Betsy Ross

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Betsy Ross

• and her Significance to Pennsylvania History

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Betsy Ross at Work
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Introduction
The story of Betsy Ross is considered an
American legend.
First documentation of the flag Journal of
Congress June 14,1777.
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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.
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The Flag in Question
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A Legend Begins
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 next and last resort then
of the historian, is tradition.
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The Legend is Adopted
Canbys story appeared in Harpers Monthly in
July, 1873.
George Preble, author of Origin and History of
the American Flag, incorporates the legend into
his book in 1880.
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The acceptance of the legend into American
culture becomes clearly evident when it appears
in school textbooks in 1898.
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The Tradition of Betsy Ross
Owned an upholstery shop in Philadelphia.
In June, 1776, General George Washington,
Robert Morris, and George Ross asked Betsy Ross
to help create the flag for the United States.
She suggested to make a five pointed star instead
of a six pointed star.
Congress approved her flag and officially
adopted it a year later.
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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.
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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
white stripes with thirteen six pointed stars
in a 3-2-3-2-2 pattern on a blue
canton. -Congress rejected.
.
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Evidence for the Ross Tradition
Washington was in Philadelphia at the time.
Betsy Ross made flags during the Revolution.
Flag order documented on the minutes of the
Pennsylvania State Navy Board.
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Betsy Ross Legacy to Pennsylvania History
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.

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

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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.
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Sources
Affidavits. 29 Sept. 2004 http//www.ushistory.or
g/betsy/flagaffs.html. Canby, William. The
History of the Flag of the United States. 29
Sept. 2004. http//www.ushistory.org/betsy/m
ore/canby.htm.
Edward T. James, ed., Notable American
Women 1607-1950 A Biographical Dictionary
(Cambridge Harvard University Press,
1971), 189-199. Huntington, Tom, Its a Grand
Old Flag, American History 37, no. 3 (2002)
2. Kashatus, William C., Seamstress for a
Revolution, American History 37, no. 3 (2002)
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