During the Revolutionary war, the flag that symbolizes our country was made, but there are still doubts about its origin. Even though people think it’s a myth, but Betsy Ross is said to have made the first American flag. There might be a lack of credible evidence to support this, but she remains to be known as the one who made the first flag and is an iconic figure. Betsy Ross is rumored to have made the first American flag when George Washington personally went to her shop with two others with a sketch of the flag. Without this flag no one would have fought hard because there would have been nothing to fight for.
Betsy Ross, whose real name was Elizabeth Griscom, was born January 1st, 1752 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Samuel and Jennylyn Griscom and is a fourth-generation American who was the eighth of 17 children. Betsy Ross went to a Quaker Public School and learned sewing and other crafts common in her day. She was an apprentice in an upholstery shop where she met her first husband John Ross, who later died. Betsy Ross married three men. Her second husband was Joseph Ashburn and he was captured by the enemies and died. Her last husband was John Claypoole who died from ill health. She was an excellent seamstress and ended up having seven daughters two which died of sickness. Betsy Ross died January 30th, 1836 at the age of eighty-four years old. In her life she had the fateful meeting with George Washington, she used to tailor Washington’s outfits for his wife, which led to the making of the first flag. In her lifetime she stated, “Today the American Knight holds the Commercial Supremacy of the world”. In order for America to remember her great doing, a bridge was named after her in Philadelphia.
Even though some people believe that Betsy Ross’s story is a myth, but she’s the known icon in history to have made the first American flag. She had a fateful meeting with George Wasington, George Ross, and Robert Morris. It was late in may of 1776, when 3 members of a secret committee from the continental Congress came to call upon Betsy. It was George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris who asked her to sew the first flag. She used to taylor George Washington’s outfits for his wife and also is known to have sewed many flags. “She had embroidered ruffles for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and that it was part owing to his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the first flag” (“Betsy Ross and the American Flag”). Her grandson mentioned her story and her family members witnessed to it. In 1870, there were stories surfacing about the first flag and that’s when her grandson William Canby presented the story to the historical society of Pennsylvania. People still feel that Betsy Ross’s legend is made-up, but the fact is that she was an iconic historical figure who made the flag that symbolizes America.
127 our experts are availableright now
The American flag is a symbol of our country that helps unify the colonies during the revolutionary war and even though the story of Betsy Ross doesn’t have a written record, it will be continuously told to keep alive a part of American history. In her life Betsy Ross learned the skill of sewing, taught to many women at her time and married three times. With her fist husband John Ross she opened an upholstery shop and through that many things happened. With that, the fateful meeting occurred with George Washington, which led to the birth of the American flag. Through Betsy Ross, a flag that symbolizes America was created and gave the American people the pride for their independence.
References:
- “Betsy Ross.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 18 Dec. 2019, www.biography.com/military-figure/betsy-ross.
- “A Brief Biography of Betsy Ross.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/betsy/flaglife.html.
- “Famous Quotes.” Betsy Ross, betsyyross.weebly.com/famous-quotes.html.
