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The Flag of the United States of America is perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols in the world, but did you know it was not the original design? Discover more with Gray McCoy from FlagandBanner.com!

The Grand Union Flag
The Grand Union Flag (also called the Continental Colors or Cambridge Flag) was the first national flag of the United States, used from late 1775 into 1777.

•Design
The flag features 13 alternating red and white stripes representing the 13 colonies, combined with the British Union Jack in the canton (upper left corner). The stripes are identical to what would later appear on the Stars and Stripes, but instead of stars, the flag retained the Union Jack — reflecting the colonists' complicated relationship with Britain at the time.

•Origins and First Use
The flag was first raised on January 1, 1776, by George Washington at Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts, during the Siege of Boston. It became the banner of the Continental Army and was flown aboard Continental Navy ships. It's sometimes called the "Cambridge Flag" because of its association with Washington's Cambridge headquarters.

•Political Meaning
The design reflected a crucial moment of ambiguity. When it was adopted, many colonists still hoped for reconciliation with Britain rather than full independence. The Union Jack acknowledged loyalty (or at least connection) to the Crown, while the 13 stripes symbolized colonial unity and grievances. It was, in a sense, a flag of protest rather than outright revolution.
An ironic historical footnote: when the British saw the flag raised at Prospect Hill, some reportedly interpreted it as a sign of surrender, since it incorporated their own flag.

•Transition to the Stars and Stripes
As independence became the clear goal, the Union Jack in the canton became an embarrassing symbol. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, replacing the Union Jack with a field of 13 stars, creating the familiar Stars and Stripes. June 14 is now celebrated as Flag Day in the United States.

•Legacy
The Grand Union Flag is recognized as the first flag to represent the united colonies as a whole. Its striped design was directly carried over into the American flag we know today, making it a crucial ancestor of the Stars and Stripes.

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Want to learn more?
•Ravne a Journal of Vexillology https://nava.org/raven-volume-21
•Predecessor to the Stars and Stripes
https://www.americanflags.com/blog/po...
•Flag History Deep Dive
https://flagdom.com/historical-flags/...
•Flag Day Monument
https://www.flagdaymonument.com/grand...

U.S. flag history from Gray McCoy at FlagandBanner.com | America's flag experts since 1975

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