Question

Betsy Ross is recognized as having sewn the first American flag. But there is another famous American flag maker whose work is also honored in the United States. Mary Young Pickersgill was born on February 12, 1776. Her parents were William and Rebecca Young of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of their five children. As the British were advancing in September 1777, during the Revolutionary War, Mary’s family was forced to leave their home. She was 18 months old when her family moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with all their household goods.

2
Mary’s uncle helped her family find a place to live in Philadelphia. Soon after moving, Rebecca Young, Mary’s mother, advertised her flag-making business in the Philadelphia newspapers. During the Revolutionary War, she was the only person to advertise as a flag maker. She had made the flag that flew over George Washington’s headquarters on January 1, 1776. She was able to support her family with this occupation.

3
At the age of 19, Mary married John Pickersgill in Baltimore on October 2, 1795. John, a U.S. government employee, traveled to London for work. He died in London on June 14, 1805, and Mary became a widow at the age of 29.

4
In 1807, Mary, with her young daughter and her mother, moved into the house at 844 East Pratt Street in Baltimore. It would become known as the Flag House. To support her family, Mary decided to follow her mother’s example. Just a month after moving, the two women placed ads in the Baltimore newspapers for their new flag-making business. They would design, sew, and sell flags of all descriptions. Mary lived and worked at this house for the rest of her life.

5
Major George Armistead was the commander of Fort McHenry in July 1813. He had made the fort ready to defend Baltimore against a British invasion. However, he felt there was no suitable flag to fly over the fort. He wanted a large flag so that the British would have no trouble seeing it from far away. Commodore Joshua Barney and General John Stricker knew where to get such a flag! Mary Pickersgill was to receive the order for the largest flag of her career. The flag was to measure 30 feet by 42 feet! It would be about one-quarter the size of a basketball court. Each star would be two feet wide!

6
Mary had six weeks to complete the order for two flags: the large one and a smaller one called a storm flag to be flown in bad weather. First of all, she had to find a place to make such a large flag. A nearby business allowed her to use office space. Her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, her nieces, Eliza and Margaret Young, and other helpers worked with her many nights to complete the flags on time.

7
Four hundred yards of wool were used for the fifteen red and white stripes that were each two feet wide. Cotton was used for the fifteen stars. The entire flag was sewn by hand with tight stitches so it would not come apart in the wind. Mary received $405.90 for the large flag and $168.54 for the storm flag. Both flags were delivered to Major Armistead on August 19, 1813.

8
Mary’s flag took its place flying over Fort McHenry a year before the Battle of Baltimore began on September 12, 1814. The city proved to be well-prepared. Twenty-five hours after the battle began, the British retreated. The flag was still there! Eight miles down the river, a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key, had been watching the battle from a ship. On September 14, 1814, Mary Pickersgill’s flag became famous when Key completed a poem he had been writing on the back of an envelope while observing the battle and the flag that was still there. The poem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” became the national anthem, and Mary’s flag became a very important part of American history.


How is the role of fate developed in the passage?


Caroline’s experience shows that fate conquers obstacles.


Rebecca’s words indicate that humans may transform fate.


The appearance of the general represents an opportunity offered by fate.


The arrangement of stars in the flag represents the stars that control fate.

Answer 1

The appearance of the general represents an opportunity offered by fate.

Explanation: Major Armistead’s need for a large flag—his arrival and request—creates the pivotal opportunity that leads Mary Pickersgill to sew the famous flag, showing fate presenting the chance that changes her story.