The American flag is known as THE STARS AND STRIPES. it consists of fifty stars which represent the the fifty states. Thirteen red and white horizontal stripes (seven red and six white) stand for the original thirteen Stated thet were united in 1776. The first flag was called The Grand Union Flag. It combined the flag of Great Britain with the thirteen stripes. It showed that these first thirteen started were British colonies. After rhe War of Independence all thirteen states became free and flag changed. The British flag in the corner was replaced by atars. Every time anew Sate entered the Union, Sar was added. So now today s flag shows the thirteen stripes for the original number of states in 1776 plus the 50 stars which represent today's total.