:■,;;:..:::. The and Stripes Independence, Americans fought under various banners. The Stars and Stripes, or Old Glory, as our For example, one New England flag is often called, is a symbol of our flag had a pine tree and the nation. It represents the land, the people, the words An Appeal to Heaven. government, and the ideals of the United Another flag pictured a States. The flag was the inspiration for our rattlesnake with 13 rattles and national anthem, "The Star-Spangled the slogan Don't Tread Upon Banner," written by Francis Scott Key in Me. 1814. Our flag has a long history. It has as our nation has grown. In colonial times many different flags were carried on CONTINENTAL COLOURS (1775) ceremonial occasions. During the War for declared their independence. None of these flags, however, was a national flag. PINE TREE FLAG (1775) On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress enacted a flag resolution. It said that the flag of the United FIRST NAVY JACK (1775) States would have 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a field of George Washington's army carried the blue, but it did not describe how the stars Continental Colours, which had 13 should be arranged. alternating red and white stripes and the Who designed the first national flag? British flag in the corner. The Bennington One story tells of a group of women in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, making the BENNINGTON FLAG (1777) first flag from ballroom dresses. This flag was supposedly flown on John Paul Jones's flag also had 13 alternating red and white ship, the when it went into battle. Ranger, stripes, but the 13 stars were arranged Another story says that Francis Hopkinson, around the number 76. This number stood a member of the naval committee and a for 1776, the year in which the colonists signer of the Declaration of
:■,;;:..:::. The and Stripes The Stars and Stripes, or Old Glory, as our flag is often called, is a symbol of our nation. It represents the land, the people, the government, and the ideals of the United States. The flag was the inspiration for our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. Our flag has a long history. It has as our nation has grown. In colonial times many different flags were carried on ceremonial occasions. During the War for Independence, Americans fought under various banners. For example, one New England flag had a pine tree and the words An Appeal to Heaven. Another flag pictured a rattlesnake with 13 rattles and the slogan Don't Tread Upon Me. CONTINENTAL COLOURS (1775) PINE TREE FLAG (1775) FIRST NAVY JACK (1775) George Washington's army carried the Continental Colours, which had 13 alternating red and white stripes and the British flag in the corner. The Bennington BENNINGTON FLAG (1777) flag also had 13 alternating red and white stripes, but the 13 stars were arranged around the number 76. This number stood for 1776, the year in which the colonists declared their independence. None of these flags, however, was a national flag. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress enacted a flag resolution. It said that the flag of the United States would have 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a field of blue, but it did not describe how the stars should be arranged. Who designed the first national flag? One story tells of a group of women in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, making the first flag from ballroom dresses. This flag was supposedly flown on John Paul Jones's ship, the Ranger, when it went into battle. Another story says that Francis Hopkinson, a member of the naval committee and a signer of the Declaration of