1) The abolition of slavery in the United States was officially proclaimed with the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

2) The concept of reinsurance, which is insurance for insurance companies, originated in the 17th century.

3) The word "bank" comes from the Italian word "banco," which means bench. In medieval Italy, bankers conducted their business on benches in the marketplace.

4) The process of photosynthesis, performed by plants, algae, and some bacteria, is responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe.