Timeline Description: Betsy Ross made the first American flag during the War for Independence. Her vision lives on today every time we wave our flag. This is a timeline of her life.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1, 1752 | Betsy is born Betsy was born as Elizabeth Griscom in Philadelphia, PA. |
| 1758 | Betsy began attending school Betsy came from a family of Quakers. She learned to sew when she was apprenticed to an upholsterer. |
| 1773 | Betsy gets married Betsy ran away from home to marry her sweetheart, John Ross. They opened an upholstery shop where Betsy sewed. |
| 1776 | George Washington visits Betsy Ross While working in her upholstery shop in New Jersey, Betsy Ross got a visit from General George Washington. He wanted her to design and sew a flag for the new nation. |
| 1777 | Betsy remarries Betsy's first husband had died in 1775, and she remarried. Her second husband was killed in prison. |
| 1783 | Betsy remarries again and has children Betsy finally remarried again, and she had five daughters. |
| 1783 | The Treaty of Paris is signed A few months after Betsy's wedding, the Treaty of Paris was signed. It ended the Revolutionary War. |
| 1790 | A decade of flags (1790's) Betsy taught her daughters how to sew, and they made many flags together in their shop. |
| 1810 | Betsy's job continues Over the next many years Betsy made flags for many other companies. She made flags for forts, ships, and even the Indians. |
| 1812 | The National Anthem was written The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key after he looked at a huge flag sewn by Mary Pickersgill. |
| 1827 | Retirement from the flag-making business Betsy retired from making flags at the age of 75. Her eye sight was getting bad, and she knew it was time to rest. |
| 1836 | Betsy Ross dies She died in her home at the age of 84. |
| 1870 | Betsy's story is told to the nation Betsy's grandson, William Canby, told Betsy's story to the Pennsylvania Historical Society. No one knew she had met with George Washington before that. |
| 1952 | A stamp in her honor In 1952 the United States Postal Service made a stamp in Betsy Ross' honor. |
| 1975 | Betsy Ross goes home Betsy Ross's remains were moved to her old home in New Jersey. There she could rest eternally. Betsy played an important role in history. She proved that women were just as important to the freedom movement as men. She will always be remembered. |