u.s government
The Flag
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read:"Resolved, 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."
The resolution gave no instruction as to how many points the stars should have, nor how the stars should be arranged on the blue union. Consequently, there were many variations. During the Revolutionary War, several patriots made flags for the new Nation. Betsy Ross is the best known of these persons, but there is no proof that she made the first Stars and Stripes.
It was not until April 4, 1818, when President Monroe accepted a bill that prescribed the basic design of the flag which would assure that the growth of the country would be properly symbolized. It required that the flag of the United States have a union of 20 stars, white on a blue field, and that upon admission of each new State one star be added to the union of the flag on the fourth of July following the date of admission. The 13 alternating red and white stripes would remain unchanged.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14, the birthday of the Stars and Stripes. It was not until 1949 that Congress made this day a permanent observance.
See also:
About the USA: U.S. Government - The Pledge of Allegiance
Abridged from US State Department IIP Publications and other US government materials.
Background
· The Betsy Ross Homepage (Independence Hall Association)
· Facts About the United States Flag (Encyclopedia Smithsonian)
· Flag of the United States (Wikipedia Encyclopedia)
· The Flag of the United States of America (Duane Streufert. US flag.org)
· Our Flag- Frequently Asked Questions (American Legion)
· Our Flag (Federal Citizen Information Center)
· Procedures for Folding the Flag (American Legion)
· Ready Reference: U.S. Flag Facts (U.S. Embassy, London)
· The Star-Spangled Banner. The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem (Smithsonian)
· The Star-Spangled Banner and the War of 1812 (Smithsonian)
· Today in History: June 14 - Flag Day (American Memory. Library of Congress)
· USA Flag Site
Original Documents
· Federal Flag Code (Baltimore County Public Library)
Exhibits - Digital Images
· Betsy Ross House (Indepedence Hall Association)
· Fort McHenry (The Patriots of Fort McHenry)
· Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (National Park Service)
· Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and War of 1812 Museum. Baltimore, MD
For Primary and Secondary School Students
· The American Flag (Chris Witten. Founding Fathers.info)
· Symbols of U.S. Government: The Flag (Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids)
· The United States Flag - Symbol of Our Freedom (C. Douglas Sterner. Home of Heroes.com )
Teacher Resources
· Lesson Plans Flag Day (Education World)
· Mary Pickersgill and the Making of the Star-Spangled Banner (Maryland State Archives)
· Oh Say, Can You See -What the Star-Spangled Banner Means? (Edsitement)
· Stars and Stripes Forever: Flag Facts for Flag Day (EdSitement)
· The United States Flag (American Heritage Education Foundation)
Link Lists
· The American Flag Link List (The Electric Teacher Pages)
· National Symbols > American Flag (Yahoo!)
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