ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions Dumb Things That Happened Because of Procrastination
We all know what it’s like to procrastinate—putting off going to the gym, writing a paper, or doing chores. But hopefully, your procrastination hasn’t caused a revolution, an economic disaster, or a deadly flood! Here are some famous events that happened because of procrastination.
This story is more about revenge than procrastination, but it’s still interesting! Potato chips were invented when a frustrated cook delayed fulfilling a customer’s request, leading to a dish that became famous worldwide. It happened at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York. A picky customer, possibly Cornelius Vanderbilt, kept sending back his fried potatoes, saying they were too thick and not crispy enough.
George Crum, the cook, tried to make the potatoes thinner and fry them longer, but nothing worked. Finally, in frustration, he sliced the potatoes super thin, fried them until crispy, and added lots of salt. Surprisingly, the customer loved them, and potato chips became a hit. Crum never patented his creation, and soon potato chips were sold everywhere.
King Louis XVI’s procrastination in dealing with France’s economic problems played a big role in starting the French Revolution. He delayed addressing severe economic issues, including a major bread shortage, which fueled the revolution that eventually overthrew the monarchy. When Louis XVI became king in 1774, he inherited a financial mess due to reckless spending and costly military decisions by his predecessor.
Even though he knew action was needed, Louis listened to advisers who supported a free market, causing grain prices to skyrocket. By 1775, grain was so expensive that over 300 riots broke out across France. The situation got worse in 1789 with bad harvests and a growing population. Louis’s failure to act led to the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marking the start of the French Revolution.
In 1919, Boston experienced a disaster when over 2 million gallons of molasses flooded the streets at high speed. One major reason for this was the failure to inspect the molasses storage tank. On January 15, 1919, the tank burst, causing destruction and killing 21 people.
Several factors contributed to the disaster, including poor-quality steel used in the tank and temperature changes. However, the main issue was neglecting to maintain the tank despite clear warning signs. On the day of the flood, the tank was nearly full, and when it burst, molasses rushed through the streets at up to 35 mph, causing chaos and trapping survivors.
On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, a delay in waking Adolf Hitler helped the Allies succeed in their invasion at Normandy. Hitler was known for staying up late and waking up late. His staff hesitated to wake him on the morning of the invasion, fearing his anger. This delay affected the German response because Hitler’s approval was needed to move armored divisions in France.
By the time he was awake and orders were given, the Allies had already made significant progress, putting the Germans on the defensive.
Many people think all the delegates of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th in a big ceremony. In reality, the signing started on August 2, 1776, almost a month later, when a clean copy was ready. Not all members were there, and it took several months for all 56 delegates to sign. The delay didn’t affect the document’s legal status, and it kept the signers’ names secret for a while, which was good given the risks they faced.
Thanks for reading! What’s the most notable thing you’ve done because of procrastination? Let us know, and keep exploring more interesting history!
Work in small groups to create a short skit that illustrates the consequences of procrastination. You can choose one of the historical events from the article or come up with your own scenario. Perform your skit for the class and discuss what could have been done differently to avoid the negative outcome.
Create a timeline that includes the events mentioned in the article. Use images and brief descriptions to illustrate each event. This will help you visualize how procrastination has impacted history over time. Present your timeline to the class and explain the significance of each event.
Participate in a class debate on whether procrastination can sometimes lead to positive outcomes. Use examples from the article, like the invention of potato chips, to support your arguments. This activity will help you develop critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Research a modern example of procrastination that led to significant consequences. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class. This will help you connect historical events to current issues and understand the ongoing impact of procrastination.
Keep a journal for a week where you document instances of procrastination in your own life. Reflect on why you procrastinated and the outcomes. At the end of the week, share your insights with the class and discuss strategies to overcome procrastination.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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We’ve all procrastinated at some point in our lives—putting off going to the gym, writing that paper, or completing various chores. However, hopefully, your procrastination hasn’t had historical ramifications. I mean, it hasn’t led to a revolution, economic calamity, or a deadly flood, right? Here are some of the most notable events that occurred due to procrastination.
**The Accidental Invention of Potato Chips**
You could consider this more of an act of revenge than procrastination, and perhaps even genius rather than foolishness. The invention of potato chips came about when an exasperated cook delayed fulfilling a customer’s request, resulting in a dish that became a worldwide phenomenon. The story takes place at a restaurant called Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York. A particularly demanding customer, rumored to be Cornelius Vanderbilt, repeatedly sent back his order of fried potatoes, complaining that they were too thick and not crispy enough.
George Crum, the cook, initially tried to satisfy the customer by slicing the potatoes thinner and frying them longer, but each attempt failed. In a moment of frustration, Crum decided to slice the potatoes paper-thin, fry them until crispy, and season them heavily with salt. To his surprise, the customer loved the crispy potatoes, and they quickly became a hit. Crum never patented his creation, and potato chips spread across the country, eventually being sold in stores worldwide.
**The French Revolution’s Bread Shortage**
King Louis XVI’s procrastination in addressing France’s economic crisis played a significant role in the onset of the French Revolution. His delayed responses to the severe economic issues, including a significant bread shortage, contributed to the revolutionary fervor that ultimately overthrew the monarchy. When Louis XVI ascended to the throne in 1774, he inherited a financial mess due to irresponsible spending by his predecessor and costly military decisions.
Despite recognizing the need for action, Louis was influenced by advisers who favored a free market, leading to skyrocketing grain prices. By 1775, grain became so expensive that over 300 riots erupted across the country. The situation worsened in 1789 with poor harvests and a growing population. Louis’s failure to address these issues culminated in the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
**The Great Boston Molasses Flood**
The Boston Molasses disaster of 1919 saw over 2 million gallons of molasses unleashed on the streets at high speed. A major factor in the flood was the failure to inspect the tank storing the molasses. The tank burst open on January 15, 1919, causing widespread destruction and resulting in the deaths of 21 people.
Several factors contributed to the disaster, including flawed steel used in the tank’s construction and temperature fluctuations. However, one of the main reasons for the failure was the neglect in maintaining the tank despite visible warning signs. On the day of the disaster, the tank was filled to near capacity, and when it burst, the molasses poured through the streets at speeds of up to 35 mph, causing chaos and trapping those who survived the initial flood.
**Hitler’s Procrastination on D-Day**
On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, a delay in waking Adolf Hitler contributed to the success of the Allied invasion at Normandy. Hitler was known for his nocturnal lifestyle, often going to bed late and waking up late. His staff hesitated to wake him on the morning of the invasion, fearing his temper. This delay affected the German response to the landings, as Hitler’s approval was needed to move armored divisions stationed in France.
By the time he was awake and orders were given, the Allies had already made significant progress, putting the Germans on the defensive.
**The Overdue Declaration of Independence**
A common misconception is that all delegates of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th in a grand ceremony. In reality, the signing began on August 2, 1776, almost a month later, when a clean copy was formalized. Not all members were present at the time, and it took several months for all 56 delegates to sign. The delayed signing did not impact the legal status of the document, and it allowed the names of the signers to remain unknown for a while, which was beneficial given the risks they faced.
Thanks for watching! What’s the most notable thing you’ve done because of procrastination? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more interesting history!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any inappropriate language and ensuring clarity.
Procrastination – The action of delaying or postponing something – During history class, we learned that procrastination in addressing social issues can lead to larger problems over time.
Revolution – A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system – The American Revolution was a pivotal event that led to the independence of the thirteen colonies from British rule.
Economic – Relating to the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth – The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that affected millions of people in the 1930s.
Louis – Referring to King Louis XVI of France, who was overthrown during the French Revolution – King Louis XVI faced immense challenges during his reign, ultimately leading to his execution during the French Revolution.
Bread – A staple food prepared from a dough of flour and water, usually by baking – The scarcity of bread was one of the factors that fueled the anger of the French people during the Revolution.
Flood – An overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land – The flood of information during the Enlightenment period helped spread new ideas across Europe.
Hitler – Referring to Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 – Adolf Hitler’s aggressive policies led to the outbreak of World War II.
Invasion – An instance of invading a country or region with an armed force – The invasion of Normandy on D-Day was a significant turning point in World War II.
Independence – The fact or state of being independent, especially from political control – The Declaration of Independence was a historic document that announced the American colonies’ separation from Britain.
Delegates – Persons sent or authorized to represent others, particularly in a conference or meeting – The delegates at the Constitutional Convention worked tirelessly to draft the United States Constitution.
