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Current U.S. flag: July 4, 1960
The 50th star is added after Hawaii’s entry to the U.S. on Aug. 21, 1959.
July 4, 1959
1912
48 states in the United States. Presidential order issued, fixing the position of the stars.
1908
46 states on the flag. No official design for the 46-star flag was used from 1908-1912.
1861
34 states. Even after South secedes from the Union, President Abraham Lincoln would not allow stars to be removed from the flag.
49 stars on flag after Alaska enters the Union on January 3, 1959.
1846
Following the Mexican-American War, 28 states make up the nation.
1818
May 1, 1795
August 1777
The “Bennington Flag”; carried at the Battle of Bennington.
20 stars and 13 stripes adorn the flag – Tenn., Ohio, La., Ind. and Miss. join the union. Congress mandated the number of stripes be fixed at 13 and one star would be added for each new state.
After Vt. and Ky. join the union; 15 stars and stripes adopted.
1777
1776
January 1776
“Grand Union” flag. In the “union” square are the crosses borrowed from the British flag.
1776
The Continental Navy used this flag with a rippling form of a rattlesnake, and the words “DON’T TREAD ON ME.”
Used by the 3rd Maryland Regiment; carried into battle January 1781.
The “Betsy Ross” flag. Stars represent the newly formed 13 states — Del., Pa., N.J., Ga., Conn., Mass., Md., S.C., N.H., Va., N.Y., N.C. and R.I.