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Debunking Historical Myths:15 Fabled ‘Facts’ That Are Actually Pure Fiction

Misconceptions often mar American history, yet go unchallenged due to the authority given to the past. Here are the top responses to a forum question about the most misconstrued US history "facts".

NATIONAL BIRD

“Ben Franklin did NOT propose that the turkey should be our national bird.”

GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE CHERRY TREE

"George Washington and the cherry tree" is a taught fable. Not truly American history, Columbus knew the Earth was round. Its huge diameter led people to believe a western sea route to India was impossible.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

"I get irritated by life expectancy discussions. Adult life expectancy is far different than that of a child. In 1900, overall expectancy was 47 due to child mortality. However, adults who reached 40 could expect to live until 70, a figure not too dissimilar from today. If you reached 60 in 1841, you could expect to live till 74. That's just a decade's improvement over 180 years."

NOBLE SAVAGE CHARACTERIZATION

“All variations of the Magical Native American or Noble Savage characterization of the native people.”

APPLE AND THE HALLOWEEN

“There was never “a bunch of razors in apples given out on Halloween” – it was a single isolated incident committed by the father of the child who got the Apple.”

ROSA PARKS

"Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat was not spontaneous. As secretary of the local NAACP, her protest was pre-planned and replicated Claudette Colvin's protest. Chosen for her TV appeal, Parks' seemingly impromptu act was staged." source

AMERICAN FLAG

“The American Flag is believed by historians NOT to be sewn by Betsy Ross.”

PONY EXPRESS MAIL DELIVERY

" The Pony Express, often romanticized, was a short-term solution to transmit gold news from SF to Missouri. It was superseded by the telegraph."

US GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE AMERICANS

"The US government didn't give Native Americans smallpox blankets; it's a myth based on a fraudulent paper. British forces did during the French and Indian War. The US committed other atrocities towards Native Americans."

BENEDICT ARNOLD

"Benedict Arnold, key to US victory in Revolution, won the Battle of Saratoga, securing French allies. His treason overshadows his achievements. Discredited by Congress, he could've been president."

THE INDUSTRIAL ERA

"Built by slaves, the industrial era exploited low-wage workers as a cheaper alternative to housing a slave."

DEPRESSION OF AMERICA

"People think America only had one Depression, but when Jackson ended the charter for the Second Bank, real estate crashed. The effects surfaced during Van Buren's term, causing his loss. Other bank runs occurred in 1873, 1893, 1907. More info here."

INDEPENDENCE

“That everyone in the 1770’s wanted independence from England.”

COLUMBUS DAY

“It’s horrible that we celebrate Columbus Day. The moron accidentally found America; he was a slave trader and massacred tons of indigenous people.”

JAMES MADISON

"Madison wasn't the US Constitution's author. It's a mix of state constitutions. Like Jefferson, Madison claimed authorship later."

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