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4th of July History of the United States Flag for Families
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It was not until June 24, 1912 that the United States Flag had order for the stars or proportions of the flag. American Flags before 1912 are very interesting to look at; they have unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, because the flag maker could decide these features.
(It would be a fun family Internet experience to look up those first flags.) Look at this site for time line and pictures: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagpics.html
The main acts affecting the flag of the United States of America are the following:
The Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act on June 14, 1777. The goal was to establish an official flag for the new nation. The congress stated that, “The flag of the United States was to be made up of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in blue field, representing a new constellation.” (Remember this was at the time there were thirteen colonies. http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Denver-ParentSchool-Connection-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Fourth-of-July-Firework-History-for-Children-and-their-Families
The next act was January 13, 1794; it stated that after May 1795 there are 15 stars and 15 stripes.
President Monroe signed the act of 1818 on April 4th. This act provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state.
On June 24, 1912 President Taft signed an Executive Order establishing the proportions of our flag as well as providing the arrangement of the stars; in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
President Eisenhower signed two Executive Orders. First, January 3, 1959, to provide for the arrangement of stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically. Second Executive Order dated August 21, 1959, was for the arrangement of the stars, in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally, and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
There are some wonderful Flag Books for Families:
Stars and Stripes: The Story of the American Flag by Sarah L. Thomson
A Grand Old Flag: A History of the United States Through its Flag by Kevin Keim
100 American Flags: A Unique Collection of Old Glory Memorabilia by Kit Hinrichs
-R.R.Cratty
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