It has been 245 years since the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. But still many time-honored patriotic tales are more fiction than fact. What are some myths we believe about our Founding Fathers?
We celebrate US Independence on July 4th. However, this day would have seemed arbitrary to the Founding Fathers.
The Second Continental Congress officially voted for the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776. This day is the official date of our independence. However, the written document wasn’t edited and approved until July 4, 1776. This was the date printers affixed to the announcements sent across the land.
Further still, no one signed the Declaration during July. This did not begin until August 2 with John Hancock. The 56 signatures were not completed until late November.
Legend holds that the Liberty Bell cracked after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. While U.S. independence sparked celebration for some, the bell was not rung until it cracked. It did ring along with the other bells in the city on July 8th, according to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The crack had been present since its arrival in 1752. The bell had been poorly cast originally. The bell cracked, was recast, and recast several times in its life. It was determined to be intact during the Revolutionary War.
Today’s crack appeared sometime during the 19th Century. It was as this crack appeared that the bell became known as the Liberty Bell – named by abolitionists.
Stories told today about the American Revolution tell of an underdog fighting against an unbeatable giant. The Revolutionary War also pitted Americans against their neighbors in large numbers. Perhaps 15% to 20% of all Americans remained loyal to the Crown. Many tried to stay neutral.
Records from the time period are spotty, but 50,000 Americans are estimated to have served as British soldiers at one time or another. This is a significant force pitted against the Continental Army that may have included 100,000 regular soldiers over the course of the entire war.
People have long credited Betsy Ross as designing and sewing the first American flag that was debuted in 1777. There is no proof either way. And she was thought to be sympathetic to the American cause. So it is possible she was involved in some form.
The story that the famous seamstress was involved never circulated until nearly a century after the fact. Her grandson began spreading the story. Only family tradition remains as evidence.
Over the years people have thought that the Declaration of Independence holds secret messages. This became very popular after the release of the “National Treasure” movie. The National Archives does admit that there is something written on the back of the document.
A line on the bottom of the Declaration reads: Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.
This was most likely written when it was rolled up for storage during travel. The reverse side writing helped the document be quickly identified.
Sources:
https://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/holidays/july-4th/7-myths-about-the-4th-of-july.aspx
Darrah Steffen 