June 4, 1776: Enabling resolution for flag of 13 alternate red and white stripes and a union of 13 white stars on a blue field. No other specifications or designs were included. A general acceptance was that a flag was needed at sea; use on land was not a concern. Adopted 1777.

October, 1780: Enabling resolution, regarding the establishment of additional states in the western lands, rendered obsolete the Flag Resolution of 1777 - the latter implied the permanence of the 13-state union.

May 1, 1795: Bradley Resolution becomes law. Changed the number of stars and stripes to 15 each, adding those for Vermont and Kentucky. No mention of specifications. Discussion revealed the resolution to be considered "trifling", with the potential of adding stars and stripes "for a hundred years to come," and reflecting sentiment that the flag design ought to remain permanent and unchanging. This sentiment was voted down. The resolution contained no provision for having the number of stars or stripes relate to the number of states.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was born September 13-14, 1814 in poetry by Francis Scott Key. The poem actually was written on September 15, 1814 in Baltimore City.

April 4, 1818: Discussion acknowledged that existing Stars and Stripes flag could be recognized at sea further away than any other country's flag. Committee recommends (and gets passed) the following points:

1. Reduce and fix the number of stripes to 13;
2. Make the stripes horizontal;
3. Add a star for each new state admitted, to take effect on the 4^th of July following admission;
4. Specifically leave the star arrangement to the manufacturer.

June 24, 1912:  President William Howard Taft issues an Executive Order, setting the precedent by establishing

1. Proportions of the flag and its components
2. Arrangement of stars
   A drawing in the attachments determined which color stripe was to be on top.

The History of the United States Flag, Quaife et al; ENPMA, 1961

• The 15-star flag flew for 23 years.  [The original Stars and Stripes]
• The 48-star flag flew for 47 years  
• The 49-star flag flew only for one year - the shortest duration of them all - from 1959-60!
• The 50-star flag has flown since 1960   On July 4, 2007, the 50-star flag became that which has flown over the country longer than any other design!

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