US History Facts That Are Actually Totally Wrong
Throughout American history, many facts and stories have been told and passed down, some of which are more folklore than fact. As they are passed from generation to generation, they may not undergo the critical scrutiny they deserve. In this article, we will provide an overview of US history facts that are actually totally wrong.
The US Was Founded on the Idea of Religious Freedom
One of the most common misunderstandings about US history is that the United States was founded on the idea of religious freedom. While the US Constitution does provide for the freedom of religion, the original colonists were not looking for religious freedom when they arrived in America.
Most of the original colonists were fleeing religious persecution in their home countries. While they were free to practice the religion of their choice in the new colony, the blanket agreement wasn’t that everyone would be free to practice whatever religion they wanted.
The Puritans, who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony, were looking to create a theocracy that imposed their religious beliefs on the colonists. Connecticut and Rhode Island, which were founded by religious exiles, also had established churches.
It wasn’t until the mid-1700s that Pennsylvania and Delaware began allowing religious pluralism in the form of religious tolerance. It would be another century before Thomas Jefferson outlined the creation of the wall of separation of church and state in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which inspired the Constitution’s First Amendment.
Native Americans Were All Nomadic Tribes
Another popular misconception about US history is that Native Americans were all nomadic tribes who roamed from place to place, living off the land. While some Native Americans did practice a nomadic lifestyle that involved regular seasonal or periodic relocation, many Native American cultures also established permanent settlements in one place.
In fact, archeological evidence suggests that some tribes had sedentary agricultural lifestyles as early as 6,000 BC. These agricultural societies created permanent cities, with well-developed systems of government, engineering, and art. Some of the most advanced cities, including Cahokia in Illinois, were populated with tens of thousands of people and were equal to, if not more advanced, than some of the cities in Europe at the same time.
The American Revolution Was Only About Liberty and Freedom
One of the misconceptions about the American Revolution is that it was only about liberty and freedom. While it’s true that the Declaration of Independence outlines the colonists’ pursuit of liberty, the conflict leading to the Revolutionary War was about much more than just safe-guarding individual freedoms.
The conflict between the colonies and Great Britain was mostly about taxation. As the colonies boomed, the British government felt that it was their right to collect taxes from the colonies to pay for their military protection and other services provided. The colonists felt the taxes were unfair and oppressive and decided to fight back.
The Second Amendment Guarantees the Right to Bear Arms
The Second Amendment of the US Constitution states, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” For many US citizens, this is seen as providing them with an unalienable right to bear arms.
However, the Second Amendment does not provide a blanket guarantee of the right to bear arms. The amendment outlines the importance of militias and the need for citizens to own firearms in order to form these militias. The amendment does not guarantee a personal right to own or bear arms.
The Invention of the Internet Is an American Accomplishment
Another popular misconception about US history is that the internet was invented in the United States. While the US does house some of the world’s largest technology companies, the internet itself was not invented in the States.
The original internet was created in 1969 by a team of scientists funded by the US military with the intention of creating a network that could survive a nuclear attack. The team of scientists were led by British computer scientist Donald Davies and American computer scientist Paul Baran.
The American Civil War Was About Emancipation and Abolition
When people think of the American Civil War, they often think it was fought over the issue of emancipation and abolishing slavery. While the Confederate States did base the majority of their government around the idea of allowing slavery to continue, the Union did not fight the war solely for the purpose of abolishing slavery.
The Union fought to preserve the Union and to protect states’ rights, although for many in the North the issue of slavery certainly factored into their reasoning. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln in 1863 declared that all slaves in the Confederate States were free, but this declaration applied only to those states and wasn’t truly enforced until the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865.
The Signers of the Declaration of Independence Were Imprisoned or Executed for Their Signatures
Another common misconception people have when they look back at the American Revolution is that the signers of the Declaration of Independence were imprisoned or executed for their signatures. While the signers certainly risked their lives and livelihoods in signing the document, most were not actually thrown in jail or killed for their actions.
Only one signer, Robert Morris, was actually ever thrown in jail, and he was released shortly after his sentencing. Five of the signers were killed by the British in battle, but none were killed simply for signing the Declaration of Independence.
The US is the oldest democracy in the world, with a rich and complex history full of many stories and facts. Unfortunately, there are several widely-held US history facts that are actually totally wrong. This article has provided an overview of US history facts that are false, and hopefully, by educating readers about these facts, better understanding and appreciation of US history can be achieved.
