History of the American Flag

See how we grew

Our American Flag

110/16/2011Flag History

Betsy Ross Flag1776LegendBetsy Ross was visited by a committee of the Continental CongressCommissioned to make a new American FlagNever verifiedFactBetsy Ross was a flag-makerDesigned flags for the Navyhttp://www.usflag.org/history/betsyrossflag.html210/16/2011Flag HistoryOn June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag First official American Flag1777 - 1818

http://www.usflag.org/history310/16/2011Flag HistoryCongressional Acts Act of January 13, 1794Act of April 4, 1818Executive Order of President Taft, June 24, 1912Executive Order of President Eisenhower, January 3, 1958Executive Order of President Eisenhower, August 21, 1959

http://www.usflag.org/history410/16/2011Flag HistoryCongressional Acts

http://www.usflag.org/history510/16/2011Flag HistoryAct of January 13, 1794Fifteen stripesFifteen stars

Implemented after May 1795

http://www.usflag.org/history610/16/2011Flag HistoryAct of April 4, 1818 Thirteen stripesOne star for every state

http://www.usflag.org/historyImplemented every July 4th

710/16/2011Flag HistoryExecutive Order of President Taft June 24, 1912Stars in six horizontal rows of eight each Single point of each star to be upward

http://www.usflag.org/history810/16/2011Flag HistoryExecutive Order of President EisenhowerJanuary 3, 1959Stars in seven rows of sevenStaggered horizontally and vertically

http://www.usflag.org/history910/16/2011Flag HistoryExecutive Order of President EisenhowerAugust 21, 1959Stars in nine rows staggered horizontallyStars in eleven rows staggered vertically

http://www.usflag.org/history1010/16/2011Flag HistoryOur Current Flag

Thirteen horizontal stripesSeven RedSix WhiteRepresent the Original Thirteen Colonies

Fifty white stars on blue backgroundRepresent the current fifty stateshttp://www.usflag.org/history1110/16/2011Flag HistoryRed, White, Blue

1210/16/2011Flag HistoryFly it proudly.

1310/16/2011Flag History