Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross, born with the given name Elizabeth Griscom, had an important role in the nation’s democratic process by making the first flag of the Unites States of America. She was born in Philadelphia on January 1st, 1752 (Kashatus, 2002, p.22). The eighth out of seventeen children was often described as a “rebel by birthright”. Betsy is descendant from an English family;her great grandfather escaped from religious persecution in England and came to the United States.

Her parents, Samuel and Rebeca Griscom, were accused of “unchaste intimacy before marriage” –As recorded in the October 29, 1742, minutes of their church” (Kashatus, 2002, p.22), they accepted their mistake and were punished and later on formed part of the religious organization Societyof Friends. She grew up under the standards and strict discipline that were based on the Society of Friends. She went to School six days a week with the Society of Friends organization. When she was young she started to develop her sewing skills with the help of her great-aunt Sarah Griscom. As the time passed by she started an apprenticeship with William Webster. Since the beginning her sewingskills were really good and noticeable enough to have clientele. She ran an upholstery shop with her first husband, John, where her reputation as a quality seamstress led to her meeting with General George Washington and a special request. Without doubt Betsy Ross contributed to the American democratic process by using her great seamstress skills; she created the first American flag.
Atthe age of 21 she got married to an Episcopalian, John Ross, on November 4, 1773 (Kashatus, 2002, p.22). John Ross’s father was an Episcopalian minister, which angered the Society of Friends, it was unacceptable for their standards and beliefs, and her marriage meant expulsion of the family and the Society of Friends organization. Betsy Ross started to worship her husband’s religion, a Christianchurch, and later on became an Episcopalian. John Ross started his own business, an upholstery shop, and Betsy Ross helped and complemented the shop with her seamstress skills.

Charles Thomson, secretary of the continental congress, made a resolution, and established that the flag of the United Stated should have 13 stripes, alternate black and white, that the Union be 13 white starsover a blue field, representing a new constellation. Patriots were unhappy with their flag because it looked just like the British flag. The commander George Washington ruminated this idea; he wanted a new flag for his continental army. One of the officers mentioned that there was a really good upholstery shop near his house.

Eventually on March 14, 1870 (Kashatus, 2002, p.21), BetsyRoss got three visitors in her upholstery shop, General George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross, and requested her to make the first American flag. Betsy said she can try and make the best that she can. They needed a new flag for the nascent United States. George Washington showed her a draft of the sketch for the flag. Betsy did not like how the six-pointed stars were randomly arranged ona blue background, instead she suggested 13 five-pointed stars arranged on a circle over the blue background. George Washington asked Betsy for all her suggestions and she also proposed that instead of being a square flag it should be rectangular so the proportions look good. General Washington changed the sketch of the flag and made a new one according to Ross’s suggestions.According to Betsy’s daughter- Rachel Fetcher remembers “having heard my mother frequently that she, with her own hands made the first star spangled Banner that ever was made” (Kashatus, 2002, p.22, para.11). The congress approved the new flag’s design and asked Betsy to make as many banners as possible. One year later, the congress officially adopted the colors for the flag of the United States of...