From the very beginning, the History of the American Flag has been a focus of patriotic sentiment. Millions of children recite the Pledge of Allegiance it each day in school, and it has been a central theme in the lyrics of our national anthem. Throughout the years, the symbolism of the colors has evolved to reflect a growing nation.

Various stories have circulated about who designed the first Stars and Stripes. The most widely accepted story credits Betsy Ross, who was an upholsterer at the time and a relative of George Washington. She would later tell her family and descendants that three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to her home late in May 1776 and asked her to sew the first flag. The committee members, George Washington, Robert Morris and Francis Hopkinson, had a pencil sketch of the design in hand.

Stars and Stripes: Delving into the History of the American Flag

The original version of the flag included 13 alternate red and white stripes and 13 stars, representing the 13 colonies. This is the version of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

Congress passed a law in 1795 that increased the number of stars to fifteen and added two more stripes, reflecting Vermont and Kentucky’s entry into the Union. This is the version of the Flag that still flies today. In 1818, a new Flag Act started the precedent of adding a new star to the flag each time a state entered the Union. The 21st star was added in 1820 when Illinois entered the Union, followed by Alabama and Maine.