Betsy Ross and the Making of America

By Marla R. Miller,

Book cover of Betsy Ross and the Making of America

Book description

Beyond the legend of the creation of the American flag, we know very little about the facts of Betsy Ross' life. Perhaps with one snip of her scissors she convinced the nation's future first president that five-pointed stars suited better than six. Perhaps not. Miller recovers for the first time…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Betsy Ross and the Making of America as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. That’s the legend, which did not appear until her grandchildren started to capitalize on tourism to the Philadelphia Centennial celebrations in 1876. The real Betsy Ross proves far more exciting. She sewed flags, but she was also an artisan, a businesswoman, a Quaker who was too political for her Meeting, and involved in the public protests leading up to the Revolution. Miller connects family networks, the material culture of the drapery and textile industries, British trade policies, and Revolutionary politics and protest into a whole cloth. This is a visceral look at the…

From Leigh's list on iconic American women.

Want books like Betsy Ross and the Making of America?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Betsy Ross and the Making of America.

Browse books like Betsy Ross and the Making of America

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Philadelphia, the American Revolution, and revolutionaries?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Philadelphia, the American Revolution, and revolutionaries.

Philadelphia Explore 79 books about Philadelphia
The American Revolution Explore 228 books about the American Revolution
Revolutionaries Explore 36 books about revolutionaries