The Betsy Ross flag is an early design of American flag popularly attributed to Betsy Ross using the common motifs of alternating red-and-white striped field with white stars in a blue canton. The flag was designed during the American Revolution and features 13 stars to represent the original 13 colonies. The distinctive feature of the Ross flag is the arrangement the 5-pointed stars in a circle. Although most flag historians do not believe Betsy Ross to be the maker of the first American flag, the Betsy Ross story has become publicized and common, accepted by many Americans. According to the legend, the original Betsy Ross flag was made in 1776, when a small committee including George Washington and George Ross, a relative, visited Betsy and discussed the need for a new American flag. Betsy's contribution to the design was a 5-pointed star (instead of a 6-pointed star, as Francis Hopkinson used), and she accepted the job to sew the first. The flag was in use by 1777. Alfred B. Street described it at the surrender of General Burgoyne and understood the circle of stars to represent equality among the American states.