How a single explosion brought the Great War to American shores

History · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the sweltering heat of July 1916, New Jersey residents faced a sudden, violent reality. This video examines the Black Tom explosion, a stunning event that brought the conflict of the war in Europe directly to the United States.

On the early morning of July 30, 1916, a massive explosion occurred at Black Tom, a site in New Jersey. For residents living through the sweltering summer, the blast served as a jarring reminder that the reach of the war in Europe could extend even to American shores.

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