From voting loopholes to the fear of being buried alive
In short: History is often driven by unexpected technicalities, whether it is a legal oversight in an Illinois charter or a driver using a hand mirror to check their blind spot. Discover the strange realities behind the American Revolution, Roman hygiene, and the fears of famous figures.
The fear of premature burial, known as taphephobia, haunted several historical figures. On his deathbed, George Washington, the first president of the United States, explicitly instructed attendants not to place his body in a vault for at least three days to avoid the terror of being buried alive. This same anxiety was shared by composer Frederic Chopin, who, in his final moments, requested that those present swear to cut him open if he were found to be breathing.
Legal loopholes have also shaped civil rights. In 1891, Ellen Martin became the first woman to vote in Lombard, Illinois. She identified that the local town charter did not specify gender as a restriction, a detail that superseded Illinois state law. This allowed Martin and 14 other women to cast ballots in the 1891 elections, though the charter was amended shortly thereafter to prevent further occurrences.
Technological and social habits have evolved in surprising ways. In 1906, Dorothy Levitt’s handbook, "The Woman and the Car," suggested women use a hand mirror to monitor traffic behind them, marking the first known use of rearview mirrors for automotive safety. This was significant as mounted mirrors did not become a standard car feature until 1914.
Even the commodities of the past shaped nations. In the American colonies, rum production was the largest industry in colonial New England, with estimates suggesting that roughly 3 gallons of rum were consumed per person annually just before the American Revolution. Meanwhile, in the ancient world, hygiene varied wildly: while Greeks used stones or clay, Romans shared a sponge on a stick kept in salt water in public restrooms.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Rum Rebellion and 5 Other History Facts
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