Interesting Myths in American History

by dixiehwy

Interesting Myths in American History

One of the most interesting topics in American history is the history that never happened. The stories we learned in school, often read in history books or just heard so many times that we came to know as fact but in reality never happened. Here are a few of my favorites.

Myth #1: In April of 1775, Paul Revere rode through the streets from Boston to Lexington yelling “The British Are Coming”. 

First of all, it’s not likely Paul Revere ever yelled out the words “The British Are Coming” because the areas he rode through often had British army patrols and besides most of the colonials of the time considered themselves British. The purpose of the ride was to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams who where in Lexington at the time. He did inform others along the way but not by yelling in the streets. 

Also, Paul Revere was not the only rider to make the trip. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott also made the ride and in fact Prescott was the only one of the three to make it to Concord (the location of their weapons stores where they thought the British army was ultimately headed). Revere was caught and detained by a British patrol and was left horseless to walk back to Lexington. Revere was barely even known until Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his famous poem in 1863. The poem was never meant to be a “history lesson” but it’s what most Americans remember. 

Interesting Myth #2: Betsy Ross invented the first American flag 

The legend is that General George Washington visited Betsy Ross at her shop in Philadelphia in June of 1776 where they discussed various flag designs and settled on seven red and white stripes and thirteen stars arranged in a circle. While it has has been verified that Washington was in Philadelphia in June of 1776 there is no mention of this in his diary. 

It is known that on New Year’s Day of 1776, Washington flew a flag over his camp near Boston consisting of thirteen red and white stripes along with two crosses (familiar British Symbols). The earliest documentation of a flag consisting of thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen stars on a blue field was in a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. 

It wasn’t until 1870 – almost 100 years after the fact – that the legend began when it was told by Betsy Ross’s grandson William J. Canby. Supposedly, she had told him this story in 1836. While it is possible that Betsy Ross sewed the flag, there is no evidence to support the claim that she designed it. 

Interesting Myth #3: When George Washington was a young boy, he chopped down his fathers cherry tree and when confronted by his father, he replied with something like “I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.” 

In fact there is no evidence that this ever happened. The story was originally told by (Pastor) Mason Weems who also told many other uncorroborated stories about George Washington in a book called “Life of George Washington; with Curious Anecdotes, Equally Honorable to Himself, and Exemplary to His Young Countrymen”. 

Why would Weems have told these stories? Well, in addition to being a Pastor, Weems was an author and knew these stories would be popular and would sell. He was right about that. After the first printing, it went through at least 82 known editions forever cementing the cherry tree story in legend.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the Interesting History website

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5. About the American Flag & its History