Stars and Stripes, Star-Spangled Banner, and Old Glory, all are names for the flag of the United States of America. But how much do you really know about your nation’s flag?

The History

On June 14, 1777, the United States of America’s Continental Congress adopted the new country’s first official flag, the Stars and Stripes. Up to that point, each colony had continued to fly its own flag. But England hanged as pirates the crews of captured armed ships flying these individual state flags rather than treating them as a sovereign country’s soldiers.

Initially, this new flag had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. Upon Vermont and Kentucky’s admittance to the Union, President George Washington signed the U.S. Flag Act of 1794, increasing the number of both stars and stripes to fifteen. Three more states (Tennessee, Ohio, and Louisiana) joined by 1812, but the number of stars and stripes didn’t change. The process of adding more each time a new state joined was impractical and led to the Flag Act of 1818.

Upon the suggestion of U.S. Naval Captain Samuel C. Reid, the 1818 Flag Act set the number of stripes at thirteen, representing each of the original colonies, but allowed the addition of a star for each new state. All future star-addition changes would take effect and become official each year on July 4.

Did You Know…

• Betsy Ross did make flags for the Navy, but there is no real evidence she sewed the first flag.
• During the War of 1812, although there were eighteen states in the Union, the flag Francis Scott Key watched fly over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment had only fifteen stars and stripes. Because Key wrote what was to become the country’s national anthem that night, this flag became known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag. This flag was the only one with more than thirteen stripes.

The Colors

When the initial flag was adopted in 1777, the chosen red, white, and blue colors had no specific symbolism or significance. However, in 1782, when the Secretary of the Continental Congress presented a proposed U.S. seal, he explained the colors should come from the U.S. flag with White signifying purity and innocence, Red indicating hardiness and valor, and Blue denoting vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Years later, in 1986, President Ronald Regan interpreted the flag’s colors as Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice, White for pure intentions and high ideals, and Blue for vigilance and justice.

The Civil War

Until 1861, the American flag represented either a military standard or a way to mark American territory. It rarely appeared outside of forts or embassies. During the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the 1847 War with Mexcio, the flag couldn’t even be carried into battle.

This all changed with the surrender of Fort Sumter. The departing Union troops took the Fort Sumter Flag with them. As they carried it through northern cities, it spurred a surge of “Flagmania.” The American people, who’d not given a thought to the Stars and Stripes before then, now identified the flag with the Union. Sales of this “new” symbol surged, and army regulations against carrying it into battle were rescinded. For the first time in America’s history, the abstract concept of the Union transformed into a physical thing. The flag wasn’t just strips of colorful cloth; it represented something people would not only fight for but die for.

Did You Know…

• Though many urged him to do it, President Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t remove from the flag the stars of the states which had seceded. He believed that would give the Confederate States legitimacy.
• Mass production of American flags began in 1861. Manufacturers couldn’t keep up with demand.
• The Old Glory Flag, made in 1824 and gifted to Sea Captain William Driver by his mother, was flown first on his ship and later at his Nashville home. During the Civil War, he hid it from the Confederates. (Click here to read the Old Glory DYK.)
• Four years after being lowered, the Fort Sumter Flag once again flew over the fort. It was hoisted on April 14, 1865, the same day President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Our Flag

In August 1959, President Eisenhower ordered the current U.S. fifty-star flag. It was adopted in July 1960, and sixty-three years later, in 2023, it is the longest-used flag version to date. Today our flag is still a symbol of liberty and freedom to most people around the world.

Did You Know…

• A federal law called the Flag Code provides guidelines for the flag’s use, display, and disposal.
• The Flag Code prohibits using the flag as apparel, bedding, drapery, or for advertising. However, this code is almost always ignored.
• June 14 is Flag Day, a holiday to remember the adoption on June 14, 1777, of our country’s first official flag.
• The American Flag doesn’t have to be destroyed if it touches the ground. In fact, it can be washed or dry-cleaned to restore it to a display-worthy state.
• Per Army regulations, the U.S. flag patch on Army uniforms appears reversed but symbolizes a forward-advancing flag.
• The U.S. flag never becomes obsolete. Regardless of the number or arrangement of the stars and/or stripes, it can always be displayed.