Continental Union Flag facts for kids
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The unofficial flag of the United States from 1776 to 1777.
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| Names | first American flag, Cambridge Flag, and Grand Union Flag |
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| Use | National flag and ensign     |
| Adopted | December 3, 1775 |
| Relinquished | June 14, 1777 |
| Design | A British Union flag with thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, in the field. |
The Continental Union Flag was a very important flag during the early days of the American Revolution. It is often called the first American flag, the Cambridge Flag, or the Grand Union Flag. This flag represented the United Colonies from 1775 to 1776. It was also used as the unofficial flag of the United States until 1777. That's when the famous 13-star flag was officially chosen by the Continental Congress.
This flag looked a lot like the British Red Ensign, but with a special twist. It combined the British Union Flag (which showed the kingdoms of England and Scotland) with thirteen stripes. These stripes stood for the thirteen United Colonies that were fighting for their freedom. The top-left corner, called the canton, had the British Union Flag. The rest of the flag, called the field, had thirteen horizontal stripes that alternated between red and white. The Continental Union Flag was first flown on December 3, 1775. It was raised on Admiral Esek Hopkins' main ship, the USS Alfred, in Philadelphia.
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What's in a Name? Understanding the Flag's Titles
During the American Revolution, people called this flag many things. Some names were the Continental Union Flag, Continental Colours, American flag, or the flag of the United Colonies. The name "Continental" came from the Continental Congress, which was the government of the colonies. "Union Flag" referred to the British Union Flag that was common in America at the time.
The names "Cambridge Flag" and "Grand Union Flag" became popular much later, in the 1800s. A person from Philadelphia named T. Westcott first used the name "Grand Union Flag" in 1852. He was answering a question in a London magazine about where the U.S. flag came from.
What Did the Flag Look Like? Its Design and Meaning
In early 1776, the Naval Committee described the flag. They said it was the British "Union flag... striped red and white in the field." Someone in Philadelphia who saw the flag on Admiral Esek Hopkins' ship described it too. They said it was a British "Union flag, with 13 stripes in the field." These stripes were a symbol of the Thirteen United Colonies.
Some historians, like Nick Groom and Laurie Calkhoven, believe the flag's design had a special message. They think including the British Union Flag in the corner showed that Americans still hoped for peace with King George. It might have been a way to show loyalty, not just protest.
The Continental Union Flag also looks very similar to the Flag of the East India Company. That flag also had red and white stripes, though the number of stripes could be different. Some people think Americans might have known about the East India Company flag. This could have influenced how they designed their own flag.
The Flag's Journey: From Warship to National Symbol
By the end of 1775, the Continental Congress was acting like a wartime government. They had created the Continental Army, Navy, and Marines. A new flag was needed to represent these united colonies. This flag had to be different from the British flags used on ships and by soldiers. Before this, many colonies used their own flags. For example, Massachusetts Bay used the Taunton Flag.
No one knows for sure who designed the Continental Union Flag or exactly when. However, it was easy to make by sewing white stripes onto a British Red Ensign.
American sailors first raised the Continental Union Flag on the warship Alfred. This happened in the harbor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 3, 1775. Lieutenant John Paul Jones of the new Continental Navy was in command. This important event was written about in letters to Congress and by people who saw it. The flag was also used by the navy and at military posts throughout 1776 and early 1777.
There's a famous story that George Washington's army raised this flag on January 2, 1776. This was said to happen at Prospect Hill in Charlestown, near his headquarters in Cambridge. At the time, Washington's army was surrounding the British forces in Boston. Some British observers in Boston even thought the flag was a sign of surrender! However, some historians disagree with this story. They believe the flag raised at Prospect Hill might have been the British Union flag. Still, other research supports the original story. The city of Somerville, Massachusetts, still celebrates this flag raising every January.
The Continental Union Flag became outdated after the Flag Act of 1777 was passed. The new national flag replaced the British Union Flag in the corner with thirteen stars. These stars, on a blue background, represented the new United States. The law only said there should be a "new constellation" of white stars. This meant that early American flags had stars arranged in many different ways, like in rows, circles, or squares.
More to Explore
- List of flags of the United States
- Timeline of the flag of the United States
