United States (1795-1818)

The 1795 flag of the United States, also called the Star-Spangled Banner, was one of the most famous flags in American history. It was the same design as the current flag of the United States, except that it had fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, instead of the current fifty stars and thirteen stripes. The stars are arranged in a 3 x 3 grid with a 2 x 3 grid in between the other nine stars.
==Symbolism==
The fifteen stars and the fifteen stripes both represent the fifteen states of the United States at the time: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Kentucky.
==The Star-Spangled Banner==
During the American War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was taken as prisoner by a British ship while the nearby Fort McHenry was under attack.  The next morning, Francis was concerned as to whether or not the fort was still under American control. When he saw the American flag being flown over the fort, Francis was deeply moved. He wrote the following poem, called "The Star Spangled Banner", which has since been put to music and made the national anthem of the United States.
NMAH | The Lyrics
==References==
Category:United States historical flags