BETSY: AN UNSUNG ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMAN
Created by: Christine Cox
BETSY: AN UNSUNG ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMAN
While in Philadelphia, we took the family to all of the traditional sites highlighting the creation of this great country. These were places that founding fathers gathered and debated how to build the framework for this new nation, which is no small feat and I would call them no less than geniuses. However, I want to spend some time on a woman and lesser understood figure whose historical reference is boiled down to sewing a flag, but who was really so much more.
Our visit to Betsy Ross’ home was not on the itinerary and a bit of a last stop but it captivated our kids, especially our oldest daughter. First, there was an actual actor inside playing the part of Betsy Ross, so that was immediately intriguing to both of our girls. But second, it was the story of who she was as a person beyond the flag-maker that really interested her - so much so that when we got back at the end of the day, she pulled up Google, did her own research and wrote a short book about Betsy’s life. (Parenting win for the homeschoolers and history seekers - homework we didn’t even request!)
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Betsy Ross and her first husband, John Ross, started an upholstery business in 1773 designing and creating furniture for the wealthy of Philadelphia. Just three short years later, Betsy suffered the loss of her husband as the country declared its freedom and Betsy had to make some tough choices to make. People no longer wanted or could afford fancy furniture and she had to support herself - what was she to do? Her response - she rented a room at a small home in downtown Philadelphia and one evening she welcomed three strangers to her humble abode. (insert here the perfect opportunity to discuss the growth mindset with our kids who have employed such techniques as the “whine and slump” to avoid a hard school subject. I may or may not ask ‘now, is this how Betsy Ross would handle this?’ on occasion even still)
As she sat there conversing with George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross, Betsy knew the risks of their request. But, she also saw an opportunity to pivot her declining business and to do something noble for a country guaranteeing her partial freedom. She decided to make the agreement with these men and tackle what would later become known as the first flag of the United States.
RIDDLE ME THIS?
How many stars were sewn onto the first flag?
The answer can be found in this FREE printable coloring sheet for your kids and it’s not what you think!
Other fun fact: The first star design had six-points, however Betsy highlighted the ease with which she could cut out 5-pointed stars and thus, a new design was born!
Betsy took on incredible amounts of risk in sewing that first flag. Often, British soldiers would occupy adjacent rooms in the same house in which she was living. During the day, she continued with her upholstery business and at night she worked on this giant flag by fire and candlelight. (Our Betsy portrayer took the time to explain the selection of materials and the entire process to and knowledge it required to create this first flag. And as it was experiential in nature, the kids paid attention for the full discussion and even asked some interesting questions - I may have done a little parenting dance in my head)
The building of a new nation offers many opportunities, but also requires a significant financial sacrifice on the part of many. With the Revolutionary War coming to an end, Betsy’s upholstery business continued to suffer and she had to make some tough choices. It was at this time, she developed a new vision for her enterprise and decided to pivot into the flag-making business, eventually earning contracts with the United States government because of her reputation for quality work. From this, she built a lucrative career and successful company that spanned the expanse of her life. Betsy continued to work until she was 76, at which time she passed the business on to her daughters whom she had been training for many years. (If we don’t burn ourselves out early on, working in our 70’s can give us purpose. Betsy may have been a pioneer here as she had no need to work later in life. After her first marriage, she remarried, but husband #2 died in the war. She remarried one last time and they had a long and happy marriage. Talk about a survivor…)
TANGIBLE HISTORY
We’ve visited a lot of places that have made a real and lasting impact on our kids, but honestly they’ve also made an impact on us. I have learned so much about these historical figures in this first part of our journey. As someone who wasted a few years getting a degree in political science, I thought I knew much of these people’s histories but it turns out I don’t know the full story in most cases. And in truth, I knew next to nothing about the truth of the impact of many women of this time (More to come on George Washington’s and John Adam’s wives).
What I see in these lessons and conversations is true growth in our girls, especially in our formerly self-proclaimed ‘shy’ kid. The long dead are awakening in her a light, a keen interest and a pursuit of her own version of success that she was too afraid to share with anyone before. Mom and Dad just have the pleasure of sitting back and watching it unfold in real time. When our kids can physically touch history and actually see at least some part of the impact of their decisions, it does create a new form of education. Books are amazing (avid readers over here), but they do not compare to actually being able to experience or touch the actual creations of our ancestors.
So, I want to thank the founding women and lesser known backbones of our country in helping our children see that by trying some hard things, a little resounding optimism and a shift in mindset, we can accomplish whatever we set out to do and have an impact on others beyond ourselves.
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