American Flag History - An Evolution Through Time
Welcome to the history of the American Flag, where the stars and stripes of the United States flag tell a great story through pictures and the details of how each flag came to be. The American Flag historical timeline is amazing to walk through, as it reflects our nation's history.
You can watch the American Flag history video below, and keep reading for a detailed explanation of each American Flag alteration!
The Betsy Ross - 1777
The Design
The first flag, known as the Betsy Ross flag, was first noted in use on June 14, 1777. It featured 13 stars arranged in a circle, representing the original 13 colonies that declared independence from British rule. Other flags at the time used stripes and were most likely the inspiration for this flag design. The Sons of Liberty Flag was a known flag at the time and consisted of 9 red and white stripes.
The Historical Context
The Betsy Ross flag holds a lot of meaning for the Revolutionary Era and embodies the spirit of the American Revolution and the early days of what is now American Flag history! Like many other U.S. Battle Flags, it was used in battles and in paintings such as "General George Washington at Trenton" (1792) and "Washington Crossing the Delaware" (1851). Additionally, Betsy Ross herself became a symbol of patriotic virtue, especially for young girls, and an emblem of women's indispensable contributions to American history. For almost 2 decades, The Betsy Ross flag helped grow the new American Sense of freedom and the nation's identity.
Still Used Today
The enduring legacy of the Betsy Ross flag is evident in its continued use during quadrennial United States presidential inaugurations. The Betsy Ross flag has also made its way into popular culture today. The Philadelphia 76ers, since 1963, have incorporated the distinctive ring of 13 five-pointed stars in their team logo. This serves as a nod to Philadelphia's historical significance as the first capital of the United States, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and where Betsy Ross played a role in shaping the nation's early symbols.
Symbolism
Stars were a known symbol in European heraldry and often changed their meaning based on the number of points on the star as well as the shape. At the time, five pointed stars were not common amongst flags and the true reason behind the Betsy Ross flag including five points is not fully understood. The reason could be as simple as recognition from far distances.
A point of contention you may not know about is the circular pattern that the stars are aligned in! Due to the fact that there is no documentation of the design, there is no evidence that Betsy Ross created the flag in a circular pattern. On the contrary, circumstantial evidence from the Betsy Ross house points to the flag being set up in rows of stars similar to the more modern American Flag cantons.
15 star - 1795
In 1795, two stars and two stripes were added to represent Vermont and Kentucky, which had joined the Union. This flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, became the official flag on May 1, 1795 and replaced the Betsy Ross flag that was previously used. Given the name, “Star Spangled Banner”, this flag holds a special place in American history for many reasons.
The Design
The flag features 15 stars and 15 stripes, representing the addition of Vermont and Kentucky to the union. Each star and stripe symbolized a state, and it was a common practice to add both a star and a stripe for each new state admitted to the Union.
The Historical Context
Today, an original “Star Spangled Banner” is preserved in the National Museum of American History. This is the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the National Anthem. He viewed the flag from his shipboard confinement during the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry in the War of 1812 and penned his ode to all the flag represented. Keys' famous poem helped to solidify Old Glory as a symbol of American resilience and roughness under duress. You can learn more about the origins of the National Anthem at Ft. McHenry here.
A lot of the same symbolism found in the Betsy Ross Flag, as well as many subsequent American Flags, is present here as well. Popular lore indicates that the red stripes represent the courage and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentions and high ideals; and blue for vigilance and justice. As time goes on, we are reminded how the colors flawlessly embody the American spirit like the flag itself.
Rapid Growth: From 15 to 25 Stars
The 15 star-spangled flag was created and ended up being flown up until 1818. By that time, five additional states had been added to the U.S. and new precedents in U.S. flag etiquette were established.
Initially it was thought that there would be an additional star and stripe for every state added, but it was generally agreed that this would cause too much clutter within the flag's design. As more states joined the Union, it became clear that adding a stripe for each new state would make the flag unwieldy. In 1818, Congress passed a law formalizing 13 stripes to honor the original colonies and stipulated that a star would be added for each new state.
At this point in the flag's evolution, the 15 stripes were brought back down to 13, to represent the 13 original colonies. The flag now had 20 stars. The 5 new stars represented the following states being added to the U.S.
Historical Context
The Louisiana purchase gave way to a lot of expansion in the U.S. Much of that territory was yet to be considered states, but other states were officially given stars on the flag. During this time period, the era of good feelings was uniting the U.S. and people were forming a sense of national unity. The American Flag started to mean something for this young nation beyond an uprising and revolt against the former imperial British Empire. Expansion was surely on America’s mind, which led to many disputes with Native Americans. The first of the "Seminole Wars" started in 1817 and marked the beginning of conflict with Native Americans as Western expansion took hold.
Old Territory, New Stars
On December 3rd 1818, Illinois joined the Union. This added one star to the flag.
Not too long after Illinois was made official, Alabama joined in December of 1819, and Maine followed in 1820, bringing the total number of stars to 23. (You can check out the Original Maine Flag here. This was the very first state flag for Maine and today it remains a very popular flag due to it's simple and impactful design.)
Next up, in August of 1821, Missouri joined the United States, increasing the number of stars to 24. This was the last official addition for quite some time. There was plenty of unorganized territory that was waiting for further exploration to become states. Those territories were the East Florida Territory, Arkansas Territory and Michigan Territory. Spanish territory became Mexican in 1821, spanning from California all the way to Texas along the present day United States/Mexican border.
Almost 15 years later, there was finally a breakthrough with a new state being added to the union. The Arkansas Territory was officially made into Arkansas (with some left over land for future Oklahoma). This brought the count up to 25 stars in 1836.
Political Impact
Andrew Jackson had political support in the Arkansas Territory that was very valuable to him in maintaining the slave supporting state ratio to the northern free states. The circumstances for Arkansas becoming a state are very interesting because Michigan announced it would be applying for statehood earlier in 1836. This news really pushed Arkansas representatives to apply for statehood in order to add another slave state to congress to balance political decisions surrounding slavery and state rights.
26 star - 1837
Right after Arkansas was officially made a state, Michigan, who had applied for statehood beforehand, was pushed through to become a state in January 1837.
The American Flag had already seen a large amount of transitions through this early phase of expansion in the U.S. With the political climate heating up and social issues rising due to the growing slavery dispute, the American Flag's stability as a source of unity was starting to fade. The addition of stars also began to just represent the balance of northern and southern states in the power struggle for the prominent social issues of the time.
27 star - 1845
The Florida Territory had been changing hands between the Spanish and British for centuries, ever since the first settlers arrived there in 1513. Americans in southern states were growing more and more frustrated by the Native Americans and Spanish influences offering runaway slaves a safe haven if they were willing to convert to Catholicism. Finally, after many years of wars with the Seminole Indians and with diminished Spanish influence, Florida became the 27th state to join the union and the flag was updated with an additional star.
28 star - 1845
The great state of Texas joined the Union in December of 1845. Texas' independence from Mexico was a long process culminating with the War for Texas Independence. For 9 years after Texas defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna in 1836, Texas was an independent nation only loosely aligned with the broader United States. Texas was (and is) a very independent minded place and it took some time for sentiment to build for Texas to join the broader Union of States.
The Historical Context
The Lone Star state gave a whole new section of land to the U.S. that would give way to massive western expansion in the future. The impact of Texas joining the United States was also more significant in terms of political and social aspects. The annexation of Texas in 1845 was a contentious issue as it heightened tensions between the Northern and Southern states over the issue of slavery. The addition of Texas as a slave state fueled the flames of sectionalism, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and later, the American Civil War (1861-1865).
While the addition of Texas did not lead to a major change in the flag design, it did have broader implications for the nation's history and the issues that would shape its future.
Civil War Era States
One year later in December of 1846, Iowa became a state, giving the American Flag its 29th star. The Flag design went from a neat 4x7 star design to four rows of differing star amounts.
This was yet another short-lived flag change because by 1850, 2 more states were formed. Wisconsin and California became the 30th and 31st states, respectively. California had a significant influx of people due to the gold rush that occurred in1848, making it one of the first large scale western expansions in US history.
The 32nd star came by way of Minnesota officially becoming a state in May of 1858. This state was made from a chunk of northern land that was known as the Minnesota Territory at the time. A section of it became a part of the unorganized territory to the west, while the Minnesota state line was formed.
Throughout the American Civil War, there were a few states that were created. The 33rd star on the U.S. flag came from Oregon getting carved out of the Oregon territory in 1859. From 1861 to 1863, three more states - Kansas, West Virginia and Nevada, were admitted.
Controversy over Nebraska
A 37th star was added to the US flag on March 1st 1867 in a very unique way and happened during a very difficult period of American history. President Johnson had vetoed the Nebraska statehood bill on February 20, 1867. However, Congress overrode his veto, and Nebraska was admitted as the 37th state. This makes Nebraska the only state to be added to the US by veto!
The controversy surrounding Nebraska's territorial organization in 1854 was connected to the issues of the time, particularly the debate over slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, sponsored by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, allowed the residents of these territories to decide through popular sovereignty whether they would permit slavery. This led to significant tensions and conflicts in the region, including violent clashes known as "Bleeding Kansas."
Pushing West
The U.S. would wait nearly a decade before adding its 38th star to the flag. On August 1st 1876, Colorado was added to the Union and became a full fledged state. At this point in time, the U.S. was still in a state of reconstruction, industrialization and westward expansion. This led to Colorado becoming the 38th state of the United States.
One interesting fact about Colorado's admittance to the U.S. is that Colorado earned the nickname the "Centennial State" because it was admitted to the Union in 1876, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
November of 1889 was quite busy for the U.S. flag! Four states were added to the U.S. and it was a big step in the north western expansion that the U.S. was conducting, as North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho were all added.
The Historical Context
Their addition to the United States in the late 19th century was driven by a few main factors. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land to settlers for a small fee. This encouraged Western settlement and agricultural development as pioneers sought new opportunities in the vast territories. The discovery of valuable mineral resources, such as gold and silver, attracted a wave of prospectors and supporting enterprises, contributing to the economic growth of these regions. The expansion of the railroad network played a crucial role in facilitating transportation, making it easier for people to settle in these territories and transport resources to established Eastern markets.
As the territories grew, the desire for statehood increased among residents. Statehood granted political representation and control over local affairs. North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted in 1889, followed by Montana and Washington later that same year. This series of state admissions brought the star count to 43 and also marked the continuous linkage of the continent from coast to coast.
The Final Stars
The last additions spanned over the next 70 years making the total land owned by the United States nearly complete (aside from a couple surprises later on).
Next up on the state list is the state of Wyoming. The 44th star was added in 1891 and was a continuation of North Western expansion that happened in the years before. Wyoming's path to statehood was relatively smooth compared to some other territories, and it became a state alongside Idaho on July 10, 1890. The addition of Wyoming to the Union marked another step in the ongoing process of westward expansion and the incorporation of western territories into the fabric of the United States.
Over the course of the next two decades, three more continental U.S. states were added, largely carved from existing states and territories. These last few states included: Oklahoma in 1907, New Mexico in 1912 and Arizona, also in 1912.
Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907, due to a combination of factors. Initially designated as Indian Territory, the region saw diverse settlement through land runs and openings, attracting a growing population. Economic development, including agriculture and oil discovery, contributed to the area's appeal. The demand for political representation and local governance, coupled with the usual political process, led to the passage of the Oklahoma Enabling Act in 1906. A constitutional convention followed, resulting in the ratification of a state constitution. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Oklahoma as the 46th state in the Union based on this constitution. The statehood process was driven by a desire for self-governance, representation, and access to federal resources.
New Mexico became a state on January 6, 1912. The region was initially part of the Spanish Empire and later Mexico. After the Mexican-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, it became a U.S. territory. Efforts for statehood were delayed due to various factors, primarily too sparse a population. Over time, as the population grew and stabilized, and the territory developed economically and politically, the push for statehood gained momentum. New Mexico was eventually admitted as the 47th state in the Union in 1912.
Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, due to several factors. The increasing population, economic growth fueled by mineral discoveries, a desire for political autonomy, and the need for infrastructure development all contributed to the push for statehood.
Modern Era States
49th star - 1959
Alaska, America’s largest state became a part of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. It was a very gradual path to statehood for Alaska that involved many factors ranging from economic reasons all the way to global strategic priorities during the Cold War.
The Design
The 49 star design is very similar to the current 50 star design. Obviously there is only a difference of one star, but the 49 star design is a much more simple 7 rows of 7 stars that are offset. We will get into the final design as of today in just a little bit, but first a bit more on the details of Alaska joining the United States and becoming the largest state in America.
The Alaska Statehood Committee, formed in 1949, advocated for Alaska's admission to the Union, addressing economic concerns such as resource development and infrastructure. Nearly a decade later, the Alaska Statehood Act, signed in 1958, outlined a plan for statehood. In a 1958 referendum, Alaskans voted in favor of statehood. The Constitutional Convention, held from November 1955 to February 1956, produced a constitution approved by voters in April 1956, leading to Alaska becoming the 49th state.
The main drivers for the statehood of Alaska are as follows: economic opportunities in the form of natural resource discovery, strategic geography due to its proximity to Asia and Russia, and the people that made up the statehood committee. The people in this committee really pushed and advocated for statehood and dispelled any real concerns people had about Alaska being fit enough for statehood.
50th star - 1960
It was a long process that took about a decade to really move the needle for Alaska statehood. This wasn’t too dissimilar to Hawaii in its quest for statehood and putting a 50th star up on that beautiful American Flag.
The Design
The 50 star design is made up of alternating 6 and 5 star rows. With five rows of 6 stars and 4 rows of 5 stars in between the larger rows. This offset pattern really shows off a beautiful design that uses every inch of that OG Blue Canton. This canton design has come a long way from the early days of the Betsy Ross or 15 star flag, but it also has a familiar look and feel to it.
Hawaii joined the U.S. after being an important and meaningful territory of the U.S. since the year 1900. Several factors contributed to Hawaii's eventual statehood: strategic geographic importance, political evolution, and public support were three of the main drivers. Similarly to Alaska, Hawaii is placed in a great geographic area for the global expansion that the U.S. was interested in. Having a presence in the pacific ocean meant there would be armed forces available in distant regions of the world on a much shorter notice. The islands are also important for trade and they are an extremely sought after vacation destination.
The Historical Context
The attack on Pearl Harbor fostered a sense of belonging with U.S. citizens and drove more independence on the islands. As they got better at self governing, the political landscape shifted giving the push for statehood more and more momentum. Ultimately, the people of Hawaii expressed a desire for statehood. Statehood referendums were held in 1950 and 1959, and in both instances, the majority of voters supported becoming a state.
In 1959, Congress passed the Hawaii Admission Act, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959, marking the end of its status as a U.S. territorial claim.
What's Next For The American Flag
We don’t know what’s next for the U.S. A 51st state could be in the works, but it’s safe to say that the evolution of the American Flag has slowed down significantly as expansion became less and less of a priority. Going along this journey of the American Flag from the early days to the 50 star flag we hoist proudly here at GFW HQ, it becomes clear that each stitch carries a small part of the American story and this nation's journey. From the stars and stripes of its infancy to the symbol of unity we proudly hoist today, the American Flag has been a steadfast witness to history.
We are proud to make these flags available for you at Gettysburg Flag Works. If you’re a fan of history or are proud to be an American, these flags are ready for you whenever you want them. From American flags all the way to custom made designs for schools, military groups or personal/business use, we have them all. Just reach out to our team here, or give our flag experts a call at 1-888-697-3524. We can’t wait to make your flag design come to life!