The American Flag History

First things first, the flag of America basically stand for a lot of things. One of the symbols it represents is freedom as well as the dignity of its citizens. It is also the symbol of being a true red white and blue American.

Believe it or not, the flag of America has also gone through a lot of changes prior to it being the way it is now.

The time it took for the American flag to evolve has been centuries, specifically from the first of January, in the year 1776 until the twenty first of August, in the year 1960.

Up until now, there is a lot of mystery on who it is that designed the very first flag of America.

The very first American flag seamstress

It was a woman with the name Elizabeth Ross, who worked as a seamstress, that is said to be the one who has sown the American flag.

The story states that in the year 1776, her husband passed away and she was forced to continue the shop her husband used to run, as he worked as an upholster.

She actually lived near the State House, the place where a lot of history has taken place.

She also usually mended the clothing of George Washington, they were also reportedly to be friends.

Historical stories has said that around the year 1776, particularly in the month of June, George Washington – along with two vital figures in history – asked Ms Ross to sew a flag the design of which has been sketched by Washington and his friends.

George Washington knew the talent of Ms Ross and thus the reason why it was she who was chosen by Washington.

It was recognized that Ms Ross was the one who changed the star that was originally six pointed to five.

Meanwhile, another Francis Hopkinson has been reported to have also designed the American flag.

This person is a famous lawyer, patriot, poet, singer, artist. Congressman, civil servant.

History shows that he once wrote to the Admiralty Board a letter in the year 1780 saying that it was he who designed the very first American flag.

Meanwhile, in the year 1777, specifically in the fourteenth of June, the congress of America declared that the US flag must have at least thirteen stars that are white. Also, these stars should be placed in a background that is blue in color and have alternate white stripes and red.

The color red basically mean valor and hardiness. Meanwhile, the color white signifies innocence and purity.

Blue is said to signify the Chief’s color. Meanwhile, the star represent heaven and is said to be the ultimate goal of all men.

The stripes has been said to be the sun’s light rays. The very first states were Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, South Carolina, New York, Virginia, Rhode Island, North Carolina.

Meanwhile, an additional two states were added in the year 1795, namely these states were Kentucky and Vermont.

The same year, a woman named Mary Pickersgill created a flag that then flew at Fort Henry.

In the year 1818, an additional five states were added in the flag, namely Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi. It was also during this time when congress changed the original stripes that numbered to fifteen to only thirteen.

In the year 1820, the American flag has a total of twenty three stars. Included in the roster are Maine and Alabama.

Two years after, Missouri finally turned into a state and the American flag finally has twenty four stars. After such, the American flag accepted Arkansas in the year 1836, Michigan in the year 1837.

Florida was also added after eight years, thereby providing the American flag a total of twenty seven stars in the year 1845. A year later, Texas was included. In the year 1847, Iowa joined in and also Wisconsin in the year 1848.

All in all, the flag of today consists of stripes that are horizontal and is thirteen in total. Seven are red in color while alternating with six white stripes. These stripes symbolize the thirteen original colonies while the stars all represent the Union’s fifty states.

The most important thing though is giving it the respect and allegiance it truly deserves.