There are some historical achieves that insist that Betsy Ross didn’t live in the house that is located on 2nd and Arch. There is other information claiming that she didn’t make our first flag either. When learning this information, it reminded me of the Simpsons’ episode where Lisa discovers that Jebodiah Springfield wasn’t really a hero, but a criminal. In the end Lisa didn’t tell Springfield her discovery because of this impact the “lie” over the community. Springfield had a great sense of pride in their community and Lisa didn’t want to take that away from them. That is what the history of Betsy Ross is like. Betsy is known to be one of the greatest historical figures throughout history, especially since she is a woman. In the begging of American history men are better known than women.
Today I visited the Betsy Ross house with my class. I thought that the architecture of it was interesting since I didn’t know that house in the colonial times had their rooms stacked right on top of another. The museum is geared towards an audience that is not well informed of history because of the audio tour was very simplistic. For example there were reenactments of the different conversations. My favorite one was when George Washington asked Betsy to make the flag. The one good thing about the audio tour was how they told you which direction to go and where the steps were. The artifacts in the house were interesting to look at. I have many questions about the house. One how do they know that Betsy Ross lived in the one room? The audio said the house was rented out to many occupants and there was no information on who stayed in which rooms. The portion of the tour when they were talking about Betsy’s personal life reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. Betsy could not marry John because he was an anglo-saxon and her religion was Quaker. She left her religion and joined his. The myths about her and the colonial period were on the walls throughout the house. My favorite part of the tour was at the end when the “tour guide “said there is a gift shop inside please stop in and look around.
Looking back on the house and the tour I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t read for Thursday class. Knowing that what I have learned growing up wasn’t real made me feel like Lisa Simpson, angry. Having time to reflecting on it I came to the same realization that even though Betsy Ross might have not been the true maker of our flag, but the myth gave women in America pride and hope.
We've been looking at American Icons in our American Studies module at the UEA and had a class on Tuesday, which covered Betsy Ross.
ReplyDeleteThat Simpson’s episode was covered in an earlier class on what makes an icon.
Marla Miller in her book Betsy Ross and the Making of America claims that though Betsy may have existed and had a hand in the flag she was perhaps 'made up by the late Victorians...for a nation grappling with the women's suffrage movement'. A Founding Mother along with the Founding Fathers.
The value for Miller is also in the view of a woman’s life during this period of American history.
As you say it gave people hope and gave a view of Revolutionary America that wasn't about combat or politics but about ordinary people.
It doesn't matter whether it's true; it has more emotional value as a story than would a bone fide order docket from General Washington himself.
Jo Leverett
UEA AMS
Hayley Musson
ReplyDeleteUEA American Studies
From our seminar on the American Flag in which we covered the story of Betsy Ross and her house i am left believing that Betsy's creation of the American flag to be a fictional story showing the American spirit of the era amongst the ordinary people.
From my reading it seems Betsy Ross because a symbol of patriotism in eighteenth century America. Her story became important and widely believed despite the uncertainty as she was one of the first prominent female figures to make a contribution in a male dominated era, regardless of the validity of the claims. As mentioned in the original post and reply, it provided the everyday American with hope during an uncertain era of war, not only for women, but for every patriot across the country.
On the topic of her house, from my reading of blogs etc the students seem to be somewhat disappointed with the house. Although the audio guide was informative about the era it gives no clues as to whether Betsy Ross really did live there. Despite this, its collection of historical items from the era draw in crowds of tourists every year, making it an important landmark for Philadelphia's history.
Hayley Musson
UEA AMS 2010
I like both of your comments. I agree with what you guys are saying. I think the museum tour was so disappointing because when growing up in America we are taught the Betsy Ross is such an historical figure. When learning that what she did might not be true, it made us think about what other parts of American History is falsified. Did you guys ever come accross that in your history classes etc. Did you guys ever learn about about Betsy Ross before this class?
ReplyDeleteHarriet Parker-Price
ReplyDeleteUEA American Studies
I have to confess that I hadn't heard of Betsy Ross or the house until hearing about it in one of our seminars. What I find interesting about what you said is that some people believe that she was not the person who helped make your flag. Yet the story of her is still told and held highly despite claims otherwise. I can understand why you would feel angry at first learning this especially when you've been told one thing your entire life. However, it seems to me that the fact that the story about Betsy Ross may be false, it doesn't seem to matter because it is about what her story makes the nation feel. Myths are a part of any society (some true some false) yet they all have a place within it.
Here Betsy Ross is a significant person in your history. And even more importantly a significant woman in a time of male dominance. This alone is enough to inspire people (especially women) because a woman is credited with something so significant and iconic in American culture.
Harriet Parker-Price
AMS
I have to agree. I never saw it that way before. Thank you for your opinion :)
ReplyDelete