The American Revolutionary War began in 1775 between the colonies of the new world and Great Britain. The war was fought over the issue of taxation and well we all know what happened. Now more interestingly when the war began and because of the lack of unity throughout the colonies, different flags were flown in different sections of the colonies. Some examples included the “‘Rattlesnake Flag’ used by the Continental Navy.. Another naval flag had a green pine tree on a white background. Other flags were quite similar to Britain’s Union Jack or incorporated elements of it.”
Flying these different flags, especially the Grand Union Flag, became confusing to the newly formed colonial military. For example, if an American military unit saw another unit carrying the Grand Union Flag, would the other unit be British or American? A new flag was needed and the story told is that Betsy Ross sewed the first United States Flag.
On January 1, 1752, Betsy was born as Elizabeth Griscom. Her parents, Samuel Griscom and Rebecca James Griscom, had a total of seventeen children with Betsy as the eighth child. As both of Betsy’s parents were of the Quaker faith, she attended Quaker public schools during her educational years. “After completing her schooling, Betsy’s father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer.” As an apprentice, Betsy learned many different types of sewing techniques including upholstery and flag-making.
While at working at William Webster’s upholstery shop, Betsy met John Ross who was also an apprentice in the shop. At the age of 21, Betsy and John married in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Unfortunately, John was not a member of the Quaker faith; he was of the Episcopal faith. The Quakers did not allow interfaith marriages and Betsy was banished from the Quaker church. John and Betsy decided to begin their own upholstery shop.
During this time, John and Betsy Ross attended services at the Episcopal church of Christ Church. The Christ Church was also the church George Washington and his family attended. The two families became acquaintances while attending the church.
Approximately two years after they were married, John joined a military unit as a guard at an ammunition depot. In 1776, while on guard duty, the depot exploded and John was killed. After John’s death, Betsy inherited John’s share of the upholstery business and decided to keep the shop open. She accepted a variety of business which included sewing upholstery, military blankets, military uniforms repair, flag making and many other sewing opportunities.
According to Betsy’s children and grandchildren, it was in May of 1776 when George Washington, George Ross (her husband’s uncle) and Robert Morris came to visit her in the upholstery shop. They “.showed her a rough design of the flag. Although Washington initially favored using a star with six points, [Betsy] Ross advocated for a five-point star, which could be cut with just one quick snip of the scissors, and the gentlemen were won over.”
By July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress had finally completed and approved the United States Declaration of Independence. It was almost a year later, on June 14, 1777, when the Congress approved the official flag for the United States. The Stars and Stripes flag was the nation’s first official flag.