"Betsy Ross" was originally known as Elizabeth Phoebe Griscom. She was born in 1752. Betsy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ross attended school in 1758. She learned to sew by being an apprentice to an upholsterer. Betsy came from a family of Quakers. In 1773, Betsy ran away and got married to John Ross. With John Ross, she opened up an upholstery shop where she sewed daily. Ross had a crazy life. When her first husband died and her second husband was killed in prison, she remarried and had 5 daughters. She taught her daughters how to sew and they all made flags together. While Betsy Ross was sewing one day in her shop in New Jersey, George Washington came to visit in May of 1776. He wanted something from her. General George Washington wanted Betsy Ross to design and sew a flag. Betsy had always embroidered ruffles on the shirt bosoms and cuffs for George Washington. When he asked her to make the flag, it was obvious, a job she had to do for her friend and country. The flag was going to be for the new nation. Washington wanted a six-pointed star on the flag, but Betsy thought a five-pointed star would be better and so George Washington gave full authority to Betsy. Betsy Ross finished the flag in either late May or early June. To this day, we still use the same flag with a few changes, like in the stars. Betsy Ross has made an impact on our country with the flag that represents us. The flag that Betsy made has a similar but different meaning than the one we use today. Betsy's has 13 stars in a circle to represent the 13 colonies. The flag we use today has 50 stars on it to represent the 50 states. Stripes on the flag represent the 13 British colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Betsy's flag shaped our newer flag greatly in the colors and design. Betsy Ross's flag was beautiful and represented our country proudly.
Sources: "Betsy Ross Timeline." Betsy Ross Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014. <http://www.softschools.com/timelines/betsy_ross_timeline/75/>.
Zeinert, Karen. Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook, 1996. Print.
Source: "Betsy Ross and the American Flag." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.