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Did Washington Cut Down a Cherry Tree?
Did Washington Cut Down a Cherry Tree?. Many myths surround the first United States president. Some ponder if George Washington wore a wig, while others question if he really tossed a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Perhaps the most famous of all is whether Washington cut down a cherry tree.
Many myths surround the first United States president. Some ponder if George Washington wore a wig, while others question if he really tossed a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Perhaps the most famous of all is whether Washington cut down a cherry tree.
The Myth
This classic story of honesty in American history is about a young George Washington who, after receiving a hatchet as a gift from his father, cuts down many things, including a budding cherry tree. When confronted by his father, the younger Washington confesses, making his father proud.
The Truth
The story of George Washington cutting down a cherry tree is only a myth. The false story first appeared in an 1800 biography, "A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits, of General George Washington" by Mason Locke Weems. Weems invented several anecdotes about Washington's life to make him appear heroic.
Significance
The myth wasn't debunked for nearly a century, so many early textbooks contained the story, including the McGuffey Reader. These widespread teachings likely sealed the story as a true event in presidential history. Nonetheless, whether fact or fiction, the cherry tree story offers a moral lesson.
