Jill Keppeler - Betsy Ross Didnt Create the American Flag: Exposing Myths about US Symbols

Please visit our website, www.garethstevens.com. For a free color catalog of all our high-quality books, call toll free 1-800-542-2595 or fax 1-877-542-2596.Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Keppeler, Jill. Title: Betsy Ross DIdnt Create the American Flag: Exposing Myths About US Symbols / Jill Keppeler. Description: New York : Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2017. | Series: Exposed! myths about early American history | Includes index. | Historic sites--United States--Juvenile literature. | Emblems, National--United States--Juvenile literature. | Signs and symbols--United States--Juvenile literature. | Signs and symbols--United States--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC E159.K47 2017 | DDC 973--dc23 First Edition Published in 2017 by Gareth Stevens Publishing 111 East 14th Street, Suite 349 New York, NY 10003 Copyright 2017 Gareth Stevens Publishing Designer: Sarah Liddell Editor: Therese Shea Photo credits: Cover, p. 1 GraphicaArtis/Contributor/Archive Photos/Getty Images; background texture used throughout IS MODE/Shutterstock.com; ripped newspaper used throughout STILLFX/Shutterstock.com; photo corners used throughout Carolyn Franks/Shutterstock.com; pp. 4, 17 (bison) Eric Isselee/ Shutterstock.com; p. 5 Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com; pp. 6, 9 (Francis Hopkinson) Scewing/ Wikimedia Commons; p. 9 (flag) Dennis K. 9 (flag) Dennis K.

Johnson/ Getty Images; p. 11 DcoetzeeBot/Wikimedia Commons; p. 12 f11photo/Shutterstock.com; p. 13 Wehwalt/ Wikimedia Commons; p. 15 (Benjamin Franklin) Stock Montage/Contributor/Archive Photos/Getty Images; p. 15 (Great Seal) Andrew B.

Graham/Getty Images; p. 16 Bruce Macqueen/Shutterstock.com; p. 17 (bald eagle) JBKC/Shutterstock.com; p. 19 (Uncle Sam) Bettman/Contributor/Bettman/Getty Images; p. 19 (Yankee Doodle) MPI/Stringer/Archive Photos/Getty Images; p. 21 The New York Historical Society/Contributor/Archive Photos/Getty Images; p. 23 (top) dibrova/ Shutterstock.com; p. 23 (bottom) Thegreenjommonswiki/Wikimedia Commons; p. 25 Sharp/ Shutterstock.com; p. 26 Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock.com; p. 27 (Statue of Liberty) brunopnogueira86/ Shutterstock.com; p. 27 (Mount Rushmore) Bucchi Francesco/Shutterstock.com; p. 29 (flag) Avenue/ Wikimedia Commons; p. 29 (poem) Spellcast/Wikimedia Commons; p. 29 (map) Armita/Shutterstock.com. 29 (map) Armita/Shutterstock.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer. Printed in the United States of America CPSIA compliance information: Batch #CW17GS: For further information contact Gareth Stevens, New York, New York at 1-800-542-2595. CONTENTS When you think about the United States, whats the first thing you picture? Is it a red, white, and blue flag with stars and stripes? Do you think of a proud bald eagle? Both of these are symbols of the country. Sometimes, though, the popular stories we hear about these symbols are false. For example, the person you may think created the US flag probably didnt.

And a story often told about the bald eagle isnt true. Read on to find out more! BALD EAGLE The US flag has looked the same since July 4, 1960. Thats when a 50th star was added to it as a symbol of the 50th state: Hawaii. In 1776, the colonies that would become the United States were fighting for their freedom from England. One story that has been passed down says that George Washington, soon to be the new countrys first president, visited a woman named Betsy Ross with an important question. Washington, the story goes, asked Ross to sew a flag with 13 stripes and 13 stars.

She agreed, sealing her place in history as the creator of the American flag. But is this true? BETSY ROSS One of the first US flags had 13 stars arranged in a circle. The 13 stars and 13 stripes were symbols of the original 13 colonies. THE MYTH :
BETSY ROSS CREATED THE FIRST US FLAG. THE FACTS : Many people still learn the Betsy Ross story about the US flag. However, theres no evidence, or proof, that Betsy Ross (who was born Elizabeth Griscom) created the design.

The myth may have started nearly 100 years later when her grandson told some people the story. For many years after, it was reported as the truth. Today, however, most historians agree that Ross probably didnt create the first American flag. However, records show she did sew flags at her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After its creation, the US flag didnt change again until 1794, when two stripes and two stars were added after Vermont and Kentucky joined the United States. SO WHO DID? Many think a man named Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, designed the first fl ag.

However, some records report he wasnt the only designer. FRANCIS HOPKINSON THE MYTH :
THE LIBERTY BELL RANG ON JULY 4, 1776. THE FACTS : July 4, 1776, was the day Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Many people believe the Liberty Bell rang that day, announcing the colonies freedom from England. Although this story has been repeated many times, it isnt true. People in Philadelphia didnt celebrate until July 8.

Its also said that the bell may have been rung on July 8 to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence. However, theres no proof of this story, either. The Liberty Bell is actually older than the United States! It was first made in 1752 and recast, or reformed, twice. SYMBOL OF FREEDOM The Liberty Bell wasnt actually called by that name until the 1830s, when people used it as a symbol of the fight to end slavery. The crack you see on the Liberty Bell is actually a repair! The Liberty Bell rests today in Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FIXING THE FLAW Metalworkers widened the crack on the Liberty Bell so the sides wouldnt rub together.

They placed rods in the crack. Still, another crack began that ran up through the word Liberty. Some people even say the Liberty Bell rang out to celebrate freedom until it cracked. In fact, many stories exist about how the Liberty Bell got its crack. Most believe it cracked in 1835 during the funeral of John Marshall, chief justice of the US Supreme Court. Theres one thing we do know: The bell was already cracked in February 1846, when it was rung in honor of George Washingtons birthday.

That was the last time it was rung.