301F Summer 2026 Continental Colors: The First Flag of the United States

When the rebelling American colonies created a Continental Navy in 1775, their ships flew a flag depicting thirteen stripes with the British union crosses in the canton. This flag became known as the “Continental Colors,” and was the de facto national flag of the United States until June 1777, almost a year after the colonies declared independence. The origins of the Continental Colors are shrouded in mystery and have been the source of much legend and folklore. This course will review what we know about the history of the first American flag, and address some of the speculation, mysteries, and mythology associated with it.

Peter Ansoff retired in 2018 from a career as a support contractor for U.S. Navy ship acquisition programs. He is the past president of the North American Vexillological Association, an international organization dedicated to the study of flags, and has written several papers on flags of the Revolution.