| The American Flag |
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| As citizens of the United States of America we do not pledge our allegiance to the "American Flag"...for there is no single flag that represents te whole of America. The flag known to us as the Star Spangled Banner is the flag of the 50 states that make up the United States of America.Our flag is only as much an American flag as are the flags of Canada, Chili, Mexico and the countless other nationsthat share the boundries of the continents known as North and South America. Our flag is unique as it represents one nation...a republic made up of 50 individual states that have been united to form "One Nation Under God". All too often we think of "Old Glory" as the American flag, and most of the world's population understand what we mean by this term and what flag to which we are referring. But in the truest of facts, the banner that represents our nation, the greatest nation of free citizens in the history of mankind is: The Flag of the United States of America. |
| The majority of the text on this page is attributed to the website www.homeofheros.com |
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| This is the Flag of the United States of America as it looks today. Though the 13 red and white stripes date back to our earliest flag, the blue field [known as "The Union" has changed significantly over the years in which our nation was formed. The present design with the Union of 50 stars has been our official flag since 1960. |
| Many flags have flown over the geographical area that makes up the United States of America since the explorers and settlers began making their way to the new world in the 16th century. During that periodnthe flags of Spain, France, Holland, Sweden and England provided the rallying point for the earliest of American settlement. The flag of Great Britain, known as "The Union Flag", flew over our origial 1 American colonies that were to eventually become the first 13 United States. This flag flew over us from 1707 to 1775. |
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| As the American Colonies became more and more independant from Great Britain, several new flags were developed. One of the most famous was a flag on the right, with a snake and the words "Don't Tread on Me". The flag to the left is the first official flag. Notice that it has the stripes but it is void of the stars and incorporates the field of Great Britains's "The Union Flag". This was often referred to as "The Grand Union Flag". |
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| This flag has been known by other names such as: The Congress Colorsn or the Cambridge Flag.This flag was authorized by the Second Coninental Congress in 1775. In the later part of that year, the delegates to the Congress realized that a unique symbol of unity was needed for the 13 colonies. A committee was appointed late that year to consider such a symbol of unity. This symbol would take shape in the form of a standard, or flag. The committe consisted of Benjamin Franklin [of Pennsylvania], Benjamin Harrison [of Virginia] and Thomas Lynch [of South Carolina.] These three men consulted with revolutionary leaders like George Washington as wellas many of the colonial leaders that were opposed to separation fro Great Brittain. The resulting "Grand Union Flag" has been considered by many as the first example of compromise by our new United States. The flag was designed by Francis Hopkins with the intention of incorporating our independance from Great Britian as well as acknowledging the link to our past. Note: Francis Hopkins was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independance. Thirteen alternating red and white stripes compromised the body of the new flag and symbolized the unity of the 13 American Colonies. The upper corner field was a smaller version of the British Union Jack, which consists of the Cross of St. George of England andthe Cross of St. Andrew of Scotland. This field was incorporated to show our desire to repair and maintain our relationship with Great Britian. The members of the Second Continental Congress considered this new flag the symbol to be the Congress Colors. On January 1, 1776 General George Washington's troops raised the new flag up o the Liberty Pole at Prospect Hill near the American General's headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For this reason it became known as the Cambridge Flag. General Washington preferred to call it the Grand Union Flag,a title which caught on quickly among his soldiers and the rest of the colonies. The first United States flag was seen flying from the masts of the colonial fleet on the Delaware River in late 1775, before it was raised at Prospect Hill. On December 3, 1775 a young Lieutenant named John Paul Jones raised the new Congress Colors aboard Captain Esek Hopkins flagship, named the Alfred. With this, many began to know this as the first Navy Ensign. Ironically, this flag was also the flag of the British East India Company. It was made the official flag of the 13 Amerian Colonies on July 4, 1776 when they declared independance from England. It was also the same flag that represented the free and independant people of the Colonies on September 9, 1776 when Congress gave their new nation a name, the "United States". |
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| Emanuel Leutze created this famous paining known as "Washington Crossing the Delaware", in which a "Bettsy Ross American Flag" was displayed. However, it is unlikely that this would have been the flag used for a crossing at this time in our nations young history. Primarily due to the fact that, for almost the entire first year of the American Revolution, the Grand Union Flag was the ensign of the struggling new "United States." |