The flag of the United States of America is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and recognizable flags in all of history; nearly every person on the planet has seen the US flag at least once.
In my opinion, the Betsy Ross flag has the best design of all national flags, however, the 50 star US flag is a close second. Any version of the US flag, whether historic or current, is quite unique; with its 13 stripes and bright stars in a field of blue, the flag of the United States is unlike any flag that came before it.
In today’s world, there are the national flags of the countries of Malaysia and Liberia, which resemble the US flag, but those countries didn’t exist when the early Americans sewed the first US flag.
Is the flag of the United States therefore entirely original?
Potentially, but it could be argued that the US flag was inspired by a number of other flags, however, when it comes to the field of stars, I feel it’s possible that the US flag was inspired by the Green Mountain Boys flag.
The first flag that the Colonists used as a national banner was the Grand Union flag, which was made by placing the British Union Jack onto 13 horizontal stripes, alternating red and white.
It wasn’t until June 14, 1777, that the United States adopted a flag which featured 13 stars in a blue field, representing the 13 states. The reason I suspect that the field of stars may not have been an original idea is because the Green Mountain Boys flag also had 13 stars in a blue field, however, the Green Mountain Boys flag is believed to have been used since 1776, and then it was adopted by the Vermont Republic in January of 1777.
The Green Mountain Boys flag was made by the Green Mountain Boys, a group of militia from present day Vermont. They boldly fought for the independence of Vermont at a time when it was still officially considered part of New York. Not only did they declare independence from Great Britain, but also from the colonies of New York, New Hampshire, and Quebec, which all claimed Vermont.
When the Green Mountain Boys first unfurled their flag in 1776, it featured 13 stars in a blue field, but the pattern of the stars was described as being natural, as the stars were placed seemingly haphazardly and they were differing in size and orientation.
If it is true that the United States borrowed the idea of placing stars on a blue field from the Green Mountain Boys flag, then I believe the only thing that was original about the field of the Betsy Ross flag was the regular pattern it used for its stars.
Do you think the US flag was completely original or inspired by another flag?
Onward American 