Which Flag?
The first “official” flag of the United States was “the Continental Colors,” also known as the “Grand Union Flag.” It consisted of thirteen red and white stripes with the United Kingdom’s flag in the upper-left-hand corner, also known as the canton. It was the same design as the flag for the British East India Company that flew from 1701 to 1801. However, the British East India Company’s flag ranged from nine to thirteen red and white stripes and was usually only flown when it was sailing in the Indian Ocean. Though some remain skeptical, there is reason to believe the similarities between the two flags was intentional. Benjamin Franklin is said to have been a strong proponent of aligning the new American flag with the company’s as a way of symbolizing American loyalty to the Crown as well as the United States’ aspirations to be self-governing, as was the East India Company. Some colonists also felt that the company could be a powerful ally in the American Revolutionary War, as they shared similar aims and grievances against the British government’s tax policies. Colonists, therefore, flew the company’s flag to endorse the company as well as proclaim their support for the new nation.
However, the “Grand Union Flag” wasn’t the only one flown during this time period. Christopher Gadsden designed “The Gadsden Flag” in 1775. This flag depicts a rattlesnake with the phrase “DON’T TREAD ON ME” in a field of yellow and was used by the Continental Marines. It is still sometimes flown today. Another flag known as “The Moultrie Flag,” was designed by Colonel William Moultrie and depicted a white crescent moon with the word “LIBERTY” inscribed within it on a field of navy blue. It was flown during the American victory at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in June 1776.
With all of these competing flags, the Second Continental Congress decided an “official” flag was needed. On June 14, 1777, they passed the Flag Resolution which stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
However, the Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement, number of points, nor orientation for the stars and the arrangement or whether the flag had to have seven red stripes and six white ones or vice versa. The appearance was up to the maker of the flag. Some flag makers arranged the stars into one big star, in a circle or in rows and some replaced a state’s star with its initial. In 1795, another resolution was passed, increasing the number of stars and stripes from 13 to 15 (to reflect the entry of Vermont and Kentucky as states of the Union) but still not specifying a precise design.
It wasn’t until April 4, 1818, 207 years ago today, that Congress finally standardized the flag: 20 stars (the current number of states at the time), with a new star to be added when each new state was admitted. The number of stripes was reduced to 13, honoring the original colonies, and the placement of stars was to be linear, with points facing upwards.
