The creation of the US Flag

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The Creation of the US Flag
Introduction
Many authors have written about the US flag. Reading such works is good because it helps one to understand the efforts of the founding fathers that painstakingly fought to ensure the future generations would have better lives than they did. Whereas some of the information, about the flag, is true and can be proven, there is no evidence to back up some information. There is evidence to prove the information about the earlier designs of the flag and the reasons for the current design of the US flag, but there is no evidence about the creator of the first flag of the nation.
The history of the designs of the flag
The flag has undergone many changes since the colonial days. One of its earliest versions is the 1765 Sons of Liberty. It had the ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ rattlesnake like most other American banners of that century. The sign was supposed to show the seriousness of the people on their decision to strike back to have their rights respected (Hamilton 30). The sign was famous among the people because they could relate to it at a deeper level.
The first unofficial flag of the nation was the Continental Colors also known as the Grand Union Flag. Over the years, the forefathers made references to this flag (Rankin 340). It was hoisted on January 1, 1776 at Somerville, Massachusetts. This followed General George Washington’s command.
The ‘Stars and the Stripes’ was the first official flag of the nation. The Continental Congress approved it on June 14, 1777.

The flag had to have red and white stripes that had to be thirteen in total. It also had to have thirteen stars in a blue field. There was no specific layout of the stars, and many flag makers came up with their patterns and layout. On May 1, 1795, the Congress enacted another flag resolution that required the stars on the flag be changed to represent the inclusion of two other states, Vermont and Kentucky. However, the following years saw the admission of other states. In 1818, the Congress introduced another resolution that required a star to be added with every new admission of a state, but this was only supposed to take place on July 4 of the year following a state’s admission. The number of stripes was to remain 13. The latest version of the flag came into play in 1960 following Hawaii’s admission in 1959. Since then, there have been no changes because there has not been a new state’s admission.
Reasons behind the design of the United States flag
The flag’s colors lack an official assignment or symbolism (Greenstein Par. 3). However, Charles Thomson gave some suggestions about the same. The white color was to signify purity and innocence, the red color was to signify the valor, and the blue color was to signify the perseverance, vigilance, and justice. However, the stars have an assigned meaning. Every star on the flag represents a state. The stripes also have a meaning, and they represent the former British colonies that declared independence and came together to form the first states of the United States on July 4, 1776.
The maker of the flag of the United States
The question of who the first US flag-maker was is very confusing. Many people have tried to answer this question over the years. One of the most famous explanations taught in schools is that Betsy Ross made the flag (Miller 317). Betsy Ross’s grandchild, William Canby was the first person to declare publicly that his grandmother was involved in the making of the flag. According to him, Betsy used to tell her family members about the events that saw her design the country’s flag but had not claimed the same during her lifetime. The story came into limelight decades after her death. There are many critics, however, who claim that the story does not add up. They have come up with reasons that help to prove that Canby’s story is untrue. According to Canby’s story, as told by Betsy, representatives of the government visited her and asked her to make the flag. One of the major points that the critics of the story make is that there are no records whatsoever indicating that Rose had anything to do with the creation of the flag. It is a reasonable point because such a requirement at the time ought to have been documented. Another reason why the critics find Betsy’s story hard to believe is that there was no formal meeting by Congress discussing the national flag until the year 1777, but Betsy’s story states that she was commissioned to work on the flag in the year 1776, and that does not add up. Betsy’s story, however, is the only one that many people believe in. Since there is no evidence to show that it is true, the first maker of the US flag remains unproven.
Conclusion
The US flag remains a symbol of unity. The current day design of the flag is a result of works of improvement over the years. Even though there is no official assignment of the different colors of the flag, these colors represent important feelings for the people. There is proof to show the different designs over the years. However, the maker of the first US flag remains a mystery.
Works Cited
Greenstein, N. (2013, July 4). Why the U.S. Flag is Red, White and Blu. Time.com. Retrieved from http://swampland.time.com/2013/07/04/why-the-u-s-flag-is-red-white-and-blue/
Hamilton, Schuyler. History of the national flag of the United States of America. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Grambo, and Company, 1853.
Miller, William C. “The Betsy Ross Legend.” The Social Studies 37.7 (1946): 317-323.
Rankin, Hugh F. “The Naval Flag of the American Revolution.” The William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History (1954): 340-353.