Q. 124 / 128Integrated Civics → American Symbols
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
OFFICIAL ANSWER
- (Because there were) 13 original colonies
- (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
Hear the answer · spoken at official pace0:03
Context
The thirteen colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia. When the Continental Congress approved the first official flag design in 1777, they specified thirteen alternating red and white stripes to honor these founding colonies. Unlike the stars, which increased as new states joined, the number of stripes has remained fixed at thirteen since 1818, serving as a permanent reminder of the nation's origins.
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