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10 Questions That Are Surprisingly Hard To Answer About American History

While Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, subsequent research has led some historians to believe that [August 2 is the actual signing date](http://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-declaration-of-independence). Most signatories wouldn't have even been members of Congress on July 4, technically.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

Which event do we celebrate during the 4th of July?

In an ironic twist, one of Washington’s first biographers, Mason Locke Weems, invented the story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree to [valorize his honesty](http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/). The cherry tree myth wasn’t added until the book’s fifth edition was published. Abraham Lincoln earned the nickname "Honest Abe," just not because he ever chopped down any cherry trees.

George Washington

Which president was said to have been too honest to lie to his father about chopping down a cherry tree? 

The Pilgrims left England because of religious persecution, but landed in Holland before making their way to America. They left Holland because they wanted to [maintain their English identities and pursue better job opportunities](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-pilgrims/2013/11/22/9f93e822-52c1-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html?utm_term=.85d2c57c7d4e).

To search for religious freedom

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1860 poem “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” immortalized Revere as a Patriot hero for his ride through Massachusetts, but he left out a couple of details. Revere’s ride was part of an established network the Sons of Liberty had set up to spread information. He [never even made it to Concord](http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/11-things-you-may-not-know-about-paul-revere) and was temporarily detained by the British.

Paul Revere

Who rode on horseback to warn the Minutemen that the British were coming during the Revolutionary War? 

The story of Betsy Ross's creation began to circulate when her grandson, William Canby, told the Historical Society of Pennsylvania that George Washington had commissioned her to create the flag. However, historians have found there’s [little evidence to back up this claim](http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/summer08/betsy.cfm).

Betsy Ross

Who is credited with the original American flag design? 

Well, sorta. Delaware was considered “The Lower Counties of Pennsylvania,” meaning that there were [12 colonies instead of 13](https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/eight-biggest-founding-fathers-myths-for-national-history-day/).

How many colonies were there, originally?

Thomas Edison would accumulate 1,093 patents in his life, but he considered his greatest invention to be the light bulb. While light bulbs were already in use [on a street-wide level](http://time.com/3517011/thomas-edison/), he was the first person to figure out a safe way to light the home.

Thomas Edison

Which American inventor is widely credited with inventing the lightbulb? 

[New York, Charleston, and Philadelphia](http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party) refused shipments of tea, as the act made it possible for the British East India Company to undersell to colonial merchants. Boston’s mayor accepted the shipments, so instead Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. They were dressed, regrettably, as Native Americans.

Tea Act of 1772

Which of these prompted the Boston Tea Party?

Initial events, like the Boston Massacre, spurred many patriots into action. Arnold himself was [said to have declared](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/benedict-arnold-turned-traitor-american-revolution-180958786/), “Good God, are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their glorious liberties?” upon hearing of the British shooting. But by 1776 many colonies had to work hard [to recruit members](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/myths-of-the-american-revolution-10941835/) for the Continental Army. Arnold ended up turning traitor due to personal, political, and financial reasons.

Which famous traitor defected from the Continental Army to help the British in 1780?

Many experts now agree that, had lightning actually struck Franklin’s kite, [he wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale](https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/kite-key-experiment). (In fact, that's what happened to Georg Wilhelm Richmann when [he tried to reproduce the experiment](http://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/richmann-georg-wilhelm).) Electricity was a known concept, used mostly for magic tricks, before Franklin’s famous experiment in 1752.

Benjamin Franklin

Who is said to have discovered electricity when his kite was struck by lightning? 

You're American deep down inside, but probably wont admit it. That's okay. We won't ask questions as long as you meet us by the grill.

You're an American all right, but just shy of the honorable title of True American. Who cares? Grab a hot dog and fly that flag, baby.

When you look up America in the dictionary, there's a picture of apple pie and a portrait of you. Party hard this 4th of July and amaze your friends with your intimate knowledge of the founding of our country.

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10 Questions That Are Surprisingly Hard To Answer About American History

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