Why There Are 50 Stars on the United States Flag and What Each One Represents

The United States flag, also known as the "Stars and Stripes" is one of the most recognised flags in the entire world. It is seen flying high on government buildings, schools, homes, and on special days such as Independence Day and Memorial Day. The US flag has great significance since it highlights the history of the United States and its values like liberty, solidarity, and patriotism. The nation has expanded over the years, and due to this, the US flag has also undergone constant changes.

How Many Stars Are There on the US Flag?

There are 50 stars on the US flag and the history behind these stars is quite fascinating as each star represents one state in the United States. This means that the total number of stars arranged in the flag showcases that there are 50 states in the country today. Further, these stars are arranged in nine rows of alternating five and six stars, all placed on a blue rectangle in the upper left-hand corner of the flag. This blue section is called the “union.” The UK embassy mentions: "There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies."

Why Are There 50 Stars on the Flag of the United States?

The history behind the stars is quite unique. Each time a new state joins the United States, a new star gets added to the flag. For example, when Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, the 50th star was added to the flag the following year.

The stars on the flag of the US are not just for counting the number of states as they also stand for the unity and equality of all the states. The size of all the stars on the flag of the US is same which showcases that every state is equal in the eyes of the nation.

Has the Number of Stars Always Been 50 on the Flag of the US?

No, the flag hasn’t always had 50 stars. When the first official US flag was adopted in 1777, it only had 13 stars. Those stars stood for the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Britain. As the country grew and new states joined the union, the number of stars increased. The flag has been changed 27 times to add more stars. The current 50-star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state.

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