The Legend of Betsy Ross

# Stuff You Should Know - Betsy Ross and the American Flag

In this episode, Josh and Chuck dive into one of America's most beloved origin stories: Betsy Ross and the creation of the first American flag. While Betsy Ross was definitely a real person—a Quaker upholsterer from Philadelphia who lived through the Revolutionary War era—the famous legend of her sewing the flag with George Washington's help may be more myth than fact. The guys explore the actual history of this fascinating woman, the evidence (or lack thereof) supporting the popular tale, and why Americans were so eager to embrace this story in the 1870s, even though there's no documented proof it actually happened.