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Although it is not a proven factual event, legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first American Flag from a pencil sketch drawn by George Washington. While it is true that Ross was an acquaintance of George Washington and sewed many American flags throughout her life, there is no evidence to support the claims of her descendants that she did in fact create the first American Flag at the request of George Washington -
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed The Flag Resolution which stated: “It is resolved that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternated red and white; that the union is thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” For this reason, we now celebrate Flag Day (link to Flag Flying Holidays page?) every June 14th. -
In 1794, the Flag Act authorized a new 15-star and 15-stripe flag. This regulation went into effect on May 1st, 1795, and the Star-Spangled Banner became the new official flag of the United States. The two additional stars and stripes were added to the original design to represent the admission of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792) -
The Act of April 4th, 1818 enacted a new policy that provided for a constant of 13 stripes on all American Flags and one star for each state. The act stated that the flag would be officially modified on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state. This edition of the flag added five new stars for the admission of the new states including Tennessee (1796), Ohio (1803), Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816), and Mississippi (1817). -
This 21-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1819. A star was added for the state of Illinois, which was admitted to the United States of America on December 3rd, 1818. -
This 23-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1820. Two stars were added for the admission of Alabama (1819) and Maine (1820) to the United States of America -
This 24-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1822. A star was added for the state of Missouri, which was admitted to the United States of America on August 10th, 1821. -
This 25-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1836. A star was added for the state of Arkansas, which was admitted to the United States of America on June 15th, 1836. -
This 26-star flag became the official American Flag on July 4th, 1837. A star was added for the state of Michigan, which was admitted to the United States of America on January 26th, 1837