Who really designed the U.S. flag?  It is not Betsy Ross!?
543533
No one knows with absolute certainty who designed the first stars and stripes or who made it. Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems most likely to have designed it, and few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one.
960607
I see nothing wrong with it.. it represents the South ... not slavery, not racism.. the South wanted to succeed from the United States and that is why they had the Civil War... the Confederate Flag represented the South in the Civil War-It's part of our history, and some people just like the way it looks.. it's not the Symbol of the US
1173712
For the United States-\n\nThe basic design of the flag is specified by sections 1 and 2 of Title 4, United States Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 1, 2 (2004)). Executive Order 10834 which may be found as a note to section 1, specifies the proportions of the flag and the arrangement of the stars in the union.
26376
The original flag designers did not attach meaning to the colors.  However, on June 20, 1782, Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, gave a report to the Congress defining the new Great Seal of the United States. The seal uses red, white and blue, and seals must meet rules of heraldry where the meaning of the colors is defined.  Charles Thomson gave the meaning as follows:\n\n"White signifies purity and innocence. Red hardiness and valour and Blue the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance perseverance and justice."
151528
The original flag is no longer in existence. In fact very few flags from that time still exist. A few regimental flags still exist as do some naval flags. Many flags were destroyed in battle. Others may have sunk in ships which carried them. Others were captured in battle. Many simply tattered and were lost to the ravages of time.\n\n\nCheck out the Betsy Ross Homepage for some great info on the flag and Betsy...\n\nhttp://www.ushistory.org/betsy/
589897
Confederate Flag was part of American history. Duh
992202
You're very correct in this. MOST people do not use the confederate flag as a symbol of hate; they use it as a symbol of their southern roots. It shows a severe lack of education for people to simply assume that the flag means one thing, and one thing only, to those who wave it.\n\nWe all have a different meaning of the American flag, Mexican flag, Puerto Rican flag, etc. Does waving a German flag make one a Nazi? Does waving a Chinese flag make one a Communist? \n\nAnd whatever happened to freedom of expression? Apparently freedom of expression only applies to illegal Mexicans who want to protest our (generous and accepting) government and wave their Mexican flags in our faces.
1150165
Cut the Bigotry Bullshit. It's called a Rebel Flag for one reason. It symbolizes REBELION. DO NOT mistake a hand-ful of assholes for a symbol that can be used any number of 1000 ways. The flag is not evil, merely a select few that misuse it.
699671
2 American Flags\nOne For USA In English\nThe Other For USA Espanol\n\nThats Called PANDERING\nOr As joevette (Below) Put It, CATERING\n\nThe Mexican Flag Twice ...\nNot True\n\nThe Truth Is That It Is An ITALIAN Flag\n\nThe Mexicans STOLE The Italian Flag\nAnd Put A Picture Of A Vulture On It\nAnd Called It Their Own\n\nThey Can't Even Create A National Symbol\nLike A Flag\nWithout STEALING
128868
I bet some foreiners could give you some better answers, dont ask a bunch of flag loven' Americans! If I were british Id tell you " Because you Americans are bloody brash and ugly!"
829852
Purpose of the flag?...\nIdentification on the battlefield. Which side is which? Plus any flag is a rallying symbol for troops. As long as the flag is up and flying, you keep the spririt of fighting on. In a sense, that is why it is still flown in many areas of the South, that flickering link to an idea that nearly was. \n\nAlthough you can finger slavery as the core issue behind the war, much more was seen at stake by those fighting on behalf of the confederacy, large federal govt. vs. states' rights, the North's attempt to bankrupt the South by focing immediate changes to their economic structure, etc. The civil war was really the beginning of our strong federal govt - income taxes, forced conscription, federal minting of money, federal banks, etc.\n\nBUT, as far as the History of  the "traditional" rebel flag goes..\n\nThe best-known of all Confederate flags—the battle flag—is often erroneously confused with the national flag of the Confederacy. The battle flag features the cross of St. Andrew (the apostle was martyred by being crucified on an X-shaped cross), and is commonly called the "Southern Cross." A large degree of the Southern population was of Scottish and Scotch-Irish ancestry, and thus familiar with St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The stars represented the eleven states actually in the Confederacy, plus Kentucky and Missouri. \n\nI hope that helps.
990999
THE ONLY ONE HERE THAT HAS ANY DAMN SENSE IS THE PERSON ASKING THE QUESTION . ALL OF YOU , HAVE NOT READ  YOUR HISTORY BOOKS AND I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT ME AND RANGER GIRL HAVE DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH ON OUR FLAG .....AND FUTHER MORE IF YOU DONT LIKE IT THEN KISS OUR REBEL A$SES
223186
The flag of Guatemala is designed in two colors: sky blue and white. Sky blue represents the fact that is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, and the white color signifies the purity of the country's values.\n\nThe white stripe between two blue stripes originated with the national flag of United Central America, although the Guatemalan version turns the stripes vertically rather than the original horizontal design.\n\nIn the center of the flag, there is the crest with the Resplendent Quetzal bird, a symbol of liberty, and the date of 15 September 1821, the date of Central America's independence from Spain. There are crossed rifles, indicating Guatemala's willingness to defend itself by force if need be, olive branches, the symbol for victory, and crossed swords, representing honor.\n\nThe current flag design dates to 1871. The quetzal previously appeared in the flag of Los Altos, Central America in the 1830s.
737509
star spangled banner?
1165316
The individual flag design is up to the individual nation. Heres a link to all the flags of the world. \n\nhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/flagsoftheworld.html\n\nGenerally speaking, and dependent on what flag you are looking for, they are mainly made in countries where the labor can be outsourced for a fraction of the cost to make it at home. Some US flags are still made in the USA, although most flags come from SE Asia.
291567
i think its an american flag!
423082
Betsy Ross: Her Life\n\nClick for enlargement \nOne year before William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1681, Betsy Ross's great-grandfather, Andrew Griscom, a Quaker carpenter, had already emigrated from England to New Jersey.\nAndrew was successful at his trade. He was also of firm Quaker belief, and he was inspired to move to Philadelphia to become an early participant in Penn's "holy experiment." He purchased 495 acres of land in the Spring Garden section north of the city of Philadelphia (the section would later be incorporated as part of the city), and received a plot of land within the city proper.\n\nGriscom's son and grandson both became respected carpenters as well. Both have their names inscribed on a wall at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, home of the oldest trade organization in the country.\n\nGriscom's grandson Samuel helped build the bell tower at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). He married Rebecca James who was a member of a prominent Quaker merchant family. It was not unusual for people in those days to have many children, so it is only somewhat surprising to learn that they had 17!\n\nElizabeth Griscom — also called Betsy, their eighth child and a fourth-generation American, was born on January 1, 1752.\n\nBetsy went to a Friends (Quaker) public school. For eight hours a day she was taught reading, writing, and received instruction in a trade — probably sewing. After completing her schooling, Betsy's father apprenticed her to a local upholsterer. Today we think of upholsterers primarily as sofa-makers and such, but in colonial times they performed all manner of sewing jobs, including flag-making. It was at her job that Betsy fell in love with another apprentice, John Ross, who was the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church.\n\nQuakers frowned on inter-denominational marriages. The penalty for such unions was severe — the guilty party being "read out" of the Quaker meeting house. Getting "read out" meant being cut off emotionally and economically from both family and meeting house. One's entire history and community would be instantly dissolved. On a November night in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped with John Ross. They ferried across the Delaware River to Hugg's Tavern and were married in New Jersey. Her wedding caused an irrevocable split from her family. [It is an interesting parallel to note that on their wedding certificate is the name of New Jersey's Governor, William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son. Three years later William would have an irrevocable split with his father because he was a Loyalist against the cause of the Revolution.]\n\nLess than two years after their nuptials, the couple started their own upholstery business. Their decision was a bold one as competition was tough and they could not count on Betsy's Quaker circle for business. As she was "read out" of the Quaker community, on Sundays one could now find Betsy at Christ Church sitting in pew 12 with her husband. Some Sundays would find George Washington, America's new commander in chief, sitting in an adjacent pew.\n\n\nWar Comes to Philadelphia\nIn January 1776, a disaffected British agitator living in Philadelphia for only a short while published a pamphlet that would have a profound impact on the Colonials. Tom Paine ("These are the times that try men's souls") wrote Common Sense which would swell rebellious hearts and sell 120,000 copies in three months; 500,000 copies before war's end.\nHowever, the city was fractured in its loyalties. Many still felt themselves citizens of Britain. Others were ardent revolutionaries heeding a call to arms.\n\nBetsy and John Ross keenly felt the impact of the war. Fabrics needed for business were becoming hard to come by. Business was slow. John joined the Pennsylvania militia. While guarding an ammunition cache in mid-January 1776, John Ross was mortally w