The Articles of Confederation were drafted in York, Pennsylvania (current pop. about 45,000). Sometimes Yorkers use this fact to claim their town was the nation's first capital. (Source)

During the Revolutionary War, the British burned down John Dickinson's house in Pennsylvania, considering him the "ruler of America." He later enlisted in the Delaware militia at the lowest rank—private. What's worse than going after the wrong guy? Finding out there is no one guy. (Source)

Benjamin Franklin was elected unanimously by the Pennsylvania Assembly to represent his state in the Second Continental Congress. He had returned from a trip to England one day before the vote. Rumor has it that he dropped the mic and the quill. (Source)

A fringe history theory holds that John Hanson, whom some historians speculate had African ancestry, was not only the "first president," but the first African-American President. Unlike the real first African-American president, he didn't get his own Nas song. (Source)

By law, all 13 states had to agree to any measure to amend the Articles of Confederation. Under the Constitution, only three quarters of the states (38 out of 50) have to agree. The young nation truly was 13 going on 38. (Source)