Country Studies

Stars and Stripes

It consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white , with a blue rectangle.

The 50 stars represent the 50 states of the USA. And the 13 stripes represent the 13 British colonies which declared independence from Britain and became the first states in the Union.

The Great seal of the United States

In the centre there is a shield almost similar to the American flag. However, there are no stars and the stripes are white (not red).

The supporter of the shield is a bald eagle. It holds 13 arrows (symbolizing 13 states) and an olive branch (a symbol of peace) with 13 leaves and 13 olives.

In the eagle’s beak you can see a scroll with the motto Et pluribus unum (Out of many, One).

There is also a motto which says In God We Trust.