Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the 
proportions of the flag was prescribed.  Consequently, flags dating before this period 
sometimes show unusual arrangements of the stars and odd proportions, these features being 
left to the discretion of the flag maker. In general, however, straight rows of stars and proportions
 similar to those later adopted officially were used. The principal acts affecting the flag of 
the United States are the following: 
  

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, 
the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act:
"Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, ." 
Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795. 
Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag 
on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe. 
Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - established proportions of the flag 
and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, 
a single point of each star to be upward. 
Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 –
 provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, 
staggered horizontally and vertically. 
Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 – 
provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of
stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically. 

The Grand Union 1775: Also known as the Continental flag, it is the first true U.S. Flag. It combined the British King's Colours
and the thirteen stripes signifying Colonial unity. George Washington liked this design so well that he chose it to be flown to
celebrate the formation of the Continental Army on New Years Day, 1776. On that day the Grand Union Flag was proudly
raised on Prospect Hill in Somerville, near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts. 
  
The Bennington Flag: Used in the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777, by Vermont militia. This flag is the first to lead
American armed forces on land. The original is preserved in the museum at Bennington, Vermont. 

The Serapis Flag: Designed with 13 stripes alternating red , white and blue. This flag was raised by Captain John Paul Jones
on the British frigate Serapis during the most famous Revolutionary naval battle. 

He was born John Paul in Scotland in 1747 and went to sea when he was only twelve years old. By the time he arrived in
Philadelphia in 1775 as an experienced sea captain, he had changed his name to John Paul Jones. 

After conducting sea raids on the coast of Britain, he took command in 1779 of a rebuilt French merchant ship, renamed the
U.S.S.Bonhomme Richard to honor Benjamin Franklin. On September 23, 1779, Jones engaged the British frigate Serapis in
the North Sea, daringly sailing in close, lashing his vessel to the British ship, and fighting the battle at point-blank range.
During the fight two of his cannon burst, and the British captain asked Jones if he was ready to surrender. Replied Jones: "Sir,
I have not yet begun to fight." The American crew finally boarded the Serapis after the British had struck her colors, and from
the deck of the Serapis they watched the U.S.S.Bonhomme Richard sink into the North Sea. 
  
The Guilford Flag: This unusual flag was made with thirteen 8-pointed stars in a wide field. Historical records report this flag
carried by North Carolina militiamen at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, March 17,1781. 


The First Official Flag of the Confederacy. Although less well known than the "Confederate Battle Flags",the Stars and Bars
was used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 to May of 1863. The pattern and colors of this flag did not
distinguish it sharply fom the Stars and Stripes of the Union. Consequently, considerable confusion was caused on the
battlefield. 

The seven stars represent the original Confederate States; South Carolina (December 20, 1860), Mississippi(January 9, 1861),
Florida (January 10,1861), Alabama (January 11, 1861), Georgia (January 19, 1861), Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and Texas
(February 1, 1861). 

The Confederate Battle Flag. The best-known Confederate flag, however, was the Battle Flag, the familiar "Southern Cross".
It was carried by Confederate troops in the field which were the vast majority of forces under the confederacy. 
The Stars represented the 11 states actually in the Confederacy plus Kentucky and Missouri. 

The second Official Flag of the Confederacy. On May 1st,1863, a second design was adopted, placing the Battle Flag (also
known as the "Southern Cross") as the canton on a white field. This flag was easily mistaken for a white flag of surrender
especially when the air was calm and the flag hung limply. 

The flag now had 13 stars having been joined officially by four more states, Virginia (April 17, 1861), Arkansas (May 6, 1861),
Tennessee (May 7, 1861), North Carolina (May 21, 1861). Efforts to secede failed in Kentucky and Missouri though those states
were represented by two of the stars. 
  
The third Official Flag of the Confederacy.On March 4th,1865, a short time before the collapse of the Confederacy, a third
pattern was adapted; a broad bar of red was placed on the fly end of the white field. 

Confederate Navy Jack: Used as a navy jack at sea from 1863 onward. 
This flag has become the generally recognized symbol of the South.