Flag of the USA – Best Facts About the 13 Stripes and 50 Stars

by Petr Novák, ? The accuracy of the information provided in this article was last verified on this date. If you spot any errors, please let us know in the comments. Thank you. :-) Updated 05/28/2023 Basics, History

The USA flag has not always consisted of 13 alternating red and white stripes and 50 white stars on a blue background. The first flag of the United States of America came into use on July 3, 1775, with a total of 28 variations to date.

Basic Information about the American Flag

History of the U.S. Flag

The first flag of the United States was the Grand Union Flag. If you see the British Union Jack in it, you have a point.
It was in use from December 3, 1775, and even then the 13 stripes displayed alternately in red and white represented the 13 original colonies of the USA. This symbolism has endured on the American flag to this day. The British cross in the upper left corner was intended to refer to the loyalty of the rebels to the British King.

Historically, the second flag of the United States of America was known as the Thirteen Stars Flag and came into use on June 14, 1777. The British Union Jack was replaced by 13 white stars in a blue field representing the 13 U.S. states. This established another principle of what the American flag should look like. From this time on, stars were only and only added for the other member states.

There is still speculation about who designed the American flag. One of the most common theories is that it was first made by tailor Betsy Ross of Pennsylvania based on a sketch by George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross. There is also an interesting story about the choice of a five-pointed star instead of a six-pointed star – Betsy suggested a five-pointed star because it was supposedly easier to cut out of fabric.

Historians’ preferred theory of the origin of the American flag attributes its authorship to Francis Hopkins of New Jersey, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a major contributor to the design of the original Grand Union Flag.

Since then, the American flag has been modified a total of twenty-seven times, always changing only the number of stars on the flag. The current design of the United States flag has been in use since July 4, 1960, when the fiftieth star was added to represent Hawaii.

Facts about the American Flag

The American flag has its own holiday on June 14. It falls on the day it was first used. On Flag Day, ordinary citizens fly the flag in front of their house; it was first flown in 1885 by a schoolteacher from Wisconsin. The holiday did not become official until 1916, as a result of an executive order by President Woodrow Wilson, and is only celebrated as a national holiday in Pennsylvania.

The most interesting place where the American flag is flown is undoubtedly the moon. The 152 cm × 91 cm flag was flown by the Apollo astronauts during the July 20, 1969, moon landing. According to the NASA space agency in 2012, the flag is still in place.

The use of the American flag is strictly regulated by law. Among other things, it states that the flag may only be flown from dawn to sunset or must be illuminated at night.

Currently, there is already a design of the American flag with 51 stars. It is popular among supporters of the adoption of Puerto Rico as the 51st state of the USA.

The largest American flag was made in Pennsylvania. It measures 505 ft by 225 ft metres and weighs 3,000 lb.