The history of the American flag has become so muddled by myth and tradition that the facts are difficult to establish. No one knows for sure who designed it, who made the first flag, or when it started to be widely used.

The First American Flag

The first flag of the United States, used in colonial times, was called the Grand Union, and it consisted of 13 horizontal red and white stripes and a small version of the British Meteor flag (the Union Jack) in the corner. When the Revolution began, it was apparent that the United States needed a flag that was more distinctive from Britain's.

Revolutionary Flags

Various Revolutionary groups created their own flags, some of which contained red and white stripes and stars on a blue field in various formations. One of the most famous Revolutionary Era flags was from South Carolina, and featured a yellow field with a rattlesnake and the words, "Don't Tread on Me."

The Stars and Stripes

In 1777, a resolution offered by the Marine committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia decreed that the flag of the United States should have 13 stripes, alternating red and white, and that the union be symbolized by 13 white stars on a blue field. George Washington, commander of the Union Army, did not get the new flags until 1783, after the Revolution was over. The first flags featured stars in a staggered pattern, not a circle as commonly thought.

Betsy Ross

Legend has it that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress and widow, made the first American flag in June 1776, at the personal request of George Washington and two Congressmen. Historians have never been able to find any historical record of such a meeting despite exhaustive searches of government records and Washington's personal writings.

Changing Designs as the Union Grew

The flag created in 1777 was used until 1795, when Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union. At this time, Congress decided that the flag should have 15 stripes and 15 stars. As more new states were added, it became evident that the flag would become overrun with stripes. In 1818, Congress ordered that the flag should return to the original 13 stripes symbolizing the 13 colonies, and that new stars would be added for each new state, which numbered 20 at the time.

Addition of Stars

Stars were added one by one as new states joined the union, until the flag reached 50 in 1960 with the annexation of Hawaii. Few years went by in the 1800s without the addition of a star, but there were none added from 1912 to 1959.