Flag of the United States

Meaning and history of the flag of the United States

The flag of the United States of America, known as the Stars and Stripes, is one of the most recognizable in the world. It features thirteen alternating horizontal stripes of red and white, representing the thirteen original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. In the upper hoist canton, on a blue rectangle, fifty white five-pointed stars represent the fifty states of the union today.

The stars are arranged in nine alternating rows of six and five stars each. Red symbolizes valor and resilience, white stands for purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The flag has been modified 27 times since its first version in 1777, with a star added each time a new state joined the union. The current 50-star version dates to July 4, 1960, following the admission of Hawaii.

The Stars and Stripes design has inspired the flags of other countries, including Liberia, Malaysia, and Cuba. The U.S. flag is governed by an extremely detailed set of usage protocols set out in the United States Flag Code. It is known by several nicknames, including Old Glory and The Star-Spangled Banner—the latter also the title of the national anthem, composed by Francis Scott Key in 1814.

You can view the flag of the United States in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full the United States profile, its map, or the current local time in Washington D.C..