In its blue canton was the red cross of St. This flag was an alteration of the British Meteor flag. This flag was never officially sanctioned by the Continental Congress but is considered the first flag of the United States and was in use from late 1775 until mid 1777. From that point on, the flags of the United States took their own distinct path.Īn ensign used by British naval and merchant ships, the Red Ensign is the British flag initially favored by the colonists, and all designs of American flags descended from this banner.įirst used by George Washington on January 1, 1776, this modification of the British Red Ensign became in effect the first national flag of the United States.
Early designs tended to be modifications of British flags until the colonials took the path of independence in 1776. The early days of the American Revolution led to the use of many flags as the colonists struggled with the aims of the revolt, whether rights within the British Empire or outright independence.
