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Do You Know the Patriotic History of the Stars and Stripes? by Steven Coffman
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the following resolution:
"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."
On that historic day, the birth of the flag of the United States of America came into existence and this basic form remains unchanged to the present day.
In 1777, Congress had not specified any particular design for the arrangement of the stars and some flags had thirteen stars in a circle. Others had twelve in a circle with the thirteenth in the center.
In 1782 the Congress of the confederation reaffirmed the choice of the Continental Congress by stating that our national seal and the flag would remain red, white and blue. The thirteen original states would always be represented by the seven red stripes and the six white ones. However, they left open the question of how the stars on the blue union would be arranged. A deeper meaning was also given to the flag and its design.
In the following years to come, new states were constantly being admitted to the Union and the United States had thirteen national flags between 1817 and 1861. During this period the President usually proclaimed how the stars would be arranged and that all flags stars must be aligned with the Presidential proclamation.
During the Civil War, with the admission of Kansas and West Virginia we had another two flags. Union troops fought under a 33-star flag during the first three months of the war; a 34-star flag until 1863; and a 35-star flag until the end of the war. Throughout the duration of The Civil War President Lincoln refused to take out the stars of the southern states which had seceded.
After the Civil War ended, the nation began to move west. Then Nebraska joined the Union in 1867; followed in 1877 by Colorado; 1890 by North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho; 1891 by Wyoming; 1896 by Utah; and 1908 by Oklahoma.
During this period of transition in the country, we had six more national flags. The twenty-third flag, adopted in 1896, was the flag that we fought under during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
In 1912, Arizona and New Mexico were also admitted to the Union and once more the United States needed another new flag. This was the twenty-fifth flag, adopted in 1912, and which lasted 47 years until 1959. A total of 47 years this flag version flew over the nation. This flag was also carried to the battlefields of World War I and World War II, as well as the Korean War.
Then in 1959 Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the Union. The 49-star flag, adopted in 1959, was first raised at 12:01 a.m. on July 4th, 1959, over Ft. McHenry to signal the official admittance of Alaska. This flag lasted only but a short time because on July 4th, 1960, the United States raised the present 50-star flag, signaling the admission of Hawaii as our 50th and last state on March 18, 1959.
48 years the current flag has been waiving over the United State and is now the oldest version in the history of the country. To date, there have been twenty-seven national flags, and everyone has all flown in glory over this great nation with honor.
The History of the 27 Flags of the United States.
1st US Flag 1777-1795
(The Betsy Ross Flag) of the thirteen stripes with a thirteen-star union.
To this day, the actual maker of this flag remains unknown. Although this claim is seriously in doubt, Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, is said to have made the first American flag. This claim was first made by William J. Canby, her grandson, in 1870. His claim is based on the signed statements of several persons, including Betsy Ross' daughters, nieces and granddaughters. Historical records do show that she made flags for the government in 1777, but there is no proof she made the first flag. The second claim as the maker of the first flag was by Congressman Francis Hopkinson. Shortly after the adoption of the first flag by Congress in 1777, Hopkinson came forward and asserted that he was the maker of the original flag. This claim is unsubstantiated by historical records, and so the real maker of the flag will probably always remain in doubt.
2nd US Flag 1795-1818
In 1791, Vermont was admitted to the Union and the following year Kentucky was also admitted. By 1974, it became apparent to Congress that the country needed a new flag. Congress decided to change the basic structure of the flag and add not only two more stars, but two more stripes. The 15-stripe flag was ordered flown after May 1, 1795. This 15-star flag was flown during the War of 1812 and during the United States' war with the Barbary States. It was this flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star-Spangled Banner."
3rd US Flag in 1818
Our third flag saw a return to tradition as Congress decided to return to the thirteen stripes, but to add a star as each new state joined the Union. Designed by navy captain Samuel Reid, this flag was proposed to Congress on April 4, 1818, and changed back to thirteen stripes. This flag had 20 stars and became official July 4, 1818. This flag is also called the "Great Star Flag" because the 20 stars were sometimes arranged to form a star.
4th US Flag in 1819
The 21st star in the flag represented the admission of the state of Illinois on December 3, 1818. The Northwest Territory was rapidly becoming settled and four new states would be carved out of this section of the country. 1818 was also the year that the United States-Canada boundary dispute was settled, making it the longest open border in the world.
5th US Flag in 1820
The hot issue of the day was whether the nation could keep the balance between free and slave states. Alabama was admitted in 1819, giving the country an equal number of both. But in 1820, Maine was admitted as a free state, thus tipping the numbers in favor of the Free states. In 1820, our fifth flag appeared with 23 stars in the Union.
6th US Flag in 1822
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 would settle the question of slaves states versus free for 30 years. No state would be admitted to the Union as a slave state above the line 36-30' in the new Louisiana Purchase. Another tenet of the Compromise was that Missouri would be admitted as the 24th state and takes its place alongside the slave states.
7th US Flag in 1836
During the last months of President Andrew Jackson's administration, Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state. On July 4, 1836, a new flag was flown over the country bearing 25 stars. In the same year, Texas became an independent nation.
8th US Flag in 1837
Michigan, since the days of the Revolutionary War, had been a favorite spot for fur trappers and traders. The Erie Canal, recently opened, allowed travelers and pioneers to move from Albany, New York to Lake Erie. This massive wave of pioneers brought about a growth in Michigan that enabled it to be admitted as the 26th state. In addition, Michigan was given the Upper Peninsula for giving up land claims in Ohio.
9th US Flag in 1845
Florida admitted to the Union as the 27th state in 1845, completed the present Atlantic seaboard of the United States. Florida had been purchased from Spain in 1819 after having been a part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years. The southern expansion of the United States was now complete and the nation turned its attention to pushing back western frontiers.
10th US Flag in 1846
Texas had once been an integral part of the Spanish domain on the North American continent. Spain controlled Texas for nearly 300 years until 1821. In 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became an independent nation. In 1845, President James K. Polk admitted Texas as the 28th state. This action directly led to war with Mexico and thus fixed the southern boundary of Texas as the Rio Grande.
11th US Flag in 1847
In late 1846, the Midwest gave birth to another state - Iowa. A part of the Louisiana Purchase, Iowa was admitted to the Union as a free state to become the first Free State.
12th US Flag in 1848
Wisconsin preserved the balance that was precariously being kept between free and slave states when admitted to the Union in 1848. There were 15 free and 15 slave states in 1848. During the drive for statehood, the Ripon Convention was held, later to be claimed as the beginnings of the Republican Party.
13th US Flag in 1851
In 1848, the discovery of gold in the American River at Sutter's Mill, CA, touched off the "Gold Rush" of 1849. This set into motion a tide of settlers. Previously in 1846, a small group of Americans had proclaimed California independent from Mexico. The need for immediate government organization led to the admission of California as the 31st state in 1850.
14th US Flag in 1858
In 1851, by the Treaty of Mendota, the Indians gave up all claims to land in Minnesota and throngs of settlers swarmed into the territory. There were enough people in the state to grant admission to the Union and Minnesota became our 32nd state on May 11th of that year.
15th US Flag in 1859
During James K. Polk's presidential campaign, the issue was the Oregon Territory. "Fifty-four forty or Fight" was the slogan. Statehood for Oregon would mean the consolidation of the Pacific coastline as members of the United States. In 1859, Oregon became the 33rd state in the Union. Our 15th flag was raised that year.
16th US Flag in 1861
January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as the 34th state. Kansas had been a state for less than three months when the nation went to war. On April 12, 1861, Confederate batteries opened fire on Ft. Sumter and four years of a bitter civil war battle were fought. This flag was carried into battle by Union troops until 1863. It carried 34 stars.
17th US Flag in 1863
Virginia decided to throw its lot in with the new Confederacy, several northwestern counties of the state decided to remain loyal to the Union. The result was the formation of a new state, West Virginia, marking the first time a new state has resulted from a rebellion against the original state. This fledgling was admitted as the 35th state, June 20, 1863.
18th US Flag in 1865
The Confederate States of America were in their last hours when Nevada was admitted to the Union as the 36th state. Because the war was ending with the victory of the Union, little jubilation went up for the admittance of Nevada. Little notice was paid to the fact that this flag bore 36 stars when it was raised in 1865.
19th US Flag in 1867
Nebraska applied for admission into the nation as the Reconstruction era opened in American history. A bitter struggle developed between President Andrew Johnson and Congress. President Johnson vetoed the bill making Nebraska the 37th state, but Congress overrode the veto. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867 and the 37th star on our flag.
20th US Flag in 1877
Gold was discovered in the Colorado Territory in 1858 bringing in thousands of new settlers. Hostile Indians and the extremely hard terrain of the country did not deter the new pioneers. With them, they brought the determination to become a state and in 1876, Colorado was admitted as the 38th state.
21st US Flag in 1890
With the admission of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho in 1889-90, five new stars were added to our flag. These states were the last of the Northwest Territories to become states and completed the expansion of the country along the Canadian border. Completion of railroads speeded the growth of these states.
22nd US Flag in 1891
The twenty-first flag was obsolete six days after it was raised. On July 10, 1890, Wyoming was admitted to the Union as the 44th state. Wyoming had become a territory in 1845 when Texas was annexed to the United States and relinquished its claim to this area. On July 4th, 1891, the twenty-second flag was raised with 44 stars.
23rd US Flag in 1896
Utah became a territory of the United States in 1848. Its first constitution was established in 1849 as the Mormon state of the Deseret. Congress changed the name to Utah in 1850, and a running argument began between Utah and the U.S. Congress over the question of polygamy. In 1890, the Mormon Church outlawed this practice and in 1896, Utah became the 45th state.
24th US Flag in 1908
The Indian Territory of Oklahoma was opened to settlers in 1889 and resulted in the first Oklahoma land run. Thousands of settlers, farmers, ranchers and pioneers rushed into the new territory to begin a new life. This migration resulted in the admission of Oklahoma to the Union on November 16, 1907, as the 46th state.
25th US Flag in 1912
In 1912, New Mexico and Arizona were the 47th and 48th continental states admitted into the union. The 48-star flag came into existence in that year and lasted for 47 years, longer than any other US flag. Under this banner we fought World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
26th US Flag in 1959
On July 7, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill making Alaska the 49th state of the Union. The admission of Alaska marked the first time a state had been admitted that had not been in the continental United States. Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7 million, or two cents an acre. Alaska became the 49th star.
27th US Flag in 1960
At Hawaii's request in 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the United States. In 1903, the territorial legislature petitioned Congress for admission to the Union, but was denied. Not much was thought of Hawaii until the bombing of Pearl Harbor when Americans realized what an integral part of the U.S. Hawaii was, and on March 18, 1959, Hawaii became our 50th state and the last star in the flag.
This flag has endured through many years of hardship and toil. Many patriots have died in honor of its name. It is widely known and respected throughout the world. It is recognized to be the beacon of democracy, freedom, liberty and justice, and it is to this banner the countless millions of people came from all over the world in their personal search for political and religious freedom.
Some of today's Americans have come to take for granted the proud Stars and Stripes. Perhaps to some Americans, our flag means nothing more than apple pie and another day off on Fourth of July. Let us never forget that this flag was born of blood and has been preserved by blood. This flag is the symbol of liberty and the great cost of liberty is dear indeed.
I pray that God will always bless the Stars and Stripes, and that God will also always bless the United States of America.
Family-eStore will try to provide you with articles of interest to a Christian and patriotic way of life. The articles are written by Steven Coffman (Owner) of Family-eStore.com, (National Essay Contest) winner 1969. I am a person with strong Christian and patriotic beliefs. Tenacity, faith, and a belief in God, Country and Family are key components to success in life.
The Christian articles are only intended to bring you closer in your relationship to our Father in heaven. The Patriotic articles are only intended to show pride and patriotism to our "Land of the free and home of the brave, (The United States of America). I hope that you enjoy and are enlightened by them.
About the Author
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