What were the biggest ways that an ordinary person could have influenced U.S. history?

[WolfBear]

Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.

Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?

I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)

Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

[SolomonW]

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

[Insane Ranter]

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

This is a great one!!!

I'm guessing you didn't want stuff like stopping Lincoln's assassination either.

[WolfBear]

Post by Insane Ranter

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

This is a great one!!!
I'm guessing you didn't want stuff like stopping Lincoln's assassination either.

Actually, stopping Lincoln's assassination would be great. However, as I said above, it might be logistically harder than stopping Garfield's assassination. After all, would Lincoln actually allow you to stand near his booth at Ford's Theater for the entire play?

[SolomonW]

Post by WolfBear

Post by Insane Ranter

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

This is a great one!!!
I'm guessing you didn't want stuff like stopping Lincoln's assassination either.

Actually, stopping Lincoln's assassination would be great. However, as I said above, it might be logistically harder than stopping Garfield's assassination. After all, would Lincoln actually allow you to stand near his booth at Ford's Theater for the entire play?

All you would have to do to stop Lincoln's assassination is at the start of
the performance, stand up and scream in a loud voice so most people could
hear you that John Booth is going to try to assassinate Lincoln. The
security people will take it from there.

[The Old Man]

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear

Post by Insane Ranter

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

This is a great one!!!
I'm guessing you didn't want stuff like stopping Lincoln's assassination either.

Actually, stopping Lincoln's assassination would be great. However, as I said above, it might be logistically harder than stopping Garfield's assassination. After all, would Lincoln actually allow you to stand near his booth at Ford's Theater for the entire play?

All you would have to do to stop Lincoln's assassination is at the start of
the performance, stand up and scream in a loud voice so most people could
hear you that John Booth is going to try to assassinate Lincoln. The
security people will take it from there.

Better to be willing to be pro-active because the "security people" (all one of them) was at the bar next door getting shitfaced.

Regards,
John Braungart

[Insane Ranter]

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear

Post by Insane Ranter

Post by SolomonW

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

There are heaps of medical ideas you could bring.

This is a great one!!!
I'm guessing you didn't want stuff like stopping Lincoln's assassination either.

Actually, stopping Lincoln's assassination would be great. However, as I said above, it might be logistically harder than stopping Garfield's assassination. After all, would Lincoln actually allow you to stand near his booth at Ford's Theater for the entire play?

All you would have to do to stop Lincoln's assassination is at the start of
the performance, stand up and scream in a loud voice so most people could
hear you that John Booth is going to try to assassinate Lincoln. The
security people will take it from there.

Find Booth in Montreal in 1864? Kidnap him or kill him or poke his eyes out? Sure I'll get arrested and jailed or hung.

But yes the "great man" theory... *sigh*.


Too bad we can't just stop slavery in N. America by just steering the Dutch ship that landed in Virginia in 1619. Since there was already Indian slave trade going on at the time.

[jerry kraus]

Post by WolfBear
Let's say that Alien Space Bats will give me a time machine which will allow me to go back once to any point in U.S. history. Also, let's say that I *would be* willing to sacrifice my present-day possessions, modern medicine, et cetera since I wouldn't be able to come back to the present-day.
Anyway, where exactly should I go back in U.S. history to make a big impact?
I mean, I was thinking of going back to 1881 in order to prevent President Garfield's assassination (logistically, prevent Garfield's assassination seems a bit easier than preventing Lincoln's and McKinley's assassinations; as for JFK's assassination, preventing Vietnam isn't big enough for me). After all, this would almost certainly ensure a Republican victory in 1884 and thus possibly distort the political balance of power in the U.S. after that point in time. Plus, it's early enough that the butterfly effect could prevent Adolf Hitler in our TL's form from ever being born. (I mean, I would think that news of a U.S. presidential assassination being halted would have reached Austria even back in 1881.)
Anyway, though, is there a better place and time for me to travel back to? Also, please keep in mind that I don't want to be a time traveler who kills someone (even someone like Hitler); rather, I want to change the path of history in a big way without doing anything bad or evil.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Where and when exactly would you advise me to time-travel back to?

I'm not sure any single individual is very important. Again, we get back to the "Great Man" theory of history, which virtually no historians believe in anymore. We're not exactly sure what causes major historical change, but, it doesn't seem to be single individuals.