The son of an English revolutionary, William Penn was a central figure in the early days of America and laid the basis for religious freedom in the country. Born October 14, 1644, Penn came to the New World in his 50s after a lifetime of public service and a comfortable domestic life.
Penn’s public life was full of conflict from challenges to his authority, laws and loyalties to his insurmountable debts. He spent a few years in prison because of his allegiance to King James II and because of his economic troubles. Penn didn’t move permanently to Pennsylvania until after the English revolution in 1699.
The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Red, White and Blue. A symbol of strength and courage. A mark of tolerance and diversity. The indication of democracy and freedom. However you see it and whatever you call it, the American flag is the image behind a nation. Reflecting the history of a people, the flag has a rich history of its own.
George Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War and while stationed in Philadelphia commissioned the making of a flag. The flag was to represent the country Washington and his troops were fighting to bring into reality. On the strength of her reputation as a seamstress, Washington went to visit recently widowed Elizabeth Ross in May of 1776.
Betsy Ross had decided to keep her upholstry business after the untimely death of her husband John. He had died serving the Pennsylvania militia during the war. Ross was happy to assist the General. Washington had been fighting under a flag he called the “Grand Union” which included a smaller version of the British Union Jack in the top left corner. Ross showed Washington that his idea for a six pointed star design would be better as a five pointed star design and the commission was officially hers. The story would not emerge of this encounter until many years later.
It took, according to Ross’ own account, just a few weeks to make the flag and it was ready in time for the celebration of the first Fourth of July. America was celebrating its own birth. The early government of the country made a flag resolution among one of its earliest priorities. On June 14, 1777, 13 white stars in a circle on a blue background next to a field of 13 red and white stripes became the official composition of the United States flag. It was a “new constellation” to represent the cosmic inception of a new nation.
Betsy Ross told the story of flag to only one person before her death and there are no official records to back up the details of the story. But in 1888, Ross’ house became a national treasure and still exists today. As the years passed and the country grew, more stars were added to the flag so that eventually there would be 50 stars to represent the 50 states. The flag on display at the Smithsonian in Washington today is not the Betsy Ross flag. The 15 star flag is Old Glory and was sewn by Mary Pickersgill in 1813.
Mary Pickersgill received the flag commission from Fort Henry in Maryland. She was asked two make two flags one for bad weather and one for good weather. With the help of her daughters and servant, Pickersgill completed the two flags in seven weeks. The good weather flag was 30 feet by 42 feet and hung above the garrison of the fort. The flag flew high throughout the Battle of Baltimore that took place during the War of 1812.
The Battle of Baltimore was one of America’s greatest triumphs against the assuming British. Despite a 25 hour bomb and gun attack by the British naval fleet, the port of Baltimore held strong, forcing the British to retreat. Soldier and poet, Francis Scott Key observed the flag victoriously waving above the fort and became inspired. He went on to write the “Star Spangle Banner,” the words of America’s national anthem in 1814. A copy of that flag still hangs above Fort McHenry today just as American flags fly over every government building and historic site in the country.
| Draping main streets on Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day, adorning the graves of the nation’s lost fighters and flying high above private homes year round, the American flag endures as the nation endures, remaining a testament to the world’s first democratic nation. |
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Tags: 1776, American Flag history, American Revolution, Battle of Baltimore, Betsy Ross, Continental Congress, Dont Tread on Me - Revolutionary War Flag, Fort Henry, Francis Scott, George Washington, Key, Mary Pickersgill, National Anthem, Old Glory Antiqued 50 Star Flag, Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War Style Antiqued 13 Star Flag, Star Spangled Banner, The Star Spangled Banner and the American Flag on DVD, U.S. Congress, U.S. Flag history, United States Flag history, War of 1812
With the conclusion of the Louisiana Purchase in late 1803, President Jefferson had the land that would push the United States from coast to coast. A route to the Pacific Ocean was the main geographical priority of the era. But with 828,000 miles included in the purchase, discovering the route would take determination, ambition and most of all, perseverance. 
In early spring of 1804, after receiving congressional approval in February, the corps of Discovery (which consisted of about 45 men) set out on the trail with the main objective of discovering a river route from coast to coast. This waterway could aid in the transportation of commercial goods, encourage further exploration and migration and expand the reaches of American influence.
Along the journey, the Corps encountered various Native American tribes, fur trappers and early settlers including the Shoshone wife of a French trader. The story of Sacagawea stems from this meeting and is one of the most well known components of Lewis and Clark’s journey. Sacagawea, along with her two month old son, acted as guide for the explorers through the lands of her people giving advice on obstacles ahead as well as what prairie plants and desert animals were safe to eat. Even after Sacagawea’s knowledge became regional, she chose to stay with the explorers.
Every year we cook the turkey, gather friends and family and share stories. But where does the tradition of Thanksgiving come from? How does the feast of today figure into American history and how distorted have the stories of pilgrims, corn and pumpkins become?
A native guide and interpreter known as Massasoit was informed by fellow tribesman that the English were shooting and using their guns. Although the translator could not be certain whether the colonists were shooting game for dinner or starting a war, he arrived back at the colony with approximately 90-armed men. It seemed a cautious approach to the recent arrivals.
It wasn’t until 1777 that the first official nationwide Thanksgiving celebration took place. In fact, the feast that year was to celebrate the defeat of the British during the battle of Saratoga. Early 19th century historians mistakenly labeled the Plymouth sit down (rather than possible standoff) as the first Thanksgiving.
