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Patriotic history of the Stars & Stripes
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the following resolution:
“Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red
and white; that the union be thir
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Just who designed the first flag or who made it is a question still debated by historians.
Some believe that Betsy Ross designed the first flag, although claims have also been
made that Francis Hopkinson, a Congressman, designed and made the first flag.
Historical records do show that Betsy Ross made flags for the government in 1777, but
whether she made the first United States flag will probably always remain in doubt.
In 1782, the Congress of the Confederation reaffirmed the choice of the Continental
Congress by stating that the national seal and the flag would remain red, white and
blue. Deeper meaning was also given to the flag and its design. The thirteen original
states would always be represented by the seven red stripes and the six white ones.
However, they left open the question of how the stars on the blue union would be
arranged.
In 1777, Congress had not specified any particular design for the arrangement of the
stars and some flags had thirteen stars in a circle. Others had twelve in a circle with the
thirteenth in the center. By 1782 though, almost all the national flags had the thirteen
stars in a circle.
In 1794, Vermont and Kentucky were admitted to the Union bringing the number of
states to fifteen. Congress ordered that all new flags would carry fifteen stars and
fifteen stripes, and that a star and a stripe would be added as each new state joined
the Union. This would later prove to be too cumbersome and would soon be abandoned.
This flag, with its fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, is the flag Americans carried in the
War of 1812.
By 1817, The Union was expanded by five more states: Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana,
Indiana and Mississippi. This expansion meant a new flag. Samuel C. Reid, a navy captain,
redesigned the flag using the original thirteen stripes and adding a star for each of the
twenty states. This idea was proposed to Congress by Peter Wendover, a representative
from New York. It was passed as the New Flag Act, and the date was set as July 4th next
after a new state had been admitted to the Union as the day on which a new flag
would be flown. Congress again left open the question of how the stars might be
arranged, so the design was left to individual flagmakers.
In later years, the President has usually proclaimed how the stars would be arranged
and all flags must agree with the Presidential proclamation. New states were constantly
being admitted to the Union and the United States had thirteen national flags
between 1817 and 1861. During the Civil War, we had another two flags with the
admission of Kansas and West Virginia. Union troops fought under a 33-star flag during
the first three months of the war; a 34-star flag until 1863; and a 35-star flag until the
end of the war. President Lincoln refused to take out the stars of the southern states
which had seceded.
After the war had ended, the nation began to move west. Nebraska joined the
Union in 1867; followed in 1877 by Colorado; 1890 by North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana, Washington and Idaho; 1891 by Wyoming; 1896 by Utah; and 1908 by
Oklahoma. During this period of transition in the country, we had six more national
flags. The twenty-third flag, adopted in 1896, was the flag that we fought under during
the Spanish-American War in 1898.
In 1912, Arizona and New Mexico were admitted to the Union and thus the United
States needed another new flag. This was the twenty-fifth flag, adopted in 1912, and
which lasted until 1959. The total of 47 years that this flag flew over the nation represents
the longest period of duration of any one flag of the United
States. This flag was carried to the battlefields of World War
I and World War II, as well as the Korean War.
In 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the
Union. The 49-star flag, adopted in 1959, was raised at
12:01 a.m. on July 4th, 1959, over Ft. McHenry to signal
the official admittance of Alaska.
This flag lasted but a short while for on July 4th,
1960, the United States raised the present 50-star
flag signaling the admission of Hawaii as our
50th and last state. To date, we have had
twenty-seven national flags, and they have
all flown in glory over this great nation, the
United States.
27 Flags of the United States
1777-1795
The Betsy Ross Flag. To this day, the actual maker of this flag remains unknown. This almost
casually constructed national emblem incorporated the unchanging design of thirteen stripes
with a thirteen-star union. Although this claim is seriously in doubt, Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia
seamstress, is said to have made the first American flag. This claim was first made by William J. Canby, her grandson, in 1870. His claim is based on the signed statements of several persons, including Betsy Ross’ daughters, nieces and granddaughters. Historical records do show that she made flags for the government in 1777, but there is no proof she made the first flag. The second claim as the maker of the first flag was by Congressman Francis Hopkinson. Shortly after the adoption of the first flag by Congress in 1777, Hopkinson came forward and asserted that he was the maker of the original flag. This claim is unsubstantiated by historical records, and so the real maker of the flag will probably always remain in doubt. It’s unfortunate, for this design has remained unchanged for almost 200 years.
1795-1818
In 1791, Vermont was admitted to the Union and the following year Kentucky was also admitted.
By 1974, it became apparent to Congress that the country needed a new flag. Congress decided
to change the basic structure of the flag and add not only two more stars, but two more stripes.
The 15-stripe flag was ordered flown after May 1, 1795. This 15-star flag was flown during the
War of 1812 and during the United States’ war with the Barbary States. It was this flag that
inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “Star-Spangled Banner.” It also inspired a heated debate
in the Congress over the change from 13 to 15 stripes in the banner. Between 1795 and 1818,
five new states were admitted to the Union and a new flag was needed. A navy captain
redesigned the flag and returned to the 13 original stripes, but added a star for each new state.
Finally, the idea was accepted by Congress because it was easier to change the stars than the
stripes. Congress adopted this idea and also stipulated that on the July 4th following the admission of a new state, a new star would be flown in the flag to represent the state.
1818
Our third flag saw a return to tradition as Congress decided
to return to the thirteen stripes, but to add a star as each new
state joined the Union. Designed by navy captain Samuel
Reid, this flag was proposed to Congress on April 4, 1818, and
changed back to thirteen stripes. This flag had 20 stars and
became official July 4, 1818. This flag is also called the “Great
Star Flag” because the 20 stars were sometimes arranged to
form a star.
1819
The 21st star in the flag represented the admission of the
state of Illinois on December 3, 1818. The Northwest Territory
was rapidly becoming settled and four new states would be
carved out of this section of the country. 1818 was also the
year that the United States-Canada boundary dispute was
settled, making it the longest open border in the world.
1820
The hot issue of the day was whether the nation could keep
the balance between free and slave states. Alabama was
admitted in 1819, giving the country an equal number of
both. But in 1820, Maine was admitted as a free state, thus
tipping the numbers in favor of the free states. In 1820, our
fifth flag appeared with 23 stars in the Union.
1822
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 would settle the question
of slaves states versus free for 30 years. No state would be
admitted to the Union as a slave state above the line 36°-30’
in the new Louisiana Purchase. Another tenet of the
Compromise was that Missouri would be admitted as the
24th state and take its place alongside the slave states.
1836
During the last months of President Andrew Jackson’s administration,
Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th
state. On July 4, 1836, a new flag was flown over the country
bearing 25 stars. In the same year, Texas became an independent
nation.
1837
Michigan, since the days of the Revolutionary War, had been
a favorite spot for fur trappers and traders. The Erie Canal,
recently opened, allowed travelers and pioneers to move
from Albany, New York to Lake Erie. This massive wave of
pioneers brought about a growth in Michigan that enabled
it to be admitted as the 26th state. In addition, Michigan was
given the upper peninsula for giving up land claims in Ohio.
1845
Florida, admitted to the Union as the 27th state in 1845,
completed the present Atlantic seaboard of the United
States. Florida had been purchased from Spain in 1819 after
having been a part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years. The
southern expansion of the United States was now complete
and the nation turned its attention to pushing back western
frontiers.
1846
Texas had once been an integral part of the Spanish domain
on the North American continent. Spain controlled Texas for
nearly 300 years until 1821. In 1836, Texas declared its
independence from Mexico and became an independent
nation. In 1845, President James K. Polk admitted Texas as the
28th state. This action directly led to war with Mexico and
thus fixed the southern boundary of Texas as the Rio Grande.
1847
In late 1846, the Midwest gave birth to another state - Iowa.
Once a part of the Louisiana Purchase, Iowa was admitted to
the Union as a free state to become the first free state to
come from that purchase. An uprising by the Sioux Indian
Nation plagued Iowans during their early years of statehood.
1848
Wisconsin preserved the balance that was precariously being
kept between free and slave states when admitted to the
Union in 1848. There were 15 free and 15 slave states in 1848.
During the drive for statehood, the Ripon Convention was
held, later to be claimed as the beginnings of the Republican
Party.
1851
In 1848, the discovery of gold in the American River at Sutter’s
Mill, CA, touched off the “Gold Rush” of 1849. This set into
motion a tide of settlers. Previously in 1846, a small group of
Americans had proclaimed California independent from
Mexico. The need for immediate government organization
led to the admission of California as the 31st state in 1850.
1858
In 1851, by the Treaty of Mendota, the Indians gave up all
claims to land in Minnesota and throngs of settlers swarmed
into the territory. There were enough people in the state to
grant admission to the Union and Minnesota became our
32nd state on May 11th of that year.
1859
During James K. Polk’s presidential campaign, the issue was
the Oregon Territory. “Fifty-four forty or Fight” was the
slogan. Statehood for Oregon would mean the consolidation
of the Pacific coastline as members of the United States. In
1859, Oregon became the 33rd state in the Union. Our 15th
flag was raised that year.
1861
January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as the
34th state. Kansas had been a state for less than three months
when the nation went to war. On April 12, 1861, Confederate
batteries opened fire on Ft. Sumter and four years of a bitter
civil war battle were fought. This flag was carried into battle
by Union troops until 1863. It carried 34 stars.
1863
As Virginia decided to throw its lot in with the new
Confederacy, several northwestern counties of the state
decided to remain loyal to the Union. The result was the
formation of a new state, West Virginia, marking the first
time a new state has resulted from a rebellion against the
original state. This fledgling was admitted as the 35th state,
June 20, 1863.
1865
The Confederate States of America were in their last hours
when Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th state.
Because the war was ending with the victory of the Union,
little jubilation went up for the admittance of Nevada. Little
notice was paid to the fact that this flag bore 36 stars when
it was raised in 1865.
1867
Nebraska applied for admission into the nation as the
Reconstruction era opened in American history. A bitter
struggle developed between President Andrew Johnson and
Congress. President Johnson vetoed the bill making Nebraska
the 37th state, but Congress overrode the veto. Nebraska
became the 37th state in 1867 and the 37th star on our flag.
1877
Gold was discovered in the Colorado Territory in 1858
bringing in thousands of new settlers. Hostile Indians and the
extremely hard terrain of the country did not deter the new
pioneers. With them, they brought the determination to
become a state and in 1876, Colorado was admitted as the
38th state.
1890
With the admission of North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana, Washington and Idaho in 1889-90, five new stars
were added to our flag. These states were the last of the
northwest territories to become states and completed the
expansion of the country along the Canadian border.
Completion of railroads speeded the growth of these states.
1891
The twenty-first flag was obsolete six days after it was raised.
On July 10, 1890, Wyoming was admitted to the Union as the
44th state. Wyoming had become a territory in 1845 when
Texas was annexed to the United States and relinquished its
claim to this area. On July 4th, 1891, the twenty-second flag
was raised with 44 stars.
1896
Utah became a territory of the United States in 1848. Its first
constitution was established in 1849 as the Mormon state of
the Deseret. Congress changed the name to Utah in 1850,
and a running argument began between Utah and the U.S.
Congress over the question of polygamy. In 1890, the
Mormon Church outlawed this practice and in 1896, Utah
became the 45th state.
1908
The Indian Territory of Oklahoma was opened to settlers in
1889 and resulted in the first Oklahoma land run. Thousands
of settlers, farmers, ranchers and pioneers rushed into the
new territory to begin a new life. This migration resulted in
the admission of Oklahoma to the Union on November 16,
1907, as the 46th state.
1912
In 1912, New Mexico and Arizona were the 47th and 48th
continental states admitted into the union. The 48-star flag
came into existence in that year and lasted for 47 years,
longer than any other US flag. Under this banner we fought
World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
1959
On July 7, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the
bill making Alaska the 49th state of the Union. The admission
of Alaska marked the first time a state had been admitted
that had not been in the continental United States. Secretary
of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7
million, or two cents an acre. Alaska became the 49th star.
1960
At Hawaii’s request in 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the
United States. In 1903, the territorial legislature petitioned
Congress for admission to the Union, but was denied. Not
much was thought of Hawaii until the bombing of Pearl
Harbor when Americans realized what an integral part of the
U.S. Hawaii was. On March 18, 1959, Hawaii became our 50th
state and the last star in the flag.
Respect for the Flag
• The flag should always be carried upright, aloft and free.
• The flag should be displayed high above and free of anything
beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise.
• The flag should always be allowed to fall freely. Use bunting - not
the U.S. flag - to drape, festoon, draw back or hang in folds as
decoration. Bunting of blue, white and red - always arranged with
the blue above, the white in the middle and the red below - should
be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the
platform and so on.
• The flag should be treated with respect. Protect it from being
easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way when fastening,
displaying or storing it.
• All parts of the flag should be kept completely free of markings,
insignias, letters, words, figures, designs, pictures or drawings of
any nature not inherent in its creation.
• The flag should not be used as an informal covering for a ceiling.
What the Flag means:
A flag, an inanimate object made of stitched cloth, means as
much as people will let it mean. Through two centuries of
American heritage, our national flag has come to stand
for the people, the ideas, the government, and
national honor and glory of the United States.
Our flag has endured through many years of
hardship and toil. It is known and respected
throughout the world. It has come to be the
beacon of democracy, freedom, liberty and
justice, and it is to this banner the countless
millions came from all over the
world in their search for political and
religious freedom.
Perhaps the modern American
has come to take for granted
the proud Stars and Stripes.
Perhaps the notion that our
flag means nothing more than
apple pie and the Fourth of July
has been allowed to live too
long. Let us not forget that this
flag was born of blood and has
been preserved by blood. This
flag is the symbol of liberty
and the cost of liberty is dear
indeed.
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