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Union Jack in the corner but added 13 Howard Taft issued executive orders
alternating red and white stripes. standardizing flag proportions and
• The First Flag Act (1777): The arranging the stars into orderly rows.
Continental Congress resolved that the • The 50-Star Flag (1960):
flag of the United States would consist of Following the admissions of Alaska (49th
13 stripes and 13 stars, though it provid- state) and Hawaii (50th state), the cur-
ed no specifications for the layout. This rent 50-star flag became official on July
led to many early variations, including 4, 1960. The iconic alternating offset star
flags with stars arranged in circles or pattern was actually designed by a 17-
rows. year-old high school student from Ohio
• The Star-Spangled Banner Flag for a class project
(1795): With the additions of Vermont They enacted a law returning the per- According to traditional symbolism
and Kentucky, the flag expanded to 15 manent stripe count to 13 (representing attributed to the Continental Congress,
stripes and 15 stars. This flag inspired the original colonies) and decreed that a the colors of the flag represent founda-
Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics for new star would be added for each new tional virtues: red for hardiness and
the national anthem during the War of state on the 4th of July following the valor, white for purity and innocence,
1812. state admission to the formal union. and blue for vigilance, perseverance,
• The Flag Act of 1818: As the • Modern Standardization (1912): and justice. For more detailed timeline
nation grew, Congress realized adding a Before the 20th century, there were still milestones and flag etiquette, visit the
new stripe for every state would eventu- no strictly enforced rules on the arrange- National Flag Foundation or review the
ally make the flag look like pinstripes. ment of the stars. President William Smithsonian Institution resources.