US History - Flag Research

United States Flag

1. ORIGIN: When and where does the US flag originate? Durning my research of when and where the first American flag was originally from. Many Historians believe that Betsy Ross was the creator of the American flag with the thirteen original colonies. Other historians believe Francis Hopkins was the original creator of the flag. The creation of the flag has no official origins of who made it and where. The year the flag was made was in 1776, and it included the thirteen original colonies. I believe that Betsy Ross was the true creator of the original American flag. 

2. EVOLUTION: When and why has it evolved? As I was researching the evolution of the flag, I discover the flag has been changed 27 times ranging from 1776 to present day. The flag has had more stars added to it every time, starting from 13 to 50. 


3. DESIGN ELEMENTS / CHOICES: What factors have shaped the look of the flag, including the shapes, colors, and arrangements of stars, stripes, red, white blue, etc.?  Is there a history and purpose to these graphic design choices? There are many representations of the USA in the flag itself. The flags stars represents the 50 states. The 13 stripes are represented by the 13 original colonies that were first established in the United States. I also found durning my research that the color of the flag has a significant meaning. The color blue found on the flag represents justice, the color white represents purity, and the color red represents valor.

4. For what is the flag a symbol?  Does consensus about the meaning of the flag appear to be fairly widespread?  How can you tell? Does it seem to be widely understood as a positive symbol of national unity? The United States flag is a symbol of freedom in the United States.  Yes, the flag's symbolism of freedom is seen throughout the United States. The flag can be seen in movies, song, and book representing freedom and bravery. 

5. What are the flag’s nicknames?  What can you learn about where those nicknames originate in our culture? The flag has many nicknames such as "Old Glory" and "The Stars and Stripes". These nicknames originated from people who were brave and showed valor in the society.
  
6. What can you learn about the flag in popular music?  In both songs "Where were you World Stopped Turning" by Alan Jackson and "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood show American patriotism toward the flag. In both songs the Flag represents Freedom in the United States. 

7. HABITS/USE:  What evidence suggests that the flag is generally understood, within our culture, as something that is worthy of respect and more careful treatment than you might otherwise provide to a piece of fabric? Our culture understand the how to respect the flag, by not letting it touch the ground and having a light on it if it flies at night. 

8. CONTROVERSY:  Can you find any evidence to suggest that the flag itself is controversial?  Or do there just seem to be ways of using it that are controversial? The American flag has created controversial issues over America, such as race equality. This has been seen in the NFL, by players sitting down durning the national anthem. Protesting the unfair rights and liberties of equality.  

Neil Armstrong planting American Flag in the moon durning Apollo Mission

Sources:

US Flag Supply, The History of the American Flag This website is where if found out the history and creation of the American Flag. It also aided my research to help find who created the American flag and when. 

History Channel, The Origins of the American Flag  This website helped me find out more information on the origin of the American flag. 

US Flag, "Old Glory" This website helped me find more information on the nicknames and representing on the flag.

Business Insider, The American Flag on the Moon, This was the website I used to get my image of Neil Armstrong planting the flag into the moon.