essay on american flag

History | Updated: July 1, 2024 | Originally Published: March 1, 2007

The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner, the Flag That Inspired the National Anthem

How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry in September 1814 made its way to the Smithsonian

Cate Lineberry ; Updated by Meilan Solly

On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore , came only weeks after British forces attacked Washington, D.C., burning the United States Capitol, the Treasury and the White House (then known as the President’s House). It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812 .

A week earlier, Francis Scott Key , a 35-year-old American lawyer, had boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes of persuading the enemy to release the physician William Beanes, a friend who had recently been arrested. Key’s tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not yet let them go. Allowed to return to their own vessel, the Americans remained under heavy scrutiny. On September 13, Key and Beanes watched as the barrage of Fort McHenry began some eight miles away.

“It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone,” Key later wrote . But when darkness arrived, he saw only red erupting in the night sky. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of “the dawn’s early light” on September 14, he saw the American flag —not the British Union Jack—flying over the fort, announcing an American victory.

Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key’s work and had it distributed under the name “Defense of Fort M’Henry.” The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon published it, and within weeks, Key’s poem, now called “The Star-Spangled Banner,” appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his words and forever naming the flag it celebrated. The song remained popular throughout the 19th century, emerging as a symbol of unity during the Civil War, but only became the U.S.’s official national anthem in 1931.

The flag that inspired Key’s composition still survives today, though it’s fragile and worn by time. First lent to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907, this iconic artifact is now on view in its own state-of-the-art gallery at the National Museum of American History (NMAH).

“The Star-Spangled Banner is a symbol of American history that ranks with the Statue of Liberty and the Charters of Freedom,” said Brent D. Glass , the museum’s then-director, in 2007. “The fact that it [was] entrusted to the National Museum of American History is an honor.”

The flag’s beginnings

The flag’s history starts not with Key, but rather a year earlier, with Major George Armistead , the commander of Fort McHenry. Knowing that his fort was a likely British target, Armistead, in the summer of 1813, told the commander of Baltimore’s defenses that he needed a flag—a big one: “We, sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemy … except that we have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.”

Armistead soon hired a 37-year-old widow and professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill , to make a 30-by-42-foot garrison flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes, one for each of the then-15 states. Over the next six or so weeks, Pickersgill, her daughter, two of her nieces, a 13-year-old indentured servant and possibly her mother used 300 yards of English wool bunting to sew the flag. They made the stars, each measuring two feet in diameter, from cotton—a luxury item at the time. Initially, the group worked in Pickersgill’s home (now a private museum known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House ), but as their work progressed, they needed more room, so they moved to a brewery across the street. On August 19, 1813, the flag was delivered to Fort McHenry.

For making the Star-Spangled Banner, Pickersgill was paid $405.90 (almost $8,000 today ). She received another $168.54 (around $3,300 today ) for sewing a smaller, 17-by-25-foot storm flag, likely using the same design. It was this storm flag—not the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Banner—that actually flew during the battle. The garrison flag, according to eyewitness accounts, wasn’t raised until the morning of September 14, 1814.

Armistead remained in command of Fort McHenry for the rest of his short life. Historians are unsure how the Armistead family came into possession of the flag, but upon the military officer’s death in 1818, his wife, Louisa Hughes Armistead, inherited it. She likely sewed a red upside-down “V” (or perhaps the start of the letter “A,” for Armistead) onto the flag. Louisa is also thought to have begun the tradition of giving away pieces of the flag to honor her husband’s memory, as well as the memories of the soldiers who defended the fort under his command.

When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to her daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton , over the legal objections of her son. “Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father,” said Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss , then a textile conservator at NMAH, in 2007. “Louisa wanted Georgiana to have it.”

The missing pieces

In 1873, Appleton lent the flag to George Preble , a flag historian who had previously thought the artifact was lost. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of the flag taken at the Boston Navy Yard. He then exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where it remained until 1876.

While the Star-Spangled Banner was under Preble’s care, Appleton allowed him to give away pieces of the flag as he saw fit. She, too, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. Appleton once noted , “Had we given all that we have been importuned for, little would be left to show.” This family tradition continued through 1880, when Armistead’s grandson gave away the last documented piece, according to Thomassen-Krauss.

Several of these cuttings from the Star-Spangled Banner have been located over the years, including about a dozen owned by NMAH . “We’re aware of at least a dozen more that exist in other museums and private collections,” said curator Kathleen Kendrick in 2007.

But a missing 15th star has never been found. “There’s a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln,” Kendrick explained. “But no real evidence has surfaced to support these stories, and the true fate of the star remains one of the Smithsonian’s great unsolved mysteries.”

Preserving a national icon at the Smithsonian

After Appleton’s death in 1878, the flag passed to her son Eben Appleton , who lent it to Baltimore for that city’s 1880 sesquicentennial celebration. It remained in a safe deposit vault in New York City until 1907, when Eben lent it to the Smithsonian. Five years later, he made the gift permanent , saying he wanted the flag to belong “to that Institution in the country where it could be conveniently seen by the public and where it would be well cared for.”

When the flag arrived at the Smithsonian, it was smaller, just 30 by 34 feet, damaged from years of use at the fort and the removal of pieces as souvenirs. Recognizing the need for repairs, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler , an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. While working for the United States Naval Academy , Fowler had patented a method of supporting fragile flags with a linen backing that required a honeycomb pattern of stitches. With the help of ten needlewomen, Fowler spent eight weeks in 1914 restoring the flag, receiving $1,243 (around $39,000 today ) for the materials and work.

For the next 50 years, apart from a brief move during World War II, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed in what is now the Arts and Industries Building . The glass case holding the flag wasn’t long enough to show the entire piece of fabric, so its lower half was folded up.

It was only in 1964 that the public was able to view the flag in its entirety. That year, the flag became the centerpiece of the new National Museum of History and Technology (now NMAH), which had ample space to allow the national treasure to hang freely. The Star-Spangled Banner remained in Flag Hall until 1998, when it taken down to undergo extensive conservation .

Started in 1996, the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project was planned with the help of historians, conservators, curators, engineers and organic scientists. Conservators began working on the flag in 1999, when construction of a conservation lab at the museum was completed. Over the next several years, they clipped 1.7 million stitches from the flag to remove the linen backing that had been added in 1914, lifted debris using dry cosmetic sponges and brushed the flag with an acetone-water mixture to remove soils embedded in fibers. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag.

“Our goal was to extend [the flag’s] usable lifetime,” said Thomassen-Krauss. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry. “We didn’t want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil,” the conservator added. “Those marks tell the flag’s story.”

While the conservators worked, the public looked on. By 2006, when NMAH closed for a two-year renovation , more than 12 million people had peered into the museum’s glass conservation lab to observe the process.

NMAH reopened in November 2008, with the Star-Spangled Banner now displayed in its own climate-controlled gallery. As Glass said ahead of the reopening, “The survival of this flag for nearly 200 years is a visible testimony to the strength and perseverance of this nation, and we hope that it will inspire many more generations to come.”

Reflecting on the Star-Spangled Banner’s significance, Kendrick said:

The Star-Spangled Banner resonates with people in different ways, for different reasons. It’s exciting to realize that you’re looking at the very same flag that Francis Scott Key saw on that September morning in 1814. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifact—it’s also a national symbol. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American.

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Cate Lineberry | READ MORE

Cate Lineberry was an associate web editor at Smithsonian magazine.

Meilan Solly | | READ MORE

Meilan Solly is Smithsonian magazine's associate digital editor, history.

For Whom Does the American Flag Fly?

I’m in no hurry to wave it, but don’t tell me I don’t love my country.

You couldn’t not notice it: a multitude gathered one morning at an A gate of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport, waving little American flags, recording on their cell phones, laying a soundtrack of exuberant cheers. Intrigued or just nosy, I stopped for a look-see, noticed that walls behind the gate desk were adorned with red-white-and-blue bunting, that other walls featured a slogan saluting all those who serve and their families, that the area was also bedecked with flags: an American flag along with those representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, even the one for POW/MIA. Yonder, an agent stood at the mouth of the Jetway and called out the deplaning passengers as if announcing the Suns playoff starters: “From the U. S. Air Force staff . . . !” “From the U. S. Navy . . . !” “Electronics technician first class . . . !” First-class petty officer . . . !” “USS Mission Bay rank third class . . . !” Given their hoary hair, their wrinkled mugs, and the fact that some of them caned out of the jet bridge or were pushed in a wheelchair, I surmised that all who exited had earned the honorific of veteran.

It heartened me to see that kind of appreciation for our veterans, so much so that I dawdled past my first urge to leave, so much so that I joined in rounds of applause. Though my enthusiasm was sincere, truth be told, it was also tempered. Matter fact, had somebody tried to hand me a little mini flag, I might’ve refused it and for damn sure would’ve been reluctant to wave it.

Well, because while I believe it commendable and crucial to honor the people who’ve risked or made the ultimate sacrifice for their/our country, my relationship to the flag is at best complicated, at worst ruined.

The year after it declared independence, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, solidifying the Stars and Stripes as the symbol of America, even boasting that the 13 stars on the Betsy Ross version represented “a new constellation.” The second Flag Act, in 1794, provided for 15 stars and 15 stripes (the famous Star-Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key) to rep the newest states. Of course, the good old U. S. of A. kept right on manifesting its destiny, a mission that also made for some awkward designs.

In 1818, Congress passed the third Flag Act, legislating that it would return to the original 13 stripes to represent the colonies but would add a star for each new state. That third act didn’t specify a design for the stars, and that vagueness led to the production of several versions, that is until 1912, when an executive order by President Taft prescribed not only the order of the stars but the proportions of the flag. Two more executive orders, both by President Eisenhower in 1959, further specified the arrangement of the stars, the later one establishing the design of our current flag.

The vexillologists would have me believe the red of Old Glory symbolizes “hardiness and valor”; its white “purity and innocence”; its blue “vigilance, perseverance, and justice.”

While I accept those qualities as its symbolic ideals, I also believe that the quiddity of the flag is a question: Who belongs in America?

Which is a query evermore inextricable from who owns America.

Given the centuries that we were chattel, the long rule of Jim Crow, and the machinations fueling mass incarceration, I can say with certainty that it ain’t been my peoples. Nonetheless, given Native American pogroms and the Indian Removal and Relocation Acts; given Japanese internment; given the hundred-year-plus crusade for women’s suffrage and the leaked intent for SCOTUS to nullify Roe v. Wade; given the extant rampant schemes of voter suppression and the proliferation of ardent anti-LGBTQ legislation; given the border wall and the inhumanity of brown babies in cages; given the forging of the wealth gap and the cruel persistence of health disparities; given, given, the givens . . . the answer to that essential question is that it might not have been your people neither.

And furthermore, during the fascistic previous administration, the Americans most visible and vocal about their belonging and ownership were the ones hell-bent on using the flag as a cudgel against anybody deemed an other and/or as a scythe to cleave division.

And let me add that, often, they’re the same ones proclaiming themselves true patriots.

In George Orwell’s classic essay “Notes on Nationalism,” he defines patriotism as “devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people” and defines nationalism as “the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.” Orwell acknowledges that there’s often little distinction between the two and yet argues that “patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally” but “nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power.”

In addition to being grounded in America’s complicated history, my resistance to revering the flag—and other symbols of American virtue—is fueled by the belief that Orwell’s distinctions may no longer exist, that the middle ground is now a chasm, that we’ve atrophied into (or maybe we’ve just been exposed as) an era in which nationalism, of a sort indistinguishable from jingoism, has by and large subsumed the patriot.

But I also concede that my perspective has been colored by what’s made the news—the vehemence over Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling; the tiki torchers threatening, “You will not replace us”; the MAGA insurgents, many clad in patriotic colors, rioting through the halls of the Capitol—and that there are also plenty of Americans who believe this country capable of achieving the ideals enshrined in its founding documents and symbols, whose hoisting of a flag outside their crib won’t make the headlines but who are just as important, if not more important, to defining and extending its virtues.

One such acolyte is a buddy of mine—he identifies as a white guy, which seems essential to mention—who says he’ll continue to raise a flag out of respect and duty, that he isn’t about to let the KKK/Proud Boys/Oath Keepers/Three Percenters of the world usurp its meaning. His arguments, I admit, make a helluva lot of sense.

But for me? Could the flag ever belong to me and mines? Would it ever be a fitting emblem of our experience? Can we—those who belong to groups coerced into a hyphenated lower class of Americanness—have any lasting impact on its significance?

My buddy asked if I intended to raise a flag outside my house this Fourth of July, and I said no—said it quick, too—and then the very next instant worried whether that decision would make me less American, less deserving of the mythic American dream of prosperity, somehow less worthy of experiencing the highest potential of this place where I was born and, in all likelihood, will die.

A week or so after I stumbled upon the celebrated arrival of a planeload of veterans, I returned from another trip and stopped by the very same gate. That day, there was no excited crowd, no gate agent broadcasting names, no veterans strolling or limping or wheeling off the jet bridge. However, still—the slogan honoring those who served. Still—the patriotic bunting. Still—the beaucoup flags along the walls. All of them inanimate, inert, waiting for someone to come along and imbue them with consequence.

Mitchell S Jackson is a contributing writer for Esquire. He is the winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a National Magazine Award as well as the acclaimed author of the memoir Survival Math , and the award-winning novel The Residue Years . He is the John O. Whiteman Dean's Distinguished Professor of English at Arizona State University.

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What the American flag means to you

A child. A truck. A quilt. A gravestone. These are all answers to the questions posed by the Share Your Story project: “What does the American flag stand for? Is it a sacred symbol? Has it meant something important to you? Does it represent you? Have you ever used the flag to make a statement?” Lots of things to think about. Many places your mind could go.

The product of the Star-Spangled Banner “Share Your Story” project is a mosaic of the American flag made up of stories and photos from people like you. Perusing the images and the words that have been submitted, I’m struck by how the flag is used to express different ideas about what it means to be American. It is a sign of freedom. A reference to the federal government. The emblem of a superpower. An icon of loyalty. A symbol of pride as well as a symbol of protest.

One of my favorite submissions is a photo of Don Faulkner , a Navy man who wrote an essay in the eighth grade about what the colors of the flag brought to mind for him. Blue stands for “the waters around the United States that hold it together like a vice holds two pieces of wood together”; white, “the clouds that fly over the United States, so easily without a bump or rough place like the peace of peace time”; and red, “the fire that consumes intruders that try to turn the handle that holds the United States together.”

Another veteran, mercenary2372 is pictured during a 15 month tour in Iraq:”I am holding a flag my dad sent me in the mail. The American Flag stands for freedom and is the symbol of our country that I salute in the morning for reveille and in the evening for taps.” Alongside his photo of flag flying outside the Department of Justice headquarters M.V. Jantzen writes: “I don’t feel the American flag is a sacred symbol, but it does feel like home.” JeanieBeach thinks her photo of a truck stop illustrates how “the American flag captures the rugged determination of Americans to create sanctuary anywhere they find themselves.” And Gelane explains that the young boy pictured in her photo was “born on the army’s birthday, Flag Day!”

With 15 rows of 24 image tiles, we need more than 360 photographs to complete the American flag mosaic. This is your chance to contribute your point of view. In commemoration of Flag Day this year, I hope you’ll share your thoughts and images of what the flag means to you. Spread the word and help us fill up the mosaic !

Dana Allen-Greil is the new media project manager at the National Museum of American History. She likes to think of the flag as a connector . 

Home ➔ Free Essay Examples ➔ Why I Honor the American Flag Essay

Why I Honor the American Flag Essay

Depending on the topic, writing an essay may be an intriguing task for students. But it becomes especially interesting when you are to write a paper about your native country’s symbols and your attitude towards them. That is the reason a “why I honor the American flag” essay may become an exciting assignment making you fully captivated in an attempt to contemplate patriotism.

Before reading the sample, we suggest you refresh your memory and read a short summary of the American flag’s history and facts. That way, you might get some inspiration or ideas to write why I honor the American flag essay.

Brief American Flag History Recap

The flag of the United States is the third oldest national symbol in the world—older than Union Jack in the UK or the Tricolor in France. It was first authorized by Congress on June 14, 1777. This date is celebrated as Flag Day throughout the USA. It was first raised after the battle of Oriskany on August 6, 1777. 

Initially, the American flag had 13 stripes and 13 stars (the number of colonies that won the War of Independence), but currently, there that number grew to 50. A new star would be added to the flag on July 4, if a new state entered the union. 

In 1818, Congress decided that the number of stripes should be reduced and limited to thirteen in honor of the first thirteen states, while the number of stars on the flag should increase with each new state. That law exists to this day. 

Here are some of the things you cannot do with the American flag: 

• Slightly lower it in deference to a person or object;
• Set it with its canton down, except for a distress signal; 
• Set the flag so that it touches anything below it;
• Carry the flagpole horizontally (only at a particular angle and aloft);
• Use or store the flag in such a way that gets it damaged or dirty;
• Write and draw on the flag;
• Use it as a wrapper;
• Use it as clothing, bedding, drapery, or be a part of them; 
• Use the flag for advertising and promoting purposes;
• Print its image on napkins, boxes, and other disposable items. 

However, as a protest against something, US residents often burn the American flag, which is a right guaranteed by the constitution.

When writing an essay about the American flag, you should essentially write what it means to you. The word “honor” in the task already suggests what type of feelings this national symbol should invoke in you. 

However, don’t forget that it doesn’t mean you are prohibited from expressing an opinion that is different from that suggested by the task. After all, freedom of speech is one of the many liberties the US is known for. But, in most cases, by celebrating the American flag, you will get better results for the essay.

What to write about?

Obviously, the flag (just kidding). To determine the direction you want to take in your writing, take a look at your assignment sheet one more time and reread the topic. 

Is it exactly “why I honor the American flag,” or is it just an “American flag” essay? 

If it’s the first option or its variation, you are asked explicitly about your opinion. Hence, you should avoid stuffing boring historical facts in your essay. Instead, write more about your thoughts on past events related to the American flag or prominent figures involved. In the best-case scenario, tell a personal story related to the flag or the values it perpetuates. And, if you don’t have one, you can always make it up (wink).

If the topic is more general, it’s usually fine to get more encyclopedian in your American flag essay. However, if you merely collect and rewrite existing opinions and facts without contributing your own thoughts, you probably won’t get the best grade.

Writing Your Essay

We have several detailed guides regarding many essay writing aspects. If you are writing for an essay contest, you won’t usually be required to follow citation styles and such, but be sure to double-check the requirements. There might also be a word limit to comply.

To write your essay, we suggest you follow these guidelines:

• Introduction
• Make it longer or shorter

If you’re not entirely new to writing essays, you can skip the first step. But you know what they say, “Repetition is the mother of learning.” By studying those tips, you should be able to write not only a winning why I honor the American flag essay but any basic essay out there.

Ideas for an American Flag Essay

First, let’s see what the Americans usually point out when writing about the flag’s symbolism. Having read countless essay examples and articles about what the American flag means to people of different ages, professions, descent, and status, here are the dominating trends regarding what the flag stands for:

• The pride for the country and its history
• The strength of all American people
• The joy of seeing warriors coming back alive
• The ability of Americans to overcome and unite
• The freedom to express yourself
• The opportunities to become anything you want
• The commitment to serve your country
• The courage of the Americans and founding fathers

Also, after a thorough textual analysis of those texts, we were able to determine a pool of words related to the topic. Here are more inspiring words that US citizens often associate with the American flag. 

• Military:  army, combat, glory, heroes, peace, protection, sacrifice, safety, service, tears, valor, veterans, vigilance, war.
• Feelings:  appreciation, honor, love, patriotism, respect, responsibility.
• Rights:  equality, independence, justice, liberty.
• Qualities:  allegiance, compassion, generosity, hardworking, optimism, perseverance, volunteerism.
• Other:  breeze, discovery, dreams, family, ideals, kids, pledge, principles, treasure, unity.

When reading those words, some will be more relatable to you than others. That’s because every person has their own unique set of things that influence them throughout life. If the American flag represents one thing to you, it might be very different for your friend. But, that’s the beauty of this topic.

Specific topics about the American flag

If, for your American flag essay, you need ideas that are more specific, here is a list of sample topics you might use:

• The early history of the American flag. 
• Flag Day and its celebration. 
• The first word that comes to your mind when you see it. 
• How I usually spend Flag Day. 
• The first versions of the American flag. 
• The 13 folds of the US flag and their symbolism. 
• The rules for handling the American flag. 
• The meaning behind every element of the flag. 
• The connection of the US flag with other flags. 
• The unspoken rules of flag folding. 
• How youth is treating the flag nowadays. 
• I asked my friends what the American flag meant to them, and here’s what they said. 
• Why might some people treat their national flag as a mere piece of cloth? 

Consider reading the American flag essay example below to get a better idea of what to write about if you are assigned to do this task. It was submitted by a student anonymously, but who knows, maybe you will recognize your friend’s writing style?

What the American Flag Means to Me

What does the American flag mean to me? I believe that it is much more than a colorful piece of fabric with red and white lines and fifty stars on it. This symbol of the United States has over 240 years of history with its current design being developed in the 1960s. Being inseparable from the U.S.A., it’s become a symbol of the U.S. It’s put on souvenirs to refer to the U.S. and on all public buildings and many private residences. It is deeply ingrained in the mind of all Americans. Our flag helps us feel that we live in a forever-united country that will stay strong as long as we stand together.

I love the symbolism of the stars and the stripes. The red color signifies the courage and bravery that Americans have always shown throughout their history. The white color shows purity and innocence. The blue color symbolizes the perseverance and justice our nation has been proud of for centuries. And, the stars signify fifty free States that stand together and rule as one. They show that our country is bonded together, no matter how different we might be. I like to mull over the fact that my predecessors also believed in this idea, and it has not changed since then.

Yes, we are different. People of different races, confessions, and political beliefs live in America. A lot of people from around the world have come here for greater career opportunities, freedom, safety, and better living as a whole. The U.S. hosted them all to make us a united nation whose country deserves the title “the United States of America.”

Being a U.S. citizen means taking pride in my country. And I know that it’s mutual. America is proud of its sons and daughters who serve it and is thankful every day for the hard work and their patriotism that keeps the U.S.A. a safe place to live in.

Many wars have been fought under the American flag, be it on our land or across the seas. And at these periods, that flag encouraged our people to stay strong. A lot of Americans put their lives on the line to protect our country, and the country will be grateful to them forever. The memory of those heroes who have died and of those who are alive remains in our hearts together with pride we take in their deeds, and the American flag that has always accompanied them is another reminder of their feats.

But, I believe that our flag stands not only for all the soldiers but also for the civilians who have fought the war for food and money during the harsh days for our country. Even during those times, our symbol flew high and reminded each of the Americans of the courage they need to keep. If they’d lost this bravery, we would possibly have no country to take pride in today.

Another thing this American symbol always reminds me of is that all men and women in our country know their rights and freedoms. We are free to talk about what we like and dislike; we can believe in what we want, be it God or a Flying Spaghetti Monster; we can freely share each of our beliefs; we can move in any direction and linger where our hearts tell us. We are free as individuals and as a nation.

An image of the confederate flag of the U.S. evokes a fiery patriotism in me that makes me feel ready to protect my country at all times. Also, it is the symbol of freedom and a place where one can become anything they want. In the United States, we have so many things to be proud of. This is the mentality we were brought up with and that I’d want to pass on to future generations.

More American Flag Facts

When the independence of the United States of America was declared on July 4, 1776, the newborn state did not yet have an official flag.

It is believed that the first flag that was used as the flag of the United States was the so-called “Grand Union Flag” (“Continental Flag,” “Congress Flag,” “Cambridge Flag,” and “First Navy Ensign”). It essentially was a copy (except for the number of stripes) of the British East India Company flag.

The Continental Flag was first used as the national flag on December 2, 1775, by Continental Fleet Lieutenant John Paul Jones, who hoisted it on the Alfred (a merchant’s vessel) in Philadelphia, PA. It is known that this version of the flag was sewn by the tailor Margaret Manny.

Over the next year and a half, the Continental Flag was used by North American revolutionaries, including the future first US President George Washington, as naval and army flags.

Current version

According to the Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA) , the flag was proposed exactly as it was adopted by Francis Hopkinson, the former member of the Maritime Committee of the Second Continental Congress, and one of the authors of the US Declaration of Independence.

In 1795, after the states of Vermont and Kentucky entered the United States, the number of stars and stripes on the US flag increased from thirteen to fifteen. It was this flag, with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, that was seen by the American poet Francis Key over Fort McHenry in 1814, which later became famous as the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Impressed by what he saw, Francis Key wrote the poem “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which later became the text of the US anthem.

In 1818, the number of stripes on the US flag was reduced to the original thirteen. And later, only stars were added, according to the number of states in the country.

A fiftieth star was added to the US flag in 1960 when the last state to date, Hawaii, joined the union.

The US Army Institute of Heraldry has prepared proposals to change the design of the US flag with a quite possible increase in the number of states in the future.

Bottom line

The history of the American flag is one of the richest in the world. It can make you feel both joyful and sad feelings, but those are always cherished and never forgotten. We hope the ideas outlined in our article, along with other recommendations, will allow you to find your own voice on its matter and write an excellent essay.

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Why I Honor The American Flag Essay | An Essay About The American Flag And Why I Honor It

January 11, 2022 by Prasanna

Why I Honor The American Flag Essay: The American flag is the most recognised symbol of America. It’s often said that it stands for freedom, liberty and justice. I think of the American flag as more than just a symbol though-it’s an idea of what America was founded on and what it still stands for. It stands for freedom, liberty and justice. The Americans fought to gain their freedom, they rebelled against a tyrannical government because of the injustice they suffered and their hope for a better life drove them to cross the Atlantic Ocean in search of new worlds. This essay explains why I honor the American Flag as well as the meaning behind it.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more

What is the American Flag?

The American Flag is a symbol of patriotism and pride for those living in the United States. It is also a sign of freedom and democracy for the entire world to see. The flag consists of thirteen stripes, seven red stripes alternating with six white ones, with in addition an area known as the canton containing fifty stars to represent the fifty states. The stars as well as the stripes stand for the initial thirteen colonies as well as the modern fifty states. It was first flown in 1777 during the Revolutionary War and has been a symbol of freedom ever since. Furthermore, the American Flag is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. It has actually been the inspiration for many different flags throughout the world, including the modern-day flag of Canada as well as the flag of New Zealand.

Why do I honor the American Flag?

The American flag is a symbol of freedom and unity. In America, we are free to share our opinions, show our faith, and dress the way we want. These freedoms make America different from many other countries in the world. Americans have the freedom to express their religious beliefs and there are countless religions in America. This shows people are free to follow whatever religion they choose. They are allowed to practice their religion in public or at home. In essence, the freedom of religion is one of the most valued freedoms we have in America. People are also allowed to believe and practice whatever faith they want, without being persecuted or imprisoned.

Understanding the Meaning Behind the Flag

The American flag is a symbol of equality, liberty, and justice. It’s a reminder that we as Americans have the opportunity to make our own lives what we want them to be. Regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other factors, you are welcome in this country. The American flag reminds us that we need to work together to protect the rights that all Americans deserve. On the other hand, the Confederate flag is a symbol of hatred, racism and oppression. The first use of the Confederate battle flag was during the Civil War (1861-65), and it was a symbol of the South’s effort to preserve, defend and protect slavery. Although the flag was not flown during the Civil War until 1863, it is only a difference of 5 years to make a huge difference in the meaning of the flag. The Confederate flag symbolizes hate, and it flies over a statehouse to remind us of the privileges and rights that have been taken away from African Americans.

The History of the Flag

The first-ever version of the American flag was designed in 1777 by Betsy Ross, an American flag maker and upholsterer. It consisted of thirteen stripes in addition to thirteen stars. Moreover, the flag had the stars organized in a circle, which was based on the concept that colonies were equal. The thirteen stars represented the 13 colonies that existed at that time. In 1818, after a few design changes, the United States Congress decided to preserve the flag’s original thirteen stripes and include brand-new stars to reflect each new state that got in the union. The number of stars on the flag gradually increased to its present number today, which stands for the total number of states in the nation. While there is no question that the American flag is highly significant and spectacular, it truly goes much more than that. The United States flag is significant since it represents the freedom and also liberty of Americans.

Interpretation of Colors on the Flag

The flag first rose over thirteen states along the Atlantic seaboard. The flag consists of 13 alternate red and also white straight stripes, as well as thirteen 6 pointed stars, to represent the thirteen states. The shades of the flag are symbolic also: red signifies strength as well as valiance, white represents pureness and also innocence as well as blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and also justice. The reason the Continental Congress originally picked the red, white, as well as blue colors was not made clear in the resolution taking on the flag. Chroniclers think it was most likely a shade decision, made in honor of the British Union Jack, which had actually formerly flown over the colonies.

Conclusion on Why I Honor The American Flag Essay

The American flag is a symbol of this country. It has been passed down through generations and it’s flown proudly in front of houses and businesses, where the wind decides the height. It is a representation of who we are as a nation and what we stand for. When I see Old Glory fly, I feel pride knowing that I am an American citizen.

FAQ’s on Why I Honor the American Flag

Question 1. What does the American Flag signify?

Answer: The American Flag is a symbol of freedom, and justice for all. It signifies that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Question 2. Why do you honor the American flag?

Answer: Every time I see an American flag, it reminds me of the hard work and dedication that went into that flag. It reminds me of all the soldiers who died for this country and that we need to never forget those sacrifices. It’s a reminder of what we can accomplish as a country when we put our differences aside and come together.

Question 3. Why is respecting the American flag important?

Answer: The American flag is a symbol of freedom, equality, and opportunity. The flag’s colors represent the beliefs that our ancestors fought for and many people around the world continue to fight for today. The red stands for hardiness and courage, white symbolizes purity and innocence, blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The flag also honors our country’s service men and women and their sacrifices for our country.

Question 4. How do we honor the American flag?

Answer: Traditionally, the American flag is honored by being raised in the morning and lowered at night. It should never be allowed to touch the ground or be dipped to any person or thing. It should not be flown where it could easily become soiled or damaged. The flag’s size should be proportional to its location;

for example, a home should fly an 8-by-18-foot flag at least one meter above their roof. If the flag is in a prominent position, it should be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. Flag etiquette requires that the flag always be flown with the stars facing the pole, never in a way that would obscure or change the meaning. For example, the flag should never be displayed during inclement weather and should never be used as a decoration, for beautification or to cover a building.

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10 fascinating facts about the american flag.

The American Flag is not just a piece of fabric. It is symbolic of the fabric of our society as a nation. It has been carried far and wide as a symbol of American pride, all the while serving as an emblem of the freedom we hold dear.

Here are 10 interesting facts about the American Flag:

There have been 27 versions of the American Flag.

From the 1777 original that had 13 stars and 13 stripes for the American colonies, there have been many changes and iterations of the flag. Each time a state was added to the union, a star was added. We, of course, now stand with 50 stars and 13 stripes.

The flag can be displayed for all 24 hours.

While it is Federal law that the flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset (unless there’s inclement weather), there are measures that can be taken to show the flag for all 24 hours. All that needs to be added is proper illumination of the flag so it can be seen in the dark.

The colors were chosen carefully.

The Red, White and Blue did not just happen by accident. The founding fathers wanted the colors to have meaning, not just look visually pleasing. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The current design wasn’t professionally made.

Rather, it was then 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio who submitted the design in a contest in 1958. It was chosen out of over 1,500 submissions by President Dwight Eisenhower.

The current flag is the only one to have lasted more than 50 years.

As stated above, there have been many changes to the design of the American Flag. But the one we currently observe is the longest running iteration of the symbol, likely because no states have been added to the union since 1959.

A snippet of the flag the Star Spangled Banner was written about was sold in 2011.

The flag that flew at Ft. McHenry, immortalized by Francis Scott Key, is still around. A  2″ x 5″ swatch of it was sold at an auction in 2011 for a whopping $38,000. The rest of the flag is on display at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

The Flag has a national day of recognition.

Flag Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916 after years of local celebrations.

Flags should be disposed of in a “dignified manner.”

If an American Flag is damaged beyond repair and you need to dispose of it, you can burn it with dignity. Many municipalities around the country conduct flag burnings on Memorial Day or the Fourth of July where you can participate.

The flag can touch the ground and still be used.

There is a myth that once a flag touches the ground it needs to be burned or disposed of. That’s not entirely true. If a flag is soiled or touches the ground, it can be washed and dry cleaned and continue to be used.

Five American Flags have made it to the moon.

You have probably seen Neil Armstrong on the moon with an American Flag, but he is not the only one to plant one on the surface of the moon. Five additional Apollo missions, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, ended with an astronaut placing a flag on the moon.

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Fifth Grade Flag Essay

Application, flag essay flyer, flag essay resources.

Flag Code (PDF) Flag Essay Application (PDF) Flag Essay Score Card (PDF)

Available from The American Legion Emblem Sales for purchase: Let’s Be Right on Flag Etiquette Our Country’s Flag US Flag Code

General Information

The purpose of The American Legion of Iowa Essay contest is to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the United States Flag on the part of elementary-level students. Other objectives of the contest include the ability to gain knowledge of flag etiquette and respect for the flag.

Eligibility

Participants shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States and a resident of Iowa. All contestants must be students enrolled in the fifth grade in a public, parochial, military, private, or state-accredited home school.

The format for the essay is limited to the following:

• A one (1) page document
• Contains 300 words or less
• Double-spaced
• 12-point font
• The student’s own words and effort

The essay is to reflect the students’ perspective of what the United States Flag represents to them using facts from the United States Flag Code.

As a resource for teachers who want to invite the veterans into the classroom before participation or as an introduction to the contest, posts may also offer the classroom teacher:

A copy of the 20-minute video, “For Which It Stands” is available through Emblem Sales (Item #755.400) for $9.95.

Local and district contest awards, if any, will be the responsibility of the individual post and district. Each district finalist must be completed in time to be forwarded to The American Legion Department of Iowa Headquarters.

The Department finalists will be recognized in the same manner as other youth champions and will be invited to read their essays at the Department Convention. First, Second, and Third Place winners will also receive $500, $300, and $200, respectively from The American Legion of Iowa and The American Legion of Iowa Foundation.

Local contests will be conducted and judged by the local sponsoring Legion Post, and the winning essay, along with the certification form completed, will be forwarded as follows:

Individual Legion Posts will forward one winning entry (please retain a copy) to their District Children and Youth Chairperson, with a signed Participation Application, postmarked by January 5 th of the current program year.  

District entries will be judged by the respective District Children and Youth Chairperson, and sent to Department Headquarters, postmarked by January 22 nd of the current program year.  

Local Posts should begin working with their schools and home-schooled students in their community in September each year. The deadline for submission of the District winner must be certified and forwarded to Department Headquarters, postmarked not later than January 22, 2024,  of the current program year. 

Establishment of Policy: When consulting with any youth participating in an authorized event, TWO adults will be present. This policy applies to all official programs and events recognized by The American Legion of Iowa.

2023 Flag Essay Winner

The Fifth-Grade Flag Essay Contest winners were judged by the Department Children and Youth Committee.

Photo of the Department Winner

Trump rally flag flew high above stage, not photoshopped in | Fact check

The claim: Image showing US flag behind Trump during shooting was doctored

A July 14 Threads post ( direct link , archive link ) questions the authenticity of an image showing an American flag flying behind former President Donald Trump after he survived an assassination attempt on July 13. 

“This has been bugging me since it happened,” reads the post, which is a response to another post with a collage of shooting pictures.

One of the photos in that collage shows Trump with blood on his face, pumping his fist as an American flag flies above him.

“The viral pic has a flag. There was no flag behind Trump and the SS. Who photoshopped in the flag?” the post says

The Threads post was reposted more than 80 times in two days. The original post also spread widely on Threads. 

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Fact check roundup: False claims about Trump rally shooting spread online

Our rating: False

The image wasn’t doctored. The flag was positioned high above the stage, so it could only be seen from certain angles and distances.

Livestream, photos from various outlets show flag

The flag was present at the rally, though its position meant it wasn't visible in every photo from the event. It was hung between two cranes and positioned well above the stage at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, T he Washington Post reported . 

The flag can be seen in a post-shooting wide shot from Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci, who also took the photo included in the original Threads post. A photo by the London-based Daily Mirror also shows the flag flying between the cranes from a different angle. 

Fact check : Man pretended he was Trump rally shooter in a viral video

The flag can also be seen flying in the background of Right Side Broadcasting Network's livestream of the event.

USA TODAY has debunked an array of claims surrounding the shooting, including false assertions that a video shows the assassination attempt was “staged,” that an image authentically shows Trump with smiling Secret Service agents after the incident and that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas denied requests for additional security at the rally. 

USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

• Associated Press, July 15, At the Trump rally, it was evening sun, songs and blue sky. Then came bullets, screams and blood 
• The Daily Mirror, July 15, EXCLUSIVE: American flag and spotlights only remnants of deadly Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
• CNN, July 14, Trump safe, two dead after assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally 
• Right Side Broadcasting Network, July 13, BREAKING: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP AT BUTLER, P.A. RALLY – 7/13/24
• The Washington Post, July 13, Pops, screams and then blood: On the scene at the Trump rally shooting 

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .

• Library of Congress
• Research Guides

World of 1898: International Perspectives on the Spanish American War

Introduction.

• Overview Essay
• Cuba in 1898
• Chronology of Cuba in the Spanish-American War
• Philippine Perspective
• The Changing of the Guard: Puerto Rico in 1898
• The Spanish-American War of 1898: a Spanish View
• American Perspective
• Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy
• Russell Alexander Alger
• Thomas McArthur Anderson
• Basilio Augustin y Dávila
• Ramón Auñón y Villalón
• Román Baldorioty de Castro
• José Celso Barbosa
• Clara Barton
• Segismundo Bermejo
• Ramón Emeterio Betances
• Ramón Blanco y Erenas
• Andrés Bonifacio
• John Rutter Brooke
• Jules-Martin Cambon
• Pascual Cervera y Topete
• Grover Cleveland
• Stephen Crane
• George W. Davis
• Federico Degetau y González
• George Dewey
• José de Diego
• Manuel V. Domenech
• Enrique Dupuy de Lôme
• Oswald Herbert Ernst
• Maximo Gómez Baez
• John Milton Hay
• Guy Vernon Henry
• Eugenio María de Hostos y Bonilla
• Tulio Larrinaga
• Fitzhugh Lee
• William Ludlow
• Antonio Maceo
• Manuel Macías
• William McKinley
• Nelson Appleton Miles
• Luis Muñoz Rivera
• Whitelaw Reid
• Lola Rodríguez de Tió
• Manuel Rojas
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
• William T. Sampson
• Juan Manuel Sánchez y Gutiérrez de Castro
• Theodore Schwan
• William Shafter
• Martín Travieso
• Joaquín Vara de Rey y Rubio
• James Franklin Wade
• Richard Wainwright
• Valeriano Weyler
• Walt Whitman
• Henry H. Whitney
• James Harrison Wilson
• Coamo and Aibonito
• Mayagüez, Hormigueros, and Arecibo
• Cienfuegos Bay
• Abolition of Slavery in Puerto Rico
• American Ships in the Spanish-American War
• Balzac v. Porto Rico
• Foraker Act (Organic Act of 1900)
• Grito de Balintawak
• Grito de Lares
• Hurricane San Ciriaco
• Anti-Imperialist League
• Military Government in Puerto Rico
• Olmsted Amendment
• Peace Agreement in Puerto Rico
• Reconcentration Policy
• Rough Riders
• Spanish Ships in the Spanish-American War
• Teller and Platt Amendments
• Treaty of Paris of 1898
• U.S.S. Gloucester
• Additional Resources
• Acknowledgements

Guide Editor: María Daniela Thurber, Reference Librarian, Hispanic Reading Room, Latin American, Caribbean, and European Division

Content Authors: Please visit the Acknowledgement page for information on all authors and contributors to the original The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War web project.

Note: This guide is adapted from The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War , the first online collection mounted on the web by the Hispanic Reading Room.

Created: Spring 2022

Last Updated: February 28, 2023

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The war of the United States with Spain was very brief. Its results were many, startling, and of world-wide meaning. --Henry Cabot Lodge

On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. As a result, Spain lost its control over the remains of its overseas empire -- Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines Islands, Guam, and other islands.

Beginning in 1492, Spain was the first European nation to sail westward across the Atlantic Ocean, explore, and colonize the Amerindian nations of the Western Hemisphere. At its greatest extent, the empire that resulted from this exploration extended from Virginia on the eastern coast of the United States south to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America excluding Brazil and westward to California and Alaska. Across the Pacific, it included the Philippines and other island groups. By 1825 much of this empire had fallen into other hands and in that year, Spain acknowledged the independence of its possessions in the present-day United States (then under Mexican control) and south to the tip of South America. The only remnants that remained in the empire in the Western Hemisphere were Cuba and Puerto Rico and across the Pacific in Philippines Islands, and the Carolina, Marshall, and Mariana Islands (including Guam) in Micronesia.

Kurz & Allison. Destruction of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor Feby 15th. Havana, Cuba, ca. 1898. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

A view of our battleship MAINE as she appears today. Havana Harbor, ca. 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Raising of battleship Maine. Havana, Cuba. 1911. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Following its declaration of war against Spain issued on April 25, 1898, the United States added the Teller Amendment asserting that it would not attempt to exercise hegemony over Cuba. Two days later Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong with Emilio Aguinaldo on board. Fighting began in the Phillipines Islands at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1 where Commodore George Dewey reportedly exclaimed, "You may fire when ready, Gridley," and the Spanish fleet under Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo was destroyed. However, Dewey did not have enough manpower to capture Manila so Aguinaldo's guerrillas maintained their operations until 15,000 U.S. troops arrived at the end of July. On the way, the cruiser Charleston stopped at Guam and accepted its surrender from its Spanish governor who was unaware his nation was at war. Although a peace protocol was signed by the two belligerents on August 12, Commodore Dewey and Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt, leader of the army troops, assaulted Manila the very next day, unaware that peace had been declared.

In late April, Andrew Summers Rowan made contact with Cuban General Calixto García who supplied him with maps, intelligence, and a core of rebel officers to coordinate U.S. efforts on the island. The U.S. North Atlantic Squadron left Key West for Cuba on April 22 following the frightening news that the Spanish home fleet commanded by Admiral Pascual Cervera had left Cadiz and entered Santiago, having slipped by U.S. ships commanded by William T. Sampson and Winfield Scott Schley. They arrived in Cuba in late May.

War actually began for the U.S. in Cuba in June when the Marines captured Guantánamo Bay and 17,000 troops landed at Siboney and Daiquirí, east of Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city on the island. At that time Spanish troops stationed on the island included 150,000 regulars and 40,000 irregulars and volunteers while rebels inside Cuba numbered as many as 50,000. Total U.S. army strength at the time totalled 26,000, requiring the passage of the Mobilization Act of April 22 that allowed for an army of at first 125,000 volunteers (later increased to 200,000) and a regular army of 65,000. On June 22, U.S. troops landed at Daiquiri where they were joined by Calixto García and about 5,000 revolutionaries.

U.S. troops attacked the San Juan heights on July 1, 1898. Dismounted troopers, including the African-American Ninth and Tenth cavalries and the Rough Riders commanded by Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt went up against Kettle Hill while the forces led by Brigadier General Jacob Kent charged up San Juan Hill and pushed Spanish troops further inland while inflicting 1,700 casualties. While U.S. commanders were deciding on a further course of action, Admiral Cervera left port only to be defeated by Schley. On July 16, the Spaniards agreed to the unconditional surrender of the 23,500 troops around the city. A few days later, Major General Nelson Miles sailed from Guantánamo to Puerto Rico. His forces landed near Ponce and marched to San Juan with virtually no opposition.

Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the victorious power to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million. The war had cost the United States $250 million and 3,000 lives, of whom 90% had perished from infectious diseases.

What's included in this guide

This presentation provides resources and documents about the Spanish-American War, the period before the war, and some of the fascinating people who participated in the fighting or commented about it. Information about Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, and the United States is provided in chronologies, bibliographies, and a variety of pictorial and textual material from bilingual sources, supplemented by an overview essay about the war and the period. Among the participants and authors featured are such well-known figures as Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as Admiral George Dewey and author Mark Twain (United States), together with other important figures such as Antonio Maceo and José Martí (Cuba), Román Baldorioty de Castro and Lola Rodríguez de Tió (Puerto Rico), José Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo (Philippines), and Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and Ramón Blanco (Spain).

Related Research Guides by the Library of Congress

Spanish-American War: A Resource Guide

The Spanish-American War (1898) was a conflict between the U.S. and Spain, ending with the loss of Spain’s overseas empire and the U.S. emerging as a world power. This guide compiles digital material, external websites, and a selected print bibliography.

Spanish American War: Topics in Chronicling America

A guide for researching the topic of the "Spanish American War," which took place from April 25 until December 10,1898, in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers.

Spain: Hispanic Reading Room Country Guide

This guide provides curated Library of Congress resources for the study of Spain, including digitized primary source materials in a wide variety of formats, books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching.

Cuba: Hispanic Reading Room Country Guide

This guide provides curated Library of Congress resources for researching Cuba, including digitized primary source materials in a wide variety of formats, books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching.

Philippine-American War: Topics in Chronicling America

After the Treaty of Paris, the Phillippine-American War occurred from February 1899 to July 1902. This guide provides access to materials related to the “Philippine-American War” in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers.

• Next: Overview Essay >>
• Last Updated: Jan 12, 2024 2:02 AM
• URL: https://guides.loc.gov/world-of-1898

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Shooting at Trump Rally Comes at Volatile Time in American History

Former President Donald J. Trump was declared “fine” by his campaign, and the gunman was killed by Secret Service snipers. The explosion of political violence further inflamed the campaign for the White House.

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By Peter Baker ,  Simon J. Levien and Michael Gold

Peter Baker reported from Washington and Simon J. Levien reported from the Trump rally in Butler, Pa. Michael Gold reported from Pittsburgh.

Follow the latest news on the Trump assassination attempt .

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Within moments, someone shouted “shooter down” and the agents, agitated but in control, began moving Mr. Trump offstage to safety. “Wait, wait, wait, wait,” he called out, then made a point of pumping his fist at the crowd and seemed to defiantly shout, “Fight! Fight!” The crowd roared and responded with chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”

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Home — Essay Samples — History — American Flag — American Flag and the Metaphors of Liberty, Truth of Life and Pursuit of Happiness

American Flag and The Metaphors of Liberty, Truth of Life and Pursuit of Happiness

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Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 566 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

The American Flag

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Watch CBS News

Trump shot at rally in failed assassination attempt. Here's what we know so far.

By Olivia Rinaldi , Scott MacFarlane , Jacob Rosen , Nicole Sganga

Updated on: July 16, 2024 / 4:45 PM EDT / CBS News

Former President Donald Trump was shot and injured in an assassination attempt on Saturday night that also killed a spectator and critically injured two others. Snipers killed the shooter, a 20-year-old man, after he fired eight rounds at the rally in Butler , Pennsylvania.

The former president could be seen touching his ear as the shooting unfolded  before he was shielded by Secret Service and whisked offstage — with blood on his face — and into an SUV to safety. Trump said in a social media post that a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.

"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," he said. "Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."

The Secret Service later said Trump was safe, and that he went to a local hospital and left hours later. 

The gunman was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper, authorities said. 

FBI officials said the shooter appeared to be a lone actor, and the incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt and as a potential case of domestic terrorism.

Who shot Donald Trump?

The FBI identified the shooter early Sunday as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The town in Allegheny County, just outside Pittsburgh, is home to about 30,000 people.

Law enforcement officials say he was armed with a semiautomatic AR-style rifle.  Law enforcement sources say  the gun was legally purchased in 2013 and registered to the shooter's father, Matthew Crooks. 

Crooks was a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School  School officials pledged to work with law enforcement investigating the shooting, and offered condolences to those affected by the attack.

Former classmate  Jameson Myers, a member of the school's varsity rifle team, told CBS News that Crooks had tried out for the team freshman year but did not make the junior varsity roster and did not return to try out for the team in subsequent years.  

He called Crooks a "nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone," adding, "I never have thought him capable of anything I've seen him do in the last few days."  

Another classmate, Jason Koehler, had a somewhat different view, telling KDKA's Megan Schiller that Crooks was a loner who was bullied for his appearance and wore camo/hunting outfits in class. He said Crooks would often sit in the cafeteria alone before class. He also said Crooks was very COVID-conscious and wore a surgical mask long after they were required. 

But Mark Sigafoos, who graduated with Crooks and had two classes with him senior year, said he never saw him bullied. He described Crooks as super smart and approachable, engaged in class and always volunteering answers. 

"This is one of the things that is being misconstrued — he was not some type of loner trenchcoat wearer. And I will say he was definitely nerdy, for sure, but he never gave off that he was creepy or like a school shooter," Sigafoos said. "He seemed like he wouldn't hurt a fly."

Crooks' political leanings were not immediately clear. He was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania but Federal Election Commission records show he previously made a $15 donation to a Democratic-aligned group.

There was no indication that Crooks had a connection to any military branch, officials confirmed to CBS News. 

Crooks had a membership at a nearby gun club for at least a year. Bill Sellitto, the president of the Clairton Sportsmen's Club in Clairton, Pennsylvania, told CBS News that Crooks was a member.

A law enforcement official said early Sunday that the Secret Service and the FBI are investigating the suspect's background and speaking with his family. The FBI has secured his home and federal law enforcement is searching his family's residence in suburban Pittsburgh, the law enforcement official said. His family is cooperating with investigators, an FBI official said.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News on Sunday that suspicious devices were found in the gunman's vehicle. The gunman also had with him a piece of commercially available equipment that appeared capable of initiating the devices. Bomb technicians called to the scene were involved in securing and investigating the devices.

Do we know the motive for the assassination attempt?

In a news conference late Saturday night, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh office, refused to speculate on a possible motive.

"Right now, we're tracking down all leads, and doing all interviews, and tracking anything that we can regarding suspicious locations, vehicles ... that's all related to this event, but I can't confirm or deny anything beyond that," Rojek said.  

A law enforcement official said no foreign terrorism ties were known and the suspect was not on the radar of law enforcement.

The FBI says investigators are combing through his social media postings and emails, but that so far they have found nothing to lead them to a motive. They said are not seeing anything threatening in his postings so far. 

Investigators also have accessed his cellphone, which was sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.

The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Secret Service and state and local agencies. 

How is Trump now?

The Trump campaign said in a statement Saturday night that the former president was 'fine." He was taken to a local hospital and left a few hours later.

In a post on Truth Social Saturday night, Trump described his injuries: "I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

He thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies for their rapid response, and extended condolences to the family of the man who was killed.

He posted on Truth Social early Sunday that Americans need to "remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness."

"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win," Trump wrote. "I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin," where the Republican National Convention begins Monday.

Video  posted  by a Trump aide to social media early Sunday morning showed him walking down the steps of his plane unaided after landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.   

The following day, he made an appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, with his right ear bandaged, and was greeted with rousing cheers from the crowd.

Where was the Trump rally and how far away was the shooter?

The rally was in Butler, Pennsylvania, which is north of Pittsburgh and is the county seat of Butler County.

The gunman was on the roof of a building, outside the rally's security perimeter set up by the Secret Service, and opened fire from about 410 feet away from the stage where Trump was speaking, law enforcement sources said. 

Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that the shooter was spotted outside the security perimeter as people were filing into the rally, and he was reported by a bystander to the Butler County Sheriff's Office. He was identified as a suspicious person by police, the sources said. Multiple attendees also said they saw the gunman and alerted officers shortly before the shooting.

An armed municipal officer with Butler Township encountered the gunman before the shooting, Butler County Sheriff Michael Sloupe confirmed to CBS News. The officer and others had been previously alerted to a suspicious person and began searching for him right away, Sloupe told CBS Pittsburgh reporter Jen Borrasso.

At some point, the officer was hoisted by another officer onto the roof of the building where the shooter was in position. The shooter focused his rifle towards the officer, who let go and fell off the roof. Then the shooter began firing into the crowd, according to Sloupe.

The gunman fired 6 to 8 rounds using a semiautomatic AR-style rifle from his position approximately 400 feet from the podium, before he was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper team.

Rojek, with the FBI, called it "surprising" that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots. 

"It is incredibly difficult to have a venue open to the public, and to secure that against any possible threat, against a very determined attacker," Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said of the Secret Service. "That's a huge lift to try and do it." 

Who was the victim who was fatally shot?

The spectator who was killed has been identified as Corey Comperatore , a 50-year-old man who was shot while attempting to shield his family from the gunfire, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday.

"Corey was the very best of us," Shapiro said. "Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night. Corey was a 'girl dad.' Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community."

Pennsylvania State Rep. Marci Mustello called Comperatore "a devoted public servant, having served as the fire chief for Buffalo Township Fire Company, and he was a cherished member of our community in Butler County."

"His commitment to his wife and two daughters, and his unwavering dedication to his role as a fire chief exemplified his remarkable character," Mustello said. "My heart breaks for his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and I join the community in mourning his loss. A true American hero, Corey sacrificed his life to protect his family."

"May Corey Comperatore's memory be a blessing and a reminder of the selfless service he provided to us all."

The two spectators who were wounded have been identified as 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Both were listed in critical but stable condition Sunday.

What did Biden say about the shooting?

President Biden first responded to the shooting in a statement saying he was grateful to hear that Trump was safe and doing well. 

"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety," he said. "There's no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

He then addressed the nation  shortly after 8 p.m. ET Saturday, saying "there is no place for this kind of violence in America."

"It's sick. It's sick," Mr. Biden said. "It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this."

On Sunday, Biden made  brief remarks  at the White House, saying he was "sincerely grateful" that Trump is doing well, adding that he spoke with the former president on Saturday night. He characterized the call as a "short, good" conversation.

The president has been getting briefed by top officials and said he has ordered an independent review of the security and events at the Pennsylvania rally to determine what went wrong. 

Mr. Biden also called for unity in the wake of the assassination attempt and denounced political violence.

"There's no place in America for this kind of violence, or any violence for that matter," the president said. "An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. It's not who we are as a nation."

The president said unity is the "most elusive goal of all" and added that "nothing is more important than that right now. Unity."

A Biden campaign official said Saturday that the campaign was pausing all outbound communications and working to take down their television ads as quickly as possible.

–Robert Costa, Pat Milton, Andy Triay, Arden Farhi, Fin Gomez, Aaron Navarro, Sara Cook   and other CBS News staff contributed reporting.

• Trump Rally
• Donald Trump
• Republican Party

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