The American flag wasn’t always revered as it is today. At the beginning, it was an afterthought

In the early days, the American flag did not hold the revered status it enjoys today. It was initially treated as an afterthought.

In the reconstructed bedroom of the Betsy Ross House, where the famous upholsterer worked on her renowned commission, a long flag with a circle of 13 stars hung haphazardly, extending across the floor and draping over a Chippendale side chair. During the weeks it took to complete the project in 1776, it is likely that Ross knelt on the flag, stood on it, and treated it as a common banner rather than with the reverence we associate with it today.

Lisa Moulder, the director of the Ross House, explains, “She wouldn’t have worried about it touching the floor or violating any codes. The flag did not hold any special symbolism.”

While American flags are abundant every July 4th, their role in early Independence Day celebrations was not explicitly defined by the founding fathers. During that time, they would have been rare. Scholars believe that it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the U.S. flag became a permanent fixture at the White House. It was only in the mid-20th century that a federal code was established to dictate its handling and display. Furthermore, it wasn’t until the 1960s that Congress passed a law making it illegal to show contempt for the flag.

The transformation of the flag into a sacred national symbol, as well as the passionate and contentious debates surrounding it, are reflections of the country’s evolution from a loose alliance of states to a global superpower. The significance attributed to the flag and the debates surrounding it vary with the prevailing events and the changing nature of the nation.

Scot Guenter, author of “The American Flag, 1777-1924” and a professor emeritus of American Studies at San Jose State University, explains, “The flag was really an afterthought.” Initially, the Continental Congress was more concerned about creating a “Great Seal” for official documents.

On June 14, 1777, Congress passed its first flag act, stating that the flag of the thirteen United States would consist of thirteen red and white stripes and a blue field with thirteen white stars. However, the flag played a peripheral role in the country’s early days.

There are no records of a U.S. flag being present during the signing of the Constitution in 1787, nor any indications of a national flag flying at Congress Hall in the following decade when Philadelphia served as the capital. Researchers at George Washington’s home have found no evidence that the flag was displayed there during his lifetime. The precise date when the flag first had a permanent home at the presidential residence, now known as the White House, remains unknown. However, researchers at the White House Historical Association believe that President Lincoln dedicated a flagpole on the South Grounds on June 29, 1861, early in the Civil War.

The flag’s significance grew through the Civil War and the country’s centennial celebrations in 1876. During this time, the flag became a symbol shrouded in mythology. William J. Canby, the grandson of Betsy Ross, played a role in creating the legend surrounding Betsy Ross as the maker of the first American flag. In a speech to the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Canby portrayed Ross as a humble and industrious woman, though there is no substantial evidence supporting her involvement.

The exact origins of the flag’s creation at the Ross House remain uncertain. While many credit Francis Hopkinson, a congressman from New Jersey, both Ross and Hopkinson may have contributed to its design. Unfortunately, there is no surviving original artifact. It is believed that the first flag may have been intended for use on American ships.

Betsy Ross’s place in history is also a subject of debate among government institutions. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum states that her story is “shrouded in as much legend as fact,” with no substantial evidence supporting her involvement. Ross left no diary or contemporary accounts of her life, making it difficult to establish her role definitively. However, she was a real person who produced various flags before and after the alleged commission to sew a flag for the new nation, which supposedly included George Washington. A ledger unearthed in 2015 revealed that Washington had engaged in business with Ross and her husband, indicating a connection.

As the country became more unified and patriotic, Ross became part of the nation’s early mythology, and the flag’s presence expanded across the continent, finding a place in state ceremonies, buildings, sporting events, schools, and private homes.

The flag took center stage in the late 19th and 20th centuries as regulations and laws were proposed and enacted. The first national flag code was drafted in 1923 and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. It provided recommendations on saluting the flag and how to handle it. In the mid-1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower endorsed legislation adding “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, linking it to the Cold War and anti-communist sentiments.

The act of burning American flags dates back to at least the Civil War, but it wasn’t until July 1968, in response to protests against the Vietnam War, that Congress passed legislation making it illegal (the ban was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1989). In that same year, activist Abbie Hoffman was arrested for wearing a Stars and Stripes shirt, though the charges were later dropped on appeal.

In recent times, the flag continues to generate controversy. During a Pride Day gathering on the White House South Lawn, the Biden administration prominently displayed a Pride Progress flag alongside U.S. flags on the Truman balcony. Some Republicans criticized this, denouncing it as an “alphabet cult battle flag.” Others claimed that federal regulations were violated, as the American flag is supposed to be placed at the center and highest point when grouped with other flags. However, defenders of the administration noted that the U.S. flag was flying above the White House.

“The flag is so important because it helps define what we believe in. You have Democrats and Republicans trying to attach meaning to it,” says Scot Guenter. “The flag can intersect with issues of gender and race and sexuality. There’s so much there to think about, and it reveals so much about who we are.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about flag’s evolution

More about flag’s evolution

• History.com – The Evolution of the American Flag
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History – The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem
• U.S. Flag Code – Title 4, United States Code
• PBS – Betsy Ross: Fact or Fiction?
• National Archives – The American Flag
• Library of Congress – American Treasures: Betsy Ross Flag