July 4th myths and legends: Things the history books got wrong about Independence Day in the U.S.
With July 4th around the corner, we look at the misconceptions and myths that surround Independence Day in the U.S.
The crafting of a nation always requires storytelling as a way to pass along political traditions. The United States is no exception, with Independence Day—celebrated on July 4—offering many examples.
The Chronology of Events
Though some might think the Revolutionary War began after the Declaration of Independence was ratified, it actually started a year earlier. The Battles of Lexington and Concord, often considered the first military engagements of the American War of Independence, occurred on April 19, 1775.
The Myths Surrounding Paul Revere
Enter a familiar figure: Paul Revere.
When the British crown ordered the Governor of Massachusetts to suppress colonial militias and arrest key figures believed to be behind the rebellion, Revere intercepted the message. His warning gave the rebels time to prepare and launch a surprise attack at Lexington and Concord.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was another early confrontation that took place before the Declaration of Independence was formally ratified.
On a separate note, in 2011, former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin retold the story of Paul Revere with some notable inaccuracies. She claimed that Revere rode through Boston firing his musket—an apparent attempt to tie the right to bear arms to the country’s founding history.
“[Revere] warned the British that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms, by ringing those bells and making sure as he was riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free.”
Sarah Palin (2011)
Though Paul Revere is famously associated with the phrase, “The British are coming!” historians largely agree he never actually said this. He was a messenger sent to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock—whom the crown sought to arrest—about British plans. His warning helped the rebels protect their weapons caches and prepare for the British advance. Revere traveled in secrecy and was even detained and questioned by British forces, far from the myth of a man ringing alarm bells to alert the countryside.
The long summer of 1776
Many remember being taught that July 4, 1776, was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. In reality, that date marks the ratification of the document by the Second Continental Congress, composed of representatives from the 13 original colonies. While some signatures were added that day, most were collected over the summer, with August 2 being the date when the majority were signed.
Things moved more slowly back then. The drafting, debating, ratifying, signing, and delivery of the Declaration to the King of England stretched from June to September. Still, July 4, 1776, was the first day the Declaration was printed and made available to the public—an event that holds symbolic weight in how we remember the document’s history.
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