Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did the Continental Colors flag differ from the later United States flag?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
flag
Various shapes of flags: (from left) rectangle (Algeria), square (Switzerland), pennant (Nepal), swallowtail (Ohio, U.S.).
The Continental Colors, also known as the Grand Union Flag, served as the unofficial first national flag of the United States, whereas the Stars and Stripes became the first official national flag in 1777.12
The primary difference between the two lies in their canton (the upper inner corner):
- Continental Colors: Featured the British Union Flag of 1606 in the canton, symbolizing the colonies' British roots while representing the 13 colonies through 13 alternating red and white stripes.12
- Stars and Stripes: Replaced the British Union Flag with a blue field containing 13 white stars, which were intended to represent a "new constellation" for the emerging nation.2
While both flags utilized 13 stripes to represent the original colonies, the transition to the Stars and Stripes marked a definitive shift in American heraldry, moving away from British colonial imagery toward a distinct national identity.2