The American flag The Grand Union flag 1775

The American flag

The Grand Union flag (1775) • It had the British flag and 13 red and white stripes.

The first official US flag • It was made by Betsy Ross in 1777. It had 13 stripes and 13 stars for the 13 states that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.

From 1777 to 1960 the US flag changed many times. When a new state became part of the USA, a new star was added to the flag.

In 1960, the US flag took its present form after Hawaii (the 50 th and last state) joined the USA. It was designed in 1959, by a boy named Robert G. Heft. It has 13 stripes and 50 stars. The fifty stars represent the fifty states. The thirteen red and white stripes represent the first thirteen colonies.

The flag’s colours • Red symbolizes strength • White symbolizes purity • Blue represents justice

Proud to be American • Black or white, rich or poor, for many Americans, the flag is a symbol of unity. It is important on happy or tragic occasions: for example, to celebrate Independence Day on 4 July or to show solidarity and patriotism after 11 September.

A symbol of solidarity • For the millions of immigrants the US flag symbolized their dream of a new and better life. The flag united them.

Patriotism • People put flags in their widows or gardens • There is even an American flag on the moon !

The Pledge of Allegiance

Protesting against the flag • To protest against America’s role in the Vietnam War, some US veterans turned the flag upside down. • Other countries which see America as a symbol of the world domination protest by burning the flag.

• It is illegal to use the US flag for publicity, clothes or other objects.