American Flag around Kennebunkport ME 04046

The American Revolutionary War
Just how the American Flag became

The background of the United States is large and also complex, but can be broken down into moments and periods that separated, unified, as well as changed the United States into the nation it is today. The American flag really did not resemble like it does now. Other than that, it underwent a lot of modifications as well as alterations.

The American Revolutionary War

Enter the American Revolution. Occasionally referred to as the American War of Independence, or the Revolutionary War, it was a dispute which lasted from 1775-1783 and also enabled the initial 13 colonies to continue to be independent from Great Britain. Starting in Great Britain in the late 1790s, the Industrial Revolution ultimately made its way to the United States and altered the focus of the nation’s economic climate and also the method it produces items.

For greater than a decade before the episode of the revolution in 1775, tensions had been developing between colonists as well as the British authorities. These tensions developed from growing stress between residents of Great Britain’s 13 North American colonies as well as the early american government (which represented the British crown). Efforts by the British government to elevate revenue by taxing the colonies (notably the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Tariffs of 1767 and also the Tea Act of 1773) consulted with heated demonstration among many colonists, who disliked their absence of depiction in Parliament as well as demanded the same rights as various other British people. Colonial resistance resulted in physical violence in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a mob of colonists, eliminating five people in just what was called the Boston Massacre. After December 1773, when a band of Bostonians dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded British ships and unloaded 342 containers of tea into Boston Harbor, an annoyed Parliament passed a collection of steps (called the Intolerable, or Coercive Acts) designed to reassert royal authority in Massachusetts.

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The Continental Congress met in May 1775 as well as agreed to build an army. George Washington was made its commander-in-chief. Congress wished they might compel the British to work out yet George III chose not to negotiate. Instead, in August 1775 he proclaimed that the American colonies were in a state of disobedience. On the other hand, rule by royal governor broke down and also individuals demanded government without imperial intervention. In May 1776 Congress chose that royal government needs to discontinue and government needs to be ‘for individuals’. Consequently the colonies formulated state constitutions to replace their charters.

By the autumn of 1781, the American army had actually begun to force the opponent to retreat to Virginia’s Yorktown peninsula, near where the York River clears right into Chesapeake Bay. Claiming health problems, the British general sent his replacement, Charles O’Hara, to surrender; after O’Hara approached Rochambeau to surrender his sword (the Frenchman deferred to Washington), Washington provided the nod to his own replacement, Benjamin Lincoln, who approved it. After French support assisted the Continental Army compel the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had effectively won their freedom, though combatting would not officially finish up until 1783.

The motion for American independence successfully triumphed at Yorktown, contemporary historians did not see that as the decisive victory. British armies remained based around Charleston, and the powerful main army still stayed in New York. The British removal of their soldiers from Charleston as well as Savannah in late 1782 ultimately indicated completion of the conflict. British and also American negotiators in Paris authorized initial peace terms in Paris late that November, and also on September 3, 1783, Great Britain officially acknowledged the freedom of the United States in the Treaty of Paris. At the same time, Britain authorized separate peace treaties with France and also Spain (which had entered the conflict in 1779), bringing the American Revolution to a close after 8 long years.

How the American Flag happened

The American flag was made to represent the brand-new union of the thirteen original states: it would certainly have thirteen stripes, alternate red as well as white, as well as thirteen stars, white on a blue field. Among the very first flags had actually the stars laid out in a circle, based upon the idea that all colonies were equal. The thirteen stripes, resting side-by-side, stood for the battle for freedom; red meant valiance, white signified purity and also blue stood for commitment.

In 1818, after a few style modifications, the United States Congress chose to retain the flag’s initial thirteen stripes and include brand-new stars to reflect each new state that joined the union.

While there is no doubt that the genuine Betsy Ross deserved interest in her very own right, it is the legend of Betsy stitching the first stars and stripes that has actually made her a memorable historical figure. The Betsy Ross tale was brought to spotlight in 1870 by her grandson, William Canby, in a speech he made to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Canby and various other members of Betsy’s household authorized vouched affidavits stating that they heard the tale of the making of the first flag from Betsy’s very own mouth.


Washington asked if Betsy could make a flag from the layout. Betsy responded: “I don’t know, yet I will certainly attempt.” This line was made use of in the vouched statements of numerous of Betsy’s family members, suggesting that it is a direct quote from Betsy. As the story goes, Betsy recommended altering the stars to 5 points rather than six.


He was appointed to the Continental Navy Board on November 6,1776. It was while serving on the Continental Navy Board that he transformed his attention to designing the flag of the United States. Making use of stars in that layout is thought to have actually been the result of an experience in the war straightly related to his propriety.

A book in Hopkinson’s library at his residence in Bordentown was taken by a Hessian soldier in December 1776, a dark year of the war. The soldier, one I. Ewald, wrote on the inside cover that he had actually seen the writer near Philadelphia and that he, Ewald, had actually taken the publication from a fine nation seat near Philadelphia. The soldier had created above and also listed below Hopkinson’s bookplate, which had three six pointed stars and his household adage, “Semper Paratus”, or “Always Ready”.

In a letter to the Board of Admiralty in 1780 Hopkinson insisted that he had designed “the flag of the United States of America” as well as several ornaments, devices, and checks showing up on bills of exchange, ship papers, the seals of the boards of Admiralty as well as Treasury, and also the Great Seal of the United States. Hopkinson had gotten absolutely nothing for this work, as well as currently he sent a bill and also asked “whether a Quarter Cask of the public wine” would not be an affordable and also appropriate reward for his labors.

Also so, nobody could be so sure that produced the American flag. The American flag is the sacred emblem of the nation. As you see the flag silhouetted against the calm skies of the country, you are reminded that the American flag stands for exactly what you are – no more, no much less.

Top American Flags around state of Maine

As taken from the Star Spangled Banner:

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

ZIP codes in Kennebunkport we serve: 04046