Legendary Betsy Ross and the American Flag
The American flag has long been a symbol of our country, but there have been certain doubts about its origin. No one really knows who sewed the American flag. The legend of Betsy Ross has been told many times, but some people look upon it as a myth, saying Betsy Ross never even existed. Betsy Ross was indeed a real person who lived in the 1700's, but no one can prove she actually sewed the American Flag.
Betsy Ross did not have an extremely interesting childhood. She was born Elizabeth Griscom on January 1, 1752, to a Quaker couple. Her father's name was Samuel Griscom, who worked as a carpenter. The Quakers were "members of the religious society of friends." (Comptons 1). She lived in
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He died a military prisoner on March 3, 1782, leaving the once again widowed Betsy with two young daughters. Then on May 8, 1783, Betsy Ross married for the third time to a man named John Claypoole, who was the cellmate of Joseph Ashburn. They had five daughters, but John Claypoole died in 1817. Following the death of her third husband, she lived with one of her daughters in Philadelphia until her death on January 30, 1836 (Walters 335).
The American Flag is a symbol of our country. The leaders of the Revolution realized the need for a distinctive American flag. Betsy Ross had taken up flag sewing in addition to upholstery. In fact, she was the official flagmaker for the Pennsylvania Navy. George Washington came to Betsy Ross in June of 1776 with two other men (Davidson 177).
When they came to Betsy Ross, George Washington and his committee had originally chosen a six-pointed star for the flag, but the six-pointed star was the English rule (Tonn 18). Betsy convinced them to use the design of a five-pointed star, which was the French rule.
The committee of men who came to Betsy Ross were Robert Morris and Colonel Ross. Colonel Ross was an uncle to Betsy's late husband John Ross, and that might have been the reason they came to Betsy Ross in the first place (Compton's 1). However, she is credited to making the Cambridge Flag, or the Continental Colors, which was raised at Somerville,
The American flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, with seven red stripes alternating among six white. In the upper left corner there is a rectangular blue space that contains fifty white stars. The thirteen stripes symbolize the thirteen original colonies of the United states of America and the stars represent the fifty states of the Union. White is said to symbolize purity and innocence. Red symbolizes strength and courage, and blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance and justice. The flag in simple words is a piece of cloth that has meaning. The flag stands for everything in our country’s past.
In what ways and to what extent did the “American identity” develop between 1750 and 1776?
‘Rosie the Riveter’ is the name of a fictional character which was created to represent and symbolize the millions of real women who were encouraged by the North American government to join the work force in factories, munition plants and shipyards during World War II, while most men were called to duty to serve in the army during the war.
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Betsy Ross sewed the first flag, however she wasn’t always sewing flags. Betsy was the eighth child. she had 6 older sisters, Rachel, hannah, debby, susan, mary, and sarah. she had 1 younger brother and 1 younger sister, Geroge and Martha. she went to a Public Quaker school there she was taught writing,reading, sewing and instruction in a trade. after the finished school her father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer. an upholsterer worked on sofia's,
Early Life: She was born to Charles and Mary Moore in 1752 near Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her family was one of the first to migrate to the Piedmont area of South Carolina.
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Sarah Benjamin went before the deposition on the twentieth day of November, 1837 in the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County, Pennsylvania. This deposition intended to validate claims for receiving pension benefits owed to Mrs. Benjamin from a previous marriage; an Aaron Osborn, veteran of the Revolutionary War. Her case founded itself on the numerous acts of Congress over the previous decade--in particular the Comprehensive Pension Act of 1832 and subsequent acts of Congress from July 4, 1836 and March 3, 1837--allowing for the first time yearly grants to all who served in the Continental Army for a period of six months or more. These acts supplanted Sarah Benjamin's case because applicants no longer required disability or monetary
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When you see the American flag, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Is it a war? A relative? A political leader? What? For me, I usually think of the Star Spangled Banner. I grew up on a military base in Germany. If the flag were being raised or lowered, you would see soldiers, and even civilians, standing at attention, saluting the flag. In a parade, as the flag was being carried in front by one of the brigades, everyone held his or her hand over his or her heart as the flag passed that person. Even in the theaters, before the movie would start, the Star Spangled Banner would be played while scenes of American flags in battles and peacetime were on the screen and everyone would stand, either at attention or with
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