13 Conspiracy Theories That Started With Real Events
Sometimes, the strangest conspiracies have a kernel of truth buried deep beneath the hype.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Conspiracy theories often spiral out of control, but many of them begin with something genuinely suspicious. Whether it’s government secrecy, corporate cover-ups, or bizarre coincidences, the real events that spark these theories can be just as fascinating as the fictions they inspire. Here are 13 conspiracies that prove reality can be the perfect breeding ground for speculation.
1. MK-Ultra and Mind Control
Trevor Haldenby on Wikimedia Commons
This CIA program actually existed, involving illegal experiments on unwitting subjects to explore brainwashing and mind control. When the details were declassified, it sounded like science fiction.
2. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wikimedia Commons
For 40 years, the U.S. government let Black men suffer from untreated syphilis just to study its progression. Once exposed, the outrage fueled deep mistrust in public health institutions.
3. Watergate and the Deep State
Wikimedia Commons
When Nixon’s operatives broke into the DNC headquarters, it was the beginning of a scandal that unraveled a presidency. The massive cover-up proved how far officials might go to maintain power.
4. COINTELPRO and Surveillance State Fears
David Trinks on Unsplash
The FBI really did infiltrate activist groups and used covert tactics to disrupt civil rights movements. When documents surfaced, they shocked the public. It wasn’t paranoia — it was proof that the government kept tabs on citizens, which it viewed as threats.
5. Operation Northwoods
Pixabay on Pexels
This declassified U.S. military plan proposed faking terrorist attacks to justify a war with Cuba. Though it was never executed, its existence gave weight to theories about false flag operations.
6. The Iran-Contra Affair
Jakson Martins on Pexels
The U.S. government secretly sold arms to Iran and funneled the money to Nicaraguan rebels, all while denying it. Once uncovered, it exposed a shadowy network bypassing Congress.
7. Project Sunshine and Human Tissue Harvesting
Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography on Wikimedia Commons
During the Cold War, researchers secretly took tissue samples from dead infants to study radiation effects. Families were never informed. The horrifying details confirmed long-held suspicions about unethical scientific practices.
8. The Manhattan Project’s Secrecy
Charles Levy on Wikimedia Commons
Tens of thousands worked on developing the atomic bomb, and the whole project was kept secret for years. That level of silence showed that massive cover-ups were possible.
9. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Rocklin Lyons on Flickr
U.S. military reports claimed an attack that helped justify the Vietnam War — but later, evidence showed the second strike likely never happened. Critics argued it was a setup to gain public support for war.
10. Bohemian Grove and Secret Societies
cottonbro studio on Pexels
A real gathering of elite figures in California sparked rumors of occult rituals and world domination plans. Photos and leaked recordings confirmed bizarre ceremonies involving world leaders.
11. The Church Committee Revelations
Felix-Antoine Coutu on Pexels
This U.S. Senate investigation revealed decades of illegal spying, assassination plots, and covert manipulation by intelligence agencies. It read like a thriller novel, but it was all true.
12. The Bayer HIV Scandal
Bermix Studio on Unsplash
In the 1980s, Bayer sold clotting agents overseas that they knew were contaminated with HIV. It resulted in infections and deaths across multiple countries.
13. Operation Paperclip
SDASM Curatorial Collection on Wikimedia Commons
After WWII, the U.S. secretly brought Nazi scientists to work on American projects, including NASA. The program was hidden from the public for years.