Who created the first American Flag?

The claim that Betsy Ross created the first American flag has become a significant part of American folklore. According to popular legend, Ross was a seamstress who was commissioned by George Washington and a committee of the Continental Congress in 1776 to design and sew the flag. This design is said to have included 13 alternating red and white stripes representing the original 13 colonies along with a blue field of stars.

While historical evidence supporting this specific narrative is somewhat limited, it is widely accepted that Betsy Ross was one of the early flag-makers and contributed to the symbolism of the American flag. The association between her and the flag has made her a notable figure in American history, representing the contributions of women during the Revolutionary War era.

The other figures listed, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock, were instrumental in other aspects of American independence, such as military leadership, drafting the Declaration of Independence, and signing it, respectively, but they are not credited with the creation of the flag itself. Therefore, the choice of Betsy Ross reflects her place in the tradition and mythos surrounding the origins of the American flag.