Top 9 Big Mistakes That Created Modern America
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The greatest political blunders of the past and present are endlessly debated, but governance blunders aren't the only ones that can change the world. In fact, some of the most egregious errors in American history had nothing to do with politics.
Important and consequential blunders can occur in any field, including science, engineering, business, and the military, and their consequences frequently affect the entire society.
Check out events when human error costs billions and changed history completely.
Top 9 Mistakes That Created Modern America
1. Columbus made a mistake in 'discovering' the New World
The Mistake: The idea that Christopher Columbus set sail to disprove the flat Earth theory has long been debunked, but his legendary 1492 voyage was inspired by his own scientific misconception. Columbus' voyage to the New World was made possible by a number of critical errors on his part, including the incorrect conversion of Arabic miles to Roman miles and erroneous corrections to old maps. As a result, Columbus planned his trip to Asia using 8,000-mile-off calculations.
The Consequences: Because of Columbus' miscalculations, he expected a much easier westward journey from Europe to Asia than he encountered. During his journey, he made an error that led him to the New World. The ramifications of that discovery were equally devastating to the native populations of the Americas as they were vital to the further development of Western civilisation.
2. A B-2 stealth bomber crashes on takeoff due to faulty equipment
The Mistake: According to theAir Force, America's most expensive jet was destroyed during a practice flight in Guam when faulty sensors caused it to pitch up on takeoff, stall, and crash. The B-2 stealth bomber cost $1.4 billion and was one of 21 in existence at the time.
Both pilots were able to eject safely.
The Consequences:
Loss in 2008: $1.4 billion
Inflation-adjusted: $1.42 billion
3. Because a British commander ignored a note, Americans won their independence
The Mistake: The crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington is one of the most iconic moments in American history, and his subsequent defeat of the Hessian forces on the other side was a crucial victory in the American Revolution. However, this victory was almost never achieved.
A local farmer arrived at the Hessian camp ahead of time to warn of Washington's approach, but Colonel Johann Rall was too busy playing cards to see him. The farmer wrote him a note explaining the dire situation, but Rall - a German speaker who couldn't understand the message in English - stuffed it in his pocket and went back to his game. That morning, Washington surprised the Hessians.
The Consequences: Washington's victory at Trenton was as decisive as it was crucial to the eventual independence of the United States. The Revolutionary Army gained a foothold in New Jersey after capturing more than two-thirds of the Hessian forces. Rall and a dozen other people died as a result of the error.
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4. Microwaves were invented by Percy Spencer as a result of a melted chocolate bar
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The Mistake: Percy Spencer worked for Raytheon, one of the country's leading magnetron manufacturers. He was always standing next to active magnetrons, and in 1945, he discovered something shocking: a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. He tried it with unpopped popcorn, which popped in front of the magnetron. Spencer realized he had an exciting invention on his hands, and he invented the microwave oven not long after.
The Consequences: Spencer's discovery of microwaves, as well as the invention of an oven that uses them, has had a significant impact on American history. Microwave-based technology has a wide range of applications beyond food heating, including advances in radar.
5. The largest fire in California history is started by a hunter
The Mistake: A lost hunter lit a signal flare near the San Diego County Estates in the fall of 2003. The fire grew to become the largest in California history. The fire destroyed nearly 300,000 acres, destroyed 2,322 homes, and killed 14 people.
The Consequences:
Loss in 2003: $1.2 billion in insured losses
Inflation-adjusted: $1.5 billion
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6. Xerox Gave Away Industry-Defining Tech Secrets To Steve Jobs
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The Mistake: In 1970, Xerox established the Palo Alto Research Company, or PARC for short, and began producing countless technological innovations. At the same time, Steve Jobs and the Apple team had hit a snag and were looking for new ideas. Jobs requested three days of access to the PARC facility, and Xerox executives agreed - in exchange for a pre-IPO investment in Apple. Xerox purchased 100,000 shares in the young company for $10 each, and Jobs and his team were able to witness the innovations that the Xerox team was introducing to computing.
The Consequences: Jobs and his colleagues at Apple had already made numerous advances in the personal computer world, but the concepts they saw in action at PARC helped revolutionize the company's future direction. For the introduction of the Lisa and Macintosh computers, innovations such as the use of a mouse, a graphic user interface, and other user-friendly designs were implemented. As a result, Apple established its current dominance in the technology industry, and Xerox profited handsomely from their investment.
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7. Truman's attacks on Japan were influenced by a mistranslation
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The Mistake: When the United States delivered its surrender terms to Japan in July 1945, the world waited breathlessly for their response. Japanese Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki told reporters that he had no comment for the time being, and he used the phrase "mokusatsu" - or "silence" - to convey his message of patience. Unfortunately, mokusatsu has multiple translations, and the press chose the one that read "to ignore with silent contempt." President Harry Truman, angered by the apparent flippancy of the statement, proceeded with the planned devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Consequences: If the phrase had not been mistranslated, the bombs would not have been dropped, and Japan would have surrendered peacefully. This was not the case, and as a result, the world has become embroiled in an arms race.
8. Poorly Sourced Intel Was Used To Justify The Iraq War
The Mistake: The 2003 Iraq War was precipitated by false allegations of Saddam Hussein's connection to 9/11 and possession of WMDs, which are now widely accepted. The Bush administration, particularly Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, allegedly misinterpreted intelligence in order to incite conflict, but this intelligence was delivered to the administration in a poor manner from the start. The reports, in particular, were strangely sourced, and these suspect sources were presented as equal to or superior to contradictory reports from expert organizations.
The Consequences: The US is still very much embroiled in the Iraq conflict. The end of the Hussein regime - and the ensuing power vacuum - led to the rise of ISIS and the outbreak of a new regional conflict.
9. The Bush Administration Ignored Key Warnings About 9/11
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The Mistake: The events of September 11, 2001, surprised the entire world, but some believe the US government should have seen it coming. Countless intelligence reports in the run-up to 9/11 pointed to Osama bin Laden carrying out a coordinated strike against the mainland. These warnings went unheeded until it was far too late.
The Consequences: Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the strikes, and the number grew as people died from debris-related illnesses. The entire event continues to define the United States' global military purpose and altered the course of Middle Eastern history. On the home front, it resulted in legislation such as the Patriot Act, which many believe has eroded Americans' liberties and privacy rights.
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