The American Flag

	1. The St. George Cross was the first English flag used in North America. It was flown by John Cabot in 1497 under the reign of King Henry VII.
	2. In 1620, when the Mayflower landed in America, a new flag was used for the colonies. King James I took the Cross of St. George and superimposed it onto the Scottish flag of S1. Andrew and called it the Kings Colors.
	3. In 1707 Queen Anne adopted a new flag for England and her colonies. The Kings Colors were placed on a field of red. This was called the British Red Ensign, or the Cromwell Flag.
	4. During the Revolutionary War the colonists began unfurling new flags; among them was the popular Continental Flag. It replaced the Kings Colors with a Pine Tree, symbolic of the New England way of life. Many historians believe this banner was flown during the famous battle of Bunker Hill.
	5. In 1775 the colonies launched some floating batteries in the New England area. These vessels were put into service against the British shore defenses. The flag flown on these ships was the famous Massachusetts Colony Flag, or Pine Tree Flag.
	6. The Southern Colonial States played an equally important part in writing our flag history. Colonial Gadsden of South Carolina designed the Snake Flag or Gadsden Flag as an answer to the British. It is said the inscription on the flag was a warning - meaning it was as dangerous to tread on the colonies as it would be to step on an American rattlesnake.
	7. In 1776 the colonies adopted the thirteen stripes representing the thirteen colonies and kept the Kings Colors in the Canton, illustrating their allegiance to England, but their willingness to fight for their rights and justice. This flag was raised at Cambridge by General Washington and was called the Grand Union Flag, or Cambridge Flag.
	8. The original Betsy Ross Flag was officially adopted by an Act of Congress on June 14, 1777. It is generally believed that General George Washington was instrumental in designing the Betsy Ross Flag.
	9. Shortly before the War of 1812, two new states were added to the Union and the flag was changed from 13 to 15 Stars and Stripes. This Star Spangled Banner was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem.
	10. As the United States expanded and more states entered the Union, it became necessary to adopt a practical design to represent each new state. April 4, 1818, Congress passed legislation establishing the number of stripes at seven red and six white and an additional star for every new state joining the Union.
	Valley Forge Flag Company