Although her manufacturing contributions are documented, a popular story evolved in which Ross was hired by a group of Founding Fathers to make a new U.S. flag.

[2] The claim by her descendants that Betsy Ross contributed to the flag's design is not generally accepted by modern American scholars and vexillologists.

[3] Ross became a notable figure representing the contribution of women in the American Revolution,[4] but how this specific design of the U.S. flag became associated with her is unknown.

[7] In 1870, Ross's grandson, William J. Canby, presented a paper to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in which he claimed that his grandmother had "made with her hands the first flag" of the United States.

[8] Canby said he first obtained this information from his aunt Clarissa Sydney Wilson (née Claypoole) in 1857, twenty years after Betsy Ross's death.

Canby dates the historic episode based on Washington's journey to Philadelphia, in late spring 1776, a year before Congress passed the Flag Act.

[24][a] While modern lore may exaggerate the details of her story, Canby's account of Betsy Ross never claimed any contribution to the flag design except for the five-pointed star.

The Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed a Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, establishing the first congressional description of official United States ensigns.

The shape and arrangement of the stars is not mentioned – there were variations – but the legal description legitimized the Ross flag and similar designs.

[37]As late as 1779, the War Board of the Continental Congress had still not settled on what the Army Standard of the United States should look like.

The Board sent a letter to General Washington asking his opinion, and submitting a design that included a serpent, as well as a number corresponding to the state that flew the flag.

Historians and experts discredit the common theory that the stripes and five-pointed stars derived from the Washington family coat of arms.

Washington frequently used his family coat of arms with three five-pointed red stars and three red-and-white stripes, on which is based the flag of the District of Columbia.

During the Revolutionary War era and into the 19th century, the "Rebellious Stripes" were considered as the most important element of United States flags, and were almost always mentioned before the stars.

The canton, featuring the stars, may have gradually replaced the Grand Union flag as hope for reconciliation faded.

In the late 18th century, a circle of stars, also known as a "wreath"[54] or "medallion" arrangement,[55] was a favorite for painters and coin designers, as well as some flag makers.

[56] Circular arrangements similar to the "Betsy Ross" design were seen as early as 1777 at the surrender of General John Burgoyne at Saratoga.

The thirteen stripes showed with the stars the number of the United Colonies, and denoted the subordination of the States to the Union, as well as equality among themselves.

"[56][c]A flag with a circle of stars was again found in 1782, in William Barton's 2nd design for the Great Seal of the United States.

The Betsy Ross design, with its easily identifiable circle of stars, has long been regarded as a symbol of the American Revolution and the young Republic.

Betsy Ross was promoted as a patriotic role model for young girls and a symbol of women's contributions to American history.

During the United States centennial, not long after the presentation by William Canby, the Betsy Ross design became a highly produced and popular flag.

Since the 1980s, this display also includes a US flag design symbolizing the year the president's home state was admitted to the union.

The flags of New Hampshire and Missouri feature a similar circle of 9 and 24 stars, respectively, signifying their order of admittance to the country.