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.

The History of our 13 Star Flag BLUE, the color of the Chief*, signifies vigilance, perseverance & Justice." (*The Chief is the blue band at the top of the shield.) If you were with us in the Birth of A Nation exhibit, you remember how we learned that the leaders of the American revolution felt that their actions were somehow predestined by some higher power, that they not only had the right to declare independence from England but a destiny to do so. This thinking led them to represent the 13 colonies by inserting stars in the field of blue, one star for each of the colonies. They considered the union of these 13 individual "states" somewhat like a constellation in the heavens...several different stars arranged together to create a picture in the universe. The picture the stars created in the field of blue was strictly symbolic, however. The Congressional resolution establishing a flag of 13 red and white stripes and 13 stars in a field of blue did not establish HOW the stars should be arranged, or even how many points each star would have. For this reason the earliest United States flags had a variety of designs.

On some, the "new constellation" was represented by 6-pointed stars, others by 5-pointed stars. Most historians believe that Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey was largely responsible for not only the earlier Grand Union Flag, but that he was also responsible for the stars in the new flag. At the time the resolution was approved for the new flag, Mr. Hopkinson was Chairman of the Continental Navy Board's Middle Department. (Mr. Hopkinson was also instrumental in the design for the seal of our Nation.) The first Navy Stars and Stripes flag displayed the 13 stars in alternating rows of three and two. That is the flag you see at the top of this page. The Betsy Ross Flag Of course, most of us remember the story of Betsy Ross and quickly recognize the "Betsy Ross Flag" with the stars in a circle. Betsy Ross made flags for the United States for 50 years. During the American Revolution she made flags for the Pennsylvania State Navy as well as other military units. The "Betsy Ross Flag" as seen here, however, did not appear until the early 1790s, and there is no solid evidence to support claims that Betsy Ross created the first stars and stripes.

Thus it was that the earliest Colonial armies served under a variety of differently designed flags. On some the stars were displayed in rows of 4-5-4, on others the stars seemed to be scattered in the field of blue without any sense of order. The Third Maryland Regiment was reported to have first used a flag similar to the one here as early as 1777. We do know that such a flag, with a circle of 12 stars and one star in the center, was present as early as January 17, 1781 at the Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina. The original flag from that battle, with the stars arranged as seen here, now hangs in the Maryland State House.

"We take the stars from Heaven, the red from out mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty." George Washington The Bennington Flag While many historians today believe that the distinctive BENNINGTON FLAG may have been made for the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1826, there is strong evidence to indicate a flag similar to this was present on August 16, 1777 when General John Stark and his "Green Mountain Boys" defeated the 600 German mercenaries at Bennington, Vermont. (You can see the flag of the Green Mountain Boys in our archives.) This flag is sometimes referred to also as the "Fillmore Flag". Nathan Fillmore took such a flag home from the battle of Bennington, where it was passed on through several generations of Fillmore's, including President Millard Fillmore. The Fillmore flag is now on display at the Bennington Museum in Vermont. The "Stars and Stripes" in its various forms inspired a generation through a five year struggle for independence.

Since 1776 no generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom...and more than ONE MILLION American's have died in defense of all our flag stands for. The "new constellation" envisioned by the Second Continental Congress in their resolution of June 14, 1777 found design in a new flag. Unlike celestial constellations however, this new constellation was capable of growth...giving way to The Star Spangled Banner History of the Stars and Stripes (U.S.) This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website History of the Stars and Stripes (U.S.) United States of America Number of points on the stars Six, seven, eight pointed stars were nearly as common as five pointed stars prior to the end of the 18th century. The number of points on the stars was never specified by Congress. Dave Martucci, 8 January 1998 George Washington's HQ flag of blue had six pointed stars on it. Is it correct then to assume that the 5 pointed star came about in U.S. flag history as another way to separate the country from Europe with their more numerous pointed stars?

It is also interesting to note that some Confederate flags of the Civil War had six pointed - and some even more - stars on them. The flag makers seemed to do so as a proper nod to heraldry. Greg Biggs, 8 January 1998 Arrangements of the stars The 1973 book The Stars and the Stripes by Mastai [mas73] illustrates many of the variations in star patterns of U.S. flags that were made during the 19th century (circles, rows, great stars, etc). There was no law specifying the arrangement of stars until 1912. Nick Artimovich, 19 March 1996 As others have said, the pattern of stars was not established until 1912. The military services, however, did indeed establish regular patterns as early as 1818, but these were not binding on the public. Stars in rows were, of course, a very common design for commercially manufactured flags as it was simple to produce. Until the 1870s and '80s, the stars were sewn on (or "in") by hand, even if the stripes were machine sewn.

It was not unusual to see home made flags, even mass produced flags, with the stars arranged in patterns such as these: all stars in two concentric circles or ovals most stars in concentric circles or ovals with a few stars inside or outside of these circles, all stars in a box with a space or two in the center for more stars arranged to form one large five-pointed star stars arranged in a "diamond" shape stars arranged like a flower ( just a really rounded star) any of the above arrangements with one much larger central star "brackets" or "parentheses" of stars at either side of the canton with the remaining stars arranged in between. seme, or no pattern at all! The imagination of American flag makers was not limited to the above list, but those are the ones I own or recall seeing. Nick Artimovich, 13 February 1996 Prior to 1912 there was no single "official" pattern. In the period after 1865, it appears that often the Army would have one or more approved patterns. Usually the Navy would have one approved pattern, but not necessarily the same as any used by the army.

The civilian wing of the government appears to have had no authorized pattern, and flag manufacturers were free to use their imaginations. Often flags made for private or non-military government use would arrange stars in a military or naval pattern, but it seems that just as often they developed other patterns. I am finding, it seems, that the star patterns shown on the flags on FOTW are often those used by the US Navy. For example, the 38 star flag , 43 star flag and 45 star flag all match the Navy versions of those flags. With the 45 star flag it appears that the Army and the Navy agreed on the pattern, and every original 45 star flag I have seen, whether of civil or military provenance, matched that pattern. I have not yet found what the authorized Army version for the 43 star flag was. The the 38 star flag is an interesting study. In that case, there were 3 different authorized star patterns, one for Garrison flags, one for Post flags, and a third for Storm and Recruiting flags. Devereaux Cannon, 1 December 2001 Stripes specified As for the U.S.

Flag, it was not really settled officially until 1916 that there would be more red stripes than white ones, and that official act is only binding on the Executive Department and the Military. There are plenty of examples of more white stripes than red ones on old U.S. Flags, although tradition had established the red dominance of the stripes by the mid 19th century. Dave Martucci, 18 February 2000 Legal aspects All versions of the U.S. flags ever used are still legal, as new versions have been authorized, but old versions have never been unauthorized. William M.

Grimes-Wyatt, 21 February 1996 According to President Dwight Eisenhower's Executive Order (#10834, published 25 August, 1959) the 50-Star flag would become the "official flag of the United States on July 4, 1960." The Order also states "All national flags...now in possession of executive agencies...shall be utilized until unserviceable." Earlier, the White House had issued the following statement to the public: "By law, the new 50-star flag will become the official flag of the United States on July 4, 1960, the birthday of the Union. Display of the new flags before that time would be improper. However, it would not be improper to display the 48-star and the 49-star flag after that date; with limited exceptions agencies of the Federal Government will continue to display the 48-star and the 49-star flag so long as they remain in good condition and until existing stocks of unused flags are exhausted.

It is appropriate for all citizens to do the same." (21 August 1959) The answer seems to be that only 50-star flags are "official" but it is appropriate to display earlier examples. A publication sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America states "Historic U.S. flags are due the same honor and respect that are given today's colors. When a historic flag is carried or displayed with a present-day flag, the modern flag takes precedence." These do not appear in the Flag Code nor the Executive Orders covering the flag, but they make sense. Nick Artimovich, 21 February 1996 Miscellaneous star arrangements Throughout the pages linked from this page are displayed a selection of depictions of US flags with varying numbers of stars and stripes. The stars in particular are highly variable in their arrangement, and flags with different star arrangements commonly come on the market in online trading sites like e-Bay. We have attempted to collect many of these - far more than can be shown here.

If you have a scholastic interest in such flags, contact the FOTW director for access to these images - many are accompanied by descriptions (often of uncertain reliability!) United States Flags, American Flags, State Flags, International flags, Country and Sport Teams Flags, Flags Unlimited U.S FLAG HISTORY History of the United States Flag Welcome to the area of our Web site where we will give you a brief history of the United States flag, as well as many other flags used throughout the history of this great country. The current official U.S. flag is a 50 star flag, born of the need for a more practical design to accommodate new states entering the union. On April 4, 1818, Congress established the number of stripes at seven red and six white, and provided the addition of one star for each new state. The thirteen stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The 50 star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960 when Hawaii officially joined the union. In the first years of the Revolutionary War, America fought under many flags. One of these flags, called the Grand Union, flew over George Washington's headquarters near Boston.

It was the first American flag to be officially recognized by another country. On November 16, 1776, the American warship, Andrew Doria, saluted a Dutch fort in the West Indies and was saluted in return. This brought a measure of international recognition to the United Colonies. A flag with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes received its first salute from another country on February 14, 1778, when French vessels in Quiberon Bay, France, saluted John Paul Jones and his ship, "The Ranger." No one positively knows who designed the first Stars and Stripes, or who made the first flag. Soon after the flag was adopted by our new government, Congressman Francis Hopkinson claimed that he had designed it. Some historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first U.S. flag.

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag of the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." Historical United States flags and what they mean: Click on any the flags to go to our shopping area to see the available sizes, prices, and materials in which we offer these historical flags. Old Glory (48 Stars) -WW II On July 4, 1912, the U.S. flag grew to 48 stars. This flag was official for 47 years, through two World Wars and the emergence of the United States of America as the leading nation of the world. No two incidents better reflects the courage and valor of those who fought and died than the raising of the 48 star flag over Mount Suribachi. This dramatic scene occurred on Iwo Jima in 1945 and is replicated forever as a statue near Washington, DC. This flag also flew on all U.S. warships during the battle of Pearl Harbor.

All of the above flags and many other Historical U.S. flags can be purchased at our online store in the historical flags section. History of the American Flag & US Flag History | Drexel Online Contact Our Staff History of the American Flag & US Flag History “Old Glory, Stars and Stripes, the Star Spangled Banner” - From its inception, the American flag has been an important part of our nation’s history. Surviving over 200 years, the flag has both physically and symbolically grown and developed in times of both achievement and crisis. The American flag is a symbol known worldwide. It has been the inspiration for holidays, songs, poems, books, artwork and so much more. The flag has been used to display our nationalism, as well as our rebellion, and everything else in between. The flag is so important that its history tells the story of America itself. It represents the freedom, dignity, and true meaning of being an American. It has been with us through our war times, our sad times, but also in times of our greatest joys and triumphs. The flag went through many variations before becoming the flag we all know and love.

In fact, it took from January 1, 1776 to August 21, 1960. It has also been shrouded in legend and mystery for many years. Did Betsy Ross truly design the first flag? Do the colors really stand for something significant? We will explore this and other myths. Hello, I’m Terry Ruggles, join me as we recount the History of the American Flag. When we think of the American Revolution, we think of it in terms of its final form, as independence from Britain, but the American Revolution was a “work in progress”. It did not start out as a movement for independence, but a movement to gain seats in Parliament. It evolved from a protest, to a full blown revolution into a move for independence…and Our flag reflected the various stages of this. So let’s take a look at the components that make up our current US Flag. We have what’s known as the canton or blue field, the stars, and of course, the stripes. So where did these designs come from? The earliest use of stripes in flags in what was to become America is from the “Sons of Liberty” Flag.

The Son’s of Liberty were the original “Tea Party” members; These are the guys that threw the chests of tea overboard into the Boston Harbour. Starting after the stamp act in 1765. The Sons of Liberty began their protesting. They came up with a flag that looked similar to this only with less stripes. The pattern however was the same and it could be displayed either horizontally or vertically. This may have been the pattern that contributed for the stripes on our flag. In 1775, at the Beginning of the Revolution, Independence had not yet been declared. The Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia when a somewhat obscure militia Colonel from Virginia came forward in his uniform and volunteered to take command of the troops outside of Boston overlooking Boston Heights. That Colonel was George Washington. When he left Philadelphia, he took with him two flags. The Grand Union or The Continental as it was called was the first flag under which continental soldiers fought. It uses the alternating red and white stripe pattern similar to the Sons of Liberty Flag only there are 13 stripes signifying the 13 colonies. However, notice that instead of stars on a blue field, we have the “Kings Colors” also known as the “Union Jack”.

This flag had a very specific meaning. It meant that we were fighting as 13 united colonies but under British Rule. Remember, at this time we had not yet declared our Independence. The other flag that Washington took with him is known as the Washington’s Headquarters Flag. Look familiar? As you can see, the entire field is BLUE. There are 13 stars arranged in a pattern known as the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern. 5 rows of alternating stars of 3 stars, 2 stars, 3 stars, 2 stars, 3 stars. However, you will also notice that they are 6 pointed stars. A slight difference from the 5 pointed star on the current flag. This would be the first use of the star pattern on an American flag and today you can see a copy of this flag hanging in front of Washington’s Headquarters at Valley Forge. A year later, on July 4, 1776, congress declared its independence from Great Britain. From that moment on, we were fighting for our independence. Yet the continental congress still did not design a new American flag.

That flag came about on June 14, 1777 when congress passed the first of three major flag acts . The first act stated that “the flag of the US shall consist of 13 alternating stripes of red on white with 13 white stars on a blue field forming a new constellation. What it left out was the following: Were those stripes to be vertical or horizontal? Where was the blue field to be placed? What was the star pattern to be used? And how many points were to be on the star? So who designed the flag? In 1776 you couldn’t go into a store and buy a flag off the rack. Back then, flags were made in one of two ways. Since most Flags had a naval use, you could go to a ships chandlery - a store that outfitted ships - and the chandler would contract with a sail maker or in many cases an upholsterer to make the flag. An upholster in colonial times had more functions that what we typically think of today. Besides working on furniture, they also made flags and other military equipment. This is where the legend of Betsy Ross comes in to play.

We know that Betsy Ross was an upholsterer who made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy. What we don’t know is did she really design the first flag? There is a great deal of controversy about this. In 1870, Betty Ross’ Grandson was addressing an Historic society in Philadelphia and said that his grandmother told him that she met with George Washington and others and she designed the flag. But did she design it or did Francis Hopkinson design it? Francis Hopkinson was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from the state of New Jersey. The only evidence of who made the flag is a bill that was submitted to congress by Francis Hopkinson that said for designing the flag, you owe me two casks of ale. What we don’t have is a picture of that flag, a written description of the flag, or even a sketch of the flag. So, the mystery remains. Regardless of these facts, the legend lives on and the first flag of the Revolutionary Period is referred to as “The Betsy Ross” flag…the pattern of stars on the blue field is known by three names, The Betsy Ross Pattern, The Philadelphia Pattern, or The Single Wreath Pattern.

The blue field on the flag also goes by three names - the field, the union, or the canton. Because congress did not set the specifics of where the field would be or how the star pattern should look like, or how many points the star would have, during this period, and up until 1912, the stars could be arranged in any manner that a flag maker would choose. When congress put together the notion of the flag, they blended the already established design of alternating stripes of red on white signifying the united colonies and a blue field with 13 stars (just like the Washington’s Headquarters flag). Many people believe this may have been the flag that Francis Hopkins designed, but once again this is only speculation. This pattern is known as the Cowpens pattern. Another well-known flag during this time was the Easton Flag. Interesting design right? But remember, Congress did not specify where all of the elements should be placed. After the Revolutionary War ended, our country wrights a new constitution. We elect Geo Washington president and in 1792 we bring in two new states – Vermont and Kentucky. This begs the question, what do we do with the flag?

Because the original flag act called for 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies, what do we do to signify the adding of two new states to the Union? At this time, Congress passes the 2nd flag act and it states that from now on we would add one stripe and one star for each new state. This new 15 star and 15 stripe flag is known as The Star Spangled Banner. It is this flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem. After the War of 1812 we were adding more states again and as we incorporated more stars and stripes into the design, our flag was starting to look a little funny. So in 1818, Congress passed the 3rd of the three major flag acts. It stated that the design was to go back to the original configuration of 13 alternating stripes of red on white, representing the 13 original colonies, but that we would add one star for each new state. However, once again, it did not specify what pattern the stars should be arranged in or the amount of points that were to be on the star.

So we had many variations of flag design during this time. Finally, in 1912 President Taft established the pattern of stars that we know today. The 48 star, 49 star and 50 star flag all conform to this pattern. Our flag is an inspiring symbol that unites us all as American citizens. The unique history of the American flag follows the history of our country and reminds us of the triumphant beginning of the United States. The 13 stripes: a symbol of the first 13 colonies. The stars: a symbol of our country's 50 United States. As our country grew and developed, so did our flag. It has followed the fate of the country itself and, in the future, our flag may even change again. Today, our flag remains a vibrant symbol of the American principles of democracy, justice, and freedom, and of course the everlasting memory of those who have sacrificed their lives defending these intrinsic principles of the United States of America.

Over two hundred years ago, the Second Continental Congress officially made the Stars and Stripes the symbol of America, going so far as to declare that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented "a new constellation" with the ideal that America embodied a bright new hope and light for mankind. Today, our flag continues to carry the inspirational and fundamental convictions of our great nation, and will continue to do so for many years to come. Military 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. Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Facts about the United States Flag Home › Encyclopedia Smithsonian › History and Culture Facts about the United States Flag One of two flags that flew from the locomotive of the Lincoln funeral train on the route between Albany and Utica, New York. Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed. 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.

The principal acts affecting the flag of the United States are the following: Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777 - stated: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795. Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state. Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward. Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.

Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. Number of Stars in the U.S.

Flag, and additional states represented 1777 to Present Additional states with date of entry into Union 13 stars - 1777 to 1795 Delaware (December 7, 1787) New Jersey (December 18, 1787) Georgia (January 2, 1788) South Carolina (May 23, 1788) New Hampshire (June 21, 1788) Virginia (June 25, 1788) New York (July 26, 1788) North Carolina (November 21, 1789) Rhode Island (May 29, 1790) 15 stars - 1795 to 1818 Vermont (March 4, 1791) 20 stars - 1818 to July 3, 1819 Tennessee (June 1, 1796) 21 stars - July 4, 1819 to July 3, 1820 Illinois (December 3, 1818) 2

3 stars - July 4, 1820 to July 3, 1822 Alabama (December 14, 1819) 24 stars - July 4, 1822 to July 3, 1836 Missouri (August 10, 1821) 25 stars - July 4, 1836 to July 3, 1837 Arkansas (June 15, 1836) 26 stars - July 4, 1837 to July 3, 1845 Michigan (Jan 26, 1837) 27 stars - July 4, 1845 to July 3, 1846 Florida (March 3, 1845) 28 stars - July 4, 1846 to July 3, 1847 Texas (December 29, 1845) 29 stars - July 4, 1847 to July 3, 1848 Iowa (December 28, 1846)

 30 stars - July 4, 1848 to July 3, 1851 Wisconsin (May 29, 1848) 31 stars - July 4, 1851 to July 3, 1858 California (September 9, 1850) 32 stars - July 4, 1858 to July 3, 1859 Minnesota (May 11, 1858) 33 stars - July 4, 1859 to July 3, 1861 Oregon (February 14, 1859) 34 stars - July 4, 1861 to July 3, 1863 Kansas (January 29, 1861) 35 stars - July 4, 1863 to July 3, 1865 West Virginia (June 20, 1863) 36 stars - July 4, 1865 to July 3, 1867 Nevada (October 31, 18

64) 37 stars - July 4, 1867 to July 3, 1877 Nebraska (March 1, 1867) 38 stars - July 4, 1877 to July 3, 1890 Colorado (August 1, 1876) 43 stars - July 4, 1890 to July 3, 1891 North Dakota (November 2, 1889) South Dakota (November 2, 1889) Montana (November 8, 1889) 44 stars - July 4, 1891 to July 3, 1896 Wyoming (July 10, 1890) 45 stars - July 4, 1896 to July 3, 1908 Utah (January 4, 1896) 46 stars - July 4, 1908 to July 3, 1912 Oklahoma (November 16, 1907) 48 stars - July 4,

 1912 to July 3, 1959 New Mexico (January 6, 1912) Arizona (February 14, 1912) 49 stars - July 4, 1959 to July 3, 1960 Alaska (January 3, 1959) 50 stars - July 4, 1960 to present Hawaii (August 21, 1959) China This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website China image by Zachary Harden, 29 September 2009 Formal Name (English): People's Republic of China ISO Code: CN CHN 156 FIPS 10-4 Code: CH Flag Related Stamps issued by the Peoples Republic of China According to Carol P.

Shaw in the book Flags (Running Press), the red of the flag is the traditional color of revolution; the large gold star represents "the Common Program of the Communist Party"; and the smaller gold stars represent the four classes united by the common program: the workers, the peasants, the petty bourgeois, and capitalists sympathetic to the Party (or "patriotic capitalists"). Bruce Tindall, 03 April 1996 Very early versions of the flag has been in use since the early 1920s by the Communist Party, but was modified to become the present national flag in 1949. Xuess Wee York Ting , 25 September 1996 When I lived in PRC from 1987-88, I asked about the symbolism of the flag. I was told by several university professors and students on several different occasions that the large star represents the guiding light of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the four small stars represent the four other political parties allowed in the PRC. These parties accept the legitimacy of the CCP to run the government and that they will not advocate for any change in government.

These other parties, whose names I never could ascertain, are basically toothless and lend legitimacy to the PRC's claim to be a multiparty system. Steven Chapman, 16 August 1999 Whatever the present 'meaning' of the stars on the Chinese communist flag, I believe the original symbolism was the same as the original Republic flag - the Han people of China and the 4 other races (Manchurian, Mongolian, Tibetan, and Muslims). The first republican flag was 5 horizontal stripes red yellow blue white black, which IMO was a very handsome flag. Andrew Yong, 16 August 1999 All books which mention the symbolism of the starlets on the PRC flag have the same explanation.

There are at present 8 small parties besides the Communist Party: Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang, Democratic League, Democratic Society for National Construction, Society for Furthering Democracy, Democratic Laborers and Peasant Party, Zhi Gong Dang (Party of Common Interests), Jiusan (=3 September) Society, Democratic Self Determination League of Taiwan, All-Chinese Union of Industrials and Merchants, (that makes 9; one of them might be the coordinating committee - I translated this from the Fischer Weltalmanach 1988) The Statesman's Yearbook 1993-94 and the CIA's World Fact Book 1996-97 confirm the existence of 8 parties besides the CP, which are controlled by the CP. Jarig Bakker, 16 August 1999 This is a quote from the New York Consulate of the PR of China and other 'official' websites. "The national flag of the People's Republic of China is red in colour, rectangular in shape, with five stars. The proportion between the length and height of the flag is three to two. The five five-pointed yellow stars are located in the upper left corner.

One of them, which is bigger, appears on the left, while the other four hem it in on the right. The red colour of the flag symbolizes revolution; the stars take on the yellow colour in order to bring out their brightness on the red ground. The larger star represents the CPC, while the four smaller ones, the Chinese people. The relationship between the stars means the great unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC. The national emblem of the People's Republic of China is Tiananmen in the centre illuminated by five stars and encircled by ears of grain and a cogwheel. The ears of grain, stars, Tiananmen and cogwheel are painted golden, and the inner part of the circle and hanging ribbons are painted red because these two colours are traditional Chinese colours representing auspiciousness and happiness. Tiananmen symbolizes the unyielding national spirit of the Chinese people in their fight against imperialism and feudalism; the ears of grain and cogwheel represent the working class and the peasantry; and the five stars stand for the great unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC." About 6 years ago, we had a delegation of engineering students visit us (a chemical plant).

I brought my small hand flag of the PRC and put it on the luncheon table with the American Flag. I was very surprised at the very strong reaction to seeing their national flag, and the young visitors were almost in tears when they spotted their flag (homesick after 2 weeks). I asked the "chaperone" - they were all female - about the symbolism of the flag, and she gave the political party interpertation, not the usual one cited "peasants, workers, bourgeoisie, and capitalists" Jerry Lorigan, 17 August 1999 A different interpretation is that the bigger star stands for the Han (Chinese Chinese) and the others for Manchus, (inner) Mongolians, Tibetans and Uyghurs, just like the previous stripped flag -- but I guess that this is out of fashion these days ;-) The official interpretation, referring the bigger star as the party and the smaller simply the "Chinese people", not referring specifically any meaning for each of them is vague enough to fit any of the earlier explanations.

Antonio Martins, 17 August 1999 The five-star red flag - The national flag of The People's Republic of China (Beijing: Morning Glory Publishers, 1997), gives this interpretation of its symbolism: The national flag of the People's Republic of China is the five-star red flag. The red color of the flag is the symbol of the revolution, signifying that the political power of the People's Republic of China is achieved through bloodshed and lives laid down by countless revolutionary martyrs who marched forward wave upon wave in the heroic struggles for the revolution. In the upper-left corner of the flag there are five-pointed yellow stars, of which the big one represents the Communist Party of China and the four small ones the people of all ethnic groups of the country. One point of the big star points right up the flag and of the four small ones each has a point pointing towards the centre of the big star. This shows that the Chinese Communist Party is the force at the core of the leadership of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups who unite closely as one round the Party. With the color of the stars in yellow this means the great cause of socialism has a bright future.

With the flag-staff painted white, that is to suggest flawless purity and loftiness." This explanation differs from the interpretation of the large star as representing the Communist party and the smaller stars as representing the four classes. Jan Oskar Engene, 10 November 1999 Construction Sheet image by Zejlko Heimer I have made posters, in a consistent format, and I now have an interest in distributing them. There is Chinese pdf [510 kB] of several of the broadsides and would appreciate your feedback. Some of the studies glorify the designer's intent. Take Hong Kong [pdf - 871 kB] for example. I could not find a construction sheet, but learned that it was designed by an American trained Chinese architect. Assuming a certain design method, I was able to devise the system using architect's favorite proportions of the "golden mean" and diagonal of multiple squares. Woody Rainey, 16 July 2010 Vertical flag image by James Dignan, 29 June 2010 Last night I was half-watching a sports programme on TV, which had coverage of an international modern pentathlon series.

Several of the events were held indoors in a gymnasium with vertical hanging flags, some of which were very unusual. Sadly, I only managed to see close detail of a couple of them, but they included Brazilian and Chinese flags with the emblems oriented the same way as on a normal horizontal flag. In the case of the Brazilian flag, this led to a very odd appearance. (Note that dimensions are approximate, based on fleeting glimpses on television). James Dignan, 29 June 2010 Here's a picture of Chinese vertical flag. Esteban Rivera, 31 January 2011 "In circumstances where the People's Republic of China is represented" beside Taiwan, the normal Taiwan (Republic of China) flag is not used. Instead a flag "to represent Chinese Taipei" is flown. It is not described. The wording suggests that this is not the same as the Taipei Olympic flag . Kenneth Fraser, 08 October 2010 National Flag at the London 2012 Olympics The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [ loc12 ]) provides recommendations for national flag designs.

Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be. For PR China: PMS 186 red, 102 yellow. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees clockwise. Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012 The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag: A Timeline Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue – but does every heart know the interesting history of the stars and stripes? While the modern American flag has become a symbol around the world for freedom, justice, and prosperity, it has actually changed sixty three times over the past two hundred and thirty five years. Some early designs of the flag would be unrecognizable to most modern Americans, and some even featured the British Union Jack.

Brush up on the fascinating story of our beloved Star-Spangled Banner and how she became the shining beacon of hope that she is today with in the following timeline! 1775 – As revolutionary fever starts to swelter, several iterations of a flag representing the independence and discontent of the colonists begin to surface. The Continental Navy starts to fly a flag with a red striped background featuring a snake, along with the inscription “Don’t Tread on Me.” This sentiment and symbol will later be associated with the United States Marine Corps. In New England, the “Liberty Tree” symbol becomes increasingly popular and appears on several flags. The green pine tree shape was used on board New England ships with the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven,” while the flag for New England featured the Liberty tree in the upper left corner set bordered by red, white and blue stripes. 1776 – On the first of January, The Grand Union Flag is flown on Prospect Hill and adopted as a symbol of the rebelling colonists. The flag, originally designed in 1775, features the British Union Jack in the upper left corner surrounded by thirteen white and red stripes, symbolizing the thirteen colonies.

Five months later, Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, sews what is remembered as the first “American Flag,” featuring thirteen white stars laid in a circle on a blue background surrounded by thirteen red and white stripes. Modern historians have called the validity of the Ross story into question; however, the story has become American folklore and is unlikely to be overruled in the public mind. 1777 – After myriad variations of Ross’s design are sewn and utilized around the colonies during early Revolutionary battles, the Continental Congress officially adopts Ross’s original design as the first official flag of the fledgling country on June 14th. 1778-1794 – Alternative versions of the American flag continue to be produced and used by various prominent military outfits and sailing vessels in spite of the official adoption of the Ross design. All versions utilize the red, white, and blue theme. Different designs were likely used due to slow and inconsistent communication as well as the gradual transition of the thirteen colonies into states. The last of the thirteen colonies to officially join The United States was Rhode Island in 1790. 1795 – The official design is modified and updated to include two more states into the Union: Kentucky and Vermont.

The stars pattern has now shifted away from the circle to five staggered rows. 1814 – Inspired by the majesty of the flag and its visual impact during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key pens a tune he titles “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The song’s patriotic message earns it national recognition. It is officially adopted in 1931 as the national anthem. 1818 – The official flag is modified and updated to showcase five additional stars on the blue field in honor of Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and Indiana receiving state status. The stars are now arranged in four rows of five across. 1819 – The flag is updated at the end of the year when Illinois is added into the Union. The 21 stars are now arranged with one row of four with one row of five on top and two rows of five below. 1820 – Two more stars are added with the inclusion of Alabama and Maine. The 23 stars are now arranged with one row of five with one row of six on top and two rows of six below.

1822-1867 – Fourteen more stars are added to the flag with the inclusion of Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada and Nebraska. There are now thirty seven stars on the American Flag. 1861-1865 – The rival of the Stars and Stripes, the official flag of the Confederate States of America, is created. This flag goes through three major iterations before the South falls to General Grant in 1865, including the “Stars and Bars,” which played off of Ross’s original design, “The Stainless Banner,” which featured the Confederate battle symbol (the blue starred “X” pattern on the red background) in the upper left corner of a white field, and “The Blood Stained Banner,” which added a red bar onto the right side of the second iteration. There was also a popular though unofficial “Bonnie Blue Flag” that featured a deep blue field with one large white star on it. In popular memory, the Confederate Battle Flag is remembered as the flag of the confederacy, even though it was never officially considered that.

1886 – The centennial flag is created, replacing the traditional star field with stars shaped into the number “1776” above the number “1876.” 1877-1896 – Seven more stars are added for Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. 1897 – State Flag Desecration Statutes begin to be adopted in states around the country to outlaw altering or abusing the flag for commercial and political purposes. Among the specifics of the statutes were marking the flag, trampling the flag or talking negatively about the flag. Also outlawed was the creation of flags that could be mistaken as the official American Flag. 1912 – The specific measurements, orientation, and details of the flag are officially established in a presidential executive order. Three more stars are added for Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma (that was included as a state in 1908). There are now 48 stars on the flag. 1949 – Flag Day, to be observed on June 14th, is established.

1959-1960 – Alaska and Hawaii are added to the Union and the final two stars are added to the flag. The modern American Flag is officially complete, with five rows of alternating five and six stars staggered for visual appeal. 2013 – The United States Flag continues to be a symbol of hope and freedom to billions of people around the world. For more information on the American Flag, check out the following resources: History of the American Flag - Flag of the United States - #History

Question: Each star on the US flag has how many points?
Answer: 5