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American ships in New England waters flew a "Liberty Tree" flag in 1775. It shows a green pine tree on a white background, with the words, "An Appeal to Heaven."
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The Continental Navy used this flag, with the warning, "Don't Tread on Me," upon its inception.
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Sons of Liberty flag.
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New England flag.
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Forster flag.
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January 1 — The Grand Union flag (Continental Colors) is displayed on Prospect Hill. It has 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton).
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May — Betsy Ross reports that she sewed the first American flag
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Another 13-star flag, in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern.
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June 14 — Continental Congress adopts the following: Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation. Stars represent Delaware (December 7, 1787), Pennsylvania (December 12, 1787), New Jersey (December 18, 1787), Georgia (January 2, 1788), Connecticut (January 9, 1788), Massachusetts (February 6, 1788), Maryland (April 28, 1788), South Carolina (May 23, 1788), New
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Cowpens Flag. According to some sources, this flag was first used in 1777. It was used by the Third Maryland Regiment. There was no official pattern for how the stars were to be arranged. The flag was carried at the Battle of Cowpens, which took place on January 17, 1781, in South Carolina. The actual flag from that battle hangs in the Maryland State House.
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Brandywine Flag.
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Flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes Vermont (March 4, 1791), Kentucky (June 1, 1792)
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Flag with 20 stars and 13 stripes (it remains at 13 hereafter) Tennessee (June 1, 1796), Ohio (March 1, 1803), Louisiana (April 30, 1812), Indiana (December 11, 1816), Mississippi (December 10, 1817)
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Flag with 21 stars Illinois (December 3, 1818)
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Flag with 23 stars Alabama (December 14, 1819), Maine (March 15, 1820) first flag on Pikes Peak
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Flag with 24 stars Missouri (August 10, 1821)
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Flag with 26 stars Arkansas (June 15, 1836) Michigan (Jan 26, 1837)
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Flag with 29 stars Iowa (December 28, 1846) Texas (December 29, 1845) Florida (March 3, 1845)
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Flag with 33 stars Oregon (February 14, 1859) Minnesota (May 11, 1858) California (September 9, 1850) Wisconsin (May 29, 1848)
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Flag with 34 stars; Kansas (January 29, 1861)
Note: Even after the South seceded from the Union, President Lincoln would not allow any stars to be removed from the flag. • first Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) adopted in Montgomery, Alabama -
Flag with 37 stars Nebraska (March 1, 1867)
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Flag with 43 stars North Dakota (November 2, 1889), South Dakota (November 2, 1889), Montana (November 8, 1889), Washington (November 11, 1889), Idaho (July 3, 1890)
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Flag with 50 stars Hawaii (August 21, 1959)
