You probably think you know the story. Betsy Ross sits in a rocking chair, George Washington walks in, and she stitches together the first stars and stripes. It’s a nice story. It’s also mostly a myth.
History is rarely that tidy. When we look at the American flag through history, we aren't looking at a single, unchanging object that dropped out of the sky in 1776. We’re looking at a messy, evolving project. The flag has been a naval signal, a protest banner, a marketing tool, and a sacred relic. It’s changed more times than most people realize. Honestly, for the first few decades of the United States, the flag wasn't even the primary symbol of national identity. People were much more attached to their state flags or local insignias.
The flag we recognize today—the 50-star version—is actually the longest-running design in the nation's history. But getting there was a wild ride.
The Chaos of the Continental Colors
Before the Stars and Stripes, there was the Grand Union Flag. It looked weird. It had the thirteen red and white stripes, but in the corner where the stars are now, it featured the British Union Jack.
Imagine that for a second.
The colonists were literally shooting at British Redcoats while flying a flag that honored the British Crown. It wasn’t a mistake. It reflected the confusing reality of 1775: many Americans weren't looking for total independence yet; they just wanted their rights as British subjects. They were essentially saying, "We’re still British, but we’re different."
Washington himself flew this flag at Prospect Hill in 1776. It wasn't until the Declaration of Independence that having the Union Jack on our flag became, well, awkward.
The Flag Act of 1777 and the Betsy Ross Problem
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act. It was short. To the point. It said the flag would have thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a "new constellation."
That’s it.
✨ Don't miss: Boynton Beach Boat Parade: What You Actually Need to Know Before You Go
It didn't specify how many points the stars should have. It didn't say if they should be in a circle, a square, or scattered like birdseed. This is why early flags look so different from one another. Some had stars with six or eight points. Some had them in rows.
Now, about Betsy Ross. There is zero contemporary evidence that she designed or sewed the first flag. The story didn't even surface until 1870—nearly a century later—when her grandson, William Canby, told the Pennsylvania Historical Society. He claimed he heard it from family members. While Ross was a real upholsterer who did work for the government, most historians, including experts like Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography, believe the design likely came from Francis Hopkinson. Hopkinson was a signer of the Declaration and a designer who actually billed Congress for "designing the flag."
Congress never paid him. Some things never change.
When the Stripes Got Out of Control
As the country grew, the flag started getting crowded. When Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union in the 1790s, Congress added two stars and two stripes.
This resulted in the 15-stripe flag. This is the "Star-Spangled Banner" that Francis Scott Key saw over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. If you go to the Smithsonian today and look at that specific flag, it’s massive. It’s also physically impossible to keep adding stripes every time a state joins. By 1818, five more states had joined.
Congress realized that if they kept adding stripes, the flag would eventually look like a pinstripe suit.
Captain Samuel Reid of the U.S. Navy suggested a compromise that saved the design: go back to 13 stripes to honor the original colonies, but add a new star for every new state. It was a brilliant move. It meant the flag could grow forever without losing its basic visual identity.
The Civil War and the Flag That Wouldn't Split
One of the most intense moments for the American flag through history happened in 1861. When the Southern states seceded, you might assume the North removed the stars representing those states.
🔗 Read more: Bootcut Pants for Men: Why the 70s Silhouette is Making a Massive Comeback
They didn't.
President Abraham Lincoln was adamant. He refused to remove any stars from the flag because he didn't recognize the legality of secession. To him, the Union was permanent. Even though those states were in open rebellion, their stars stayed on the blue field. It was a powerful, silent way of saying the country wasn't truly broken.
During the war, the flag became a much more potent symbol for the average citizen. Before the 1860s, you didn't see many private homes flying the flag. It was mostly for ships, forts, and government buildings. But the war changed the flag into a symbol of personal loyalty. Northern families started flying it to show support for the troops. This is when "Old Glory" really entered the American living room.
The Wild West of Flag Design
For most of the 19th century, the flag was basically the Wild West. There was no "Flag Code."
Advertisers used it to sell everything from tobacco to patent medicine. They’d print company logos right over the stars. Politicians would print their names on the stripes for campaign rallies. People would wear it as clothing in ways that would make modern traditionalists cringe.
It wasn't until the late 1800s and early 1900s that "flag protection" movements started. People began to feel that the flag was being "polluted" by commercialism. This led to the National Flag Convention in 1923, which eventually morphed into the official U.S. Flag Code.
Did you know that until 1912, there was still no official arrangement for the stars? President Taft finally issued an executive order that year to standardize the rows. Before that, you could find flags with stars in star-shaped patterns, circles, or even "great star" designs where the little stars formed one giant star.
Cold War, Moon Landings, and Modern Meaning
The 50-star flag we fly now was designed by a high school student. Seriously.
💡 You might also like: Bondage and Being Tied Up: A Realistic Look at Safety, Psychology, and Why People Do It
In 1958, Robert G. Heft was 17 years old. He had a class project to design a new flag for when Hawaii and Alaska joined. He took an old 48-star flag, cut it up, and rearranged the stars. His teacher gave him a B-minus.
Heft sent the flag to his congressman, and eventually, President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose it as the official design. His teacher later changed the grade to an A.
Then came the 1960s. The flag went to the moon with Apollo 11. But it also became a flashpoint during the Vietnam War. For some, it was a symbol of unwavering patriotism; for others, it became a symbol of government overreach. This era cemented the flag as a tool for protest. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in Texas v. Johnson (1989) that burning the flag is protected speech under the First Amendment. It was a controversial decision that highlighted the unique paradox of the flag: it represents a Constitution that allows you to destroy the symbol itself.
How to Respect the Legacy Today
If you’re looking to honor the American flag through history in your own life, it’s less about memorizing dates and more about understanding the etiquette that evolved from all this chaos.
First, let’s talk about light. If you’re flying the flag at night, it needs to be illuminated. A porch light or a dedicated spotlight works. If it’s dark and the flag is invisible, the Flag Code says it should be taken down.
Second, the "all-weather" rule. Most flags today are nylon or polyester, so they can handle rain. But if you have an old-school cotton or wool flag, bring it inside during a storm. It’s not just about "rules"—it’s about the fact that those materials get heavy, tear easily, and degrade when wet.
Third, disposal. Don't throw a flag in the trash. It feels wrong because, historically, it is. Most local American Legion posts or VFW chapters have "flag drop boxes." They collect old, tattered flags and retire them in a dignified ceremony, usually by burning them in a controlled, respectful way.
The flag isn't a static painting. It’s a living document of where the country has been. It’s survived 27 official versions and countless unofficial ones. Whether it’s 13 stars in a circle or 50 in a grid, the history of the flag is really just the history of the people who chose to fly it.
Your Next Steps:
- Check your flag's condition: If the edges are frayed (known as "chaffing"), it can often be repaired by a tailor if the flag isn't too far gone.
- Locate a retirement site: Find your nearest VFW post so you know where to take your flag when it's time for a new one.
- Look closer at historical flags: The next time you're in a museum, look at the star patterns. You can often tell the exact decade a flag was made just by how those stars are arranged.