As the seamstress of the first American flag, Betsy Ross has become a symbol of the liberty and self-determination of our young country. She was also a mother, a business woman, and a contemporary of George Washington. As an upholsterer, she was asked by Washington, the leader of the colonial army, to sew a new flag that would represent the colonies. Her flag was adopted on June 14, 1777. Primary source images offer a fascinating look at the life and times of Betsy Ross.