The 9 Things About America That You Knew Were True -- But Aren't

We hold these truths to be self-evident: when it comes to history, the stories we learn in history books are factual and accurate. But that's not always the case.
American history is rife with half-truths, embellishments, and outright myths. What's worse, many of these myths are taught to us in our earliest years, cementing their place in our minds and textbooks.
To combat these long-standing inaccuracies, here's a list of 9 common myths that many people believe to be as American as apple pie.
Independence day is not on July 4th
The myth: The Fourth of July is when America first declared independence from British rule.
The truth: It was actually two days earlier, on July 2nd, that the Continental Congress voted for independence. Two days later, a revised version of the Declaration of Independence was adopted. And though the Declaration itself was dated for the 4th, it wasn't signed by congressional delegates until August.
The founding fathers would be surprised to learn that we celebrate on the 4th. John Adams, future second president of the United States, wrote that "the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America."
He also suggested that the day be celebrated with fireworks.
The Pilgrims did not come to the New World for religious freedom
The myth: The Pilgrims escaped the religious intolerance of Europe to establish freedom in the New World.
The truth: Frustrated with the Church of England the future Pilgrims left England for Amsterdam, but fear of their children becoming too Dutch led to their departure for America.
Once here, Non-Puritans, from Quakers to Catholics, were outlawed from the colonies and voting rights were based on membership in a Puritan church. Early state laws banned Jews, and Christians that did not renounce papal authority, from public office.
It wasn't until the founding fathers established a separation of church and state (an idea that had gotten Roger Williams banned from Massachusetts) that the concept of religious freedom began to take hold.
Betsy Ross did not sew the first American flag
The myth: George Washington and others in a congressional flag committee asked seamstress Betsy Ross for a flag, and she produced the iconic design that lasts, with more stars, to this day.
The truth: While this is a nice story, there isn't much evidence to back it up besides claims from the Ross family (which emerged almost a hundred years after the fact).
There is no surviving evidence of a flag committee of any kind, and if there was it was doubtful that General Washington would be a part of it. Though Ross was paid by the Navy Board for her work producing flags, there were also negotiations between Congress and Congressional Congress member Francis Hopkinson, who had designed many seals and symbols for the early United States.
Congress eventually told Hopkinson that the flag design was a collaborative effort -- which may take away from his claim to be the sole designer, but also throws doubt on the Ross story.
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/1Vyw_U_8AMU/myths-about-american-history-2011-8
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