1

Cowboys

The image of the rugged cowboy is arguably the ultimate symbol of the American West, popularized by folklore and Hollywood westerns. Yet, the entire lifestyle and wardrobe of the classic cowboy were inherited from Mexican cattle herders, known as vaqueros.

When Anglo-American settlers moved into Texas and California in the 19th century, they encountered Spanish and Mexican ranching methods that had existed for generations. The settlers adopted these traditions immediately. The iconic cowboy hat evolved from the wide-brimmed sombrero; "chaps" came directly from the protective chaparreras; and the lasso was an adaptation of the reata. Even the language of the West reveals its origin: terms like rodeo, lariat, mustang, and buckaroo (a phonetic corruption of vaquero) are all borrowed from Spanish.

2

Skyscrapers

The towering skyscrapers of New York and Chicago defined 20th-century urban modernity and American architectural dominance. While American engineers perfected the high-rise and invented the safety elevator, the structural engineering that made skyscrapers possible belongs to Great Britain.

Before a building can safely scale dozens of stories, it requires an internal skeleton to support its weight. The world’s first iron-framed building was actually the Ditherington Flax Mill in Shropshire, England, constructed in 1797. British engineers pioneered the use of internal cast iron columns and beams to make textile mills fireproof. This exact framework was later adapted and upgraded to steel by American architects to create the modern skyline.

3

Hamburgers

Nothing says America like a juicy hamburger. While the fast food industry turned the burger into a multi-billion-dollar business, the dish is firmly rooted in European maritime history.

The clue is right there in the name: the hamburger originates from the port city of Hamburg, Germany. In the 19th century, Hamburg was a major transatlantic departure point. German immigrants travelling to the United States brought along a popular regional delicacy called the "Hamburg steak", a seasoned, minced beef patty that was grilled or fried. Once in America, creative food vendors realized that placing this German steak between two slices of bread made it the perfect portable meal for busy industrial workers.

4

The rocket takeoff countdown

The dramatic "T-minus ten seconds and counting" ritual heard during NASA launches feels like a product of pure Cold War American aerospace engineering. However, counting backward to build suspense wasn’t invented by scientists, but by a German filmmaker.

Director Fritz Lang introduced the concept of the countdown in his 1929 silent science fiction masterpiece, Woman in the Moon . During the film’s rocket launch scene, Lang realized that counting forward felt anticlimactic. To maximize dramatic tension, he decided to count down to zero instead. Years later, when German rocket scientists immigrated to the U.S. to help build the American space program, they brought this technique into real-life mission control rooms.

5

The song "My Way"

Frank Sinatra’s legendary 1969 hit "My Way" is considered the ultimate anthem of the self-made American man. But before Ol’ Blue Eyes put his spin on it, the melody belonged to a melancholy French pop song.

The original tune, titled "Comme d'habitude" ("As Usual"), was composed by Jacques Revaux and Gilles Thibaut, and released by French pop star Claude François in 1967. The original French lyrics tell a depressing story about the mundane, daily routine of a married couple whose love has completely died out. Singer-songwriter Paul Anka heard the track while vacationing in the South of France, bought the rights, and wrote entirely new lyrics tailored specifically to Sinatra’s persona.

6

American cheese

Although it is a staple of grilled sandwiches and burgers, the technology to create meltable processed American cheese was actually pioneered in the Alpine valleys of Switzerland.

In 1922, Swiss food scientists were looking for a way to stop regional cheeses like Emmentaler from spoiling during long export journeys to warm climates. They discovered that by shredding the cheese, heating it up, and adding sodium citrate, the dairy fats would emulsify. This prevented the cheese from separating into an oily mess when melted and allowed it to cool back down into a uniform, stable block. A few years later, American businessman James L. Kraft patented a similar process using cheddar cheese.

7

The Star Spangled Banner

The United States National Anthem tells the story of the 1814 bombardment of Fort McHenry. While Francis Scott Key penned the patriotic lyrics, the music belongs to a popular British club song.

Key wrote his poem to fit the exact cadence of a melody titled "To Anacreon in Heaven". Composed by John Stafford Smith around 1780, this tune served as the official anthem for an exclusive gentlemen’s amateur music club in London.

8

Cars

Car culture is deeply embedded in American life. Yet, the invention of the automobile belongs across the Atlantic, to one of the fathers of Mercedes-Benz.

German engineer Karl Benz patented the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886, widely recognized as the world's first modern gasoline-powered automobile. At the same time, French innovators like Panhard and Levassor pioneered the modern automotive layout, including placing the engine in the front and using a rear-wheel-drive system. Henry Ford undeniably revolutionized the world by using the assembly line to make cars affordable for the masses, but the machine itself was a European invention.

9

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is an irreplaceable childhood comfort food in the United States, present in millions of lunchboxes every day. While American innovators like Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and George Washington Carver popularized and refined it, they didn't invent it.

The practice of roasting peanuts and mashing them into a smooth paste dates back thousands of years to the ancient Aztec and Inca civilizations, who used it for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Furthermore, the first modern patent for peanut paste wasn't American at all; it was granted to a Canadian chemist named Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884.

10

Fireworks

No American Independence Day celebration is complete without a massive fireworks display. However, this tradition predates the founding of the United States by more than a millennium.

Fireworks were invented in ancient China, tracing back as far as the Han Dynasty around the 2nd century BCE. The technology eventually traveled west via the Silk Road, long before making its way to the New World.

1

Rabies

Image: Samuell Morgenstern

Rabies-infected people and animals cannot swallow water. This is why rabid dogs drool at the mouth, because they are unable to swallow.

In the ancient world, a "cure" for rabies involved forcibly submerging people in bodies of water to force the liquid intake . Quite often, the consequence, as you might have guessed, was death by drowning.

2

Bloodletting

Image: David Trinks

In the days when barbers were also designated surgeons, bloodletting was a common cure for multiple conditions. This gruesome technique was performed not just using surgical tools but also by using leeches , which were directly applied on the human body , to suck blood out of the wretched individuals who required treatment.

3

Madstones

Image: Atul Vinayak

Folk remedies were common in a time when seeking professional medical help was a luxury for most people. Popular in mid-19th-century America, madstones were big hairballs extracted from the guts of goats and deer .

These objects were believed to possess medicinal properties, such as curing rabies and serving as an antidote to various poisons.

4

Chloroform

Image: Carlos Felipe Ramírez Mesa

Many substances that we now recognize as poisonous were once believed to be beneficial to health. During the 19th century, chloroform was commonly used as an anesthetic in surgeries .

However, later studies revealed that long-term exposure to chloroform could cause liver and kidney damage, respiratory depression, and may even increase the risk of cancer.

5

Arsenic

Image: Denise Chan

Another poisonous substance once thought to be beneficial was arsenic, which was used to treat malaria, syphilis, and other ailments during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

However, it was later discovered that arsenic exposure could lead to poisoning, causing severe health complications and even death.

6

Mercury

Image: Benjamin Hibbert-Hingston

Similar to chloroform and arsenic, mercury was once thought to be beneficial to the human body. However, as scientific understanding advanced, its harmful effects became widely known .

Today, we know that mercury is highly toxic and can cause severe damage to the kidneys and nervous system.

7

Urine

Image: Fotografía de Alimentos

Drinking urine for medicinal purposes was common in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where it was believed to have therapeutic benefits and was used as a remedy for various health conditions, including kidney and liver problems .

8

Trepanning

Image: Mathew Schwartz

Trepanning, a common medical practice in ancient civilizations, involved drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure or treat a variety of medical ailments such as headaches, seizures, and mental disorders .

However, due to the lack of modern anesthesia and surgical tools, the procedure was extremely dangerous and carried significant risks.

9

Cupping

Image: Katherine Hanlon

Creating a vacuum on the skin using heated glass cups was a popular therapy for various conditions, including pain, inflammation, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders . While not a particularly harmful technique, aside from the markings left on the skin, its benefits have not been scientifically proven.

10

Mummy powder

Image: Narciso Arellano

In medieval times, it was commonly believed that "mummy powder" possessed healing properties. This substance was made from ground mummies obtained from Egypt and was thought to be particularly effective in treating wounds, headaches, and digestive issues .

11

Nightshade

Image: Georg Eiermann

Nightshade is a poisonous plant with soothing properties, which was used as a pain reliever as it can induce a state of calm in the user.

However, this plant is also highly toxic and can cause hallucinations, delirium, and even death if consumed in large quantities.

12

Tobacco

Image: Juano colombo

It might be hard to believe today, but back in the 1600s, schoolchildren were encouraged to smoke cigarettes , which were then thought to be disinfectants.

Cigarettes were also believed to be beneficial for both the lungs and the mind. Thankfully, we now know better.

1

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi

The "Cola Wars" have been going on for decades, but it seems that there’s no resolution in sight. In the late 1970s, both companies started directing their marketing campaigns against each other, with mixed results , though Coca-Cola always seems to be half a step ahead of Pepsi. They have both gained a loyal following, but the war remains as strong as ever.

2

Hamilton vs. Burr

Political rivalries are not uncommon in America, but few include a deadly duel involving a sitting vice president. The animosity between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr intensified after Burr won a Senate seat from Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler. During the presidential election of 1800 and the New York gubernatorial election of 1804, Hamilton actively supported candidates opposing Burr. Deeply angered by Hamilton’s continued opposition and public criticism, Burr challenged him to a duel, and the rest is history.

3

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Sports fans are dedicated, but few rivalries match the intensity of those who support the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. They have been rivals since their first meeting more than 120 years ago, with the Yankees often being perceived as a dominant team, while the Red Sox filled the role of the underdog . Their enmity deepened dramatically in 1920, when Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees. What followed was an 86-year championship drought for Boston, popularly known as the "Curse of the Bambino," which the Red Sox finally broke in 2004.

4

Miami vs. Tampa

Can a sandwich cause a rift between two cities? It sure can. Cuban sandwiches are a Floridian staple , and their construction is often considered set in stone: ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread, served pressed. Unless you live in Tampa. There, a strong Italian influence has translated into the addition of Genoa salami to the Cuban sandwich, much to the outrage of their Miami neighbors.

5

Mark Twain vs. USPS

Renowned writer Mark Twain had no qualms about criticizing the things he disliked, and he surely disliked the United States Postal Service . He thought it costly, inefficient, and overregulated, and he made sure to let everyone know in articles, complaint letters, and conversations with influential figures. In a poetic turn of events, the USPS released a Mark Twain commemorative stamp in 2011.

6

Hatfields vs. McCoys

One of the most infamous feuds in American history, the rivalry between the Hatfield and McCoy families shook the West Virginia-Kentucky area for three decades . Starting with the murder of a McCoy who was returning home from war, the hostilities and deaths escalated to a point where the Supreme Court was forced to intervene.

7

Edison vs. Tesla

Many inventors were involved in the so-called "War of the Currents," waged on electric power systems, but Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla are the most remembered. Edison championed direct current (DC) electrical systems, which operated at relatively low voltages and were suited to short-distance distribution. Tesla, working with George Westinghouse, promoted alternating current (AC), which could be transmitted over long distances more efficiently. Despite Edison’s strong campaign to discredit AC and its proponents, it ultimately became the standard power system.

8

Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis

Rivalries are everywhere in the film industry, but some become the stuff of legends. Allegedly, the feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis was never as intense as portrayed. While the two actresses did clash at times over personality differences, professional competition, and rumored romantic entanglements, much of the rivalry’s enduring reputation was fueled by gossip columns and sensational press coverage. And their respective film studios took advantage of it.

9

Burger King vs. McDonald’s

The fast-food industry has always had McDonald’s as one of its key players, but other companies have given their all to take that position. Burger King is one of McDonald’s oldest challengers , and has repeatedly tried to influence their customer base through a series of aggressive and often tongue-in-cheek marketing campaigns. While other brands, such as Wendy’s or Five Guys, have dipped their toes in the "Burger Wars," McDonald’s and Burger King remain two of the biggest names in the industry.

10

Edgar Allan Poe vs. Rufus Wilmot Griswold

While Poe looms far larger than Griswold in the modern American mind, much of what the public believes about the "Nevermore" poet was influenced by his rival . Their feud began with the publication of a poetry anthology by Griswold, which displeased Poe due to its contents and criticism of his own poetry. The animosity intensified when they both vied for the same editorial position and, reportedly, the affections of the same woman. After Poe’s death, Griswold wrote an obituary and a biography filled with attacks and slander, which contributed to the idea of Poe as a drunkard and a madman.