Betsy Rossand her Significance to Pennsylvania History

Betsy Ross at

Work:

Introduction

The story of Betsy Ross is considered an American legend.

First documentation of the flag: Journal of Congress–June 14,1777.

Journal of

Congress

“Resolved that the flag of the United States lay thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

The Flag in

Question:

A Legend Begins…

“The next and last resort then of the historian, is tradition.”

Historical Society of Pennsylvania –meeting on March 14,1870 –Presented by William Camby –Introduced evidence saying his grandmother, Betsy Ross, sewed the first American flag –Evidence from sworn affidavit

The Legend is

Adopted

Canby’s story appeared in Harper’s Monthly in July, 1873.

George Preble, author of Origin and History of the American Flag, incorporates the legend into his book in 1880.

The acceptance of the legend into American culture becomes clearly evident when it appears in school textbooks in 1898.

The Tradition of Betsy Ross

In June, 1776, General George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross asked Betsy Ross to help create the flag for the United States.

Congress approved her flag and officially adopted it a year later.

She suggested to make a five pointed star instead of a six pointed star.

Owned an upholstery shop in Philadelphia.

Betsy Ross:

A Revolutionary

Seamstress

She was contracted to make flags, and continued to do so for the rest of her life.

She passed her flag making tradition on to her daughters.

Controversy

Samuel Wetherill:-Friend of Betsy Ross-There is some evidence that

he suggested the five pointed

star idea.Francis Hopkinson:-Asked Congress for money

to create a flag.-Included “thirteen red and

whitestripes with thirteen six

pointed stars in a 3-2-3-2-2 pattern

on a blue canton.-Congress rejected.

.

Washington was in Philadelphia at the time.

Evidence for the

Ross Tradition:

Betsy Ross made flags during the Revolution.

Flag order documented on the minutes of the Pennsylvania State Navy Board.

Betsy Ross’ Legacy to

Pennsylvania History

Betsy Ross leaves a legacy to both influence and inspire women of all times and ages.

A woman who was able to contribute to the revolution without the help of a man.

Created the most important symbol in American government and throughout history.

Websites to

Check Out:

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/index.html

The Betsy Ross Homepage.

http://www.usflag.org/about.betsy.ross.html

Learn more about the legend!http://www.betsyrosshouse.org/

Official Website of the Betsy Ross House.

Sources:

Affidavits. 29 Sept. 2004 http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagaffs.html.

Canby, William. The History of the Flag of the United States. 29 Sept. 2004. http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/canby.htm.

Edward T. James, ed., Notable American Women

1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971),

189-199.

Huntington, Tom, “It’s a Grand Old Flag,” American

History 37, no. 3 (2002): 2.

Kashatus, William C., “Seamstress for a Revolution,”

American History 37, no. 3 (2002): 20.