THE HISTORY OF THE STARS AND STRIPES

THE HISTORY OF THE STARS AND STRIPES

Stars and Stripes was born as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia June 14, 1777. The resolution follows:

"Resolved that the flag of the United States thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen white stars on a blue field representing a new constellation."

HISTORY OF THE STARS AND STRIPES

The resolution gave no instruction on how many points of the stars must have, or how stars should be arranged on the blue union. Consequently, some flags had stars scattered on the blue field without any specific design, some arranged in rows stars, and some in a circle. The first Navy Stars and Stripes had the stars arranged in staggered rows staggered by two trees and a blue field. Other Stars and Stripes flags had stars arranged in alternate rows of four, five and four. Some stars had six points, while the other was eight.

There is good evidence that Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was responsible for the stars of the American flag. When the flag resolution was adopted, Hopkinson was the Chairman of the Department of the Navy of the Continental Council East. Hopkinson also helped design other devices for the government, including the Great Seal of the United States. For his services, Hopkinson sent a letter to the Continental Admiralty Board asking "if a quarter of public opinion will not be a barrel of wine reasonable and proper remuneration for work of fantasy, and an appropriate incentive for future efforts this nature. "His request was denied because Congress felt it was an official.