Page 16 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

North America

USA: Historical flags
The flags of the War of Independence and of the Civil War still have an influence
on the American flags of today.

T
THE GRAND THE FIRST STARS
T
UNION FLAG AND STRIPES
The first American flag was adapted from On June 14, 1777, the Union Jack was
the British Red Ensign of the time. It was emoved from the flag in favor of a blue
known as the “Grand Union Flag,” i.e. of anton with 13 stars, representing a new
the Union of 13 colonies. These were onstellation, which now also represented
represented by the 13 stripes of red and he United States. This was the first use of
white. The flag was introduced in tars in this way, and set a precedent for
December 1775 for use on land and at sea. many later flags.

THE FLAG THE FLAG
OF 1795 OF 1818

When two new states joined the Union ive new states were formed after 1795,
in 1795, two new stars and two new ut a new flag was not designed until 1817
stripes were added to the flag, making when Congress decreed that in future only
15 stripes and 15 stars. This set a precedent ew stars would be added and it would
for adding new stripes and stars when each evert to 13 stripes, in order to preserve the
new state joined the Union. The flag soon ppearance of the flag. The new stars were
became known as the “Star Spangled dded on July 4, 1818, and this system has
Banner.” een followed ever since.

THE STARS THE BATTLE FLAG OR
T
T
AND BARS “FLAG OF THE SOUTH”
When Southern states seceded from the The Battle Flag with its distinctive saltire
Union in 1860-61, a new flag for the n a red field (Southern Cross) was
Confederacy was hoisted on March 3, ntroduced in September 1861, specifically
1861. Known as the “Stars and Bars”, it or use in battle. On land it was square
originally had 7 stars, but these increased with a white border, but the rectangular
to 13 in the course of 1861, as more states aval version, without a border, is now
joined the Confederacy. ccepted as “The Flag of the South.”

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