| It was on January 1, 1776 that the | | | | there is no assurance of who actually |
| Continental army was restructured and | | | | designed and made this flag. It is said that |
| adjusted according to a Congressional | | | | it was Francis Hopkinson, a Continental |
| resolution which heralded American forces to | | | | Congress member, designed the flag. |
| the command of George Washington. On that | | | | |
| day, the American Continental Army was | | | | However, between 1777 and 1960, the Congress |
| blockading Boston which had been taken over | | | | implemented procedures that varied its shape, |
| by the British army. It has been said that | | | | design and structure of the flag. And it was |
| the first American flag was made in May of | | | | decided that there was a need for additional |
| 1776 by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress | | | | starts to represent all the states of |
| who was actually a friend of George | | | | America. It was on January 3, 1959 that |
| Washington and acquainted with other | | | | President Eisenhower issued an executive |
| prominent and high-ranking Philadelphians. | | | | order which states that the arrangement of |
| | | | the stars should be in six horizontal rows of |
| Ross suggested that the five-pointed star be | | | | eight, each single point of every star |
| used instead of the star with six points. | | | | directed upward. In 1791 and 1792, after |
| This is because the five-pointed star can be | | | | Kentucky and Vermont were added to the Union, |
| cut off easily with a few trims of the | | | | two stars and two stripes were added during |
| scissors. It is also said that Betsy Ross was | | | | 1795. |
| the one who made the flags for the | | | | |
| Pennsylvanian navy. However, the first | | | | This brought inspiration to lawyer Francis |
| unofficial flag of America was called the | | | | Scott Key to write and compose a poem which |
| Grand Union Flag, also known as the | | | | later became the U.S. National Anthem. It was |
| Continental Colors. It was raised at the | | | | in 1818 that five more states had been added |
| order and command of General Washington close | | | | and declared and the Congress decided to pass |
| to his headquarters outside Boston January 1, | | | | legislation that fixes the number of stars |
| 1776. This first unofficial flag was composed | | | | and stripes. The stars would have equal |
| of thirteen alternating white and red | | | | numbers as the states. On July 4, 1960, the |
| horizontal stripes, with the British Union | | | | last new star was added after Hawaii became a |
| Flag in the canton. However, the first | | | | state, which gives a total number of fifty |
| official American flag was accepted by the | | | | stars. The American Flag has been the emblem |
| Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. This | | | | of the nation's power and harmony for more |
| flag was also known as the Stars and Stripes | | | | than 200 years. It serves as the binding |
| for it consisted of 13 stars which | | | | material that brings millions of citizens |
| represented the first 13 colonies. However, | | | | together in attaining one goal. |