The United States flag—thirteen red‑and‑white stripes with a blue canton bearing fifty white stars—was first established on 14 June 1777. The stripes commemorate the original colonies; the stars, one per state, grew with the Union to the current fifty on 4 July 1960 after Hawaii’s admission. Colours are read as valor (red), purity (white), and vigilance, perseverance, and justice (blue). The design evolved through 27 official versions as states joined. Etiquette is governed by the U.S. Flag Code (Title 4, U.S.C.) specifying display, half‑masting, folding, and dignified retirement. The standard proportion is 1.9:1 with a codified star field (Union) layout and colour specifications.
The United States flag developed during the American Revolution as the Confederation sought a distinct emblem. On 14 June 1777, the Continental Congress resolved that the flag have thirteen stripes alternating red and white, and thirteen white stars in a blue field to represent a new constellation.
Early star arrangements varied—circles and rows—while the stripe count temporarily rose to fifteen in 1794 with Vermont and Kentucky. The 1818 Flag Act restored thirteen stripes permanently for the founding colonies and mandated that a star be added on the Fourth of July following admission of each new state.
As territories entered the Union through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the canton grew to reflect 27 official versions of the flag. The current pattern of fifty stars—arranged in nine offset rows—took effect on 4 July 1960, after Hawaii’s admission in 1959.
Colour symbolism has been read as red for valor and hardiness, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The flag’s standard proportion is 10:19 (height to length). Construction sheets specify the dimensions of the Union, the star diameter, and spacing to ensure uniform manufacture across services and vendors.
Protocol
is codified in the U.S. Flag Code, enacted in 1942 and refined since. It prescribes respectful display, precedence in groupings, the method of half‑masting, and proper folding. The flag should never touch the ground, be used for clothing, or carry advertising. Worn flags are retired with dignity, commonly by ceremonial burning.
Historically, the flag gained prominence during the War of 1812—immortalised by the “Star‑Spangled Banner”—and again in the Civil War, when it became a central symbol of national unity. Through later conflicts and civic milestones, the Stars and Stripes served as a unifying emblem on public buildings, in schools, and at international events.
Variations include ensigns and positional colours for the President and armed services, each governed by distinct regulations. Supreme Court rulings have balanced reverence for the flag with constitutional protections of expression. In everyday life the flag’s presence at ceremonies, memorials, and holidays embeds its meanings in civic culture.
Today the flag flies worldwide at embassies and missions, with detailed Department of State and Department of Defense guidance for international protocol. The long tradition of star additions and standardised practice has yielded a design that is both historically layered and instantly recognisable.