Why do we celebrate Betsy Ross?

Considered essential to the American Revolution, Betsy Ross is credited with sewing the first United States flag. A symbol of patriotism, Ross is often celebrated as the woman who helped George Washington finish the design.

What does Betsy Ross flag represent?

The story of the Betsy Ross flag is that it was requested by General George Washington and the Continental Congress that a flag be created to signify the beginning of a new nation. This flag was created with 13 stripes and 13 stars signifying the 13 original colonies.

What are 5 facts about Betsy Ross?

What inspired Betsy Ross to make the flag?

Ross was “carrying on business of her own account in her little shop” when Washington, members of Congress, and other influential men paid her a visit, showed her a sketch of a proposed design, and asked her to make a flag with 13 six-pointed stars.

What was Betsy Ross's legacy?

Betsy Ross (January 1, 1752–January 30, 1836) was a colonial seamstress who is usually credited with creating the first American flag. During the American Revolution, Ross made flags for the navy. After her death, she became a model of patriotism and a key figure in the legend of early American history.

Independence Day: The History of the Betsy Ross Flag and Why We Fly It

What is a famous quote from Betsy Ross?

"I am not certain if I can; At least I'll gladly try" is a famous Betsy Ross quote.

What is the significance of the 1776 flag?

Andrew) in the canton, the upper left corner. Those stripes remain on the American flag today. While they stand today for the American nation, in 1776 they stood for defiance against what many Americans considered the unjust laws of their home British government.

What does the flag with 13 stars in a circle mean?

The number of stars and stripes represent the 13 original colonies.

Who really designed the American flag?

On May 29, 1777, Betsy Ross was paid a large sum of money from the Pennsylvania State Navy Board for making flags, and on June 14, 1777, Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our official national flag. Betsy would continue to make flags for over 50 years, many of which were through government contracts.

Does the original Betsy Ross flag still exist?

The original Betsy Ross Flag no longer exists but you can see a replica at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, Pa. This landmark also offers educational programs for the entire family and serves as headquarters for Philadelphia's Flag Day celebrations.

What are 3 interesting facts about Betsy Ross?

What was America's first flag?

Grand Union

The first (unofficial) national flag of the United States. It was raised in 1776 to celebrate the official status of the newly formed Continental Army by General George Washington, whose camp was then in Cambridge. Also known as the Cambridge Flag or Continental Colors.

What did Betsy Ross invent?

An 1871 pamphlet enthusiastically not only credited Betsy Ross for designing the first U.S. flag, but for coming up with the name "United States of America" and writing a hymn that was the basis for the French anthem "La Marseillaise." (There is no evidence to support either of those claims.)

Who was the only president to serve under the 13 flag?

Thirteen Star U.S. Flag, 1777 ~ 1795

The only President to serve under this flag was George Washington (1789-1797).

How did Betsy Ross know George Washington?

Naturally, Betsy Ross already knew George Ross as she had married his nephew. Betsy was also acquainted with the great General Washington. Not only did they both worship at Christ Church in Philadelphia, but Betsy's pew was next to George and Martha Washington's pew.

What did Betsy Ross believe in?

Ross and her family were members of the Quaker religion and she attended a traditional Quaker school in Pennsylvania. Upon finishing her schooling, Ross became an apprentice for the popular upholsterer, John Webster. Ross learned how to make and repair many items, including curtains, tablecloths, bedcovers, and rugs.

Why are there only 48 stars on the American flag?

To mark the additions of New Mexico and Arizona as states, the American flag grew to 48 stars on July 4, 1912. The design, which includes six horizontal rows of eight stars, was replaced on July 4, 1959, with the addition of Alaska's star, and it is the second-longest used version of the flag in the nation's history.

What was the American flag before 1958?

The 48-star flag was in use from 1912 to 1959, the second longest-used U.S. flag. The current U.S. flag is the longest-used flag, having surpassed the 1912 version in 2007.

What did the American flag look like in 1776?

1776 – On the first of January, The Grand Union Flag is flown on Prospect Hill and adopted as a symbol of the rebelling colonists. The flag, originally designed in 1775, features the British Union Jack in the upper left corner surrounded by thirteen white and red stripes, symbolizing the thirteen colonies.

What does 76 mean on American flag?

The Bennington flag is a version of the American flag associated with the American Revolution Battle of Bennington, from which it derives its name. Its distinguishing feature is the inclusion of a large '76' in the canton, a reference to the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

What flag was used during the Revolutionary War?

The new national flag, which quickly became known as the “Stars and Stripes,” was based on the “Grand Union” flag — a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that consisted of 13 red and white stripes.

What did the American flag look like during the Civil War?

The United States of America went through four different flags during the Civil War: The 33-star flag, the 34-star flag, the 35-star flag, and the 36-star flag. The original flag used during the attack on Fort Sumter was the 33-star flag, created in 1859 after the admission of Oregon into the United States of America.

Why was the American flag made?

The American flag was designed to represent the new union of the thirteen original states: it would have thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, and thirteen stars, white on a blue field. One of the first flags had the stars arranged in a circle, based on the idea that all colonies were equal.

What nationality was Betsy Ross?

Betsy Ross, née Elizabeth Griscom, (born January 1, 1752, Gloucester City, New Jersey [U.S.]—died January 30, 1836, Philadelphia), American seamstress who, according to family stories, fashioned and helped design the first flag of the United States.

What did Betsy Ross do after the war?

After the war, Ross resumed her upholstery and seamstress shop that was later passed down to her children upon her death in 1836.