American Flag History for Kids

American Flag history for kids and a flag for them to color.

The fifty stars on the flag (white on a blue background) represent the fifty U.S. states and the thirteen stripes (red-white-red-white...) represent the original thirteen states.


The flag has several nicknames including the "Stars and Stripes", "Old Glory", and "The Star-Spangled Banner". The origins of the design are not known, but it is similar to one used by the British East India Company, with stars replacing the Union Jack. The stars may have been inspired by George Washington's family coat of arms, but Washington was not involved in the design, so perhaps not. The number of stars has changed over the years as the number of states has changed. Originally there were 13 stars arranged in a circle, and this was known as the "Betsy Ross" flag.

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