The Threads of Patriotism (the story of Betsy Ross)
By: Barbi Kuvshinikov
When any American looks at the American flag swaying in the breeze, a thought of Betsy Ross comes to mind. The famous woman who carefully stitched and pieced together the first American flag is a figure in history. The account of how the actual flag making all came about is recorded in many history books and historical documents that can be researched. It all started one fateful day in the 1770’s, a historical day that might have gone something like this….
"My this is a slow time of year." "How will I ever earn enough wages to make it through?" thought Betsy as she put the finishing touches on a dress. It did look beautiful. She did wonderful work, but it just wasn’t a booming industry in these late 1770’s. "It has been so rough and lonely lately, with John having been killed in that warehouse explosion last winter." "It is a good thing I have some work to get done," she thought, "it keeps my mind busy".
Betsy sat quietly placing perfect even stitches into the dress that had taken her weeks to finish; she sat gently rocking in her chair. As she sat in the quietness of her shop, she began to think of her John. All that could be heard was the clicking of her needle against her old worn thimble that covered the tip of her thumb. She looked out the window at the blooming May flowers and heard the birds as they sang. The sunshine streaming through the window cast a beam of light across the old wooden floor in her small sewing shop. Its rays gently graced the delicate materials that Betsy had carefully folded on the shelves; the extravagant fabrics and linens glistened beautifully in the rich rays of light.
As Betsy sat in thought gazing out the window, rolling her needle between her fingers, the movement of three men coming up the walk to her shop startled her. She stood up from her chair and hurriedly placed her project aside. She smoothed the wrinkles from her dress and ran her fingers through her hair as she moved briskly to the door. It wasn’t often that a general came to visit.
"Why General Washington, come in… and Mr. Morris and Mr. Ross, it is a pleasure. How can I be of service to you men?" she asked as her mind raced, wondering what they would be wanting. Last time any military men had been to her door, they had come to pass along the news of John’s tragic death.
"Well Betsy, we know of the good reputation of your work around Philadelphia, you have done some excellent work for me personally." said Washington. "We want you to sew a flag for us, this is what we have in mind," Washington said as he unrolled a crude piece of paper. As Betsy ran her fingers over the paper, she saw a roughly drawn flag that contained stars with six points.
"I have an idea"; Betsy said moving across her shop away from the men. She fumbled through some scraps of material that had been discarded. She folded the cloth; her fingers shaking, with one snip of her capable scissors she made a five-point star. She held it up for her three guests to see, hoping for their approval. Impressed with her idea, Washington agreed. Through the minutes that followed, they reworked the drawing; Betsy gently offered her suggestions.
"I think that the flag should be rectangular so that it flows better in the wind, and I also think that the stars should be in a circle, symbolizing that all colonies are equal with one another," she continued. With smiles forming on their faces, Washington and his two escorts agreed, knowing that this job was in capable hands. Betsy started her work on the flag at once when the men left. "Oh John," she thought "if only you were here to share this with me, you would be so proud."
Weeks later, Betsy stood behind a closed door at the congressional meeting. Anticipation and fear burned inside of her. Suddenly the door opened, and Betsy took her steps slowly out across the floor. Running her fingers nervously over the folded flag in her arms, she stepped to the center of the room. All the eyes of congress were upon this female figure that slowly crossed the room. With great pride in her heart, Betsy slowly unfolded her creation, and unveiled her flag to the congress. There she stood holding up her glorious handiwork- the first American flag. These threads were so beautifully sewn into the tapestry of patriotism.
Bibliography:
These sources can be used to supplement the information in this story
Heller, Douglas and Schmalzbach, Jonathan. The Betsy Ross Homepage. (1999).
Online. U.S. History Organization. Available:
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagtale.html
U. S. History Organization. Affidavits. (1870, 1871, 1908). Online. Independence Hall
Association. Available: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagaffs.html
Authors at Advanced.org. A Journey Towards Freedom: Betsy Ross. (1997). Online.
Advanced.org. Available: http://library.org/10966/data/bross.shtml
The Threads of Patriotism (the story of Betsy Ross)
By: Barbi Kuvshinikov
TEACHER’S PAGE
Outline of story:
- Betsy in her sewing shop
- thinking about her life
- insight into death of her husband
- a look into her talented work as a seamstress
- some background information about Betsy Ross
- a widow
- owned her own sewing shop in the 1770’s
- thinking about her life
- Betsy’s visitors
- Washington, Morris, and Ross come to do business with Betsy
- Betsy shows her famous five point star
- Betsy and the men agree on a design for the flag
- Betsy gets started on sewing the flag
- Demonstration Day
- Betsy appears in front of the Congress
- The congress approves and accepts her flag
- Betsy goes down in history
Suggested Props for storyteller:
- Betsy Ross flag (thirteen stars)
- Rocking chair
- Scissors/white scrap material (to cut five point star)
- Needle/thread & dress
Comprehension Question Answers:
- Betsy was a seamstress. She owned her own upholstery shop. (Either answer would be acceptable)
- It is unusual because men usually ran the businesses in that time period, it was unusual for a woman to own her own business during that time. It might be difficult for her because she was against the norm in owning her own business. She might encounter some hostility from others during that time.
- George Washington, Robert Morris, George Ross
- That signified that all of the thirteen colonies were equal, no one colony was greater than the other.
Name _____________________________________________
The Threads of Patriotism
(An account of Betsy Ross)
Comprehension Questions:
- What professional occupation did Betsy Ross have?
- What is unusual about a woman running their own business in 1770’s? Why would it be difficult for her?
- What were the names of the three men that came to visit Betsy that one
afternoon in her sewing shop?
- What is the significance of the thirteen stars being in a circle on the flag? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________