Flag of the United States

The national flag of the United States has thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars on a blue field. Its design represents the original states and the current states of the union.

Thirteen Colonies: The British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America that declared independence in 1776. The flag’s thirteen stripes recall these colonies.
American Revolution: The political and military struggle in which thirteen British colonies won independence and formed the United States. The flag’s first official adoption came during the Revolution.
United States Flag Code: A federal code describing customary rules for displaying and treating the United States flag. It sets out conventions for showing respect to the flag.
United States Armed Forces: The military organizations responsible for defending the United States and its interests. Military units display the flag as a national emblem.
Flag of the United States (1777–1795): The first official United States flag had thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen stars. It established the original stripe-and-star design.
Second Continental Congress: The governing assembly of the thirteen colonies during the American Revolution. Congress adopted the first official national flag in 1777.
Pledge of Allegiance: A civic oath of loyalty to the United States and its flag, commonly recited in schools and public settings. The flag is named directly in this widely practiced civic ritual.
United States national anthem: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a song whose lyrics describe the United States flag surviving a bombardment. The anthem’s central image is the flag over Fort McHenry.
Flag of the United States (1795–1818): The United States flag used from 1795 to 1818 had fifteen stripes and fifteen stars. Its added stripes prompted the later decision to keep the stripe count at thirteen.
Flag Act of 1777: A resolution of the Second Continental Congress establishing thirteen stripes and thirteen stars for the United States flag. It created the first statutory design.

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