8. Why does the Liberty Bell have a crack in it?
Correct: Shoddy craftsmanship
Incorrect: Overenthusiastic patriots
It’s a common misconception that enthusiast patriots cracked the Liberty Bell while celebrating July 4, 1776. But in reality, the bell has been suffering from frequent cracks since it was first (poorly) made. While this mistake has been dealt with several times over the years, this persistent split keeps coming back. According to National Geographic, the crack that we see today turned up at some point in the 19th century— even though no one knows for sure exactly when it came up.
