An American Flag Timeline
The United States flag has changed 63 times over the past 235 years. As the original thirteen colonies established their presence in America, they started to develop new designs that would represent their loyalty and unity. The modern American flag has evolved to symbolize freedom, justice, and prosperity. Most modern Americans would not recognize some of the oldest versions of the American flag. In fact, some early designs featured the Great Britain Union Jack, which symbolized the thirteen colonies loyalty to Britain. Some have developed negative connotations associated with slavery, such as the Confederate flag used for the battlefield. Others have unforgettable significance that future generations will come to love.
Follow the time line below to discover the fascinating history of the Star-Spangled Banner:
1776: The Grand Union Flag:
This flag had alternate seven red and six white stripes representing the 13 colonies. In addition, the Grand Union Flag had the Great Britain Union Jack in the left-hand corner symbolizing its loyalty to Great Britain. Nobody knows who created the Grand Union Flag; however, its purpose was to communicate its loyalty to Great Britain and the unity of the American colonies. In November of 1775, the Continental Congress arranged to have a fleet of four ships sent to fend off enemies from intruding the southern colonies, specifically off the coastal waters of Georgia.
1777-1795: The Francis Hopkinson Variant of the First National Flag:
This flag had adopted the alternate red and white strips that represented the thirteen colonies; however, it replaced the British Union Jack with thirteen stars. Hopkinson created its basic design by alternating rows of stars in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern. In 1776, Betsy Ross designed this same flag, except that the thirteen stars created a complete circle. Hopkinson also contributed a very memorable song entitled “My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free,” which still impresses people yearning for freedom.
1795-1818: The Star Spangled Banner:
This 15-star flag became the official national flag of the United States on May 1 st, 1795. The designer added two stars to represent the states of Vermont and Kentucky. The Star Spangled Banner would last for twenty-three years under the presidency of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.
1818: The 1818 Flag, also known as the 20-Star Flag:
The United States Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818, which prompted the redesign of the Star Spangled Banner. This flag returned to the original thirteen stripes and added five stars to represent twenty states. The additional five stars represented the state of Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, and Mississippi. James Monroe was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1819-1820: 21-Star Flag:
The 20-star flag was updated to include an additional star that represented the state of Illinois on July 4 th, 1819. This flag featured one row of five stars, a second row of four stars, and two rows of six stars. James Monroe was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1820-1822: 23-Star Flag:
The 21-star flag was updated to include two additional stars to represent the states of Alabama and Maine on July 4 th, 1820. This flag featured six stars on the first row, five stars on the second row, and six stars on the third and fourth rows. James Monroe was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1822-1836: 24-Star Flag:
The 23-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Missouri on July 4th, 1822. This flag featured four rows of six stars. James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson served under this flag for a total of fourteen years.
1836-1837: 25-Star Flag:
The 24-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Arkansas on July 4 th , 1836. This flag featured six stars on the first row, five stars on the second row, and seven stars on the third and fourth rows. Two U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1837-1845: 26-Star Flag:
The 25-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Michigan on July 4 th , 1837. This flag featured seven stars on the first row, six stars on the second and third rows, and seven stars on the fourth row. Four U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1845-1846: 27-Star Flag:
The 26-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Florida on July 4 th , 1845. This flag featured seven stars on the first row, six stars on the second row, and seven stars on the third and fourth rows. James Polk was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1846-1847: 28-Star Flag:
The 27-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Texas on July 4 th , 1846. This flag featured four rows of seven stars to represent 28 U.S. states. James Polk was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1847-1848: 29-Star Flag:
The 28-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Iowa on July 4th, 1847. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, six stars on the second row, seven stars on the third row, and eight stars on the fourth row. James Polk was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1848-1851: 30-Star Flag:
The 29-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Wisconsin on July 4th, 1848. This flag featured five rows of six stars to represent 30 U.S. states. Four U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1851-1858: 31-Star Flag:
The 30-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of California on July 4th, 1851. This flag featured seven stars on the first row, five stars on the second row, six stars on the third and fourth rows, and seven stars on the fifth row. Three U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1858-1859: 32-Star Flag:
The 31-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Minnesota on July 4th, 1858. This flag featured seven stars on the first row, six stars on the second, third, and fourth rows, and seven stars on the fifth row. James Buchanan served as U.S. President under this flag.
1859-1861: 33-Star Flag:
The 32-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Oregon on July 4th, 1859. This flag featured seven stars on the first two rows, five stars on the third row, and seven stars on the fourth and fifth rows. Two U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1861-1863: 34-Star Flag:
The 33-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Kansas on July 4 th , 1861. This flag featured seven stars on the first two rows, six stars on the third row, and seven stars on the third and fourth rows. Abraham Lincoln served as U.S. President under this flag.
1861-1863: The First Official Flag of the Confederacy “Stars and Stripes”:
The “Stars and Stripes” Confederate flag was the first flag used for the seven southern states represented in the Confederacy.
1863-1865: 35-Star Flag:
The 34-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of West Virginia on July 4 th, 1863. This flag featured five rows of seven stars to represent 35 U.S. states. Two U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1865-1867: 36-Star Flag:
The 35-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Nevada on July 4 th , 1865. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, six stars on the second row, eight stars on the third row, six stars on the third row, and eight stars on the fourth row. Andrew Johnson served as U.S. President under this flag.
1867-1877: 37-Star Flag:
The 36-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Nebraska on July 4 th , 1867. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, seven stars on the second, third, and fourth rows, and eight stars on the fifth row. Three U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1877-1890: 38-Star Flag:
The 37-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Colorado on July 4th, 1877. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, seven stars on the second row, eight stars on the third row, seven stars on the fourth row, and eight stars on the fifth row. Five U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1890-1891: 43-Star Flag:
The 38-star flag was updated to include five additional stars to represent the state of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho on July 4th, 1890. This flag featured eight stars on the first row and seven stars on the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rows. Benjamin Harrison was the only U.S. President to serve under this flag.
1891-1896: 44-Star Flag:
The 43-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Wyoming on July 4th, 1891. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, seven stars on the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows, and eight stars on the sixth rows. Two U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1896-1908: 45-Star Flag:
The 44-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Utah on July 4th, 1896. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, seven stars on the second row, eight stars on the third row, seven stars on the fourth row, eight stars on the fifth row, and seven stars on the sixth row. Three U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1908-1912: 46-Star Flag:
The 45-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Oklahoma on July 4 th, 1908. This flag featured eight stars on the first row, seven stars on the second row, eight stars on the third and fourth rows, seven stars on the fifth row, and eight stars on the sixth row. Two U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1912-1959: 48-Star Flag (PDF):
The 46-star flag was updated to include two additional stars to represent the states of New Mexico and Arizona on July 4 th, 1912. This flag featured eight rows of six stars to represent 48 U.S. states. This flag became the official flag of the United States for 47 years. Eight U.S. Presidents served under this flag.
1959-1960: 49-Star Flag:
The 48-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Alaska on January 3 rd, 1959. This flag featured seven rows of seven stars to represent 49 U.S. states. Dwight D. Eisenhower served as U.S. President under this flag.
1960-Present: 50-Star Flag:
The 49-star flag was updated to include one additional star to represent the state of Hawaii on July 4 th, 1960. This flag features six stars on the first row, five stars on the second row, six stars on the third row, five stars on the fourth row, six stars on the fifth row, five stars on the sixth row, six stars on the seventh row, five stars on the eighth row, and six stars on the ninth row. Eleven U.S. Presidents have served under this flag