Our Flag in History

The first official national flag, the Stars and Stripes, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

“Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

More than a decade later, two more stars and stripes were added for new states Vermont and Kentucky. This version of the flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, became the official United States flag on May 1, 1795.

In 1818, with the number of new states growing, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring that the number of stars equal the number of states, with the star for each new state being added to the flag on the 4th of July following its admission into the United States.

On July 4, 1960, the 50th star was added, for Hawaii.