The first U.S. flag described by Congress in 1777 had 13 stars.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Flag Resolution. It specified 13 alternating red and white stripes and a blue union containing 13 white stars, representing a new constellation. The stars symbolized the 13 states formed from the former colonies.
The resolution did not specify how the stars should be arranged. Early flags therefore used different patterns, including rows, circles, and other layouts. The familiar circle of stars is associated with the Betsy Ross flag, although historians debate Betsy Ross’s role in designing or making it.
The flag changed as new states joined the Union. Congress added stars for new states while retaining the original 13 stripes. Today’s flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes, with the latest star added for Hawaii in 1959.