Number of Stars in the American Flag The Number of Stars in the American Flag When two new States were admitted to the Union (Kentucky and Vermont ), a resolution was adopted in January of 1794, expanding the flag to 15 stars and 15 stripes. This flag was the official flag of our country from 1795 to 1818, and was prominent in many historic events. It inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the bombardment of Fort McHenry; it was the first flag to be flown over a fortress of the Old World when American Marine and Naval forces raised it above the pirate stronghold in Tripoli on April 27, 1805; it was the ensign of American forces in the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 1813; and it was flown by General Jackson in New Orleans in January of 1815. However, realizing that the flag would become unwieldy with a stripe for each new State, Capt. Samuel C.

Reid, USN, suggested to Congress that the stripes remain 13 in number to represent the Thirteen Colonies, and that a star be added to the blue field for each new State coming into the Union. Accordingly, on April 4, 1818, President Monroe accepted a bill requiring that the flag of the United States have a union of 20 stars, white on a blue field, and that upon admission of each new State into the Union one star be added to the union of the flag on the fourth of July following its date of admission. The 13 alternating red and white stripes would remain unchanged. This act succeeded in prescribing the basic design of the flag, while assuring that the growth of the nation would be properly symbolized. Eventually, the growth of the country resulted in a flag with 48 stars upon the admission of Arizona and New Mexico in 1912. Alaska added a 49th in 1959, and Hawaii a 50th star in 1960. With the 50-star flag came a new design and arrangement of the stars in the union, a requirement met by President Eisenhower in Executive Order No.

10834, issued August 21, 1959. To conform with this, a national banner with 50 stars became the official flag of the United States. The flag was raised for the first time at 12:01 a.m. on July 4, 1960, at the Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland. Traditionally a symbol of liberty, the American flag has carried the message of freedom to many parts of the world. Sometimes the same flag that was flying at a crucial moment in our history has been flown again in another place to symbolize continuity in our struggles for the cause of liberty. One of the most memorable is the flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked . This same flag was raised again on December 8 when war was declared on Japan, and three days later at the time of the declaration of war against Germany and Italy. President Roosevelt called it the "flag of liberation" and carried it with him to the Casablanca Conference and on other historic occasions. It flew from the mast of the U.S.S.

Missouri during the formal Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. The Stars and Stripes has become a symbol of sovereignty. The writer Henry Ward Beecher said: A thoughtful mind when it sees a nation's flag, sees not the flag, but the nation itself. And whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag, the government, the principles, the truths, the history that belongs to the nation that sets it forth. The American flag has been a symbol of Liberty and men rejoiced in it. The stars upon it were like the bright morning stars of God, and the stripes upon it were beams of morning light. As at early dawn the stars shine forth even while it grows light, and then as the sun advances that light breaks into banks and streaming lines of color, the glowing red and intense white striving together, and ribbing the horizon with bars effulgent, so, on the American flag, stars and beams of many-colored light shine out together ...." National Symbol: The Flag The Flag The U.S. flag has undergone many changes since the first official flag of 1777.

On June 14, 1777 , the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, which said that the flag would be made up of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Stars have been added to the flag as new states join the union. Currently, the flag contains 50 stars. Ever wonder why the flag is red, white, and blue? While the flag's colors did not have a specific meaning at the time, the colors were significant for the Great Seal of 1782. White: Signifies purity and innocence Red: Signifies valor and bravery Blue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justice Why stars and stripes? Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun. Facts About the U.S. Flag How many stars and stripes are on the flag? There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13 original states.

Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico. The United States Flag The United States Flag Every country has a national flag. The United States has a flag. The American flag has three colors. It has a blue square in the corner. There are 50 white stars in the blue square. It has red and white stripes. There are 13 stripes. Today there are 50 states, so the American flag has 50 stars for the 50 states. Choose the correct answer for the questions below: 1. Does the United States flag have three colors? Official U.S. Flags1777 - 1960 Thirteen Star U.S.

Flag, 1777 ~ 1795 The First Official United States Flag: This 13 star Flag became the Official United States Flag on June 14th, 1777 and is the result of Congressional action that took place on that date. Much evidence exists pointing to Congressman Francis Hopkinson as the person responsible for its design.The only President to serve under this flag was George Washington (1789-1797). This Flag was to last for a period of 18 years, until April 30th, 1795. Each star and stripe represented a Colony of which there were thirteen, united nearly one year earlier by the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen Colonies are listed below with the date that each ratified the Constitution and became a State. (1st) Delaware, December 7th, 1787. (2nd) Pennsylvania, December 12th,1787. (3rd) New Jersey, December 18th, 1787. (4th) Georgia, January 2nd, 1788. (5th) Connecticut, January 9th, 1788.

(6th) Massachusetts, February 6th, 1788. (7th) Maryland, April 28th, 1788. (8th) South Carolina, May 23rd, 1788. (9th) New Hampshire, June 21st, 1788. (10th) Virginia, June 25th, 1788. (11th) New York, July 25th, 1788. (12th) North Carolina, November 21st, 1789. (13th) Rhode Island, May 29th, 1790. Select your 13 Star Flag size here. Fifteen Star U.S. Flag, 1795 ~ 1818 This 15 star, 15 stripe Flag was authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, and became the Official United States Flag on May 1st, 1795.

Two stripes and two Stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792) and was to last for 23 years, until April 12th, 1818. This flag is the only U.S. Flag to have more than 13 stripes. During the bombardment of Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired by the sight of this Flag flying over the Fort to write the song which became known as "The Star Spangled Banner", now our national anthem. The 15 Star Flag is, itself, affectionately known by the same name. The five Presidents who served under this flag were; George Washington (1789-1797), John Adams (1797-1801), Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), James Madison (1809-1817), and James Monroe (1817-1825). Select your 15 Star Flag size here.

Twenty Star U.S. Flag, 1818 ~ 1819 The 1818 Flag of 20 Stars : Realizing that the addition of a new star and new stripe for each new State was impractical, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818 which returned the Flag design to 13 stripes and specified 20 stars for the 20 states. This Flag became the Official United States Flag on April 13th, 1818. Five stars were added for the admission of Tennessee (the 16th State on June 1st, 1796), Ohio (the 17th State on March 1st, 1803), Louisiana (the 18th State on April 30th, 1812), Indiana (the 19th State on December 11th, 1816), and Mississippi (the 20th State on December 10, 1817), and was to last for just one year until July 4th,1819.

The only President to serve under this flag was James Monroe (1817-1825). Select your 20 Star Flag size here. Twenty One Star U.S. Flag, 1819 ~ 1820 The 21 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th,1819. A star was added for the admission of Illinois (December 3rd, 1818) and was to last for just one year. The only President to serve under this flag was James Monroe (1817-1825). Select your 21 Star Flag size here. Twenty Three Star U.S. Flag, 1820 ~ 1822 The 23 star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1820. Two stars were added for the admission of Alabama (the 22nd state on December 14th, 1819) and Maine (the 23rd state on March 15, 1820) and was to last for 2 years.

The only President to serve under this flag was James Monroe (1817-1825). Select your 23 Star Flag size here. Twenty Four Star U.S. Flag, 1822 ~ 1836 The 24 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th,1822. A star was added for the admission of Missouri (August 10th, 1821) and was to last for fourteen years. The Presidents who served under this flag included James Monroe (1817-1825), John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), and Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). Select your 24 Star Flag size here. Twenty Five Star U.S. Flag, 1836 ~ 1837 The 25 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1836. A star was added for the admission of Arkansas (June 15th, 1836) and was to last for just one year.

The two Presidents to serve under this flag were Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) and Martin Van Buren (1837-1841). Select your 25 Star Flag size here. Twenty Six Star U.S. Flag, 1837 ~ 1845 The 26 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1837. A star was added for the admission of Michigan (January 26th,1837) and was to last for 8 years. The four Presidents to serve under this flag were; Martin Van Buren (1837-1841), William Henry Harrison (1841), John Tyler (1841-1845), and James Polk (1845-1849). Select your 26 Star Flag size here. Twenty Seven Star U.S. Flag, 1845 ~ 1846 The 27 star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1845.

A star was added for the admission of Florida and was to last for only 1 year. The only President to serve under this flag was James Polk (1845-1849). Select your 27 Star Flag size here. Twenty Eight Star U.S. Flag, 1846 ~ 1847 The 28 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1846. A star was added for the admission of Texas (December 29th, 1845) and was to last for only 1 year. The only President to serve under this flag was James Polk (1845-1849). Select your 28 Star Flag size here. Twenty Nine Star U.S. Flag, 1847 ~ 1848 The 29 star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1847. A star was added for the admission of Iowa (December 28th, 1846) and was to last for only 1 year.

The only President to serve under this flag was James Polk (1845-1849). Select your 29 Star Flag size here. Thirty Star U.S. Flag, 1848 ~ 1851 The 30 star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1848. A star was added for the admission of Wisconsin (May 29th, 1848) and was to last for 3 years. The three Presidents to serve under this flag were; James Polk (1845-1849), Zachary Taylor (1849-1850),and Millard Fillmore (1850-1853). Select your 30 Star Flag size here. Thirty One Star U.S. Flag, 1851 ~ 1858 The 31 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th 1851. A star was added for the admission of California (September 9th, 1850) and was to last for seven years.

The three Presidents who served under this flag were; Millard Fillmore (1850-1853), Franklin Pierce (1853-1857), and James Buchanan (1857-1861). Select your 31 Star Flag size here. Thirty Two Star U.S. Flag, 1858 ~ 1859 The 32 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1858. A star was added for the admission of Minnesota (May 11, 1858) and was to last for just one year. The only President to serve under this flag was James Buchanan (1857-1861). Select your 32 Star Flag size here. Thirty Three Star U.S. Flag, 1859 ~ 1861 The 33 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1859. A star was added for the admission of Oregon (February 14, 1859) and was to last for 2 years.

The two Presidents to serve under this flag were James Buchanan (1857-1861) and Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865). Select your 33 Star Flag size here. Thirty Four Star U.S. Flag, 1861 ~ 1863 The 34 Star Flag This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1861. A star was added for the admission of Kansas (January 29th, 1861) and was to last for 2 years. The only President to serve under this flag was Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865). Select your 34 Star Flag size here. Thirty Five Star U.S. Flag, 1863 ~ 1865 The 35 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1863. A star was added for the admission of West Virginia (June 20th, 1863) and was to last for 2 years.

The two Presidents to serve under this flag were Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) and Andrew Johnson (1865-1869). Select your 35 Star Flag size here. Thirty Six Star U.S. Flag, 1865 ~ 1867 The 36 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1865. A star was added for the admission of Nevada (October 31st, 1864) and was to last for 2 years. The only President to serve under this flag was Andrew Johnson (1865-1869). Select your 36 Star Flag size here. Thirty Seven Star U.S. Flag, 1867 ~ 1877 The 37 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th 1867. A star was added for the admission of Nebraska (March 1st,1867) and was to last for ten years.

The three Presidents who served under this flag were; Andrew Johnson (1865-1869), Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877), and Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881). Select your 37 Star Flag size here. Thirty Eight Star U.S. Flag, 1877 ~ 1890 The 38 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1877. A star was added for the admission of Colorado (August 1st 1876) and was to last for 13 years. The five Presidents to serve under this flag were; Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), James A. Garfield (1881), Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885), Grover Cleveland (1885-1889), and Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893). Select your 38 Star Flag size here. Forty Three Star U.S.

Flag, 1890 ~ 1891 The 43 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1890. Five stars were added for the admission of North Dakota (the 39th State on November 2nd,1889), South Dakota (the 40th State on November 2nd,1889), Montana (the 41st State on November 8th,1889), Washington (the 42nd State on November 11th,1889), and Idaho (the 43rd State on July 3rd, 1890) and was to last for just 1 year. The only President to serve under this flag was Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893). Select your 43 Star Flag size here. Forty Four Star U.S. Flag, 1891 ~ 1896 The 44 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1891.

A star was added for the admission of Wyoming (July 10, 1890) and was to last for 5 years. The Presidents to serve under this flag were Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) and Grover Cleveland (1893-1897). Select your 44 Star Flag size here. Forty Five Star U.S. Flag, 1896 ~ 1908 The 45 Star Flag : This Flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1896. A star was added for the admission of Utah on January 4th, 1896, and was to last for 12 years. The Presidents to serve under this flag were Grover Cleveland (1893-1897), William McKinley (1897-1901),and Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909). Select your 45 Star Flag size here. Forty Six Star U.S. Flag, 1908 ~ 1912 The 46 Star Flag : On July 4,1908, the U.S.

flag grew to 46 stars with the addition to the Union of Oklahoma (November 16, 1907). This was the official flag for 4 years. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) and William H. Taft (1909-1913) served as President under the 46 star flag. Select your 46 Star Flag size here. Forty Eight Star U.S. Flag, 1912 ~ 1959 The 48 Star Flag : On July 4,1912, the U.S. flag grew to 48 stars with the addition of New Mexico (January 6th, 1912) and Arizona (February 14, 1912). This flag was official for 47 years, longer than any other flag before it, through two World Wars and the emergence of the United States of America as the leading nation of the world. Eight Presidents served under this flag; William H.

Taft (1909-1913), Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921), Warren Harding (1921-1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929), Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Harry S.Truman (1945-1953), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) Select your 48 Star Flag size here. Forty Nine Star U.S. Flag, 1959 ~ 1960 The 49 Star Flag : On January 3rd,1959, Alaska was formally granted statehood placing the 49th star on our Flag. The 49-Star flag was official for only one year, from July 4th, 1959, until July 4th, 1960.

On July 4th, 1960, our current 50-Star Flag was born, after Hawaii achieved its Statehood on January 3rd, 1959. President Eisenhower was the only President to serve under this flag. Select your 49 Star Flag size here. flag of the United States of America | Britannica.com Flag of the United States of America Written By: See Article History Alternative Titles: Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes national flag consisting of white stars (50 since July 4, 1960) on a blue canton with a field of 13 alternating stripes, 7 red and 6 white. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states of the union, and the 13 stripes stand for the original 13 states. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 10 to 19. Related Topics Betsy Ross After the American Revolution began, the first unofficial national flag—known as the Continental Colours (or, incorrectly, as the Grand Union Flag or the Cambridge Flag)—was hoisted at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (now in Somerville, Mass.) on Jan.

1, 1776; it was raised, it appears, at the behest of Gen. George Washington , whose headquarters were nearby. The flag had 13 horizontal stripes (probably of red and white or of red, white, and blue) and, in the canton, the first version of the British Union Flag ( Union Jack ). It was used at forts and on naval vessels. Another popular early flag, that of the Sons of Liberty , had the 13 stripes only. The various 18th-century “Don’t Tread on Me” flags had only local significance, but in the 20th century such designs were popularized by political protesters. The first official national flag, formally approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, was the Stars and Stripes. The blue canton was to contain 13 stars, but the layout of the stars was left undefined, and several patterns are known.

The designer of the flag, Congressman Francis Hopkinson , may have had a ring of stars in mind to symbolize (in the words of the flag law) “a new constellation.” Today that pattern is popularly known as the “ Betsy Ross flag,” although the claims of her descendants that she made the first Stars and Stripes and that she used the ring pattern are unsubstantiated. Rows of stars (4-5-4 or 3-2-3-2-3) were common, but other variations also existed. The new Stars and Stripes formed part of the military colours carried on Sept. 11, 1777, at the Battle of the Brandywine , perhaps its first such use. Similar Topics flag of the Confederate States of America The Stars and Stripes changed on May 1, 1795, when two more stars and two more stripes were added to reflect the admission to the union of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792).

(One such flag was the 1,260-square-foot [117-square-metre] “Star-Spangled Banner,” made by Mary Pickersgill, that Francis Scott Key saw at Fort McHenry in September 1814, inspiring his patriotic poem .) In 1818, after five more states had been admitted, Congress enacted legislation pertaining to a new flag, requiring that henceforth the number of stripes should remain 13, the number of stars should always match the number of states, and any new star should be added on the July 4 following a state’s admission. This has been the system ever since. In all, from 1777 to 1960 (after the admission of Hawaii in 1959) there were 27 versions of the flag—25 involving changes in the stars only. An executive order of Oct. 29, 1912, standardized the proportions and relative sizes of the elements of the flag; in 1934 the exact shades of colour were standardized. There is no official assignment of meaning or symbolism to the colours of the flag.

However, Charles Thomson , secretary of the Continental Congress, in describing the proposed Great Seal, suggested the following symbolism: “White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue…signifies vigilence, perseverence [sic] & justice.” As with many other national flags, the Stars and Stripes has long been a focus of patriotic sentiment . Millions of children have traditionally recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag at the start of each school day, and the lyrics of the national anthem are also concerned with the flag. Some veterans’ groups have pressured legislators to adopt laws or a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration, but such legislation has been opposed on the grounds that it would infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent During the American Civil War , the Confederate States of America began to use its first flag, the Stars and Bars, on March 5, 1861. Soon after, the first Confederate Battle Flag was also flown. The design of the Stars and Bars varied over the following two years. On May 1, 1863, the Confederacy adopted its first official national flag, often called the Stainless Banner.

A modification of that design was adopted on March 4, 1865, about a month before the end of the war. In the latter part of the 20th century, many groups in the South challenged the practice of flying the Confederate Battle Flag on public buildings, including some state capitols. Proponents of the tradition argued that the flag recalled Southern heritage and wartime sacrifice, whereas opponents saw it as a symbol of racism and slavery, inappropriate for official display. The “Southern Cross” version of the Confederate Battle Flag. The Stainless Banner, first official national flag of the Confederate States of America. The Flag of The United States of America | District of Puerto Rico The Flag of The United States of America American Flag The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original Thirteen Colonies that rebelled against the British crown and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include “the Stars and Stripes”, “Old Glory”, and “the Star-Spangled Banner”. Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the “union”. This part of the national flag can stand alone as a maritime flag called the Union Jack which served as the United States jack on warships from 1777 until 2002. United States warships now display as a jack, the Culpepper Ensign, which is displayed here. The blue canton continues to be used as a jack, however, by various federally-owned vessels, including those of the Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. History of The Flag The flag has been changed 26 times since the new, 13-state union adopted it.

The 48-star version went unchanged for 47 years, the longest time the flag went unmodified until July 4, 2007, when the current 50-star flag broke the record. First Flag At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the United States had no official national flag. The Grand Union Flag, displayed here, has historically been referred to as the “First National Flag”. Although it has never had any official status, it was used throughout the American Revolutionary War by George Washington and formed the basis for the design of the first official United States flag. The origins of the flag’s design are unclear. It closely resembles the British East India Company (BEIC) flag of the same era, and an argument holds that the BEIC flag indeed inspired the design. The BEIC flag could have from 9 to 15 stripes, however, and was not allowed to be flown outside the Indian Ocean.

Another theory holds that the red-and-white stripe and later, stars-and-stripes motif of the flag may have been based on the Washington family coat-of-arms, which consisted of a shield “argent, two bars gules, above, three mullets gules” (a white shield with two red bars below three red stars). This is the design of the flag of the District of Columbia. More likely it was based on a flag of the Sons of Liberty, one of which consisted of 13 red and white alternating horizontal stripes. The Flag Resolution of 1777 On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement for the stars.

The so-called Betsy Ross Flag (with the thirteen stars arranged in a circle), although never an official flag, is the oldest version of any United States flag to appear on any physical relic: it is historically referenced in contemporary battlefield paintings by John Trumbull and Charles Willson Peale, which depict the circular star arrangement. Popular designs at the time were varied and most were individually crafted rather than mass-produced. Given the scant archaeological and written evidence, it is unknown which design was the most popular at that time. The origin of the stars and stripes design is uncertain. A popular story credits Betsy Ross for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch by George Washington who personally commissioned her for the job. No evidence for this theory exists, however, beyond Betsy’s descendants’ much later recollections of what she told her family. Another woman, Rebecca Young, has also been credited as having made the first flag by later generations of her family. Rebecca Young’s daughter was Mary Pickersgill, who made the Star Spangled Banner Flag. Another, more likely, popular theory is that the flag was designed by Congressman Francis Hopkinson.

Hopkinson was the only person to have made such a claim during his own lifetime, when he sent a bill to Congress for his work. Initially, he asked for a “Quarter Cask of the Public Wine” as payment. The payment was not made, however, because it was determined he had already received a salary as a member of Congress, and he was not the only person to have contributed to the design. It should be noted that no one else contested his claim at the time. Later Flag Acts In 1795, the number of stars and stripes was increased from 13 to 15 (to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the union). For a time the flag was not changed when subsequent states were admitted, probably because it was thought that this would cause too much clutter. It was the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” now the National Anthem. On April 4, 1818, an act was passed by Congress at the suggestion of Captain Samuel C.

Reid, United States Navy, in which the flag was changed to have 20 stars, with a new star to be added when each new state was admitted, but the number of stripes would remain at thirteen to honor the original colonies. The act specified that new flag designs should become official on the first July 4 (Independence Day) following admission of one or more new states. Neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed until President Taft’s Executive Order of June 24, 1912, which provided for the arrangements of the stars in horizontal rows. Consequently, flags dating before this period sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, these features being left to the discretion of the flag maker. In general, however, straight rows of stars and proportions similar to those later adopted officially were used. Future of the Flag The United States Army Institute of Heraldry has plans for flags with up to 56 stars, using similar staggered star arrangements should additional states accede. How many stars are on the American flag? | Reference.com How many stars are on the American flag?

A: Quick Answer As of 2014, there are 50 five-pointed stars on the flag of the United States of America, one for each state. The stars represent the stars in the heavens, symbolic of the aspirations of the United States. Full Answer A new white star is added to the blue field every time a new state joins the union. In today's flag, these stars are arranged in nine rows, alternating six and five stars in each row. However, earlier arrangements of the stars varied. The original flag of the United States held a circle of 13 stars, one for each original state. When new states join the United States, the flag is officially changed on July 4 of the year after the state is added. As of 2014, there have been 39 versions of the flag, and almost all of the changes made have been to the star field.

Question: The first flag for the USA had how many stars on it?
Answer: 13