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1776- January 1, 1776 - George Washington chose the first flag to
represent the Colonies.
It was to be flown to celebrate the formation of the Continental Army. The
flag
consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in
the
upper left hand corner. This flag was called the Continental Colors, the
Cambridge
Flag, or the Grand Union Flag.
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1777- June 14, 1777 - The Continental
Congress adopts 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." The stars and stripes represent each of the thirteen
colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York,
North Carolina, and Rhode Island. This flag, The Flag of 1777, flew over
the nation for 18 years.
George Washington was the only president to serve under this flag. The
flag was
reported to have been sewn by Betsy Ross in May, 1776.
We now celebrate June 14, Flag Day, as the birthday of our flag.
In 1787, this flag was carried around the world by Captain Robert Gray.
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1794- January 13, 1794 - The Flag Act of January 13, 1794 provided for 15
stripes and 15 stars to take effect May 1, 1795. At this time, Vermont and
Kentucky had become states. This flag flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and was the inspiration
for Francis Scott Key’s "The Star Spangled Banner". This flag
flew over our country for 23 years. Five presidents served under this
flag: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and
James Monroe.
In 1912, the original "Star Spangled Banner" which flew over Ft.
McHenry was given to the Smithsonian Institute. |
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1818- April 14, 1818 - The Flag Act of April 14, 1818 provided that the
flag would have 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies and one star
for each new state. The new stars would be added on July 4th following the
admission of each new state. The Act was signed by President James Monroe.
The flag of 1818 contained 20 stars, with the admission of Tennessee, Ohio,
Louisiana, Indiana, and Mississippi |
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1819- July 4, 1819 - Illinois entered the union and a flag with 21 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for one year. James
Monroe was the only president to serve under this flag.
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1820- July 4, 1820 - Alabama and Maine entered the union and a flag with
23 stars was added. This flag flew over the United States for 2 years.
James Monroe was the
only president to serve under this flag.
This flag was the first flag on Pike’s Peak.
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1822- July 4, 1822 - Missouri entered the union and a flag with 24 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for 14 years.
Presidents James Monroe, John
Quincy Adams,
and Andrew Jackson served under this flag. |
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1836- July 4, 1836 - Arkansas entered the union and a flag with 25 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for one year.
Andrew Jackson and Martin Van
Buren were the only presidents to serve under this flag. |
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1837- July 4, 1837 - Michigan entered the union and a flag with 26 stars
was added. This
flag flew over the United States for 8 years. Presidents Martin Van Buren,
William Henry Harrison. John Tyler and James Polk served under this flag. |
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1845- July 4, 1845 - Florida entered the union and a flag with 27 stars
was added. This
flag flew over the United States for 1 year. James Polk was the only
president to serve under this flag. |
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1846- July 4, 1846 - Texas entered the union and a flag with 28 stars was
added. This flag flew over the United States for 1 year. James Polk
was the only president to
serve under this flag. |
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1847- July 4, 1847 - Iowa entered the union and a flag with 29 stars was
added. This
flag flew over the United States for 1 year. James Polk was the only
president to
serve under this flag. |
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1848- July 4, 1848 - Wisconsin entered the union and a flag with 30 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for 3 years.
Presidents James Polk, Zachary
Taylor, and Millard Fillmore served under this flag. |
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1851- July 4, 1851 - California entered the union and a flag with 31 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for 7 years. Presidents Millard
Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan served under this flag. |
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1858- July 4, 1858 - Minnesota entered the union and a flag with 32 stars
was added.
This flag flew over the United States for 1 year. James Buchanan was the
only
president to serve under this flag. |
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1859- July 4, 1859 - Oregon entered the union and a flag with 33 stars was
added.
This flag flew over the United States for 2 years. James Buchanan and
Abraham Lincoln were the only presidents to serve under this flag. |
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1861- July 4, 1861 - Kansas entered the union and a flag with 34 stars was
added. This flag few over the United States for 2 years. Abraham Lincoln was the
only president to serve under this flag. |
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1861- The first Confederate Flag , the Stars and Bars, was adopted in
Montgomery, Alabama. |
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1863- July 4, 1863 - West Virginia entered the union and a flag with
35 stars was added. This flag flew over the United States for 2 years. Abraham
Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were the only two presidents to serve under this flag. |
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1865- July 4, 1865 - Nevada entered the union and a flag with 36 stars was
added.
This flag flew over the United States for 2 years. Andrew Johnson was the
only
president to serve under this flag. |
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1867- July 4, 1867 - Nebraska entered the union and a flag with 37 stars
was added.
This flag flew over the United States for 10 years. Presidents Andrew
Johnson,
Ulysses S. Grant, and Rutherford B. Hayes. |
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1869- The flag was first used on a postage stamp. |
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1877- July 4, 1877 - Colorado entered the union and a flag with 38 stars
was added.
This flag flew over the United States for 13 years. Presidents Rutherford
B. Hayes,
James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison served
under this flag. |
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1890- July 4, 1890 - North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and
Idaho
entered the union and a flag with 43 stars was added. This flag flew over
the
United States for 1 year. Benjamin Harrison was the only president to
serve
under this flag. |
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1891- July 4, 1891 - Wyoming entered the union and a flag with 44 stars
was added.
This flag flew over the United States for 5 years. Presidents Benjamin
Harrison
and Grover Cleveland served under this flag. |
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1892- The "Pledge of Allegiance" was first published in a
magazine called "The Youth’s
Companion." It was written by James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy. |
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1896- July 4, 1896 - Utah entered the union and a flag with 45 stars was
added. This
flag flew over the United States for 12 years. Presidents Grover
Cleveland, William
McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt served under this flag. |
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1908- July 4, 1908 - Oklahoma entered the union and a flag with 46 stars
was added.
This flag flew over the United States for 4 years. Presidents Theodore
Roosevelt
and William Taft served under this flag. |
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1909- William Perry leaves the flag on the North Pole. |
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1912- June 24, 1912 - By Executive Order of President Taft, the
proportions of the flag were established and provided that the arrangement of
the stars be 6 horizontal rows of 8 each, with a single point of each star to be
upward. |
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July 4, 1912 - New Mexico and Arizona entered the union and a flag with 48 stars
was added. This flag flew over the United States for 47 years.
Presidents William
Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin
D.
Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower served under this flag. |
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1931- "The Star Spangled Banner" is officially recognized by
Congress as the National
Anthem. |
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1939- The United States Flag Association ruled that Francis Bellamy was
the author of the original Pledge of Allegiance. |
1945- The flag that flew over Pearl Harbor during the attack on December
7, 1941, is flown over the White House on August 14, 1945, the day Japan accepted the terms
for surrender.
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1949- August 3, 1949 - President Truman signs the bill proclaiming June 14
as the official observance of Flag Day. |
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1954- June 14, 1954 - The words "under God" was added to the
Pledge of Allegiance. |
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1959- January 3, 1959 - Executive Order of President Eisenhower provided
that the stars
of the flag be arranged in seven rows of seven stars each, and were to be
staggered horizontally and vertically. |
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July 4, 1959 - Alaska entered the union and a flag with 49 stars was added.
This
flag flew over the United States for 1 year. President Eisenhower was the
only
president to serve under this flag. This flag was made in the Army
Quartermaster
Depot in Philadelphia and was raised over Independence Hall on July 4.
This
flag is now housed at the Alaska State Museum. |
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August 21, 1959 - Executive Order of President Eisenhower provided that the
stars
be arranged in 9 rows of stars staggered horizontally and 11 rows of stars
staggered vertically. |
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1960- July 4, 1960 - Hawaii entered the union and a flag with 50 stars was
added. This
flag presently flies over the United States. This is the 27th flag. |
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1963- Barry Bishop placed the flag on Mount Everest. |
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1969- July 20, 1969 - Neil Armstrong placed the flag on the moon. |
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1995- December 12, 1995 - The Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment
was defeated in the Senate. This amendment would have made the burning of
the flag a crime. |