The Betsy Ross flag, named after a Philadelphia seamstress, is considered the first American flag. It featured 13 white stars arranged in a circle on a blue canton, with 13 red and white stripes representing the original thirteen colonies.
2. The Grand Union Flag (1777-1779)
Also known as the "Continental Colors" or the "Cambridge Flag," the Grand Union Flag included the British Union Jack in the canton along with the thirteen red and white stripes. This flag symbolized America's loyalty to the British monarchy while declaring its independence.
3. The Bennington Flag (1777)
The Bennington flag, primarily associated with the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777, featured 13 white stars in 13 circles to emphasize their equal status. It was one of several variations of the American flag used during the Revolutionary War.
4. The Francis Hopkinson Flag (1777-1795)
Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate, designed a flag with thirteen stars arranged in a circle on a blue canton. Each star was outlined with white to represent the "new constellation of states" in America.
5. The Star-Spangled Banner (1818)
The iconic American flag known as the Star-Spangled Banner was born out of the War of 1812. With 15 stars and 15 stripes representing the 15 states at that time, it was displayed during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 and popularized by Francis Scott Key's poem, which became the national anthem.
6. The 31-Star Flag (1818-1819)
As territories expanded and were admitted to the Union, the American flag kept adding new stars. In 1818, the 31-star flag was adopted to include Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Louisiana.
7. The 48-Star Flag (1912-1959)
The final expansion, prior to the current design, brought the American flag to 48 stars with the inclusion of Arizona and New Mexico in 1912.
8. The 50-Star Flag (1959-Present)
On July 4, 1959, Hawaii's admission to the Union officially changed the American flag to its current 50-star design. The last star was added to represent Alaska's admission in 1959.
In summary, the American flag has evolved throughout history to reflect the growth, independence, and unity of the United States, adding new stars to symbolize each state's admission to the Union.
