6 Ridiculous History Myths (You Probably Think Are True)

[Odin2005]

http://www.cracked.com/article_18487_6-ridiculous-history-myths-you-probably-think-are-true.html

6. Wild West violence
5. Investors jumping to their deaths in 1929
4. Bra Burnings
3. 1938 War Of the Worlds hysteria
2. "No Irish Need Apply"
1. Medieval torture devices.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. One of my favorites is "George Washington could not tell a lie"

The story of Washington and the cherry tree originated in an early 19th century biography by Mason Locke Weems, generally known as Parson Weems. There is a lovely painting by Grant Wood,

As far as not lying, when Washington was offered the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, he was also offered an annual salary of $10,000. He replied that if Congress would just pay his expenses, he would not take a salary. Congress took him up on it. Well, they came to regret it, as his expense accounts came to well over $10K per year. His reported laundry bills in particular seem to be exercises in fiction.

When Washington became President, he said that he would not take a salary if Congress would pay his expenses. Congress told him that he was getting a salary.