4 minute read
Martin Link
Grand Union Jack
During the 17th century, Great Britain began to establish colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America. For centuries, England and Scotland had been at war with each other, but in 1707 they united, and along with Wales, formed the nation of Great Britain.
Their flag combined the flag of England’s St. George, a red cross on a white field, and Scotland’s St. Andrew, a white diagonal cross on a blue background. It became known as the Grand Union Jack, and also flew over Britain’s 13 American colonies until 1776.
Betsy Ross
The Continental Army, on the other hand, adopted a flag which was a clear representation of the connection between Great Britain and her former colonies. This flag was in general use throughout 1776 and the first half of 1777, and was referred to as the Grand Union flag, or the Continental Colors.
In 1775 the simmering relations between the 13 colonies and Mother England finally boiled over into armed insurrection. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. As the war escalated to epic proportions, a wide range of regional, state, and militia flags came into use, but there was no official national flag.
On June 3, 1777, a petition was presented to Congress on behalf of the “Indian Nations,” probably the friendly Tuscarora and Oneida, for an American flag. To expedite matters, three strings of wampum were included to cover the costs.
The Indian Nation request may have spurred Congress to take action, for eleven days later, while enacting various Naval resolutions, Congress “Resolved that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes alternating red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” There was no specific design for the stars and many variations appeared. Tradition has it that a seamstress by the name of Betsy Ross suggested the circle pattern, and converted the heraldic 6-pointed star into the simpler, more highly visible 5-pointed star, or molet.
History of the Flag Part 1
By Martin Link
A country puts its dreams and ideals into symbols—a flag, a plot of sacred ground, a monument. Through the course of years of collective experiences, the people grow to love these symbols, fight for them, die for them! A symbol, and what it stands for, must stay together. They are indivisible. As we shall see, the United States flag did not spring fullblown into existence, but evolved and grew over the centuries, much as the nation it symbolizes—they are both a “Work in Progress.”
