Fourth of July |
American Flags - USA Flag History |
July Fourth |
|
|
|
|
| USA Flag History - July 4th |
The Flag of the United States of America, USA, went through many changes during it's first 180 years but has not changed in the last 50 years.
While the no one is 100% sure who designed or made the first US Flag, credit on the design is given to Congressman Francis Hopkinson and the first one made to Betsy Ross a Philadelphia seamstress.
Below we review facts and dates of imporatant changes in American Flag history.
|
History of USA Flag |
The design of the first American flag appears to be based upon the Grand Union Flag. This flag had 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner.
The first American flag had a similar 13 alternate red and white stripes, however the British Union Jack was replaced by 13 white stars on a blue background which represented a new Constellation.
Between 1777 and 1960 Congress passed several acts that changed the design of the flag that allowed for additional stars and sometimes stripes to be added or removed to the American Flag.
One interesting fact was that for almost 140 years there was no set proportion, order or size for the US Flag. Meaning that individual flag makers could have unique proportions or sizes. This was corrected in 1912 when the US Flag was standardized.
Acts or Executive Orders that changed the American Flag
- 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.
Todays American Flag
13 Horizontal Stripes which represent the 13 original colonies
There are 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes that alternative - starting with a red stripe
There are 50 White Stars which represent each state in the Union
The colors of the US Flag represent:
Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor
White symbolizes Purity and Innocence
Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice
|
|
|
|
