Betsy Ross, Paul Revere and George Washington’s teeth: The real stories behind US history myths ^0.8%

PolitiFact - By Grace Abels - 6/24/2026, 12:00 AM

Biased Writer Voice 4.6% - Appeal to Authority 3.3% - Halo Effect 2.4%

The famous tale of young George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree and subsequent confession of "I cannot tell a lie" is just that — unverified, to say the least. The story first appeared in 1806 in the fifth edition of a biography about Washington’s life written by Mason Locke Weems. It was likely included to paint... more