The Evolution of the American Flag: Before 1958
The American flag, a symbol of national pride and unity, has undergone several transformations throughout its history. Before the adoption of the current 50-star version in 1959, the flag had 48, 46, 45, 43, 42, 41, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, and 12 stars at various times.
The Grand Union Flag: 1775-1777
The earliest known American flag is the Grand Union Flag, also known as the "Continental Colors." It was designed in 1775 during the early days of the American Revolution. The flag featured 13 alternating red and white stripes (representing the 13 colonies) and the British Union Jack in the canton (the upper left-hand corner). The Grand Union Flag symbolized the American colonists’ desire for independence while still acknowledging their allegiance to the British Crown.
The Betsy Ross Flag: 1777
According to legend, the first official American flag was sewn by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia upholsterer. In June 1777, a committee of the Continental Congress, including George Washington, visited Ross and asked her to make a flag based on a design provided by Francis Hopkinson. The Betsy Ross Flag had 13 alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton with 13 white stars arranged in a circle.
The Star-Spangled Banner: 1814
One of the most famous American flags is the Star-Spangled Banner, which flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812. The flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes, representing the 15 states in the Union at the time. During the Battle of Baltimore, the Star-Spangled Banner was a symbol of American resilience and defiance against the British bombardment. The sight of the flag still flying after the battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner," which later became the national anthem of the United States.
The 31-Star Flag: 1858-1859
The United States expanded rapidly westward in the 19th century, and the flag added stars to represent the new states. After the admission of Oregon as the 33rd state in 1859, the flag had 33 stars, arranged in a staggered pattern. However, this configuration proved to be unstable, and the flag was redesigned with 31 stars arranged in six rows of five stars each.
The 32-Star Flag: 1861-1865
The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 prompted the secession of several Southern states from the Union. The flag was redesigned with 32 stars, removing the stars representing the Confederate states. However, the 32-star flag was never officially adopted by Congress and was used only during the Civil War.
The 33-Star Flag: 1865-1867
After the Civil War, the Union was restored and the flag was redesigned with 33 stars, representing the 33 states in the Union. The 33-star flag was officially adopted by Congress in 1865.
The 34-Star Flag: 1877-1890
In 1877, Colorado became the 38th state in the Union. The flag was redesigned with 34 stars, arranged in seven rows of five stars each. The 34-star flag was officially adopted by Congress in 1877.
The 35-Star Flag: 1890-1891
Idaho became the 43rd state in the Union in 1890. The flag was redesigned with 35 stars, arranged in seven rows of five stars and one row of four stars. The 35-star flag was officially adopted by Congress in 1890.
The 43-Star Flag: 1891-1896
Wyoming became the 44th state in the Union in 1890. The flag was redesigned with 43 stars, arranged in seven rows of six stars and one row of three stars. The 43-star flag was officially adopted by Congress in 1891.
The 44-Star Flag: 1896-1908
Utah became the 45th state in the Union in
