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Our Country's Flag:
A flag flies high in front of your school. Its red-and-white stripes move gently in the breeze. Its white stars show bright against their blue background. This is the United States Flag. How did the flag become the nation's most important symbol? The flag has a long history. It begins with the birth of the United States of America.
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Fighting for Freedom:
In the 1700s, America was made up of 13 colonies. Great Britain ruled the American colonies. Many Americans felt that Great Britain was treating them unfairly. America went to war with Great Britain to gain its freedom.
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During the war, soldiers carried different flags. Each ship had its own flag. Some flags looked too much like the British flag. Having so many different flags was confusing. So in 1777, lawmakers decided that the new nation needed one flag.
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The First Flag:
Most people believe that Betsy Ross designed the first flag. The first flag had 13 stripes. The stripes were red and white. The flag had 13 white stars on a blue background. The 13 stripes and the 13 stars were symbols of the original 13 states. These states formed the new United States of America.
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Lawmakers did not say what shape the flag should be. They did not say where the 13 stars should be placed on the blue background either. So, flags were made in different shapes and sizes. Flag makers placed the stars differently. On some flags, the stars were in a circle. On other flags, the stars formed a square. Stars were in rows on most flags.
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The Second Flag:
In 1791 and 1792, two more states became part of the United States. Lawmakers changed the flag to include these states. They added two stripes and two stars to the flag. By 1795, the flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes.
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"The Star-Spangled Banner"
In 1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain again. The British attacked U.S. Fort McHenry. A large flag flew over Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key and Dr. William Beanes watched the fighting from a boat. In the morning, they looked outside. The flag was still flying over Fort McHenry. The United States had won the battle.
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Francis Scott Key wrote a poem about the Fort McHenry flag. His poem was made into a song. It was called "The Star Spangled Banner." Many Americans sang the song. They began to think of the flag as a symbol of bravery and freedom. In 1931, the song's name was officially changed to "The Star-Spangled Banner." It became the national anthem.
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A New Flag:
By 1818, the United States had grown to 20 states. Lawmakers met to talk about a new flag. They decided to remove two stripes from the flag. The 13 stripes would stand for the 13 original states. Then five stars were added, one star for each state. Every time a state was added, a star would be added to the flag. Today, the flag has 50 stars.
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The Pledge of Allegiance:
In 1892, Francis Bellamy wrote a pledge to the flag. His words became known as the Pledge of Allegiance. The person saying the pledge promised to be loyal to the flag and to the United States. Today, most students say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school. They face the flag and place their right hands over their hearts. They promise their loyalty to their country.
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The Flag Code:
In 1923, the National Flag Conference set up rules for the flag. These rules included how, where, and when to display the flag. These rules were called the Flag Code. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made these rules into laws.
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Flag Day:
People have celebrated the flag since the late 1800s. The country celebrates Flag Day on June 14. Every year, the president asks Americans to proudly fly the flag. Cities hold patriotic parades and speeches. People wear red, white, and blue clothing. The nation honors the flag on this day.
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Symbol of a Nation:
The flag has changed many times since it was designed in 1777. But, the flag's meaning has never changed. The flag stands for bravery and freedom. It makes people feel proud of their country. The flag is the most important patriotic symbol in the United States.
