Continental Union Flag
first national flag of the United States
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The Continental Union Flag was a design of the United States flag. It was established in the United States on December 3, 1775.
The flag represented an early version of the national flag during the American Revolutionary period. Its establishment marked one of the initial steps in defining a distinct visual identity for the emerging nation.
Key Facts
- Country: United States[3]
- Named after: Continental Congress[4], Union Jack[5]
- Based on: Red Ensign[6]
- Followed by: 13-star flag of the United States[7]
- Depicts: flag of Great Britain[8], field[9]
- Has use: ensign[10], national flag[11]
- Commons category: Continental Union Flag[12]
- Color: blue[13], red[14], white[15]
- Country of origin: Kingdom of Great Britain[16]
- Inception: December 3, 1775[17]
- Dissolved, abolished or demolished date: June 14, 1777[18]
- Applies to jurisdiction: United Colonies[19], United States[20]
- Described by source: Encyclopædia Britannica Online[21]
- Replaced by: flag of the United States of America[22]
- Shape: rectangle[23]
- Nickname: Cambridge Flag[24], Continental Colours[25], Grand Union Flag[26]
- Native label: Continental Union Flag[27]
- Short name: American flag[28]
- Different from: flag of the East India Company[29]
Why It Matters
Continental Union Flag has Wikipedia articles in 11 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[30] It is known by 88 alternative names across languages and contexts.[31]