The First United States Flag
The First Official United States Flag: This 13-Star Flag became the Official United
States Flag on June14th, 1777 and is the result of the congressional action that took
place on that date. Much evidence exists pointing to Congressman Francis Hopkinson
as the person responsible for its design.The only President to serve under this flag
was George Washington (1789-1797). This Flag was to last for a period of 18 years.
Each star and stripe represented a Colony of which there were thirteen, united nearly
one year earlier by the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen Colonies are listed
below with the date that each ratified the Constitution and became a State.
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(1st) Delaware December 7th, 1787
(2nd) Pennsylvania December 12th,1787
(3rd) New Jersey December18th, 1787
(4th) Georgia January 2nd, 1788
(5th) Connecticut January 9th, 1788
(6th) Massachusetts February 6th, 1788
(7th) Maryland April 28th, 1788
(8th) South Carolina May 23rd, 1788
(9th) New Hampshire June 21st, 1788
(10th) Virginia June 25th, 1788
(11th) New York July 25th, 1788
(12th) North Carolina November 21st, 1789
(13th) Rhode Island May 29th, 1790
For over 200 years, the flag of The
United States of America has been the
symbol of The Strength of our nation and
unity of our country. It has been a
source of inspiration and Pride for
citizens of all types in this great country.
The flag has been an icon of prominence
in our nations history. Here are some of
the highlights of its amazing past.
January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized
which placed American forces under George
Washington's control. The Continental Army was
advancing on Boston which had been over thrown by
the British Army. Washington ordered the Grand Union
flag hoisted above Prospect Hill. It had thirteen red and
white stripes and the Union Jack in the upper left-hand
corner.
May 1776, Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag
June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act that the flag of the
United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white and that the union be
thirteen white stars in a blue field.
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June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act that the flag of the
United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white and that the union be
thirteen white stars in a blue field.
Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design
and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to
reflect the admission of each new state.
Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be
added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state,
signed by President Monroe.
o Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions
of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of
eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
o Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 - provided for
the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered
horizontally and vertically.
o Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for
the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and
eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
Today the flag of The United States of America consists of thirteen horizontal stripes,
seven red and 6 white. The stripes are representative of the original 13 colonies, the stars
are sybolic of the 50 states. The flags colors are also indicative of important virtues: Red
represents Hardiness and Valor, White represents Purity and Innocence and Blue
symbolizes Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
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Flag Picture Gallery
American ships in New England waters flew a "Liberty
Tree" flag in 1775. It shows a green pine tree on a
white background, with the words, "An Appeal to
Heaven."
The Continental Navy used this flag, with the warning,
"Don't Tread on Me," upon its inception.
The "Grand Union" shown here is also called The
"Cambridge Flag." It was flown over Prospect Hill,
overlooking Boston, January 1, 1776. In the canton
(the square in the corner) are the crosses of Saint
Andrew and Saint George, borrowed from the British
flag.
The "Betsy Ross" flag. The Flag Resolution did not
specify the arrangement of the stars nor the specific
proportions of the flag. So many 13-star flags were
used, as seen from the next several pictures.
Another 13-star flag, in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern.
According to some accounts, two famous flags were
flown at the Battle of Bennington. One, shown here, is
called the Bennington Flag or the Fillmore Flag. The
story goes that Nathaniel Fillmore took this flag home
from the battlefield, and the flag was passed down
through generations of Fillmores, including Millard, and
today it can be seen at Vermont's Bennington Museum.
Most experts doubt this story and date the flag to
about 1820. The other (not pictured) has a green field
and a blue canton with 13 gold-painted stars arranged
in rows. General John Stark gave his New Hampshire
troops a rallying speech that would be the envy of any
football coach today. He said, "My men, yonder are the
Hessians. They were brought for seven pounds and ten
pence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it. Tonight,
the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark
sleeps a widow!"
Cowpens Flag. According to some sources, this flag was
first used in 1777. It was used by the Third Maryland
Regiment. There was no official pattern for how the
stars were to be arranged. The flag was carried at the
Battle of Cowpens, which took place on January 17,
1781, in South Carolina. The actual flag from that
battle hangs in the Maryland State House.
Vermont and Kentucky joined the union in 1791 and
1792. This flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes, was
adopted by a Congressional act of 1794. The flag
became effective May 1, 1795.
By 1818, the union consisted of 20 states. A
Congressional act mandated that the number of stripes
be fixed at 13 and that one new star was to be added
for each new state, the July 4 following its admission.
However, nothing was written about what arrangement
the stars should be in. This and the following two flags
were all used simultaneously.
Another 1818 flag (see above).
And another 1818 flag (see above). This was called the
"Grand Star" flag.
The United States flag today. The 50th star was added
on July 4, 1960 for Hawaii, which entered the Union on
August 21, 1959.