The Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution establishing the first Stars and Stripes design on June 14, 1777.
The resolution specified thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field. It described the stars as representing “a new constellation,” linking the design to the thirteen states that had declared independence.
The resolution did not prescribe the stars’ exact arrangement, the number of points on each star, or every detail of how the flag should be made. Early flags therefore appeared in several arrangements, including circles, rows, and other handmade patterns.
June 14 is now observed annually as Flag Day in the United States. The thirteen stripes remained after new states joined, while stars were added over time. The current fifty-star design dates from July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became a state.