Simone Lawson
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was the first national flag of the United States. It was used from 1775 to 1777 and consisted of 13 red-and-white stripes, with the British Union Flag in the canton. The flag was created during the first year of the Revolutionary War and was an important signal of increasing separation from Britain. It was first flown on December 3, 1775, by Continental Navy Lieutenant John Paul Jones aboard Captain Esek Hopkins' flagship, the Alfred, on the Delaware River. While the Grand Union Flag was an important symbol of American independence, I found no evidence to suggest that it was ever flown on the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Continental Union Flag, Continental Colours, American Flag, Flag of the United Colonies, Cambridge Flag, Grand Union Flag |
| Design | 13 red and white stripes, with the British Union Flag in the canton |
| First Appearance | 3rd December 1775 |
| Use | Flag of the United Colonies from 1775 to 1776, and the de facto flag of the United States until 1777 |
| Significance | The first national flag of the United States |
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What You'll Learn
The Grand Union Flag's design and origins
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was the first national flag of the United States of America. It was first unfurled in the early days of the American Revolutionary War, which began in 1775. The flag was a symbol of the colonies' unity and their connection to the British Empire.
The design of the flag consisted of 13 alternating horizontal red and white stripes, with the British Union Flag, or the Union Jack, in the canton. The 13 stripes represented the unity of the 13 colonies, while the canton symbolised the union between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. This blend of British and American symbolism reflected the complex sentiments of the time, as many colonists still identified as British subjects seeking fair treatment from the Crown rather than outright independence. The design is also said to be influenced by the flag of the British East India Company, which bore similarities to the Grand Union Flag.
The Grand Union Flag was first hoisted on December 3, 1775, by Naval Commander John Paul Jones on his ship, the USS Alfred, in Philadelphia. It was flown on land for the first time four weeks later, on January 2, 1776, when it was raised by George Washington's army at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (present-day Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The flag was interpreted by British military observers in Boston as a sign of surrender.
The Grand Union Flag served as the de facto flag of the United States until 1777 when the 13-star flag was adopted by the Continental Congress, replacing the British Union Flag in the canton with 13 stars on a blue field, representing the United States. The Grand Union Flag became obsolete after the passing of the Flag Act of 1777, but it remains a symbol of the country's journey towards independence and unity.
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The flag's first appearances
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was first flown on December 3, 1775, on the warship Alfred, in the harbour on the western shore of the Delaware River at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was hoisted by Continental Navy Lieutenant John Paul Jones under the command of the newly appointed Lieutenant Jones of the formative Continental Navy. The event was documented in letters to Congress and through eyewitness accounts.
The flag was also used as a naval ensign and garrison flag throughout 1776 and early 1777. It was widely believed that the flag was raised by George Washington's army on January 2, 1776, at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (present-day Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts. This location was across the Charles River to the north of Boston, where his army was surrounding and laying siege to the British forces occupying the city.
The flag was interpreted by British military observers in Boston as a sign of surrender. The Continental Union Flag became obsolete after the passing of the Flag Act of 1777 by the Second Continental Congress. The new national flag replaced the British Union flag in the canton with thirteen stars (representing the United States) on a blue field. The first official U.S. flag flown during battle was on August 3, 1777, at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) during the Siege of Fort Stanwix.
The Grand Union Flag is considered the first national flag of the United States and was created during the first year of the Revolutionary War. The designer and exact date of creation are unknown, but it is credited as the first national flag. It was an important signal of increasing separation from Britain.
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The flag's significance and legacy
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was the first national flag of the United States. It was created during the first year of the Revolutionary War and was the de facto flag of the United States from 1775 to 1777. The flag consisted of 13 alternating red and white stripes, with the British Union Flag in the canton. The 13 stripes represented the 13 colonies, while the British Union Flag in the canton denoted the kingdoms of England and Scotland. The Grand Union Flag was an important symbol of the emerging nation's increasing separation from Britain.
The Grand Union Flag was first hoisted on December 3, 1775, by Continental Navy Lieutenant John Paul Jones aboard Captain Esek Hopkins' flagship, the Alfred, on the Delaware River. The flag was also raised by George Washington's army on January 2, 1776, at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (present-day Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts. This flag-raising ceremony was meant to boost the morale of the men of the Continental Army. The Grand Union Flag was widely used by the Continental Army and Navy during the Revolutionary War, serving as a symbol of their unity and independence from Britain.
The Grand Union Flag became obsolete after the passing of the Flag Act of 1777, which established a new national flag for the United States. The new flag replaced the British Union Flag in the canton with 13 stars, representing the 13 colonies. This change symbolised the United States' final break from Britain and its establishment as a sovereign nation. The 13-star flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, became a powerful symbol of Americanism and has undergone several modifications since then to include additional stars and stripes as new states joined the Union.
The Grand Union Flag holds a significant place in American history as it represents the birth of the nation and its struggle for independence. It is a reminder of the country's revolutionary past and the efforts of the Founding Fathers to establish a new nation based on certain ideals and principles. The flag also serves as a connection to the country's colonial roots and the early days of the republic. The Grand Union Flag's legacy can be seen in the continued evolution of the American flag, with each new star and stripe representing the growth and expansion of the nation. The reverence and respect accorded to the flag in American culture demonstrate its enduring significance as a symbol of national unity, freedom, and pride.
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The flag's other names
The Grand Union Flag has several other names. It is often referred to as the Cambridge Flag, the first moniker being used in 1776 when George Washington's troops raised it near Cambridge, Massachusetts. The name Grand Union Flag, however, was likely first used by G. Henry Preble in his Reconstruction-era book, "Our Flag". The first substantiated use of the name came from Philadelphia resident T. Westcott in 1852.
The flag is also known as the Continental Union Flag, the Continental Colours, the American flag, and the flag of the United Colonies. During the American Revolution, it was known as the Continental Union Flag, Continental Colours, American flag, and flag of the United Colonies. The name "Continental Union Flag" is derived from a combination of the words "Continental", referring to the Continental Congress, and "Union Flag", referring to the British Union Flag of 1707 that was flown in America. The flag was also used as a naval ensign and garrison flag throughout 1776 and early 1777.
The Grand Union Flag is also sometimes called the First Navy Ensign, as it was first raised by a lieutenant in the newly formed Continental Navy on the colonial warship USS Alfred in December 1775. The flag is considered the first "official" flag of the 13 colonies and is also known as the "first American flag". It is also referred to as the "first national flag of the United States".
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The flag's evolution
The evolution of the flag of the United States is a fascinating journey, with the Grand Union Flag being a significant part of its history.
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was the first national flag of the United States. It came into existence during the first year of the Revolutionary War, making its first appearance on December 3, 1775. The flag was hoisted on the warship Alfred on the Delaware River, marking its inaugural display. This flag served as a symbol of the United Colonies from 1775 to 1776 and acted as the de facto flag of the United States until 1777. It featured 13 alternating red and white stripes, representing the 13 colonies, with the British Union Flag, or the canton, in the top left corner. The Continental Union Flag was a variant of the British Red Ensign, showcasing the colonies' connection to Britain while also indicating their growing separation.
The Grand Union Flag played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, becoming a military banner of the Continental Army. It was widely believed that George Washington's army raised this flag on January 2, 1776, at Prospect Hill in Charlestown, near his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This flag-raising ceremony was conducted to boost the morale of the Continental Army. However, some scholars dispute this traditional account, suggesting that the flag flown at Prospect Hill might have been the British Union Flag.
In 1777, the Grand Union Flag was replaced by the 13-star flag, marking the adoption of a new national flag by the Continental Congress. This change symbolised the United States' increasing independence from Britain. The new flag retained the 13 stripes but replaced the canton with 13 stars on a blue field, representing the 13 colonies. The Flag Act of 1777 rendered the Grand Union Flag obsolete, solidifying the evolution of American flag symbolism.
As the United States continued to grow and welcome new states, the flag underwent further transformations. In 1794, the Second Flag Act was signed, adding two new stars and two stripes to symbolise the addition of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union. The Third Flag Act, enacted in 1818, established the precedent of adding a star for each new state, while also reducing the number of stripes back to 13. The current flag of the United States has 50 stars and has remained unchanged since Alaska and Hawaii entered the Union in 1959, making it the longest-used version of the flag.
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Frequently asked questions
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Union Flag, was the first national flag of the United States. It was used from 1775 to 1777 and consisted of 13 red and white stripes with the British Union Flag in the canton.
There is no evidence to suggest that the Grand Union Flag was ever flown on the Constitution.
The Grand Union Flag was first flown on the warship Alfred on the Delaware River on December 3, 1775.
The designer of the Grand Union Flag is unknown.
The Grand Union Flag was created to represent the emerging United States and its separation from Britain. It was used as a military banner of the Continental Army to oppose the British Army and government.
