Thirteen stripes appeared on the original U.S. flag represented in America250 history.
The Flag Resolution adopted by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, specified thirteen alternating red and white stripes. It also called for thirteen white stars on a blue field, representing the thirteen states in the new union.
The flag’s design changed as new states joined. In 1795, Congress approved a flag with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes after Vermont and Kentucky entered the Union. The number of stripes was later fixed at thirteen, while stars continued to be added for new states.
The modern flag therefore has thirteen stripes but fifty stars. The stripes symbolize the original thirteen colonies, while the stars represent the current states. The distinction helps explain why the first flag and the flag flown during America250 have different numbers of stars but the same number of stripes.