👀 This Week In History - Columbus Spots North America

Welcome back History Nerds,

With things heating up in the modern time, it’s always best to look back at history and try to learn from it. That’s what we’re here for. This week in history Theordore Roosevelt was shot while giving a speech that he still finished, along with Christopher Columbus, love him or hate him, spotted land for the first time while exploring. So, strap in and enjoy this week’s edition of the LOL History Newsletter.

Did You Know? On April 3, 1974, the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history hit 13 states in one day. A total of 148 tornadoes touched down within 24 hours, flattening towns, flipping trains, and even tossing cows through the air. One twister was so powerful it ripped the asphalt off a highway. Meteorologists still call it “The Super Outbreak,” and it changed how tornadoes are tracked forever.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• Theodore Roosevelt Survives Assassination Attempt During 1912 Campaign

• Columbus Spots Land and Changes History Forever

• Edgehill 1642: The First Major Clash of the English Civil War

• America Buys Alaska for Pennies and Strikes Gold

Roosevelt vs. The Bullet: A Speech That Wouldn’t Quit

Ah, October 14, 1912—a day that proves Theodore Roosevelt had nerves of steel (and maybe a touch of stubbornness). While campaigning for a third term as president, Roosevelt was giving a speech in Milwaukee when suddenly… BANG! He had been shot! But here’s the kicker: the bullet hit his steel eyeglass case and folded-up speech notes, slowing it down just enough that the former president wasn’t fatally wounded. Instead of hopping into an ambulance or collapsing in dramatic fashion, Roosevelt dusted himself off, adjusted his glasses, and carried on like it was just another day at the office. Talk about turning a crisis into a “keep calm and campaign on” moment!

You can almost imagine the crowd’s mix of horror and awe as Roosevelt, with a bullet in his chest, leaned into the microphone and finished his speech. He even joked about it afterward, because of course he did—after all, a man who wrestled bears and charged up hills wouldn’t let a little thing like a gunshot ruin his day. That moment immortalized Roosevelt as the embodiment of grit, determination, and a dash of audacious humor. It’s the kind of story that makes history feel like it’s straight out of a movie—except with a real-life hero who literally spoke through a bullet.

Columbus Spots Land and Changes History Forever

On October 12, 1492, after more than two months at sea, Christopher Columbus and his crew finally saw land. The sighting came from the Pinta, one of the three ships that had left Spain in August: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. Columbus believed he had reached the outskirts of Asia, but he had actually arrived in the Bahamas, on an island most historians identify as San Salvador. For Europe, it was the beginning of a new era of exploration. For the people already living there, it marked the beginning of profound and lasting change.

The voyage itself was a massive risk. Columbus had convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to fund his plan to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic, something many of his contemporaries thought was impossible. When his small fleet finally made landfall, the crew was exhausted, hungry, and relieved. They planted the Spanish flag, met the island’s Taíno inhabitants, and claimed the land for Spain, believing they had achieved what centuries of explorers had failed to do: reach the riches of the East.

Of course, history proved Columbus wrong about his geography, but his voyage changed the world forever. His arrival linked Europe and the Americas, setting off waves of exploration, colonization, and cultural exchange that would shape the modern age. The “New World” was not new at all, but the encounter between continents would redefine what it meant to discover, explore, and conquer.

Edgehill: Where the English Civil War Took Its First Shot

On October 23, 1642—commonly referenced in history as the day of the Battle of Edgehill—England witnessed the first major clash of the English Civil War, a conflict that would shape the nation’s political and social landscape for years to come. The battle took place in south Warwickshire, near the village of Edgehill, pitting forces loyal to King Charles I against the Parliamentarian army. Both sides were inexperienced in large-scale warfare, and the confrontation was chaotic and brutal, with cavalry charges, musket volleys, and hand-to-hand fighting. Though neither side achieved a decisive victory, the battle set the tone for a long and grueling war that would ultimately challenge the monarchy itself.

Edgehill became a symbol of the turbulence and uncertainty of 17th-century England. The king’s forces and the Parliamentarians each claimed partial success, but heavy casualties on both sides underscored the devastating human cost of the conflict. Strategically, the battle highlighted the need for more disciplined armies and foreshadowed the emergence of notable military leaders in the civil war. For historians, Edgehill marks the moment when political disagreements escalated into armed conflict, demonstrating how fragile governance and societal unity could be when ideological divides run deep. Even centuries later, the echoes of that first major battle remain a pivotal chapter in England’s journey toward parliamentary democracy.

America Buys Alaska for Pennies and Strikes Gold

On October 18, 1867, the United States officially took possession of Alaska from Russia, raising the American flag over Sitka, the territory’s capital. The deal had been arranged earlier that year by Secretary of State William Seward, who purchased the vast, icy expanse for $7.2 million, or roughly two cents an acre. At the time, critics mocked the decision, calling it “Seward’s Folly” and “Seward’s Icebox”, arguing that the U.S. had just bought a frozen wasteland filled with seals and snow.

What they didn’t realize was that Seward’s so-called folly was one of the best real estate deals in history. The territory turned out to be rich in gold, oil, and natural resources, not to mention stunning natural beauty and strategic importance. When gold was discovered in the Klondike region in the 1890s, prospectors flooded north, and opinions about the purchase changed overnight. Alaska went from punchline to powerhouse almost as fast as the gold rush could fill a pan.

Today, Alaska is known for its wild frontiers, towering mountains, and abundant wildlife, but also for the reminder that history often laughs last. What many saw as a mistake became a symbol of American expansion and opportunity.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders