Changes

The '''American flag''', often affectionately known as "Old Glory" or the "Stars and Stripes", consists of a blue field with 50 white stars on it (one for each [[state]]), with the remainder being thirteen stripes (7 red and 6 white), in memory of the original thirteen states.

The '''American flag''', often affectionately known as "Old Glory" or the "Stars and Stripes", consists of a blue field with 50 white stars on it (one for each [[state]]), with the remainder being thirteen stripes (7 red and 6 white), in memory of the original thirteen states.

Since the stars reflect the number of states in the US, the flag has changed as the number of states has changed. Originally, the flag contained thirteen stars.  There were several variations in the original arrangement of the stars, a popular one being the design of [[Betsy Ross]] arranged in a circle.  Both the stripes and star were increased to fifteen on admission of [[Kentucky]] and [[Vermont]] but later revisions reverted to the stripes of the thirteen "original" states to avoid the obvious aesthetic problem of adding a stripe each time any new state entered the union.  It was decided thereafter that a star would be added on the fourth of July following the admission of the state.  The current fifty stars are arranged in five rows of six stars alternating with four rows of five stars.

Since the stars reflect the number of states in the US, the flag has changed as the number of states has changed. Originally, the flag contained thirteen stars.  There were several variations in the original arrangement of the stars, a popular one being the design of [[Betsy Ross]] arranged in a circle.  Both the stripes and star were increased to fifteen on admission of [[Kentucky]] and [[Vermont]] but later revisions reverted to the stripes of the thirteen "original" states to avoid the obvious aesthetic problem of adding a stripe each time any new state entered the union.  Another variation of the flag was the Pickersgill Flag, which was 30 X 42 feet and was used during the siege of [[Fort McHenry]] in 1814.

 

It was decided thereafter that a star would be added on the fourth of July following the admission of the state.  The current fifty stars are arranged in five rows of six stars alternating with four rows of five stars.

It is displayed at all [[Federal]] buildings, and many homes and businesses also proudly display it.

It is displayed at all [[Federal]] buildings, and many homes and businesses also proudly display it.