home > Politics & History > Historical Events
Tags: politics & history, historical events, military conflicts, controversial, war, terrorism, battles, america, Wars, Coups, military, conspiracy theories, conspiracies, myths, united states, Geologic Event, Assasinations
The Most Widely Believed Conspiracy Theories in US History
Ariel Kana Conspiracy theorists: Call them birthers, deathers or just plain conspiracists, but don't call the people who believe the most widely believed conspiracy theories in US history gullible. These people will argue up and down that NASA never landed on the moon, the 9/11 and Pearl Harbor attacks were allowed to happen by the US Government and that President Barack Obama is actually from Kenya.
If these theories sound crazy, they are only the tip of the iceberg (or another frozen object if you're a global warming conspiracist) of the craziest conspiracy theories presented in modern times. Hours of time and numerous thousands of dollars have been spent to publicize, prove and debunk these conspiracy theories that deal with everything from alien autopsies at Area 51 to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
What's next? Is someone going to claim that Santa Claus is not real?
If these theories sound crazy, they are only the tip of the iceberg (or another frozen object if you're a global warming conspiracist) of the craziest conspiracy theories presented in modern times. Hours of time and numerous thousands of dollars have been spent to publicize, prove and debunk these conspiracy theories that deal with everything from alien autopsies at Area 51 to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
What's next? Is someone going to claim that Santa Claus is not real?
- 1
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
Some people (occasionally known as "Truthers") believe that the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2011, were actually orchestrated by the United States government or a group other than al Qaeda. Believers of the conspiracy theory argue that the World Trade Center's Twin Towers fell and continued to burn in the aftermath in a way that suggests it was a controlled demolition.
Others argue that the United States government was aware of the attacks prior to the event and allowed them to happen by declining to intervene. This theory was mentioned in the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, especially the idea that then-President George W. Bush was briefed on the plans of the attack and chose to look the other way. - 2
Kennedy Assassination
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed as he was riding in a presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas. According to an investigation known as the Warren Commission, Kennedy was shot by sniper Lee Harvey Oswald, who acted alone (and was murdered by nightclub owner Jack Ruby days later). However, some believe that the Warren Commission was simply a means to cover up a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy.
Many allege that conflicting facts regarding the murder weapon, witness accounts and the autopsy of Kennedy suggest a coverup. Though few speculate as to the identity of the actual alleged killer, the CIA, KGB, Mafia, Federal Reserve, Fidel Castro and sitting Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson were all mentioned as possibilities by various conspiracy theorists. - 3
Moon Landing
Though many believe that NASA's Apollo 11 landed on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, many also believe that the famous "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" moment was faked. The moon landing hoax is one of the most well known conspiracy theories with arguments continuing decades later about the event.
Proponents of the hoax theory claim that the United States faked the moon landing to win the space race and ultimately the Cold War with the Soviet Union. To do this, accusers claim the evidence of the astronauts on the moon was filmed in a sound stage in Hollywood based on a script created by Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick. - 4
Area 51
Mentioned in the alien invasion movie Independence Day among others, Area 51 is a United States Military base that operates as part of Edwards Air Force Base in Nevada. Due to the intense security surrounding the remote installation, including that the U.S. Government would not acknowledge the existence until 2003, many have speculated that Area 51 is actually used to hide alien spacecraft that have crashed into the Earth.
In July 1947, many claimed that an unusual object believed to be a UFO crashed in nearby Roswell, New Mexico. Conspiracists claim that the Roswell incident is only one of several alien crash sites in the country with Area 51 used for alien autopsies. - 5
Barack Obama's Birth Certificate
Alleged by so-called "birthers," some people believe that Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was not actually born in Hawaii as he claims, but that he was born in Kenya and not eligible to serve as president. Despite Obama releasing copies of his birth certificate in 2008 and 2011, the birthers persist that Obama is not a natural-born American.
Numerous politicians have questioned Obama's citizenship including many from the Republican and Tea Parties like Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and Donald Trump. Others have suggested that Obama is a Muslim rather than the Christian he claims. Opponents of the birthers claim this nonsense is nothing more than misdirected racist attacks at the first African-American president.
items 1 - 5 of 8
today on Ranker
start a list with results
close sorting window
Rank Name
use the search box to filter your list
leave a comment
Global Warming at 9/30/2011 11:47 AM