10 Most Disturbing Things America Has Ever Done

10 Most Disturbing Things America Has Ever Done

Welcome to WatchMojo, today were doing a dive into the United States' most regrettable actions in history.

The Johnson-Reed Act (1924)

America is a country forged by immigrants, with only 1 to 3 percent of the population being natives in 2020. You would expect the nation to be more accepting, given that almost everyone there is either an immigrant or a descendant of one. Well, in reality, the majority of early Americans also brought prejudiced beliefs over to the colonies. Such sentiments caused the Immigrant Act of 1924, enacted to ban Asian immigrants, ensuring only white protestants could enter the country. It set a cap on yearly immigrants, only 165,000 per year. It codified racist immigration policy into U.S. law, blocking people from fleeing poverty, persecution, or even fascism in Europe and the rest of the world.

Invasion of Iraq (2003)

U.S. intelligence failed in the early 2000s, convincing George Bush that Saddam Hussein was hiding WMDs in Iraq. In approximately five weeks, a U.S.-led coalition captured Baghdad, beginning the Western occupation of Iraq. The war would only come to a true conclusion in 2011, when the U.S. finally withdrew. It wasnt the end of war in Iraq, though, with the region since being almost constantly torn apart by warfare. It was entirely based on false pretenses, which caused immense human suffering across decades. An invasion of a sovereign nation without a genuine cause is a violation of international law, widely considered a war crime by many. It wasnt simply a strategic failure, it was a moral catastrophe.

MKUltra (1953-73)

If possible, mind control would be one of the grossest violations of an individual's freedom. So you would expect America, once considered the leader of the free world, to be entirely opposed to it, right? Well, during the Cold War, the CIA was so desperate that they did extremely evil things to achieve it. This included them doing barbaric tests on unconsenting individuals, often leading to their deaths. Super-hallucinogens were fed to subjects. They could also be electrocuted, sleep deprived, and hypnotized. It blatantly violated basic human rights and U.S. laws, becoming a real-life horror story that spanned two decades behind closed doors.

McCarthyism (1947-59)

During the peak of the Cold War, fear replaced freedom, paving the way for paranoia to hijack democracy. This was also known as the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-communist hysteria in America. People were accused of being communists or sympathizers without little or no evidence, which often destroyed entire lives. It was like the modern-day equivalent of the hysteria surrounding the Salem witch trials. You didnt need to be a communist to have your life ruined. Having a friend with left-wing views, or even just being slightly progressive could prompt investigation. It was a betrayal of core American values, such as the First Amendment, which took a real beating.

Japanese Internment Camps (1942-46)

Generally, people associate prison camps with the Nazi regime, or the Soviet Union, but America also had its share of concentration camps. Starting in 1942, roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated into ten separate camps. Two-thirds of them were U.S. citizens, most second and third-generation immigrants who had never lived in Japan. On the other hand, there were millions more Italian and German Americans, yet they suffered far less forced relocation. It was a mass violation of civil rights, entirely motivated by racism and wartime hysteria. Its one of many examples of American ideals being abandoned, all in the name of security. Well, the security of the elite, at least.

Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-72)

Our next entry isnt just disturbing, its one of the most horrifying and unethical experiments ever conducted on U.S. soil. The study specifically targeted African-American men, supposedly in the name of science. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service began studying the lives of almost 400 African-American men with syphilis. They were curious about what would happen if the disease was left untreated in return for free medical care. While they did get this, they also werent told they had syphilis and were instead given no meaningful treatment for the ailment. By 1947, they could be given penicillin as treatment, but the study continued at full steam regardless. It only ended because of a press leak in 1972, after claiming over 100 victims.

Involvement in the Vietnam War (1965-73)

The Vietnam War began in 1955, following the nation gaining independence from France. It became split along the 17th parallel, with the North being ruled by the communists and the South by capitalists. Major support for Ho Chi Minh in the North caught Americas attention, who at the time were terrified of communism. It prompted them to have the Souths leader killed in a coup, followed by a full-blown occupation by American forces. It lasted until the mid-'70s, with America committing disgusting atrocities to achieve victory. The most famous was in My Lai, when U.S. soldiers massacred hundreds of civilians in a tiny village for the simple crime of being Vietnamese.

Dropping the Bomb (1945)

While no one will refute the claim that Imperial Japan was egregiously evil, its commonly said not to fight fire with fire. It was the first and only time nuclear weapons have been used in war, with most of the dead being civilians. It wasnt a simple case of just dying on impact. They turned two cities into literal hell, with many later perishing from radiation sickness and cancer. The government claimed they were necessary, but many historians refute this idea since Japan was ready to surrender. It was more about intimidating the Soviets than defeating Japan, which was already under severe conditions by that point.

Native American Genocide (1492-)

Before European colonization, America was a vibrant and diverse continent, home to millions of native peoples. Estimates say their population dropped 96% between 1492 and 1900, representing a genocide of almost an entire continent. It was done because of greed, power, and white supremacy. For a long time, the American elites sought to entirely erase their cultures from the planet. Native children were forced into boarding schools, treaties were broken, and constant wars were waged to steal land. One of the most infamous atrocities was the Trail of Tears, when about 60,000 people from five tribes were forcibly kicked out of their homes and relocated to designated territory in the west.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade (1619-1865)

The triangle of trade was one of the most lucrative trades in human history. Europeans brought slaves from Africa to the Americas to live a life of harsh labor and exploitation, giving the Europeans immense wealth to bring home. It was easily one of the most morally corrupt chapters in human history, which built the foundations of Americas economy and society. Americas wealth was built off the backs of stolen Africans, who lived some of the worst existences imaginable. It was practiced in America for over 250 years - longer than theyve been a free country. Even though it ended in 1865, its shadow still lingers over America, meaning it wasnt just a crime against individuals - but against entire generations.

To end things on a more hopeful note, what do you think is the most life-affirming moment in American history? Let us know in the comments.