| Grand Union Flag | |
| |
| Adopted | January 2, 1775[1] |
|---|---|
| Designed by | (unknown) |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
The 1775-1777 flag of the Grand Union, now the United States of America, was the same design as the flag of the United States, except the canton of stars is replaced by a square canton of the British Union Jack the variant prior to the inclusion of St. Patrick's cross for the 1801 unification of Ireland into the United Kingdom. It is unknown who designed the Grand Union flag; however, we do know how it came about. In 1775, the majority of American rebels still considered themselves British citizens and simply wanted to fight enough to get their rights back under the British crown. The only truly American flag at the time was the Sons of Liberty flag, which was simply a banner with thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes. When a flag was being thought up for an American battle flag, many people began using British Red Ensigns (red flags with Union Jacks in the canton) and sewing on white stripes to resemble the Sons of Liberty Flag. In the year of 1777, George Washington and his men were in Boston, Massachusetts. In London, King George III wrote an announcement stating that if the Americans surrendered, amnesty would be granted. When the announcement made it to British men oustide of Boston, they immediately sent it in the city and prepared for the Americans' surrender. The Americans read the announcement and defied it. They hoisted the Grand Union flag and prepared for battle. However, the British outside Boston saw the flag and mistook its Union Jack as a surrender flag. The British marched in for a surrender and lost the battle. After this upset, the Betsy Ross flag (same background but in the canton there were thirteen stars arranged in a circle on a blue background) was chosen as the new national flag of the United States.
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