The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen horizontal bars, seven red and six white, and blue rectangle in the canton with fifty white stars. The bars represent the thirteen original colonies that gained independence from the UK and the stars to the states forming the Union.
The American flag has been changed 26 times. The version with 48 stars lasted 47 years until the adoption of the 49 stars on July 4, 1959. The mark was beaten by the current 50-star version was adopted on July 4, 1960.
The first flag (“First flag”)
At the time of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 the United States had no official flag. The so-called “First National Flag” was never formalized, was used during the War of Independence of the United States and was the basis for future national flag. That flag is very similar to the flag of the British East India Company’s East and there are those who think that inspired her. The truth is that the first flag used very similar to the CBIA was the Grand Union Flag, also called the Continental Colors, Congress Colors, First Navy Ensign or Cambridge Flag. Such a flag that kept her Union Jack version of the time (ie a Union Jack with the cross of St. George edged in white (symbol of England) on a white cross of St. Andrew on a blue background (the symbol of Scotland) had no status officer, although he was the first emblem of the United States Navy before the formal declaration of independence.
Another theory on the origin of the flag is to be inspired by the coat of arms of George Washington, originally from England. There are several legends about the creation of the first flag, including that attributed to Betsy Ross design, although none has historical accuracy.
On June 14, 1777 the Navy Committee of the Continental Congress adopted a resolution on the flag by establishing that have thirteen alternating red and white bars, and a blue box in the canton white thirteen stars forming a constellation, but not was needed in the first designs the stars were placed in a circle. This resolution was referred to a naval flag, still not a national flag, but then its use spread.
In 1795 the number of stars increased from 13 to 15 as a result of the admission of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the Union. The 15 stars were maintained despite the admission of new states until 1818 when approved by law a 20-star flag with the stipulation that would add one more for each new state to join the Union, and that any new design would take force always on July 4 following admission. The flag has been increasing the number of stars up to the current 50 in 1960 following the admission of Hawaii.
According to the book “Our Flag” of the House of Representatives of the United States, “the red, white and blue had no meaning for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777″ .1 However, on the colors of the Seal of the United States, adopted in 1782, said that “the white color symbolizes her innocence and the red blood and valor, and blue sky, perseverance and justice”. Click here to read more.. »