History of American Flag.
For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our
nation's strength and unity. It's been a source of pride and inspiration
for millions of citizens. And the
American Flag has been a
prominent icon in our national history. Here are the highlights of its
unique past.
On January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized in
accordance with a Congressional resolution which placed American forces
under George Washington's control. On that New Year's Day the
Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been taken over by
the British Army. Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above
his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 alternate red and white stripes and
the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton).
In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American
flag.
On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new
nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved,
That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a
blue field, representing a new Constellation."
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red
alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13
colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of
the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White
symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance,
Perseverance and Justice.
http://www.usa-flag-site.org/history.shtml