Examines thirteen well-known American stories, including those about Paul Revere's legendary ride and Thomas Jefferson's pivotal role in the establishment of American equality, contending that many of their surrounding myths are not supported by recent scholarship.

First published ten years ago, award-winning historian Ray Raphael's Founding Myths has since established itself as a landmark of historical myth-busting. With Raphael's trademark wit and flair, Founding Myths exposed the errors and inventions in America's most cherished tales, from Paul Revere's famous ride to Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech. For the thousands who have been captivated by Raphael's eye-opening accounts, history has never been the same. In this revised tenth-anniversary edition, Raphael revisits the original myths and further explores their evolution over time, uncovering new stories and peeling back new layers of misinformation. This new edition also examines the highly politicized debates over America's past, as well as how our approach to history in school reinforces rather than corrects historical mistakes. A book that "explores the truth behind the stories of the making of our nation" (National Public Radio), this revised edition of Founding Myths will be a welcome resource for anyone seeking to separate historical fact from fiction.

First published ten years ago, award-winning historian Ray Raphael's Founding Myths has since established itself as a landmark of historical myth-busting. With the author's trademark wit and flair, Founding Myths exposes the errors and inventions in America's most cherished tales, from Paul Revere's famous ride to Patrick Henry's ?Liberty or Death" speech. For the seventy thousand readers who have been captivated by Raphael's eye-opening accounts, history has never been the same.In this revised tenth-anniversary edition, Raphael revisits the original myths and explor

See what stories in American history may not be true.

The author examines thirteen well-known tales of America's early Revolutionary history and exposes the myths surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride, the truth about Molly Pitcher, and surprising information about Thomas Jefferson.

With wit and flair, Founding Myths exposes the errors and inventions in thirteen of America’s most cherished tales, from Paul Revere’s famous ride to Patrick Henry’s "Liberty or Death” speech. Exploring the dynamic intersection between history-making and story-making, award-winning author and historian Ray Raphael shows how these fictions--conceived in the narrowly nationalistic politics of the nineteenth century--undermine our democratic ideals.

Ray Raphael has taught at a one-room public high school, Humboldt State University, and College of the Redwoods. His seventeen books include A People�s History of the American Revolution, The First American Revolution, Founders, and Constitutional Myths (all available from The New Press). Currently a senior research fellow at Humboldt State University, he lives in northern California, where he hikes and kayaks.

Thirteen stories revolving around either mythical or genuine figures and events, including Paul Revere's ride, Molly Pitcher's battlefield heroics, Sam Adams as the supposed architect of independence, the shot heard 'round the world, the Valley Forge winter, Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death," "Do Not Fire Till You See the Whites of Their Eyes," the lauded generation of the Founding Fathers, and the presumed denouement at Yorktown of a global conflict that continued elsewhere.

The author takes on a number of myths and legends that have crept unquestioned into our textbooks and popular histories, and he explains their persistence and the damage done if they remain uncorrected. He also highlights some stories we have failed to tell.