History of the American Flag

History of the American Flag

Objectives:

Students will learn what the main symbols of the American flag represent.

Students will various ways to display the U.S. Flag

American Flag

• Betsy Ross

• This flag is named after Elizabeth Griscom Ross

• American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives in 1870 for making the first American Flag

• This historical pattern has been used as early as 1777 featuring the familiar patterns Americans have come to know and love of the alternating red and white stripes and 13 stars in a blue canton.

Star Spangled Banner Flag

• The Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812.

THE UNITED STATES FLAG

• A flag is the symbolic representation of a nation and its people.

• Modern flags are usually made of some type of cloth, employ a design, and are rectangular in shape, although other shapes are found. 

• The part of a flag that is attached to the staff is called the hoist (height of the flag) and the length of the flag is called the fly. 

Description of the Flag 

• The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen horizontal stripes

• Seven red and six white, in alternate arrangement starting and ending with a red stripe.

• It has fifty white five-pointed stars on a blue field--called the union (or canton) -located in the upper quarter next to the staff.

Description of the Flag cont'd

• The stars are arranged in five rows of six stars alternating with four rows of five stars

• Last row has 6 stars

• The fifty-star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960

The Story of, the Flag

• The flag-the Stars and stripes-as we know it today has undergone several changes.

• It originated during the Revolutionary War

• But not used during the war

• Many of the colonies devised their own flags and many local areas and certain commanders improvised their own hasty standards (flags)

The Story of, the Flag

• It is possible that the design adopted was based on certain features of existing flags like the Cambridge flag or the first Navy Jack, both of which incorporated the idea of thirteen alternate red and white stripes to represent the thirteen colonies

• The historic date for the origin of the flag is June 14, 1777. On that day, the Continental Congress in a resolution declared, "that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation." 

Multiple Choice

How many red stripes are on the American flag?

• 7

• 3

• 12

Multiple Choice

What did American flag only have 13 stars?

• for the oceans

• for the colonies

• for the army

Multiple Choice

What colors make up the American flag?

• orange, green, and yellow

• red, white, and blue

The Symbolism 

• In 1818 an act was passed which fixed the symbolism of the American flag

• The third act provided that there were to be thirteen horizontal stripes alternate red and white to represent the founding colonies and a star for a state

• It required that the flag union consist of twenty stars (one for each state at that time), and that for the future, a star be added to the flag union for every new state admitted.

• The effective date for the addition of a new star was to be the fourth of July following the admission of the state.

THe Flag Over time

• From 13 to stars to 50

• The forty-eight-star arrangement of six horizontal by eight vertical rows was used since 1912 when New Mexico and Arizona became the forty-seventh and forty-eighth states respectively.

• The entry of Alaska resulted in the forty-nine-star flag of seven staggered rows of seven stars each which lasted from July 4, 1959 to July 4, 1960. Hawaii has resulted in the present arrangement. 

• The exact arrangement of the stars in the flag union is determined by Presidential order.

Multiple Choice

What year was the First Flag Act adopted?

• 1776

• 1777

• 1778

• 1779

Multiple Choice

The Third Flag Act called for:

• New Stripes but no new stars

• New stars but no new stripes

• Yellow moons and green clovers

• The original 13 stripes and a new star for each new state

Multiple Choice

Which is not a name of the blue field?

• The Field

• The Union

• The Canton

• The Ocean

Respect for flag Cont'd

• The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress

• The Flag should never touch the ground

• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free

• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery

• The flag should be handled with care

• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

Respect for flag

• The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing

• State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag

• During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. 

• Those present in uniform should render the military salute. 

Poll

Today's lesson was

• understandable

• objective driven

• gave examples

• needs help

Poll

I understood this lesson on a

• 5 very well

• 4 good

• 3 ok

• 2 i need help

Open Ended

I can answer at least one objective. (try to answer one of the objectives as best you can)