January Events in the Early History

Rich Kruithoff helps charitably minded clients minimize their tax burdens through Charitable Planning Services, a Las Vegas-based consultancy that he owns and leads as president. In his free time, Rich Kruithoff enjoys studying American history.

January of each year marks an important month in the history of the American flag. Prior to the adoption of the stars and stripes design that Americans know today, George Washington ordered the raising of the first U.S. flag near his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1776.

The flag, which consists of the familiar alternating red and white stripes but with the British Union Jack placed where the star pattern in today’s flag appears, was flown for the first time on the warship Alfred a month before. Admiring the design, Washington had the Grand Union Flag raised on New Year’s Day to commemorate the establishment of the Continental Army.

Eighteen years later, in January of 1794, Washington was involved in another significant vexillological event when as president he approved the addition of two stripes and two stars to the national flag. The changes to the flag, which by that time had taken on the well-known 13-star-and-13-stripe design, were prompted by Vermont and Kentucky joining the Union. The flag continued to feature 15 stripes until 1818, when the recognition of five new states brought about a return to the 13-stripe design.