1. The First Thanksgiving Was a Peaceful Feast
We love the image of Pilgrims and Native Americans sitting down together in harmony over turkey and cranberry sauce. But that story is more fiction than fact. While there was a 1621 harvest meal between the Wampanoag and Pilgrims, it wasn’t called “Thanksgiving,” and it definitely wasn’t an annual tradition at the time. The idea of a peaceful, cross-cultural meal came much later, mostly as a way to create a unifying national myth.
In reality, tensions between settlers and Native Americans were already simmering, and violent conflicts would soon follow. The “First Thanksgiving” as we know it was largely shaped in the 19th century, especially by writers like Sarah Josepha Hale. She pushed for a national holiday and romanticized the Pilgrims to promote unity during the Civil War. So that cozy, peaceful image many of us grew up with? Total historical makeover.
2. Paul Revere Shouted “The British Are Coming!”
We’ve all heard the story: Paul Revere galloping through the night, yelling “The British are coming!” to alert the colonists. But historians agree he never actually said that—at least, not in those words. Most colonists still considered themselves British at the time, so that phrase wouldn’t have made sense. Revere was more likely to have warned that “the Regulars are out” or used similar terminology.
Plus, Revere wasn’t even the only rider—others like William Dawes and Samuel Prescott also made similar rides that night. The dramatic midnight ride story gained popularity thanks to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1861 poem, which took quite a few creative liberties. Longfellow wasn’t writing history; he was stirring patriotism during a time of national division. And boy, did he succeed—just not in the accuracy department.
3. The Founding Fathers Loved Democracy
It’s easy to imagine that the Founding Fathers were all about democracy and wanted everyone to have a voice. But most of them were actually pretty wary of giving too much power to the general public. That’s why the Constitution originally left voting rights up to the states—and why only land-owning white men were generally allowed to vote. The founders were more into a republic than a true democracy.
People like Alexander Hamilton even spoke openly about distrusting the masses. The Electoral College system itself was created in part because the framers didn’t trust direct popular vote for president. It wasn’t until much later that the U.S. started resembling anything close to modern democratic ideals. So when people say, “We’re doing it like the Founding Fathers intended,” it’s worth asking—are we sure that’s a good thing?
4. Cowboys Were All White Guys With Hats and Guns
Thanks to old Westerns, many of us picture cowboys as lone, rugged white men riding off into the sunset. But the truth is, up to a quarter of cowboys were Black, and many were Mexican or Native American. The cattle-driving world was way more diverse than Hollywood ever showed. “Cowboy” itself comes from Spanish vaquero traditions, and the job was often dangerous, dirty work—not glamorous adventure.
After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved men became cowboys because the job didn’t require formal education. Yet pop culture erased them almost entirely from the narrative. The classic cowboy image was sanitized and racialized to appeal to 20th-century audiences. So if your mental image of the Wild West looks like a John Wayne movie, it might be time for a reboot.
5. The “War on Christmas” Has Always Been a Thing
Every December, we hear claims that there’s a modern “War on Christmas,” but ironically, early American Christians weren’t even into the holiday. In fact, Puritans in New England banned Christmas celebrations in the 1600s, viewing them as unbiblical and too rooted in paganism. For years, Christmas was just another workday in many parts of the U.S. It wasn’t even a federal holiday until 1870.
The idea that America has always centered Christmas—and that it’s now under threat—is more recent and media-driven. The modern outrage began picking up steam in the early 2000s, often fueled by cable news. But historically, the real “war” was against Christmas, not on behalf of it. So if you’re nostalgic for the “good old days” of Christmas in America, those days might not be what you think.
6. The Pledge of Allegiance Has Always Included “Under God”
Most Americans assume the phrase “under God” has always been part of the Pledge of Allegiance. But it was actually added in 1954, during the Cold War, as a way to distinguish the U.S. from “godless” communism. The original pledge, written in 1892, made no mention of religion at all. It was meant to promote national unity, not faith.
President Eisenhower supported the change after lobbying by religious groups like the Knights of Columbus. The phrase stirred controversy even back then, but it stuck—and now it’s taken as gospel (pun intended). Still, court challenges continue to this day, showing how recent and debated that addition really is. So no, the founding generation didn’t pledge allegiance “under God”—they didn’t even have a pledge.
7. The Boston Tea Party Was a Protest Against Taxes
The classic tale says colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor because they hated taxes. But the Tea Act of 1773 actually lowered the tax on British tea—it just reinforced a monopoly by the East India Company. What really ticked people off was that it cut out local merchants, threatening colonial economic independence. So it wasn’t a blanket anti-tax protest; it was a targeted, strategic rebellion.
The Sons of Liberty used the tax angle to drum up broader support. They understood that “no taxation without representation” was a powerful rallying cry, even if the situation was more nuanced. The Boston Tea Party became legendary, but the motivations behind it weren’t as simple as we’re often told. So next time you hear it cited in a modern tax rant, maybe give that claim a second look.
8. Americans Have Always Loved Apple Pie
“American as apple pie” might be the most overused phrase in the cultural dictionary, but here’s the twist: apples aren’t even native to North America. Most apples in early America weren’t for pie—they were for cider. The sweet, edible varieties came later through cultivation, and the pie itself has roots in English and Dutch baking. It wasn’t until the 20th century that apple pie became a patriotic symbol.
The phrase took off during World War II, especially in advertising that linked everyday American life with national pride. Soldiers would say they were fighting for “mom and apple pie”—a PR goldmine. But it wasn’t based on a long, cherished tradition; it was marketing magic. So yes, apple pie is delicious—but it’s more ad campaign than ancient Americana.
This post 8 American Traditions That Are Based Entirely on Fake Memories was first published on American Charm.
