US History - Flag Research

US History - Flag Research

1. I learned that the US flag originated on July 14th, 1777. I found it very interesting that the origin of the first flag is unknown. Historians believe that it was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey Congressmen, and sewn by the famous Betsy Ross.  

2. I found that after Betsy Ross had sewn the first American flag, there were a few conflicting versions of the flag that were produced in the following years. There was never any serious change, but I was intrigued how the American flag design would change depending on the growing number of states being added to the union. For example, when Hawaii became a state in August of 1959, the flag changed into it's standardized design for it being the 50th and final state to join the country. 

Here are some examples of how the American flag had evolved over the years of 1777 and 1959. You can see how the design and number of the stars changed due to the number of new states joining our country.

3. Although some might believe that our American flag only represents our country and freedom, I discovered that every design and color of the flag has its' own special meaning. As many know, the flag is made of 13 alternating red and white stripes, and 50 stars representing each of our states. But to some surprise, each color has a different meaning: red symbolizes valor and hardiness, white stands for purity and innocence, and blue represents justice, perseverance and vigilance. 

4. While of course the American flag itself is popularly known, the true meaning behind its' origin and symbolism is not. However, I do believe the flag is known and considered as a positive symbol of national unity because of how often it is used and referenced in our everyday lives such as in decorations, clothes, and specific celebrations. Some common nicknames for the American flag are The Stars and Stripes, The Star-Spangled Banner, The Red, White, and Blue, and Old Glory. Specifically with the Old Glory, this name relates to a flag owned by Captain William Driver, who flew the flag during his career at sea. Not only did our flag have unique nicknames originating through our culture, but I also found how adored our flag is through popular music, genres, and album covers. In each of these examples, the American flag is known to be one of the most important things about our country, and is always talked about in the most respect. 

Here are some examples of album covers that have in some way incorporated the American flag into their design. This shows how important our flag is to the people of our country.  

5. All of my life, I have known that the flag is something that is to be treated with respect. I have even found that there are some federal laws related to the display to the American flag. These laws can include of not allowing the flag to touch anything beneath it such as the ground, water, or merchandise. This careful treatment of our flag demonstrates how meaningful our flag is to the US.

6. As stated in question number five, there are some controversial ways that I have found to treat our flag such as letting the flag drop, or allowing it to touch anything below it such as the ground, floor, or water. Those actions could possibly demonstrate that you disrespect the American flag, which would disrespect our country. This would not be a goof thing to do because of how amazing our founding fathers were to us. It is because of them we have such great lives in America. We can then thank them for doing such actions by appreciating and educating ourselves about our flag.

Sources:

Betsy Ross and The American Flag This website is where I found out all of my information of Betsey Ross and how and why the American Flag was created.
American Flag Facts This website is where I found most of my flag facts on the proper ways to treat the American flag, along with discovering the federal laws towards the flag.
Color and its' Meaning This website is where I found all of my information on symbolism. I discovered why the certain colors, shapes, and deeper meaning behind the flag and what it means to our country.