First American Flag

240 years ago the United States Flag became the symbol of North America. June 14, 1777, the first American flag was adopted. This original flag consisted of thirteen stars in a circle representing the thirteen states at the time. Betsy Ross sewed this during the American Revolution. The processes and steps that were taken to create the United States Flag, figuratively helped sew our country together by creating a sense of strength and unity.

Just before the American Revolution, there were many flags symbolizing many different independent groups. “...There was the Divided Snake, and ‘Don’t Tread On Me,’ and then there was a flag that was used by some people in the Vermont area,” says Daniel Shaw (Shaw) who has a Bachelor's in History content.

This flag is called the Gadsden Flag. According to the Founding Fathers.info, “We don’t know for certain where, when, or by whom the familiar coiled rattlesnake was first used with the warning ‘Don’t Tread on Me” (Whitten 2001). However, In 1775, during the Battle of Bunker Hill, General George Washington (Washington) and the Second Continental Congress authorized the Continental Navy to be created, so that they could seize British cargo ships that held loaded arms and gunpowder for war. Enlisted Marines from Philadelphia had painted drums yellow, and added a savage, coiled rattlesnake with the motto, “Don’t Tread On Me,” (Villeneuve 2016). Washington felt having multiple flags to represent The United States was an atrocious

May 1776, “ ...three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of her late husband, John Ross” (“Betsy Ross”). Ross was called upon by Washington because "...she was previously well acquainted with Washington, and that he had often been in her house in friendly visits, as well as on business. That she had embroidered ruffles for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and that it was partly owing to his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the flag” (“Betsy Ross”).Thus, leading to why she was chosen to sew such a tremound symbol of a powerful