"THE REBEL STRIPES" FLAG

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution as follows: "Resolved 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." The Resolution was silent as to the arrangement or stype of stars and a wide variety of flags followed, many shown in this Exhibit.  The "rebellious strips", as the British referred to it, was described first.  The design of the United States flag evolved from the British red ensign which was modified to form the first standard, the Grand Union flag.