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When Vermont joined
the Union in 1791, followed by Kentucky the next year, the
United States found itself with 15 states, but only 13 stars and
13 stripes on the national flag. A debate followed in Congress
over whether the 1777 flag should serve as a permanent national
flag, or whether the number of stars and stripes should be
changed to reflect the number of states in the Union.
In January 1794, lawmakers settled the question by adopting a
new flag with 15 stripes and a blue union of 15 stars.
Since the legislation creating the new flag was silent as to the
placement of the stars, different arrangements were used by
various flag makers. The most famous is that consisting of five
staggered rows of three stars, as shown on the famous Fort
McHenry flag that inspired the writing of the "The Star-Spangled
Banner" in 1814. |
