Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross is known throughout America as the woman who designed the first flag of
the United States. Ross was born in Philadelphia in 1742. She was renowned in New York and
Philadelphia as an excellent seamstress. She used high quality materials such as satin and silk.
Moreover, she had a good sense of how colors mixed together. She especially enjoyed using bright
primary colors in her designs. She decorated many public places and private businesses such as
hotels and theaters.
Her work became so famous that the leaders of the American Revolution asked Betsy Ross to design
the first flag of the United States. She chose her favorite colors – red, white, and blue. She
made thirteen red and white stripes and a blue square field in the upper left hand corner. Upon the
field was a picture of an eagle with thirteen stars. Each star on the flag represented a state.
Betsy Ross chose red for the flag because it meant passion. The white meant purity and the blue
represented unity and power.
Upon the new flag, Ross marked “The United States of America”. Congress approved Ross’ flag
design before the new country was even called “The United States of America”. Before that, it was
called “Columbia” and the states were called “colonies”. The new flag was finished and signed
on July 4, 1776. It was put up in the Hall of Independence for everyone to see. The flag was a
major part of the celebrations of American independence. The flag was officially adopted as the
United States flag on June 14, 1777.
The flag has changed over the years. A star has been added to the flag for each of the new states
that has joined the country since then. Now there are 50 stars on the flag. Betsy Ross continued
making flags for the United States until her death in 1832. She is widely regarded as an American
hero.