American Myths, Legends, and Heroic Stories Quiz

Answer: The Earth

Many of the tribes in the North-Eastern part of America, including the Iroquois, told of the Earth they lived on resting on the back of Giant Turtle. The legend tells that in the beginning there was only ocean until mud was taken from the bottom of the ocean and placed on Giant Turtle's back which eventually became the Earth and in particular North America!

Answer: He never set foot on the American continent.

Over the years, children have been taught that Columbus discovered America, but he actually never landed on North America! Instead, he landed on many of the Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas and Hispaniola. Still, no one in Europe knew how big the Atlantic Ocean was and Columbus and his crew took a huge leap of faith that they would find land before they ran out of food! It would have been scary!

Answer: The Pilgrims' first landing in America.

The legend says the Pilgrims first landed at Plymouth Rock. Technically, they actually landed at the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and then maybe landed near where Plymouth Rock is located later on. Interestingly, the Pilgrims never mention Plymouth Rock in any of their records.

While Plymouth Rock sounds like it would be very large and impressive, it is actually just a large boulder about the size of your refrigerator.

Answer: I did it!

According to the legend first written by biographer Mason Weems, George Washington received warm praise from his father for admitting to cutting down that cherry tree. Weems most likely made up the story to show how honest George Washington was as a child. While George Washington was indeed a great American hero, what people wrote about him after his death was often too good to be true.

Answer: To prove lightning is electricity.

While Benjamin Franklin is sometimes given credit for discovering electricity, static electricity had already been discovered and several scientists were already trying to figure out exactly what electricity was. Franklin was one of the first who believed lightning might actually be the same thing as the energy in static electricity, and he designed the kite experiment to prove it.

However, the common myth is wrong! Lightning did not strike a key on Franklin's kite string! Instead, he saw a small spark leap from the key - proof to him that static electricity was in the clouds!

Answer: Betsy Ross

Legend has it that Betsy Ross designed the first American flag for George Washington. However, there are no records specifically stating that Betsy Ross designed the first flag... or anyone else for that matter! The records do say that she was a seamstress and she was paid to make American flags for the new American Navy.

Many others were also asked to make flags during the American Revolution.

Answer: She took his place firing a cannon.

Molly Pitcher is believed to be not just one person during the Revolutionary War... but the story of many women combined into one legend. Many brave women were on the battlefield helping give water to the soldiers, and maybe several were given the name "Pitcher" because of their job. There is one diary account by Joseph Plumb Martin in which a woman named Mary Hays helped her husband load a cannon throughout the battle of Monmouth. Legend states that Mrs. Hays was known as "Sergeant Molly" for the rest of her life because of her heroics.

Answer: She could speak the local languages.

Many myths have been written about Sacagawea, but one thing is for sure, she was a critical member of Lewis and Clark's "Corps of Discovery" because she could speak the local native languages. Communication is vital when two groups of people meet for the first time. With Sacagawea's help, the natives actually trusted Lewis and Clark instead of attacking them. Sacagawea was of the Shoshone tribe but also spoke Hidatsa.

Her husband spoke Hidatsa and French. Another member of the team spoke French and English. So talking to the natives required the message being translated into four different languages... but it worked! Oh, I almost forgot! Sacagawea was a young woman with a newborn baby during this trip! Wow!

Answer: Deliver the mail

Buffalo Bill Cody had an exciting life. At the age of fourteen, he took a job with the Pony Express to deliver mail from Missouri to California. Much of the route was dangerous as the land was full of Native Americans who would attack the mail carriers if they could. On Cody's epic 300 mile ride, he needed 20 horses! Since 15 miles is about as far as one horse can go, there were pony stations about 15 miles apart. Later in life, Buffalo Bill had a western show that he would entertain people with stories of the wild west and demonstrate cowboy skills. He was very popular at the time.

Answer: The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was mostly not underground... nor was it a railroad for a train. Luckily, there was not just one set path to freedom, but many, although escape was still very dangerous and difficult. In reality, the Underground Railroad was a group of safe houses where runaway slaves could hide during the day while they traveled north at night. Harriet Tubman is famous for helping about 70 slaves make it through Maryland to "British America" (now called Canada).