Test Your Old American Flag Quiz

Betsy Ross is said to have made the first American flag. She was a seamstress and is believed to have been commissioned by George Washington to create the flag with the stars and stripes design. Ross is credited with sewing the first flag in 1776, although there is some debate and lack of concrete evidence to support this claim. Nonetheless, she is widely recognized as an important figure in American history for her alleged role in creating the iconic flag.

Flying the flag upside down is a signal of distress or an emergency. It is a recognized symbol to indicate that help is needed. This is done when someone is in a dangerous or life-threatening situation and requires immediate assistance. It is not appropriate to fly the flag upside down when someone has died, during a military battle, or when your team loses the Super Bowl.

Presidents and Governors are allowed to order the flag to be flown at half-staff at government buildings. This is a symbol of mourning and respect for the death of a prominent government official or other significant event. As the highest-ranking officials in the country and states, Presidents and Governors have the authority to make this decision and honor the occasion. Mayors, on the other hand, do not have the same level of authority to order the flag to be flown at half-staff.

In 1954, the words "Under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance. This change was made to emphasize the United States' commitment to a belief in God and to distinguish the country from atheistic communism during the Cold War era. The addition of these words reflected the cultural and political climate of the time, and it remains a controversial topic to this day.

In 1912, a presidential order was issued that officially declared the exact proportions of the flag and the arrangement of stars. This means that prior to 1912, there was no official declaration regarding these details.