American flag how many stars and stripes

Flag Facts. National Portrait Gallery Russell Means. National Portrait Gallery Neil Armstrong. Shown here is a timeline of each official iteration including notable variations. The current star flag was adopted July 4, Composition The U. Iconography 50 stars the fifty states of the Union 13 stripes the original thirteen colonies. The values here are provided by the U. State Department and the U. Embassy in the U. Iowa had been established as a U. Wisconsin became a state on May 29, , adding the 30th star to the U.

Not all residents of Wisconsin were enthusiastic about statehood. They had rejected it four times previously because they were concerned statehood would mean higher taxes.

The Gold Rush that began with the discovery of the precious metal in helped fast-track California to statehood in California became the 31st star on the American flag the following July 4. The admission of California fulfilled America's manifest destiny of a nation extending from sea to sea.

On the eve of the Civil War, Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11, , and represented as the 32nd state on the flag less than two months later. Minnesota was admitted as a free state. America's expansion surged to the Northwest with the admission of Oregon on Feb.

Oregon, which had become a U. Kansas became the 34th state to join the Union. Voter fraud over whether the state would be admitted as a slave state or a free state delayed its admission. Kansas joined the Union on Jan. The onset of the Civil War did not halt the admission of states to the Union. The western part of Virginia was pro-Union and contained many abolitionists. It split from the rest of the state, which had seceded. President Abraham Lincoln was unsure about dividing Virginia and admitting the western portion as a separate state.

He agreed to its admission on the grounds that West Virginia's action was an act of secession in favor of the Constitution. West Virginia joined the Union on June 20, , and a new flag on July 4 included the 35th state.

The Civil War was engulfing the nation when Nevada was admitted as the 36th state on Oct. Nevada was pro-Union and President Abraham Lincoln saw Nevada's admission as a way to buttress support for the war. To speed up statehood, Nevada sent its entire state constitution to Washington, D. Grant , and Rutherford B. Hayes On June 14, , the Continental Congress passed an act establishing an official flag for the new nation.

Truman officially declared June 14 as Flag Day. The history of our flag is as fascinating as that of the American Republic itself.

It has survived battles, inspired songs and evolved in response to the growth of the country it represents. The following is a collection of interesting facts and customs about the American flag and how it is to be displayed:.

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