History of the American Flag
The history of the American flag according to a PBS article on the History of the American Flag, begins with the Flag Resolution of 1777 which states 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." Though the flag has undergone several changes since its first creation around 1776, when Betsy Ross sewed the first one with the thirteen stars and stripes, it has not changed drastically. Several acts passed by Congress between 1777 and 1990 allowed for the flag to be modified to accommodate the addition of each new state. The current flag today still contains the same thirteen stripes alternating red and white which represent the thirteen colonies that declared independence from Britain, but now contains 50 stars each representing one of the 50 states still in the blue canton that represents the union. On the USA Flag Site's History of the American Flag, I thought it was interesting to see what each of the colors on the flag represents. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; while white symbolizes purity and innocence; and blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice. In a book published by the House of Representatives in 1989 referenced by the US Flag Website: "The star is 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." In my opinion, those same stripes represent this idea of a new start and the American Dream but also a place to call home.
The American flag as a whole represents American identity and national pride according to State Symbols USA. It is often referred to as the Flag of the United States, but it does have a handful of other names: Old Glory, The Star Spangled Banner, or The Stars and Stripes. The name Old Glory was adopted after, Massachusetts sea captain, William Driver's American Flag, named Old Glory, that survived the Civil War despite many attempts to destroy it. After the war ended, it was flown over the Tennessee Statehouse and later on display at the Smithsonian. The Star Spangled Banner name originated from the Garrison Flag that was flown outside Fort McHenry during the Battle on Baltimore during the War of 1812. The Smithsonian reports that the flag was later renamed The Star Spangled Banner seeing as it inspired Francis Scott Key to compose our national anthem.
PBS used to find general background about the American Flag and a picture of the original Old Glory
USA Flag Site used to find the meaning of the colors of the flag
US Flag Website used to find the meaning of the symbols on the flag
State Symbols USA used to research the history behind the name "Old Glory"
The Smithsonian used to learn about the history behind the name "The Star Spangled Banner"
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| William Driver's Old Glory |
The American flag as a whole represents American identity and national pride according to State Symbols USA. It is often referred to as the Flag of the United States, but it does have a handful of other names: Old Glory, The Star Spangled Banner, or The Stars and Stripes. The name Old Glory was adopted after, Massachusetts sea captain, William Driver's American Flag, named Old Glory, that survived the Civil War despite many attempts to destroy it. After the war ended, it was flown over the Tennessee Statehouse and later on display at the Smithsonian. The Star Spangled Banner name originated from the Garrison Flag that was flown outside Fort McHenry during the Battle on Baltimore during the War of 1812. The Smithsonian reports that the flag was later renamed The Star Spangled Banner seeing as it inspired Francis Scott Key to compose our national anthem.
PBS used to find general background about the American Flag and a picture of the original Old Glory
USA Flag Site used to find the meaning of the colors of the flag
US Flag Website used to find the meaning of the symbols on the flag
State Symbols USA used to research the history behind the name "Old Glory"
The Smithsonian used to learn about the history behind the name "The Star Spangled Banner"
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