athlete who was the first Black person to play Major League Baseball since the 1880s. His role as a professional athlete was an important symbol of changing attitudes about race in the United States.

Jackie Robinson facts tell us the story behind the man who faced an uphill struggle while breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Robinson had to face threats and insults, yet still perform on the field at the highest level. His resolve in the face of pressure is an inspiration to all people.

Teaching Jackie Robinson facts to kids is a great way to get them interested in the Civil Rights movement. Robinson’s role as a professional athlete made him an important national figure of the Civil Rights movement, like Martin Luther King, Jr. Jackie Robinson knew the importance of what he was doing and is a shining example of how one person can make a big difference.

1. Jackie Robinson Was Named After Theodore Roosevelt

Jackie Robinson was born Jack Roosevelt Robinson, the youngest of five children in a lower-middle class family in Georgia in 1919. Robinson got his middle name from President Theodore Roosevelt, who died shortly before Robinson was born.

One year after Jackie Robinson was born, his father left the family and his mother moved the Jackie and his siblings to California. This is one of the first Jackie Robinson facts that tells us about the challenges he overcame growing up.

Jackie Robinson’s mother, Mallie Robinson, was a hard-working single mom. She worked a number of jobs to support Jackie and his brothers and sisters. Jackie Robinson faced segregation growing up in Pasadena, California, and was banned from participating in many activities.

2. Jackie Robinson’s Brother Raced with Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics

Jackie Robinson and his brothers must have chased each other around a lot, because they were all fast! Jackie’s older brother, Matthew “Mack” Robinson, was a silver medalist in the 1936 Olympics for the 200-meter sprint.

Mack Robinson finished second at the 1936 Olympics to Jesse Owens! This is one of the surprising and interesting Jackie Robinson facts. Jesse Owens’ gold medal wins at the 1936 Olympics were an important message to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

The Germans were practicing segregation, and the series of events that would lead to World War 2 and the Holocaust had already begun. Jesse Owens was aware of this and became a symbol to the world that people of all races are equal.

Jesse Owens’ victory was especially important to the Black community at a time when most Black people in the United States continued to face legal and cultural segregation. There is no doubt that this must have had an impact on Jackie Robinson’s character and on his decision to use sports as a way of spreading a message of equality.

3. Jackie Robinson Was Arrested in 1938

In 1938, while Jackie Robinson was excelling as an athlete and displaying his character through community involvement, he began to come to terms with the racism that existed in the United States at the time.

It’s another one of the inspiring Jackie Robinson facts that he did not sit back and accept the racism he saw, but stood up for what he thought was right. Robinson was arrested for arguing with a police officer over the arrest of a Black friend.

Thankfully, his sentence was suspended and Robinson did not serve any significant prison time. However, he was beginning to be noticed for more than his athletic abilities. People saw Robinson as someone who was not afraid to speak out about racism when he witnessed it, and who was prepared to stand up for what he thought was right. This is one of the important Jackie Robinson facts for kids.

4. Jackie Robinson Was Arrested Again in 1944

What happened next in Robinson’s military career is another one of the Jackie Robinson facts that tells us about his struggle for equal treatment. In 1944, Jackie Robinson was getting on an Army bus when he was told to get to the back of the bus. The Army busses were not legally segregated like the busses in Montgomery, Alabama, where Rosa Parks would protest unequal treatment.

Jackie Robinson, like Rosa Parks, refused to move to the back of the bus. There was no legal requirement for him to do so. He was a soldier willing to give his life for his country, like any other soldier. Robinson wasn’t challenging any laws; he was challenging the culture of racism that existed in the United States in the 1940s. These are some of the most interesting facts about Jackie Robinson. They tell us that he was well aware of the importance of his actions later in life when he became the first Black Major League baseball player in the 1900s.

Robinson was arrested by military police. After being arrested, Robinson spoke to the arresting officer about unequal treatment and racism, much as he had done back in 1938. The officer tried to have Robinson court-martialed, but Robinson’s commander refused to court-martial him. Robinson was transferred to another unit under a racist commander, and was soon charged with multiple counts, including trumped up charges that he had been drinking.

When Robinson eventually stood trial at his court-martial a month later, the charges were reduced. Throughout this time, Robinson received racist comments and insults from White officers who wanted to keep the culture of racism. The law saw things differently, and Jackie Robinson was acquitted of all charges.

Despite the threats and the possibility of going to jail, Robinson stood up for what he thought was right. This is another one of the inspiring Jackie Robinson facts. It’s also inspiring that Paul L. Bates, who was Robinson’s first colonel, and was White, refused to charge Robinson and be a part of the widespread racist culture. All of the enlisted men in the 761st Tank Battalion that Bates commanded were Black. The unit, known as the Black Panthers, would go on to achieve much success in World War 2, and eventually received a long overdue Presidential Citation from Jimmy Carter.

After the trial, Robinson was transferred again, and became a coach of army athletics until he received his honorable discharge in November, 1944. Due to the transfers and legal proceedings, Robinson never rejoined the 761st Battalion or participated in any combat missions during World War 2.

5. Jackie Robinson Was Good at Baseball…Basketball, Football, and Track

It was difficult for Black people to gain access to education in the 1930s when Jackie Robinson attended and graduated from junior high school, and high school.

Robinson persevered, and excelled at sports. His brother, Mack, encouraged his athletic talents, as did his other brother, Frank. Jackie Robinson’s athletic talents had no limits! He was incredibly skilled at football, basketball, track, baseball, and even tennis!

During high school, Jackie Robinson played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, and was the quarterback of the football team. One of the interesting facts about Jackie Robinson is that Mack, Jackie’s brother, had attended the University of Oregon. Mack knew that sports were the way for Jackie to continue his education.

By excelling at sports, Jackie Robinson would have better access to secondary education. This is one of the sad Jackie Robinson facts that continues to hold importance today. All people, regardless of race or income level, should have access to secondary education. Even today, secondary education is limited for many lower-class people in the United States. Sports scholarships provide an opportunity some students wouldn’t otherwise have.

6. Jackie Robinson Earned His First MVP Award in 1938

After high school, Jackie Robinson attended junior college at the Pasadena Junior College. Robinson continued to be a quarterback in football, shortstop in baseball, and also participated in basketball and track.

As a track star at Pasadena Junior College, Robinson beat his brother Mack’s record in the broad jump. These Jackie Robinson facts tell us that Robinson’s athletic talent was truly world-class. In 1938, Jackie Robinson received the Most Valuable Player award for baseball in the regional junior college league.

In addition to his athletic activities, Robinson contributed to the community through student organizations. Robinson was recognized for his talents in sports and his responsible approach to civic participation and academics. This is another of the inspiring Jackie Robinson facts for kids. Jackie Robinson was both an incredible athlete and a well-rounded person.

7. Jackie Robinson Won the Long Jump at the NCAA Championships in 1940

After his time at Pasadena Junior College, Jackie Robinson attended the University of California, Los Angeles. During this time, more Jackie Robinson facts were established. He continued to excel at sports, winning the 1940 NCAA Men’s Track and Field Championships in the long jump.

During his time at UCLA, Robinson met the woman he would marry, Rachel Isum. While continuing his studies, Robinson became the first athlete at UCLA to get a varsity letter in four sports. He continued to participate in baseball, football, track and basketball.

Robinson’s future-wife Rachel Isum and his mother wanted him to complete his degree at UCLA. One of the few mysterious Jackie Robinson facts is that he left UCLA before completing his degree and took a job as an athletic director in a federal youth athletics program.

Many reasons have been suggested to explain why Robinson left UCLA before graduation. Some people speculate that his decision was financial. Robinson himself has said that he did not see the value of a college degree for a Black man at the time. Others have guessed that he was behind with his schoolwork due to his focus on athletics.

The federal government pulled funding from the youth athletics program and in 1941, Robinson moved to Hawaii to play football in the semi-pro league on the Honolulu Bears. Later that year, Robinson returned to California and briefly played for the Los Angeles Bulldogs, which were part of the newly formed and short-lived Pacific Coast Football League.

8. Jackie Robinson Was Friends with Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis

In 1942, Jackie Robinson was drafted into the Army. At the time, the Armed Forces of the United States were not segregated by law. However, there was cultural segregation that continued to exist. Jackie Robinson would challenge this racism directly, and it would alter the course of his military career.

One of the amazing Jackie Robinson facts is that he was friends with the heavyweight-boxing champion Joe Louis. Robinson and Louis bonded through their experiences in the military, including the racist practices they both endured.

Louis, Robinson and other Black men applied for Officer Candidate School, or OCS, to be officers in the Army. They met the criteria, and there were no laws against Blacks being admitted to OCS. However, there was institutional racism in place that made admission difficult for Black people.

Joe Louis, Robinson and others protested, and were eventually admitted to OCS. Jackie Robinson graduated from OCS as a second lieutenant in 1943. This is one of the Jackie Robinson facts that teaches us that Robinson continued to stand up for what he thought was right.

9. The Second Black Player in Baseball Started Only 6 Weeks after Robinson

The most historic of the Jackie Robinson facts that would be established were predicated by a conversation with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ manager, Branch Rickey, in August of 1945. Rickey was concerned by Robinson’s history of being speaking out against injustice. Rickey said that whoever became the first Black baseball player would need to have the courage to take a non-violent approach.

This is one of the Jackie Robinson facts that demonstrates how his efforts were a part of what would become the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Robinson agreed to take the high road in confrontations, and was signed to the Montreal Royals in 1945. The Montreal Royals were part of the International League, a part of the system that fed players into Major League Baseball. Robinson was the first to play in the league since the 1880s!

By 1946, Robinson was still playing baseball for the Royals and other teams. He was touring with barnstorming teams and played across the United States – even in South America! These are some of the fun Jackie Robinson facts for kids. In February of 1946, Robinson married Rachel Isum, who became Rachel Robinson. Together, they would have three children, Jackie Robinson, Jr., Sharon Robinson and David Robinson.

Spring training of 1946 would be the first real test of Jackie Robinson’s resolve and would provide more interesting facts about Jackie Robinson. He endured racial threats and insults. Some teams and some players refused to play with him. Some areas of the country were still segregated, and Robinson often had to stay separately from other members of his team.

Robinson had made it very far, and yet still faced an uphill struggle. When enduring racial insults and discrimination, Robinson “turned the other cheek”, as Rickey had advised. In 1947, Rickey moved Robinson up to the Brooklyn Dodgers and he played his first season of Major League baseball.

The pressures persisted, and Jackie Robinson continued to excel, despite racial insults and threats from players, owners and fans. He received the Rookie of the Year award for the 1947 season and would be an instrumental part of the Dodgers’ success over the coming years.

Later in 1947, Larry Doby, became the second Black player in the Major League, and the first in the American League. Doby and Robinson would support each other by talking on the phone throughout the season. By 1948, the Dodgers had hired three more Black players, and more Major League baseball teams were becoming more integrated.

Resistance continued, however, due to cultural racism. Major League baseball had to enforce rules stating that players would be suspended if they refused to play with Black players. All of this played out on the national stage, and Jackie Robinson became an American hero. Being a celebrity also brought more threats, and Jackie Robinson kept his cool amidst it all. Robinson was being a good citizen off the field, and an amazing player on it!

By the time the Dodgers won the World Series, in 1955, Robinson’s baseball career was going into decline. In 1956, rather than be traded, Robinson retired from baseball and took a position at Chock full o’Nuts as one of the first Black executives at a major United States corporation.

10. Jackie Robinson Played in the Negro Baseball League before the Dodgers

From 1944 to 1945, Robinson returned to California and briefly played again for the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Following this, he took a job as a basketball coach at the Sam Huston College in Texas. The program was small, though Robinson received some recognition for being a very disciplined coach.

The next set of Jackie Robinson facts would change not just his life, but also the course of history. While working as a coach in army athletics, Robinson was told he should apply to be a player for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American League. Robinson wrote a letter to the owner requesting a tryout. In 1945, while he was coaching at Sam Huston College, the Monarchs offered Jackie Robinson a contract to play professional baseball.

This is one of the ironic Jackie Robinson facts because he was talented in so many sports, although baseball may have been the sport he excelled at the least. It’s a testament to how great an athlete he was that he could play even the sport he was least good at, at a professional level!

The Negro American League was professional baseball. However, Robinson did not like that there wasn’t the same level of rigor that had defined his experiences as an athlete and a coach. Despite the somewhat loose structure of the league, there were incredibly talented players, many of whom were better than their White counterparts playing in Major League Baseball.

Some of the first Jackie Robinson facts regarding professional baseball emerge at this time. During his first season, Robinson batted .387 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases. This performance earned him a spot in the 1945 Negro League All-Star Game.

Perhaps motivated by economics, or by his desire for equal treatment, or simply because he wanted to be in a more rigorous professional setting, Robinson began to tryout for Major League Baseball.

Interesting Facts about Jackie Robinson Summary

Jackie Robinson facts tell us the story behind this remarkable man. Robinson was never afraid to stand up for what he believed was right. He was incredibly talented as an athlete, and became a symbol for equality in the United States.

Because baseball is the national pastime, it often reflects the attitudes of the United States. While laws still existed in many parts of the country that upheld segregation, Major League baseball ended segregation, showing that it could also be possible for society as a whole.

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about the importance of Jackie Robinson as a symbol. Robinson attended the March on Washington in 1963. Robinson was willing to go to jail for what he thought was right. However, it was his non-violent approach, an approach that would come to characterize the Civil Rights Movement, which was successful in helping to end segregation in baseball.

Jackie Robinson Facts

Statue of Liberty Facts

Statue of Liberty Facts Introduction

Statue of Liberty facts help teach us the importance of the concept of freedom and liberty to the United States. Learning Statue of Liberty facts can also teach us about France, and the special relationship between France and the United States.

Lady Liberty, as the Statue of Liberty is sometimes called, is a massive metal sculpture that resides off the island of Manhattan. The statue is situated on its own island, now known as Liberty Island. Parts of the Statue of Liberty toured the world, before being shipped from France to the United States for installation. Since then, the Statue of Liberty has come to represent the United Sates and has also played a fair few roles in popular movies! Statue of Liberty facts are a great way to get kids excited about history.

1. The Statue of Liberty Was Made in France

It’s one of the sure Statue of Liberty facts that the Statue of Liberty is an icon, representing the United States all around the world. Some people may be surprised to learn that the Statue of Liberty was actually made in France, although this is also one of the well-established Statue of Liberty facts.

Many people know that the Statue of Liberty greeted immigrants as they arrived in the United States via New York City. It may be another of the surprising Statue of Liberty facts that the statue was constructed before the first wave of immigration to the United States.

The timing was perfect. While discussion of a statue began in the 1860s, planning and construction of the Statue of Liberty began in the 1870s. The torch-bearing arm and the head of the statue were completed first, in 1876 and 1877. These were put on public display in order to raise money for the completion of the statue, until the final assembly and dedication in 1886.

The Statue of Liberty was designed and built by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with the engineering help of Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel, who is famous for the Eiffel Tower in Paris, was important in providing the structure for the large metal sculpture.

Bartholdi had initially planned to build parts of the Statue of Liberty with masonry. However, with Eiffel’s expertise, he was able to execute his design in metal. Because Bartholdi was working with metal, he decided to construct the entire statue in France and then ship it to the United States. Had he continued with his original plan and used masonry, it would have been necessary to construct the Statue of Liberty on what is now Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

2. The Statue of Liberty Was on Display in France for Six Months

Bartholdi and Eiffel continued to work closely together in the construction of the Statue of Liberty. They made sure that the parts of Lady Liberty’s skin and the parts of her skeleton fitted together with perfect precision.

The torch-bearing arm was the first part to be constructed, in 1876, which was the 100 year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There couldn’t have been a better time to begin work on a statue that would become a symbol of independence and liberty.

The arm was supposed to be included as part of the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. However, delays caused the arm to arrive in August, after the beginning of the exhibition. Bartholdi completed the arm so that it could serve as promotion to raise more money to complete the entire statue.

Learning that part of the Statue of Liberty was in the United States nearly ten years before the statue was completed is one of the more surprising Statue of Liberty facts. After Philadelphia, the arm traveled to New York where it was on display in Madison Square Park until 1882. After this, it was reunited with the rest of the statue in France, before being shipped back to the United States again.

The head was the next part to be completed, in 1877. As he had done with the arm, Bartholdi used the head to promote the statue project. The head was shown at the 1878 Paris World’s Fair and helped get French people excited about the project.

In 1880, fate intervened, and the original engineer on the project fell ill and died. He was replaced by Eiffel, who would go on to design an incredible truss tower support system inside of Lady Liberty.

After the statue was completed in France, it was presented to the United States ambassador on July 4, 1884. Arrangements were not made to ship the statue until January of 1885. The Statue of Liberty stood, fully assembled, in France for nearly six months!

3. Models of the Statue of Liberty Were Sold Before the Statue Was Completed

Perhaps the most surprising of the Statue of Liberty facts is that there were souvenirs available before the gift shop opened on Liberty Island! In an effort to raise money for the statue project, models of the Statue of Liberty were sold.

The fundraising effort for the project was immense, and included selling models, prints of the statue, tickets to the workshop where Lady Liberty was being built, and raffles for prizes.

Fundraising took place in both France and the United States. This is one of the Statue of Liberty facts that shows that the statue is also a symbol of France’s relationship with the United States. In addition to donations from individuals, the French government contributed funds to the project, and the United States government provided the island that would become Liberty Island.

4. The Statue of Liberty Was Made to Honor the Union After the Civil War

One of the recently disputed Statue of Liberty facts regards when exactly the idea for the statue originated. According to the traditional story, René de Laboulaye, a well-known Liberal in France, proposed that a statue should be built to honor the Union after the Civil War in the United States.

At the time, France was under the rule of Napoleon III and the French people desired the independence and freedom that the Americans had in the United States. Laboulaye’s proposal paid homage to the United States, while also being a proclamation of French hopes for a democracy that had yet to be fulfilled.

Bartholdi was inspired by Laboulaye’s comment, which Laboulaye had only made in passing. Although Bartholdi didn’t tell Laboulaye at the time, he intended to build the statue. Bartholdi and Laboulaye would eventually form a Franco-American union in 1875 that would raise funds for the project.

Laboulaye provided letters of introduction to Bartholdi that proved crucial in generating support for the project in the United States. Bartholdi first spotted what was to become Liberty Island, and proposed that this would be the ideal location for the statue. It was Ulysses S. Grant who told Bartholdi that the United States government would likely provide the land required for the project.

5. France Built the Statue of Liberty and The United States Built the Pedestal

When the Franco-American union was formed to raise money for the Statue of Liberty, it was agreed that France would build the statue, and the United States would provide the land and the base for the statue. This is another of the Statue of Liberty facts that demonstrates the close relationship between the United States and France.

The United States would build a pedestal for the statue, although the size of the pedestal makes it more like a large building! The foundation for the pedestal was built inside what was Fort Wood, a star-shaped military base on the island that would become Liberty Island.

The original design for the pedestal by designer Richard Morris Hunt, was to be 114 feet, or 35 meters, tall and made from granite. Budget limitations reduced the project to 89 feet, or 27 meters, tall and the main walls were made from poured concrete. One of our first big Statue of Liberty facts is that the concrete poured for the pedestal was the largest concrete pour ever at the time it was completed in 1886.

6. Bedloe’s Island Was the Name of the Island That Would Become Liberty Island

Some of the less-known Statue of Liberty facts relate to Liberty Island. The island was named Liberty Island after the statue was placed there. Much earlier, in the 1600s, Liberty Island was part of a group of islands including Ellis Island. These islands were known as the Oyster Islands because of their vast beds of shellfish. Liberty island was called The Great Oyster Island

The British conquered Fort Amsterdam, in what would later become New York City, in 1664. A British captain sold the island to Isaac Bedlow in 1667. The island changed hands many times until 1753, when it was listed for sale under the name Bedloe’s Island. Somehow the w had gotten switched to an e along the way!

These are some of the least known Statue of Liberty facts. In 1758, New York City purchased the island after it had been used as a quarantine area for people suffering from smallpox. In 1800, the island changed hands for the last time, when it was provided to the federal government by the City of New York to build a fort.

The building that would become Fort Wood, with its unique star-shape construction, was built from 1806 to 1811. It was named Fort Wood in 1813, after Lt. Col Eleazar Derby Wood, who was a hero during the war of 1812.

7. The Statue of Liberty’s Skin is Made of Copper

The color of the Statue of Liberty is green. This is the result of the patina that has developed as the copper on the Statue of Liberty has oxidized over the years.

For people who are familiar with the way copper ages, it’s not one of the surprising facts that the Statue of Liberty is made of copper. The Statue of Liberty was actually copper-colored until 1902, when it started to develop a patina. By 1906, the entire Statue of Liberty was green.

The original engineer on the project, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who was a teacher and a friend of Bartholdi, proposed the material and method for shaping the large panels that would make up the skin of Lady Liberty.

In the initial planning for the Statue of Liberty, Viollet-le-Duc proposed the skin be made of copper panels that were heated and then formed by being hit with a hammer. This was a crucial decision because the Statue of Liberty would be huge, and copper was a lightweight metal, making it suitable for constructing something on such a massive scale.

8. The Statue of Liberty Is a Huge Statue

Get ready for some massive Statue of Liberty facts: the height, as initially intended, and executed by Bartholdi with the help of Eiffel, is over 150 feet, or over 45 meters, tall! Combined with the height of the pedestal, Lady Liberty stands over 300 feet tall, or over 90 meters tall, looking out over New York Harbor.

Many people, especially kids, love these Statue of Liberty facts about the massive scale of the statue. For instance, her prominent and dignified nose is over four feet, or nearly 1.5 meters, long!

The torch-bearing arm, which spent time in Philadelphia and Madison Square Park before joining the rest of the statue in France, measures 42 feet, or over 12 meters, long! It must have been quite a sight to see in Philadelphia, New York and Paris. With such a massive scale, we can better understand why Bartholdi wanted to use parts of the sculpture as promotional displays. While sketches and models say one thing, a 42-foot arm in front of you speaks a lot louder!

Now, of course, one of the Statue of Liberty facts we should be discrete about is Lady Liberty’s weight. It takes a solid foundation, and an unwavering conscience that is firmly grounded, to defend Liberty. This beautiful beacon is a svelte 450,000 pounds or over 200 tonnes! The copper sheet that was chosen for its lightweight properties, weighs over 60,000 pounds, or over 27 tons, alone. That’s one heavy toga!

9. The Statue of Liberty Is Modeled after a Roman Goddess

It’s another one of the surprising Statue of Liberty facts that the Statue of Liberty is based on the Roman goddess Libertas, who represents Liberty. Libertas is also the basis for Columbia, another female personification of the United States of America.

Poor Columbia – once Lady Liberty was on the scene, she was yesterday’s news! By 1920, the Statue of Liberty replaced Columbia as the female representation of the United States in most instances.

To Columbia’s credit, she enjoyed a last hoorah during World War I, often showing up in posters campaigning for support for the war. However, this was also the time when the United States government began to use the image of the Statue of Liberty for recruitment. The writing was on the wall for poor Columbia.

Another one of the surprising Statue of Liberty facts is that at the time of designing the statue, Libertas or Lady Liberty was already used as a symbol in the United States. Lady Liberty was used on coins in the United States and featured in works of art, including a statue on the top of the United States Capitol Building. Thomas Crawford designed the Statue of Freedom, which is the statue of Libertas on the dome of the Capitol Building.

It’s a credit to Bartholdi’s work that his conception of Lady Liberty became the symbol for the United States. It’s also a credit to his imagination. The sheer scale of the Statue of Liberty has contributed to its worldwide recognition. The fundraising efforts conducted in France and the United States contributed to the publicity of the Statue of Liberty before it was dedicated. When the pieces were shipped over from France, people came from all over New York City to see the ships bearing Lady Liberty sail into harbor.

10. The Statue of Liberty Had a Few Makeovers

For any lady over 120 years old, a little cosmetic treatment can go a long way! It’s a testament to Bartholdi and Eiffel that the Statue of Liberty has held up well enough to allow for restoration over the years.

Lady Liberty has had a few makeovers to keep her good looks intact. Thankfully, one proposed makeover never took place. At one point, Congress had committed funds to restore the Statue of Liberty, including painting the statue. In an act of good judgment, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the patina on the statue was not causing any harm to the statue. Someone must have noticed that the beautiful green hue only enhanced the dignified nature of the work. The statue has been pictured as green in color depictions ever since.

In 1916, the Statue of Liberty was damaged by an act of German sabotage. The torch-bearing right arm took most of the minor damage that occurred. The statue was repaired and, later that same year, electric lighting was added to illuminate the monument from below.

Since then, Lady Liberty has received many repairs, including to her entire skeleton. Eiffel had designed the structure with the best materials available at the time. After many years, the iron he used was began to show signs of corrosion beneath layers of paint. Lady Liberty got a whole new stainless steel skeleton in the 1980s!

Fun Facts about Statue of Liberty Summary

The Statue of Liberty is such an important symbol of the United States that it was closed immediately following the September 11 attacks. While the island was reopened later in 2001, it wasn’t until 2004 that people were allowed back inside the pedestal. It wouldn’t be for another five years, until 2009, that the Statue of Liberty was reopened, allowing a limited number of people to see inside the statue each day.

One of the best Statue of Liberty facts is what is written on the tablet that is held in Lady Liberty’s left hand. It is the date of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Thanks to the genius of Bartholdi, the engineering of Eiffel, the dedication of fundraisers, and the generosity of many contributors, the Statue of Liberty has become a symbol for the United States and for liberty around the world.

Statue of Liberty Facts

Solar Energy Facts

Solar Energy Facts Introduction

Solar energy facts are becoming increasingly important as we look for renewable sources of energy that don’t harm the environment. Solar energy in its simplest sense is the energy that comes from our star, the Sun. The nuclear fusion that occurs in the Sun produces an incredible amount of light and heat. This is solar energy.

When people think of solar energy facts, they often think of solar panels that are used to convert solar energy into electricity. There are, however, other technologies for harnessing solar energy. Exciting solar energy facts for kids are a great way to get them interested in learning about science. Learning how to create new technologies which allow us to harness the power of the Sun has captivated humankind for thousands of years, and remains at the forefront of science today.

1. The Sun Emits a Lot of Energy

Many solar energy facts tell us about the immense amount of energy that the Sun gives out. The Sun’s energy powers the water cycles on Earth by heating up the land and water. Over 170 petawatts, or over 170 thousand billion watts, of energy from the Sun is hitting the Earth’s atmosphere at any given moment.

To give you some idea of scale, the average smartphone uses about two thousand watts of energy over the course of a year. The Sun is sending over a billion times that amount of energy to the atmosphere at any single moment!

Not all of the solar energy that reaches the atmosphere makes it to the surface of the Earth. The atmosphere absorbs and reflects some of the energy back into space, and clouds also reflect and absorb energy.

One of the interesting solar energy facts is that only 50% of the Sun’s energy actually reaches the Earth’s surface. This is a good thing. Life on Earth would be very different without the atmosphere and clouds reflecting some solar energy back into space!

2. Plants Use Solar Energy

Plants can teach us some amazing solar energy facts. Plants are one of the ways in which we use solar energy without even knowing it. Plants use the Sun’s energy to power a chemical reaction called photosynthesis.

The chemical reaction from photosynthesis converts air, water and other nutrients so that the plant can grow and flower. When we eat fruits and vegetables, we are consuming calories that were generated by the Sun’s energy. A calorie is a measurement of energy, so when we eat our veggies, we are actually getting energy from the Sun! This is one of the surprising solar energy facts and tells us that we are using solar energy even when we don’t realize it.

For people who eat meat, this meat is from animals that are typically eating feed made from plants. The energy we get from eating meat comes from the energy these animals have absorbed from plants. This is another one of the surprising solar energy facts – even when we are eating meat, we are getting energy from the Sun!

3. Chemical Reactions in Our Body Depend on Solar Energy

While you might feel like Swamp Thing before you brush your hair in the morning, it’s actually one of the solar energy facts that our bodies use solar energy for chemical reactions, much as plants do.

Unlike plants, we don’t depend on solar energy for all of the energy our body needs. However, our body does need solar energy to perform certain chemical reactions. Our body uses solar energy to create Vitamin D.

There is a specific type of cholesterol in our skin that converts to a pre-vitamin form of Vitamin D when it’s hit by the ultraviolet energy from the Sun. This pre-vitamin then travels to the liver, where it’s converted into Vitamin D for the body to use. How’s that for solar power!

4. Solar Energy Can Be Harnessed With Water

One of the best ways to harness the power of the Sun is to use water. The Sun heats the water on the Earth and this causes evaporation, which is part of the water cycle that gives us rain and weather.

When water and other liquids are heated by solar energy, they undergo changes and can turn into a gas. For water, this gas is steam. As early as 1897, Frank Shuman had created a system that harnessed the Sun’s energy to power a small engine. His later systems improved, and used water to power a full-sized steam engine.

Shuman patented his system in 1912 and built the first solar energy power station in Egypt. This is one of the most important solar energy facts. Shuman’s power station was capable of delivering 45-52 kilowatts and was the first large-scale commercial use for solar energy. While the scale is considered small by today’s standards, it was a hugely important moment in the history of solar energy that would continue to inspire inventors for years after.

Solar thermal power is a type of technology that heats up some material, such as water, then uses the change in state of the material to power a machine. Shuman was a visionary who saw solar power as a way to provide energy after all the coal and oil on Earth had been used up.

5. There Are Active and Passive Solar Technologies

There are two main types of technology used to capture the energy from the Sun, and this gives us our next set of solar energy facts. There are active solar technologies, such as solar panels. These devices gather solar energy and convert it into a useful output. Active solar technology provides energy for use.

Passive solar technologies aim to reduce the use of energy from other sources. Passive solar technology can involve something as simple as coating the roof of your house with a reflective coating to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the house in the summer. Passive solar technologies work by reducing the amount of energy that is needed. A cool drink on a hot day may even be a type of passive solar technology – we’ll have to check with the scientists and get back to you on that one!

6. Solar Panels Produce Electricity from Solar Energy

When people think of solar energy facts, they often think of the image of a solar panel. Solar panels contain solar cells, which are also known as photovoltaic cells. Solar cells take advantage of a property of some materials known as the photovoltaic effect.

The photovoltaic effect is the tendency of certain materials to be excited by the photons in solar energy. Different materials exhibit different properties when excited by solar energy.

The materials that are used to make solar cells create electron hole pairs or excitons when excited. The presence of the electron holes or excitons in the material causes a stream of electrons to be created. This stream of electrons is the electricity generated by the solar cell.

It’s one of the interesting solar energy facts that the first solar cells were not all that efficient at converting the Sun’s energy to electricity. The measure of efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of the Sun’s energy hitting the cell that the cell converts into electricity.

A solar cell is more or less efficient depending on the type of photovoltaic material in the cell and how it is arranged. Early solar cells were only 1-2% efficient. The most advanced solar cells in laboratories are now up to 40% efficient.

7. Solar Energy Can Purify Water

Another one of the more surprising solar energy facts is that solar energy can be used to purify water. This property of solar energy may have been known by the Ancient Greeks, and was practiced by Persian alchemists in the 1500s.

When salt water is purified with solar energy, the process is called solar desalination. There is another process that uses solar energy to purify water called solar distillation. Solar distillation purifies water from many types of contamination.

The most basic form of solar desalination can be carried out by building a solar still. A solar still takes advantage of the same water cycle that the Sun creates on Earth. By creating an enclosed area, over a pit dug into moist soil, or with a box over salt water, you can create a miniature version of the Earth.

As the sun heats the water or soil, water vapor is released and collected on either a plastic sheet or glass top for a box. The water that condenses on the sheet or glass is collected, and is safe to drink. This process using solar energy can remove many impurities from water; however, some toxins can remain.

Solar energy also kills germs! The ultraviolet, or UV, wavelength of light, which is part of the Sun’s energy, is disruptive to bacteria and other parasites. By using intense UV light and heating water, or by a combination of the two, water can be purified from disease-carrying parasites using only the power of solar energy!

8. Solar Energy Can Power a Home

More and more people are learning to use solar energy facts to their advantage as they use solar energy to power their home. People are taking advantage of both active and passive solar technology when using solar energy to heat, cool and provide electricity for their home.

Some states in the United States now offer tax incentives for homeowners to install solar panels on their homes. These solar panels can power an entire home, or can contribute some power to help reduce demand on the power grid during hot summer days. This is one of the ways in which people are using active solar technology to take advantage of solar energy at home.

One of the great residential passive solar technologies is used for heating hot water. Simple solar water heaters can be made using copper pipe in a box mounted on a roof, or any other area that gets good sunlight. By installing a passive hot water heater, water can be heated to temperatures high enough for bathing in some parts of the world. In other areas, the solar power is used to partially heat water in order to reduce the amount of energy used by traditional hot water heaters.

9. Solar Energy Is Good for the Environment

From the solar energy facts we’ve gathered, we know that plants love solar energy. It’s another one of our solar energy facts that solar energy is good for the environment in more ways than one!

When people use solar energy to power their homes, they are not using power from the electric grid or are using less than they otherwise would. Most power from the electric grid is generated by coal. Burning coal contributes to climate change, which is one of the global warming facts.

Solar energy is one of the best sources of renewable energy. Some people say that solar energy is the only source of renewable energy. Much of the infrastructure in the developed world is built on fossil fuels. Making the shift to using solar energy as the primary source of energy would require a significant effort.

Governments are playing a role in moving solar energy forward. Some large corporations are also creating solar arrays to power their facilities. The economic advantages of solar are improving as fuel prices increase, and the cost of producing more efficient solar cells decreases.

10. Solar Energy Powers the Solar System

Perhaps the most mysterious of solar energy facts relates to the gravity that the Sun emits which keeps all the planets and other objects in orbit in the solar system.

Gravitational energy is one of the least understood forces in the Universe. It’s one of the most interesting solar energy facts that while the Sun is radiating light and other solar energy towards the Earth, it is also pulling the Earth towards it with its gravitational field.

When we think about it in this way, solar energy is responsible for more than the water cycle that sustains life on Earth. Solar energy created the conditions for life to exist by forming the planet Earth when the solar system was originally formed!

The common image that comes to mind when we think of solar energy facts is a solar panel, or an array of solar panels. We know from our solar energy facts that solar panels are collections of solar cells that are made from photovoltaic materials.

Albert Einstein received a Nobel Prize for his description of the photovoltaic effect. When solar energy hits the Earth, it excites more than the molecules in solar cells – it also brings our entire planet to life! Plants rely on solar energy, and we rely on plants for our food supply.

Interesting Facts about Solar Energy Summary

Solar energy facts promise the possibility of a bright future. By using solar energy instead of fossil fuels, we can help protect the environment. Passive solar technology can also help us reduce our energy use. With nearly 90 thousand billion watts of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface, it’s much better for us all to work with solar energy than against it!

Solar Energy Facts

Climate Change Facts

Climate Change Facts Introduction

Climate change facts can teach us a great deal about the global weather patterns that sustain life on Earth. When we think about climate change facts, we often think about global warming facts.

Global warming is a type of climate change. The main concerns surrounding global warming are to do with anthropogenic climate change. This is climate change caused by human actions. When we burn fossil fuels, or perform other actions that release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, we are contributing to climate change and global warming.

By learning climate change facts, we can learn what steps we need to take to reduce the global warming caused by human actions. Teaching climate change facts to kids is a great way to get them interested in science and protecting the environment from an early age.

1. Climate Change is a Prolonged Change in the Weather

The most basic of all climate change facts is that climate change is a long-term change in the weather. Climate change is more than simply one unusually warm year, or a few years without snow. Climate change occurs when there are considerable changes to weather patterns over the course of several decades or more.

Some examples of climate change in the past include global warming and Ice Ages. Ice Ages were long periods of colder weather in the Earth’s history. When we think of climate change facts, we often concentrate on changes in temperature.

When an Ice Age occurs on Earth, the temperature on Earth is far colder than normal. When this happens, ice and glaciers expand from the poles of the Earth, covering land and water in layers of ice. This is why we call these periods Ice Ages. The most severe Ice Age was some time between 800 million and 600 million years ago. It was so cold on Earth that ice sheets reached from the poles all the way to the equator!

When we talk about climate change facts, we are talking about weather changes on a massive scale. Could you imagine the entire Earth covered in ice?!

2. The Earth is Currently in an Ice Age

This is one of the most shocking of climate change facts. When the Earth is not experiencing an Ice Age, there is no ice at the poles. Currently there is ice at the poles on Earth, so we are still in an Ice Age.

The current Ice Age is called the Pliocene-Quaternary glaciation, and started over 2.5 million years ago! Smaller cycles of heating and cooling also occur, and cause glaciers and ice sheets to retreat and advance within the larger time period of Ice Ages. These are called interglacial and glacial periods. These periods last from 40,000 to 100,000 years.

Currently, we are in an interglacial period where the sheets of ice on Earth have largely retreated to the poles. The last glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago. Glacial and interglacial periods are still part of climate change. However, Ice Ages occur over a much longer period of time. The interglacial period we are currently in is called the Holocene.

3. Climate Change Is Driven by Variations in the Earth’s Position Relative to the Sun

The main force behind climate change for the history of the Earth has been solar energy. The amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth from the Sun can have a huge impact on weather patterns. The relative position of the Earth in relation to the Sun is the main cause of climate change.

The orbit of Earth is not perfect, and varies over time. These differences in Earth’s orbit mean that the Earth is closer and farther away to the Sun at various times in specific cycles; that is, closer and farther away in cycles other than the standard elliptical orbit that takes Earth around the Sun. These cycles are deviations from the standard orbit.

When Earth rotates, the spin is not perfect either — imagine a spinning top that wobbles over time. The differences in rotation include the tilt of Earth’s axis and how much it wobbles as it spins. These differences change the angle of the Earth in specific cycles.

The cycles for these changes in the Earth’s position occur over massive amounts of time. These cycles of changes in the Earth’s position don’t happen every few months – they occur every 20,000 to 40,000 years! The range of time depends on which change in the Earth’s position is being tracked.

An astronomer named Milutin Milanković predicted that these cycles of changes in the Earth’s position relative to the Sun would create cycles of massive climate change on Earth. Milanković was right, and this is one of the most important climate change facts we know. There is a great correlation between glacial and interglacial periods and the Milanković cycles, as they are called.

The Earth’s position determines how much solar energy it receives. This changes over time, creating cycles of more or less solar energy hitting the Earth. These differences occur over huge amounts of time. The result is periods of long-term warming and cooling. This is why climate change facts deal with prolonged changes in the weather.

4. Temperature Change Causes Weather Patterns to Change

We know from our climate change facts that the position of the Earth relative to the Sun drives the cycles of climate change. The nature of these cycles is dictated by the amount of solar energy the Earth receives from the Sun. When more solar energy reaches the Earth, the Earth gets hotter.

When the Earth gets hotter, sea levels rise, and ocean currents change. Ocean currents are an important mechanism for driving global weather patterns. Changing ocean currents result in different patterns of storms and rainfall throughout the world.

A change in the Earth’s temperature has a kind of domino effect, with more changes to the weather following the change in temperature. During periods of extended cold, the Earth is generally drier, and sea levels are lower, as ice forms around the poles.

5. Plants Can Create Climate Change

When we think of plants and climate change facts, we generally think of the important role that plants play in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants use solar energy, carbon dioxide, and other nutrients, to grow and flower.

Plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gasses. When greenhouse gasses are present in the atmosphere, they prevent the solar energy from the Sun escaping. The right amount of greenhouse gasses is a good thing — they help keep the Earth warm. Too many greenhouse gasses, however, mean the Earth becomes too hot.

A little less than 50 million years ago, there was a massive event that ended a long period of global warming. Azolla plants began growing in incredible numbers in the Arctic Ocean. At the time, the Earth was not in an Ice Age, and there was no ice at the poles of the Earth. There was a lot of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that contributed to the heat of the planet.

The Azolla plants grew in incredible numbers, and began to absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. After the plants grew, they would die and sink to the floor of the ocean trapping the carbon dioxide they pulled from the atmosphere. This occurred over a period of 800,000 years, and some scientists speculate it was these plants that transformed the Earth through climate change.

As a result of this climate change, the Earth has been cold ever since. It’s speculated that this resulted in the Earth having ice caps on both poles for the first time in the planet’s history. It’s amazing to think that plants could have been responsible for changing global weather so dramatically!

Perhaps the most ironic of climate change facts is that the Azolla plants that died and sunk to the bottom of the ocean may be a source of fossil fuel. Layers of fossilized plants eventually become the coal and oil that we burn for energy. Burning this coal and oil releases the carbon dioxide that was trapped by the plants, causing the Earth to warm again.

6. The Sun Can Cause Climate Change On Its Own

We know from our climate change facts that the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun can cause climate change. The Sun can also cause climate change, regardless of the Earth’s relative position.

When we look at the Sun, we often think, “Wow, that’s bright!” While the Sun is always amazingly bright, lighting up the entire Solar System, there are variations in the amount and type of solar energy that the Sun outputs.

The Sun emitted 30% less energy three to four billion years ago than it does today. The increase of the Sun’s power was an instance of climate change that occurred over billions of years! The increase in the Sun’s power led to changes in the atmosphere of Earth, and the composition of life on Earth.

The early atmosphere of Earth and the early organisms, including single-celled organisms capable of photosynthesis, contributed to the climate change on Earth.

There are smaller cycles of solar energy that don’t last for billions of years. From 1550 to 1850, there was a general cooling trend on Earth, referred to as the Little Ice Age. It’s speculated that this was the result of a decrease in the solar energy from the Sun.

7. The Earth Can Cause Climate Change Too

We know from our climate change facts that the position of the Earth relative to the Sun, and the Sun itself, can cause climate change. The Earth can also cause climate change, regardless of its position relative to the Sun.

We also know that the presence of gasses in the atmosphere can cause climate change. When volcanoes on Earth erupt, they release large amounts of sulfuric gas and dust into the atmosphere. This dust prevents solar energy from reaching the Earth and, as a result, the Earth cools.

The global temperature dropped by a half degree for three years from 1991, when Mount Pinatubo erupted, spewing gas and dust into the atmosphere. In 1815, the eruption of Mount Tambora, combined with a period of reduced solar energy output, resulted in The Year Without A Summer. Global temperatures fell so far that there were food shortages in the Northern Hemisphere!

Much larger eruptions in the Earth’s history have caused climate change that resulted in mass extinctions of life on Earth. It’s likely that volcanic eruptions combined with an asteroid impact resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Volcanoes would have spewed large amounts of dust and gas into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

8. Humans Can Cause Climate Change

This was once one of the climate change facts that was debated for a long time. Now, all the international scientific organizations, and over 90% of scientists, agree that humans are causing climate change.

This type of climate change is called anthropogenic climate change. By burning fossil fuels that release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and killing plants and trees that absorb carbon dioxide, we are causing global warming.

It’s amazing that humankind has advanced to the point were we can impact the Earth with our activities on such a huge scale. However, one of the sad climate change facts is that we are not able to limit our activities to prevent climate change from having a negative impact on our lives and the lives of future generations.

9. Greenhouse Gasses Cause a Domino Effect of Climate Change

When we release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, we are creating a domino effect of climate change. Because more greenhouse gasses cause global warming, more greenhouse gasses also cause sea levels to rise as polar ice and glaciers melt.

The change in sea levels and ocean temperatures affect the ocean currents that control global weather. This, in turn, influences the amount and location of rainfall. Some areas will receive more rain as a result, while other parts of the planet will dry up as global weather patterns shift.

10. Climate Change Impacts the Economy

The changes to the environment as a result of climate change are obvious because climate change is a prolonged change in the weather patterns on Earth. One of the less obvious climate change facts is that climate change can also impact the economy.

Changing weather patterns mean that farmers have to contend with an increased number of instances of droughts or floods. As climate change impacts global weather, the best places for certain crops to be planted may no longer be in the geographical areas where they are grown now. This can lead to starvation or mass emigration of people from one area to another. The economic impact on the global food supply from climate change is huge.

Extreme weather that results from climate change also impacts the economy. The damage from storms caused by new weather patterns is a result of climate change. The cost of repairing the damage, and the associated loss of productivity, takes a toll on the economy.

We can’t ignore climate change facts. There are many things that contribute to climate change, from the position of the Earth and the Sun to the amount of solar energy. A small change in temperature can lead to dramatic changes in weather on Earth.

More large-scale changes in temperature on Earth have resulted in changes to the composition of the atmosphere and to the type of life on Earth. Climate change can cause mass extinctions, and many people believe the dinosaurs died as a result of climate change.

Facts about Climate Change Summary

Climate change facts teach us that we humans can also cause climate change. By burning fossil fuels, we are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide was trapped by plants thousands and millions of years ago and led to the relatively cool Earth we have now.

By releasing this carbon dioxide, we are creating a greenhouse effect that is causing global warming. By using renewable energy sources and reducing the amount of energy we use, we can limit the amount of greenhouse gasses we generate. Climate change is a domino effect, and we must take every step we can to slow down the current climate change so that future generations have time to adapt to the changes in the Earth’s weather that have already begun.

Climate Change Facts

Cyber Bullying Facts

Cyber Bullying Facts Introduction

Cyber bullying facts teach us about the bullying that takes place via forms of electronic communication. It is difficult to establish cyber bullying facts because there are new forms of electronic communication and devices emerging all the time.

Many cyber bullying facts can help teach us about bullying in general. Cyber bullying shares many similarities with typical bullying, and can reach a child anywhere there is cell phone reception or an Internet connection. Teaching cyber bullying facts to kids can help prevent them from being kids that cyber bully, or kids who are cyber bullied.

1. Cyber Bullying is a New Type of Bullying

Cyber bullying is a new type of bullying. Most bullying facts also apply to the act of cyber bullying. The main difference is that bullying can occur anywhere, while cyber bullying is bullying that is conducted through electronic media, such as text messages, Internet web sites, and social media apps.

Bullying is any threatening behavior committed by children and adolescents where there is an imbalance of power. Bullying includes threats, insults, rumors and more. One main difference between bullying and cyber bullying is that physical violence cannot occur over electronic media.

However, one of the great concerns with cyber bullying is that it often accompanies typical bullying. For example, a child may be physically bullied in school during the day and then may be cyber bullied later that evening via social media messaging.

2. There Are No Cyber Bullies

General bullying facts can teach us some important cyber bullying facts. One of the important similarities between bullying and cyber bullying is that there are no bullies or cyber bullies. Instead, there are children who bully, and children who cyber bully.

It’s important when addressing the issue of cyber bullying that we don’t use labels. By labeling children, we can inadvertently create an atmosphere that encourages cyber bullying. This also applies to children who are bullied, which is the term that should be used instead of victims.

When we stop using labels, we can create an atmosphere that allows children to change for the better. Cyber bullying is like typical bullying in this sense; we don’t want to reinforce the roles children play in bullying by using labels.

3. There Are Many Roles In Cyber Bullying

Another one of the cyber bullying facts that is shared with typical bullying is that there are many roles that children play in bullying. There are more roles than simply those of the child who bullies and the child who is being bullied.

Some children may cheer the bully on, and occasionally join in the bullying. Other children may witness the bullying and not act on it. There are also children who will defend children that are being bullied.

All of these roles occur in cyber bullying. For instance, a child may repost a bullying link, or comment on a bullying post, without being the main child who is bullying. Children may also subscribe to a particular social media page and not report bullying that occurs there. There may be children who post comments against the bully and defend the child who is being bullied.

This is one of the informative cyber bullying facts because it tells us about the complex situation that cyber bullying presents. The roles in cyber bullying, like typical bullying, are not as clearly defined as we often think.

4. Cyber Bullying Can Happen to a Child Anywhere

One of the great things about the Digital Age is that we have the ability to communicate almost anywhere, and with anyone. Smartphones and wireless technology have given us access to information on the go, and the ability to connect with people all over the world.

Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword when it comes to cyber bullying. The fact that we are constantly connected means that a child can be cyber bullied anywhere. This is one of the most important cyber bullying facts.

5. Cyber Bullying Can Happen to a Child When They Are Alone

One of the differences between cyber bullying and typical bullying is that typical bullying requires the child who is bullying and the child who is being bullied to be in the same place. With cyber bullying, the child who is bullying and the child who is being bullied don’t have to be in the same room.

For the child who is bullied, they can be bullied when they are alone. This is one of the cyber bullying facts that is the most troubling. For instance, a child might be checking their email alone in their bedroom when they receive a threatening email from a child who is cyber bullying them.

Cyber bullying when a child is alone can result in the child feeling further isolated. In the same sense, a child might be alone and be cyber bullying another child without an adult knowing. This is another troubling fact about cyber bullying, and this can make it more difficult to prevent than typical bullying.

6. Cyber Bullying Occurs Without Supervision

Cyber bullying occurs through electronic media, which is not typically supervised by adults. This is one of the cyber bullying facts that makes cyber bullying so difficult to monitor and stop. We only know cyber bullying occurs when a child reports the cyber bullying, or when we are proactive in monitoring our children’s use of electronic media.

Often, children do not report when they see cyber bullying occur. A study in 2011 showed that 90% of teens who witnessed online cruelty ignored mean behavior.

One of the positive cyber bullying facts is that there are children who will stand up to cyber bullies when there is no adult supervision. The same study showed that over 80% of children who have witnessed cyber bullying have seen other children defend a child being bullied, or tell a child who is cyber bullying to stop.

Children know that adults are not supervising cyber bullying. Over 80% of children involved in cyber bullying agree that it is easier to get away with cyber bullying than typical bullying. The same percentage of children involved in cyber bullying think it is easier to hide cyber bullying from parents than typical bullying.

7. Cyber Bullying Can Be Anonymous

We know that bullying is easier when no adult supervision is in place. Cyber bullying can hide the identity of a child who bullies so they aren’t held responsible, even when the cyber bullying is discovered or reported to an adult.

Due to the nature of electronic media, children can setup false accounts, or even make a parody account of the child that they are bullying. Anonymous cyber bullying is another one of the cyber bullying facts that results from the nature of electronic media, like the fact that cyber bullying can occur anywhere.

8. Cyber Bullying Only Happens to Children and Adolescents

One of the facts of cyber bullying that is shared with typical bullying is that cyber bullying only occurs with children and adolescents. When a young adult or adult engages in bullying-like activities, this is not bullying, but is a crime, such as harassment or stalking.

While cyber bullying may share some similarities with the inappropriate behavior of adults, cyber bullying only occurs among children and adolescents. When a young adult or adult engages in these sorts of behaviors, these actions should be reported to law enforcement authorities.

9. Rumors Spread Faster Online

Electronic media moves and spreads information at the speed of light. One of the typical acts of bullying is to create false rumors or accusations. When this is combined with electronic media, the rumors and false accusations can spread far more quickly than they would via word of mouth. For instance, in the course of a school day, dozens of children who don’t even see each other face-to-face can spread a rumor online.

Another example is that children might post photos of themselves or achievements they are proud of. Other children might cyber bully these children by leaving mean comments on their posts. This can all occur within a matter of minutes. A child may have just celebrated a great achievement but in a mere moment, another child can bully them and make them feel bad.

10. Cyber Bullying is a Global Problem

We live in an age of global communication and one of the cyber bullying facts is that cyber bullying occurs all over the world. We tend to think of cyber bullying occurring between children who know each other outside of electronic media – for example, classmates or playmates. However, in the world of global communication, cyber bullying can occur between two children who have never even met each other and may be hundreds or thousands of miles apart.

The United States has some of the highest rates of Internet use among children and adolescents. Over 80% of parents with children aged 13-17, report that their child has a social media account. The National Crime Prevention Council estimates that cyber bullying effects almost half of all adolescents in the United States.

The Internet is all over the world, and cyber bullying occurs all over the world too. In Spain, many nonprofit groups have formed to combat cyber bullying. One of these groups, Actúa Contra el Ciberacoso, encourages children to film videos of themselves speaking out against cyber bullying. Recently in the United States, there has also been a growing movement to speak out against cyber bullying.

Our cyber bullying facts have shown us that cyber bullying can happen anytime, anywhere, anonymously, and without adult supervision. These are intimidating cyber bullying facts because they make us feel that we are powerless to stop cyber bullying.

Recent studies have shown that children are aware of cyber bullying, and are aware that there is no adult supervision. These studies have also shown that many children do not feel comfortable reporting cyber bullying, or witness it occurring without reporting it.

To establish more positive cyber bullying facts, we need to continue to spread awareness about cyber bullying. By letting children know that we are aware of cyber bullying, they should feel more comfortable reporting cyber bullying when it occurs.

Like typical bullying, we shouldn’t use labels or think that the roles in cyber bullying are clearly defined. It shouldn’t be one of the surprising cyber bullying facts that children who are cyber bullied often become children who cyber bully. Over 30% of children who have been involved in cyber bullying have both bullied others, and been bullied themselves.

We can also help reduce cyber bullying by monitoring our children’s use of electronic media and talking to them about what they experience online and via social media.

Facts about Cyber Bullying Summary

From our cyber bullying facts, we know that children can be cyber bullied when they are alone. One of the best ways to prevent cyber bullying is to play a more active role in our children’s lives. By helping children build healthy self-esteem, we can help them avoid the negative consequences of cyber bullying, and encourage them to report cyber bullying when it occurs.

Cyber Bullying Facts

Holocaust Facts

Holocaust Facts Introduction

Some of the saddest facts in history are Holocaust facts. This awful mass murder of Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany is one of the worst crimes ever committed on Earth. Even today, the sheer number of people killed is difficult to comprehend.

Jewish people refer to the events known as the Holocaust as the Shoah or catastrophe. In the 1930s, Jews began to lose their rights and were persecuted. By 1945, over six million Jews had been killed by German soldiers and citizens, who maintained a system of killing throughout World War II.

1. There Was Anti-Semitism in Germany Before the Holocaust

One of the lesser-known Holocaust facts is that there was anti-Semitism in Germany long before the Nazi party and Adolf Hitler came to power. Anti-Semitism is discrimination and hatred towards Jews.

Anti-Semitism has occurred throughout Europe at different times in history. There was historical precedence for the Holocaust in pogroms. Pogroms are riot-like events where groups of people of a particular ethnicity or background are threatened and killed.

These events were carried out against Jews throughout Europe. Pogroms occurred most notably against Jews in Russia and the Ukraine at the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s.

Pogroms occurred in Russia and Ukraine during the period of the Russian Civil War after 1917. It’s estimated that as many as 250,000 civilian Jews were killed during this time. Members of both sides of the fighting committed mass killings of Jews.

During pogroms, Jewish businesses and properties were also often damaged. The goal was to terrify the Jewish population so that they would no longer choose to live in the area and would move away.

In Germany, anti-Semitism was also building momentum at the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s. Political leaders from some parties were including hate-speech against Jews as part of their rhetoric.

In particular, there was a Völkisch movement which was based on the ideology that Jews were the enemies of the Aryan race. The Völkisch movement was defeated in elections in 1912 and disappeared. However, their ideology lived on in later German political parties, including the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or Nazi Party.

2. World War I Hurt the Economy of Germany

In the midst of this climate of anti-Semitism, World War I took place and Europe saw war on a scale that was previously unknown. Germany lost the war, and was made to pay reparations as part of the Treaty of Versailles.

This is one of the important historical Holocaust facts. Many historians have pointed out that the terms of the treaty put a lot of pressure on the German economy, which had already been weakened by the war. When the Great Depression occurred, the German economy collapsed.

3. Germany Had a History of Eugenics Before the Holocaust

This is another of the important Holocaust facts: before the Holocaust, the German medical establishment began to condone the killing of mentally and physically disabled people. With the economy failing, this idea was proposed as a way to save money for the fit members of society.

Moreover, racial ideologies also existed within both the scientific community and wider German culture. It was a small cognitive leap from unfit to undesirable. This would continue during the Holocaust, as disabled and mentally ill people were also killed.

4. Hitler Planned to Kill All the Jews in Germany

The Nazi Party came to power with Hitler as their leader in 1933. In Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, he wrote about his plans to remove Jews from Germany. Ten years before the Nazi Party took power, Hitler told a reporter how deadly his plans were. He told the reporter that he planned to kill all the Jews in Germany. The fact that Hitler planned such extensive mass murder, so far in advance, is one of the surprising Holocaust facts. Many people do already think he is the one who was largely responsible, however.

5. The Holocaust Began with Segregation

The segregation announced by the Nazi Party after they took power was the first sign that something catastrophic was going to happen in Germany. The Nazi Party divided the population of Germany into national comrades and community aliens.

The Nazi Party looked upon many members of the German population as enemies. They had political enemies that included people such as communists and liberals. They had moral enemies that included homosexuals. The Nazi Party included Jews as part of their group of racial enemies.

The Nazi Party began building prison camps in 1933 for the special purpose of imprisoning their enemies without trial. The first prisoners were political enemies of the Nazi Party. The Nazi Party’s goal was to secure control of the government.

Some of the early prisons for the Nazi Party’s enemies were informal. They were in the basements of houses and buildings run by the Nazi secret police. In 1934, the system of prisons became more institutionalized, and the Nazi Party began to set up prison camps outside of cities.

It’s one of the important Holocaust facts that the Nazi party was building a system of segregation and the infrastructure required to support it. All of this activity was fueled by one of our other Holocaust facts: the existence of anti-Semitism in Germany.

6. The Segregation Laws Became More Strict

In 1933, as the Nazi Party was building the first parts of its prison system, they began to pass a series of laws that limited the rights of Jews in public life. These are some of the first legal Holocaust facts that would lay the groundwork for the atrocities that would soon follow.

Jews were not allowed to own farms, and Jewish lawyers and judges were removed from their positions. Many Jews were threatened and beaten. For a brief time, Jews, who had served in World War I, or who were directly related to servicemen, were allowed to work in the German government. In 1937, Hitler removed this exception and Jews were no longer allowed to hold any public office.

In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were enacted. Based on the false medical science of eugenics practiced by the Nazi party, these laws were intended to preserve the purity of German blood. The laws further segregated Jews, revoking their citizenship and eliminating their civil rights.

7. Hitler and the Nazi Party Called the Holocaust the Final Solution

Many Holocaust facts have to do with Adolf Hitler. As the leader of the Nazi Party, he had a plan to kill all Jews in Germany, and was now executing his plan. In 1939, Hitler made a speech where he said that in the event the laws did not solve the problem, then all Jews should be exterminated from Europe.

The Nazi Party examined many ways of removing Jews living in Germany. They started by repressing and segregating Jews. Then, they looked for ways to deport Jews, even considering sending all the Jews in Germany to Madagascar. It’s one of the most surprising Holocaust facts that the Germans agreed to a plan to relocate some Jews to Palestine, before World War II. Over 50,000 Jews were relocated from Germany to Palestine before the start of the war!

8. Kristallnacht Was the Worst Set of Pogroms Ever

In 1938, the Nazi Party began a massive series of pogroms. These would become known as the night of broken glass or Crystal Night, which is Kristallnacht in German. Throughout November of 1938, more than 7,000 Jewish stores and over 1,000 synagogues, or Jewish places of worship, were destroyed. Hundreds of Jews were also killed during these pogroms.

Over 30,000 Jews were sent to the prison camps built by the Nazi Party. Jews were released after they proved they would leave Germany and would give up the rights to their land.

Although Kristallnacht clearly marked the violent beginning of the Holocaust, we know from our Holocaust facts that these types of events had happened in Europe before. What made the Holocaust different was that the pogroms were coordinated on a massive scale, and racial violence was institutionalized.

9. The Holocaust Was Murder on a Massive Scale

The Holocaust facts about the number of people killed are overwhelming. By 1942, the system of segregation put in place by Germany was being transformed into a system for killing Jews. There had never been an attack on a single group of people on such an industrial scale before. The results were horrific.

Over six million Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust. Perhaps the saddest of the Holocaust facts is that one million Jewish children died. Much of the killing occurred in German-occupied Poland and Russia. Over three million Jews were killed in Poland, and over one million in the Soviet Union.

The system of prisons created by the Nazi party was extended into other parts of Europe. The prison camps became known as concentration camps, and eventually some were simply extermination camps. A system that started out as a series of forced labor camps became a system of death camps, with their only purpose being to kill Jewish people in massive numbers.

Some Jews were segregated in ghettos in occupied cities in Europe and used as forced labor for the German economy. These ghettos were also deadly, with many people dying from starvation and disease. Eventually, even Jews from these ghettos were sent to extermination camps.

Germany used railroads to ship Jews to camps. They treated Jewish people like cattle and took them in rail cars to camps were they were processed and murdered. It was murder on an industrial scale.

10. Germany Was Not Alone in Committing Crimes

Germany was not alone in killing Jews in the Holocaust. When they invaded other countries, the local policy regarding the treatment of Jews had a big impact on the fate of the Jewish people in those countries.

France, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and more countries actively participated in rounding up Jews to be killed by the Nazi Party. Similarly, anti-Semitic practices were put into effect in Italy, which was under Fascist control during the war. This is one of the saddest and most surprising Holocaust facts. However, when we consider the Holocaust facts about the history of anti-Semitism in Europe, it perhaps shouldn’t seem that surprising.

Thankfully, there were many people who did not support the killing of Jews. Even in Germany, there were people who risked their lives to save Jews from being killed. Many of the Scandinavian countries did not impose laws or deport Jews to be killed until they were forced to do so by Germany.

The Holocaust was the most awful crime committed in the 1900s. A history of anti-Semitism in Europe provided a foundation for Hitler and the Nazi Party to carry out murder on an industrial scale.

The people of the countries that Germany invaded, and many German citizens, were part of the bureaucratic system that started with laws of segregation and ended up with camps designed for no purpose other than to kill thousands of people at a time.

Facts about Holocaust Summary

It is important to remember Holocaust facts so that we do not let another crime like this happen in the world today. The Jews were not alone in being persecuted by the Nazi Party. Many other minority groups were also discriminated against and killed during the time of the Holocaust.

The saddest Holocaust facts are the number of people who died. Jewish people were the primary target and nearly 80% of the Jewish population of Europe was killed during the Holocaust, including 90% of the Jewish population of Poland.

The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. has many more Holocaust facts that tell the stories of the people who died during this horrific period. Learning Holocaust facts about the stories of bravery and courage during incredible suffering can inspire us to stand up against mistreatment of anyone who is being discriminated against.

Holocaust Facts