Five Lies About Early American History You Might Have Learned in School

From the Literacy Site by Allison Stout.

1.  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED  THE AMERICAS.

2.  THE ENTIRE THANKSGIVING STORY  There is a 4:30 minute video for you to watch.

3.  THERE WERE 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES--    There were only 12 because Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania until 1776.  Delaware may not have been a colony, it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution (hence the nickname "The First State).

4.  THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADDRESSED TO KING GEORGE III.  It was actually an explanation to the world and England that the colonies had to cut ties with England.  And, John Hancock did not sign his name really big so that King George III could read it without his glasses.    He just had an obnoxiously big signature.

5.  THE UNION FOUGHT THE CIVIL WAR TO FREE THE SLAVES.  Lincoln actually wanted to preserve the Union at first and to keep the border states happy.  Abolishing slavery would not go over big in these slave states.

It wasn't until later in the war that the goal began to shift toward freeing the slaves.

--Cooter

Happy 235th Birthday, USA: Big John's Big Signature

From the July 1st Yahoo! Shine "The Story of John Hancock's Signature" by Mike Krumboltz.

This story would seem appropriate today, even thought the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence did not take place this date 235 years ago. What did happen today was that the delegates voted to accept it.

Why did John Hancock sigh it so big? Most stories have it was to make sure "fat old King George" could read it without his spectacles.

Actually, this account is not true according to Snopes.com. As president of the Continental Congress (which would also make him our country's first president), he was the first to sign it, as it should be. And he put his name front and center. He did not know that the rest of the delegates, who signed it days and months afterwards (the last signatures coming in late November), were going to sign smaller.

As the custom of the time dictated, the others signed to the right of the text and signing was arranged by state geographic location with New Hampshire being the farthest north, signing first and Georgia last.

Actual signing of the Declaration of Independence began August 4th.

The famous painting of the delegates signing the declaration at Independence Hall was actually a lot of artistic license.

As I have said before, I don't know that I would have signed the Declaration. Putting your signature on it branded you as being guilty of treason with execution your fate if you were captured. Mighty brave men.

Thanks John et All. --DaCoot