It's A Great Story, But --

We’ve all heard the story.

 

George Washington visits a Philadelphia seamstress. He sketches a flag. She suggests five-pointed stars instead of six. With a single snip of her scissors, Betsy Ross changes history.

 

It’s a great story. It just wasn’t widely told for nearly a century.

 

Betsy Ross died in 1836. During her lifetime, no newspapers mentioned her role in creating the American flag. No letters from Washington confirmed the visit. No official records backed the claim.

 

Then came 1876.

 

As the nation prepared to celebrate its centennial, Americans were hungry for patriotic stories. That’s when Betsy Ross’s grandson stepped forward with a family tradition. He said Betsy had told relatives about sewing the first flag after meeting Washington and other founders.

 

The story spread quickly. It was simple, visual, and had a cutting edge.

 

Historians noticed the problem. Flags were being made by many people during the Revolution. Designs varied. The government never officially credited Ross.

 

That didn’t stop the story. By the end of the century, Betsy Ross was a household name.

 

History didn’t prove the legend. It adopted it.