History of the American Flag

Betsy Ross

This flag is named after Elizabeth Griscom Ross

American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives in 1870 for making the first American Flag

This historical pattern has been used as early as 1777 featuring the familiar patterns Americans have come to know and love of the alternating red and white stripes and 13 stars in a blue canton.

The Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812.

A flag is the symbolic representation of a nation and its people.

Modern flags are usually made of some type of cloth, employ a design, and are rectangular in shape, although other shapes are found. 

The part of a flag that is attached to the staff is called the hoist (height of the flag) and the length of the flag is called the fly. 

The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen horizontal stripes

Seven red and six white, in alternate arrangement starting and ending with a red stripe.

It has fifty white five-pointed stars on a blue field--called the union (or canton) -located in the upper quarter next to the staff.

The stars are arranged in five rows of six stars alternating with four rows of five stars

Last row has 6 stars

The fifty-star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960

The flag-the Stars and stripes-as we know it today has undergone several changes.

It originated during the Revolutionary War

But not used during the war

Many of the colonies devised their own flags and many local areas and certain commanders improvised their own hasty standards (flags)

It is possible that the design adopted was based on certain features of existing flags like the Cambridge flag or the first Navy Jack, both of which incorporated the idea of thirteen alternate red and white stripes to represent the thirteen colonies

The historic date for the origin of the flag is June 14, 1777. On that day, the Continental Congress in a resolution declared, "that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation." 

In 1818 an act was passed which fixed the symbolism of the American flag

The third act provided that there were to be thirteen horizontal stripes alternate red and white to represent the founding colonies and a star for a state

It required that the flag union consist of twenty stars (one for each state at that time), and that for the future, a star be added to the flag union for every new state admitted.

The effective date for the addition of a new star was to be the fourth of July following the admission of the state.

From 13 to stars to 50

The forty-eight-star arrangement of six horizontal by eight vertical rows was used since 1912 when New Mexico and Arizona became the forty-seventh and forty-eighth states respectively.

The entry of Alaska resulted in the forty-nine-star flag of seven staggered rows of seven stars each which lasted from July 4, 1959 to July 4, 1960. Hawaii has resulted in the present arrangement. 

The exact arrangement of the stars in the flag union is determined by Presidential order.

The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress

The Flag should never touch the ground

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery

The flag should be handled with care

The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing

State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. 

Those present in uniform should render the military salute.