American Flag History
Today, when the American flag is hoisted, the American people's hearts swell up with pride. It is representative of dignity, patriotism, freedom and equality. People fly the flag with pride in their front yards and just seeing the flag fluttering in the breeze can evoke a sense of pride. After all, the United States is a symbol of freedom and equality to the rest of the world. |
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The American flag history is extremely interesting and the flag that we identify the United States with was not like this in the beginning when the flag was designed. Over the years, the flag has undergone changes. The first flag came into existence on 1 January 1776 and thereafter, it underwent so many changes, until it was finalized on 21 August 1960, as the flag we know today. However, even after so many centuries, there is still a big question mark as to who designed the first American flag. Many names are mentioned when reading through the American flag history and all these names are associated with designing of the flag.
One name that perhaps everyone in the United States knows is that of Elizabeth Griscom Ross. She was an extremely talented seamstress, who has been credited with creating the first American flag ever. When Elizabeth's husband passed away in 1776, she managed to run the upholstery shop on her own. She was known to George Washington, who used to get his clothes mended by her. According to stories, Washington asked Elizabeth to sow the flag in 1776 from the sketch he had supplied her. However, Elizabeth decided to make changes to the design and instead of sowing 6-point stars, she sowed 5-point stars on the flag. While there is sufficient proof to show that Elizabeth was responsible for sowing the flag, but there is doubt whether she designed it or not.
Another name that is associated with American flag history is that of Francis Hopkinson. He was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence and also a Congressman representing New Jersey. Hopkinson wrote a letter in the year 1780 to the Board of Admiralty claiming that he was responsible for designing the flag. During that time even other people claimed that he was the designer, but there is no proof to-date to back that claim.
It was the Congress that was responsible for passing an order that the American flag should have 13 white colored stars on a blue background and 13 red and white stripes. This order was passed on 14 June 1777. The red was symbolic for valor and bravery, while the white was representative of innocence and purity. The stars represented heaven and the stripes were symbolic of sun rays, or dawn of a new beginning. The 13 stars were included for the first 13 states that came together to form the United States. These states were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
Two additional stars were added on to the American flag in 1795 when Kentucky and Vermont joined the United States. This was also the year when the flag made by Mary Pickersgill was flown on Fort Henry. By the year 1818, the American flag had 20 stars with Tennessee, Louisiana, Ohio, Mississippi and Indiana joining; and the US Congress altered the number of the stripes on the flag to 13. One more star was added in 1819 with Illinois joining; and the number of stars rose to 23 in 1820 when Maine and Alabama joined. Thereafter, at regular intervals stars kept being added to the American flag as more and more states. The last state to become a part of the United States was Hawaii. It gave the flag is final and 50th star when Hawaii became a part of the United States in 1960.
More Articles :
Kyrene: History of the American Flag
http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/flag/history/page1.htm
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