Flags of the world

-/2/#
#
5.)3)!
5
45
4
5
5.
5.
5
5
!
,'%2)
!
,
)
"
73!(!2
2
DISPUTED
ED
#(!$
$
35$!.
!
%2)42%!
!
!
/54)
$*)"/5

/5
%'90
4
/-!,)!
/
-!,$)6%
3
+%
.
9
!
3%9#(%,,%3
%
%
%9
9
%9
9
9
9
#
#
3/54(!&2)#!
54(!&2
54(!&2)
54(!&2)
,
%
3/
4(

/
3
7!
:),
!.
$
-!52)4)5
3
!$!'!3#!2
-!
!
!
#
#
-/
:!-")
1
5
%
#/-/2/3
2
"
/4
3
7!.
!
:
)
-
"!"7

%
!.'/
/,!
'/
/
#/.'/
%
15
!4/2
)
!
,
'5).
%
!
3
!
/
4
/
-
%
!
.
$02)
.#
)0
%
)
6

/
2
9#/!34
,)"%2)!
)!
3
)%2
2
!,%
/.
'5).%!
%!
'
5).%!")33!
5
#!0%6%2$%
.!-)")
)!
)
)
-!,
!
!
!7
!7
!7
)
!53
42!,)!
+/2%!

3+/
+/2%!
+/
.
+
/
2%
!
-/.'/
,)
!
#().!
"!.',!$%3
(
"(
5
4
!
.
2
533)!.&%$%
2
!
4)/
.
92'9:34!.
2
2'
)
.$)

!
%
.%
%
0!
,
0!+)34!
4!
!+
4!
.
.
.
/-!.
/-
/-
/-
%-%.
9%-%
%-%
%-%
!SCENS
I
O
N

TO3T(E
L
ENA


4
RI
STA
N
DA

#U
N
HA
TO3T(ELENA
NA
A
"
OUVET)
TO.ORWA
Y
#HRISTMAS)


TO!USTRA
L
IA

/CEAN4ERR
I
TOR
Y

TO5+


&R
E
N
C
H
3OUT
H
E
R
N
A
N
D
!NTARCTIC4ERRITORIE
S
TO&RANCE

(EA
R
D
AND-C$ONALD)S


TO!USTRA
L
IA

#OCOS
)
S

TO!USTRALIA


-AYOTTE
O
O
O
O
O

TO&RANCE

2
£U
NI
ON

TO&RANCE

3T(ELEN
A

TO5+

!ZO
RES
PARTOF0ORTUGAL
-A
D
EIRA

PARTOF0ORTUGAL
UGAL
#ANAR
Y
)S

PARTOF3PAIN
YY
!4,!.4)
#
/#
%!
.
).$)
!.
/#
%!.
W
ORLD MAP
(
see back end
p
a
p
er for Euro
p
e and Caribbean detail)
!$
#!.!$!
!$

!$
5.
)4%$
3
4
!4%
3
/
&!-%2)
#!
.)#!2!'5!
.
'5
%
,

3
!,6!$
/
2
2
0!
.
!
-
#
/
3
4
!2)#!

!
!
!
#/,/-
-
"2!:),
352).!-%
9!
.
!
%#5!$/2
/2
"/,)6)!
!
!
"
"
2!'5!
9
25'5
25
25
25
!
9
.%
7
:%
!
,

!
.$
"
ERMUD
A
&RENCH
&REN
RE
&RE
RE
&RENC
&REN
'UIA
N
A
TO &RANCE
TO&RANCE
T
T
TO&RANCETO&RANCE
.
E
W
#ALEDO
NI
A

TO&RANCE

7

AKE
)
SLA
N
D

TO53

*
OHNSTON!TOL
L

TO53

-IDWA
Y
)S

TO53

0ALMYRA!TOLL
0ALM

TO53

+
INGMAN2EE
F
 TO53


*ARVIS)
*ARVI

TO53

"AKERAND(OWLAND)S
(OWLAN
W

TO53

0I
TCA
IRN)
S


TO5+

'
A
L
APAGOS)S

PARTO
F
%CUA
D
OR


#
LI
PP
ERTON)


TO&RENC
H
0O
L
YNESIA

&
ALKLAND)S

TO5+

3OUTH'EO
RG
IA
A
N
D

3OUTH
3
ANDWICH)S

TO5+


!
L
E
U
T
I
A
N
)
S
L
A
N
(AWA
I
I

PARTO
F
53

!
LASKA
P
ARTO
F
53

#
H

AT
H
AM)S


PARTO
F
.:

-AC
Q
UARIE)


PARTO
F
!USTRA
L
IA

"OUNT
Y
)S

PARTO
F
.:

0!
#

)&)
#
/#
%!.
!2#4)
#
/
#%!.
0
!
#
)&)
#
/#
%!
.
!4,!.4)
#
/#
%!
.
This page intentionally left blank
FL
AGS
O
F THE WOR
L
D
CO
M

P
L
ETE
This book was produced in association with The Flag Institute, UK.
We would like to dedicate this book to the late Dr. William G. Crampton,
Director of the Flag Institute, without whom it would not have been possible.
Vexillology artwor
k
and consultants Gra
h
am Bartram, Mic
h
ael Faul
E
d
itorial Contri
b
utor
s
Roger Bullen, De
b
ra Cla
p
son, Wim Jen
k
ins, Simon Mumfor
d
US Editor
Charles Wills
r

Designers Tony Cutting, Carol Ann Davis, Ya
h
ya El Drou
b
ie, Karen Gregory, Nic
k
i Liddiard
Systems Coordinator
P
h
ili
p
Rowle
s
r
Managing Editor
D
a
vid Roberts
r
Managing Art Editor
Karen Se
lf
r
A
rt Director Bryn Wall
s
Publisher
Jonathan Metcalf
r

Production Controller
Rita Sinha
r
First
p
ublished in the United States in 1997 as The Ultimate Pocket Fla
g
s o
f
the World
b
y
DK Publishin
g
, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 1001
4
08

09

10

11

10

9

8
7

6

5

4

3

2

1
C
D278 - Novem
b
er/200
8
Reprinte
d
wit
h
Revisions 1998. Secon
d
E
d
ition 1999. T
h
ir
d
E
d

ition 2002. Fourt
h
E
d
ition 2005.
Reprinte
d
wit
h
Revisions 2006. Fi
f
t
h
E
d
ition 2008
.
C
opyright
©
1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited. All rights reserved
.
Wit
h
out
l
imiting t
h
e rig
h

ts un
d
er copyrig
h
t reserve
d
a
b
ove, no part o
f
t
h
is pu
bl
ication may
b
e
repro
d
uce
d
, store
d
in or intro
d
uce
d
into a retrieva
l
system, or transmitte

d
, in any
f
orm, or
b
y any means
(e
l
ectronic, mec
h
anica
l
, p
h
otocopying, recor
d
ing, or ot
h
erwise), wit
h
out t
h
e prior written permission
of

b
ot
h
t
h

e copyrig
h
t owner an
d
t
h
e a
b
ove pu
bl
is
h
er o
f
t
h
is
b
oo
k
.
Pu
bl
is
h
e
d
in Great Britain
b
y Dor

l
ing Kin
d
ers
l
ey Limite
d
.
A
catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
.
IS
BN-
13
:
9
7
8
-
0
-7
566
-
4115
-
3
D
K books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums,
f
und-raising, or educational use. For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 375 Hudson

Street, New York, New York 10014 or
C
olor reproduction by Altaimage Ltd., London, UK
Printed and bound in China by L.Rex Printing Co., Ltd
.
Di
scover more a
t
www.dk.com
L
ONDON
,
NEW YORK
,
MELBOURNE
M
UNI
C
H
,
AND DELH
I
Con
t
en
t
s
Introduction

5

Typ
es of fla
g
s/Parts of the fla
g


6–
7
N
ORTH
&
CE
N
TR
A
L
A
MERI
C
A
C
ana
da
Nationa
l
an
d
su
b

nationa
l

fl
ags
.

8
–10
U
nited
S
tates of Americ
a
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

1
1–1
9
Mexico/Guatemala

2
0
–21
Belize/El
S

alvador
.

2
2–2
3
H
onduras/Nicara
g
ua
2
4–
25
C
osta R
i
ca
/
Panama
.
26–2
7
Jamaica/Cu
b
a

2
8–2
9
Ba

h
amas/Haiti

3
0–
31
D
ominican Republic

32
S
t. Kitts & Nevis

33
Anti
g
ua & Barbuda/Dominica 34–35
S
t. Lucia 36
S
t.
V
incent & t
h
e
G
rena
d
ines
37

Bar
b
a
d
os/Grena
d
a

38–3
9
T
rini
d
a
d
& To
b
ago

40
SOUTH
A
MERI
C
A
C
olombia

4
1

Venezuela/Gu
y
ana

4
2–
43
S
uriname/Ecuador

4
4–4
5
P
eru
46
Brazi
l
Nationa
l
an
d
su
b
nationa
l

fl
ags
.

47–5
0
C
hile
.

51
Bo
l
ivia/Para
g
ua
y

5
2
–5
3
U
ruguay
/A
rgent
i
na

54
–5
5
A
FRI

C
A
Morocco/A
lg
eria 56–57
T
unisia/Li
b
ya

5
8–5
9
Egypt/Su
d
an

6
0–
61
Eritrea/Djibouti

6
2–
63
Ethio
p
ia/Somalia

6

4
–6
5
Ug
anda/Ken
y
a
.

6
6–6
7
R
wan
d
a
/
Burun
d
i 68–6
9
C
entra
l
A
f
rican Repu
bl
ic

7
0
Dem. Rep.
C
ongo

71
N
iger/C
h
a
d

7
2–
73
Mauritania
/
Mali

74
–7
5
Sene
g
al/Gambia

76
–
77

C
a
p
e Verde/Guinea-Bissau
.

78
–7
9
G
u
i
nea
/Si
erra Leone
.

8
0–
81
L
i
b
eria/Ivory Coast

8
2–
83
Bur
k

ina/G
h
ana

8
4
–8
5
T
ogo/Benin

86
–8
7
N
igeria/Cameroon

88–8
9
E
q
uatorial Guinea

90
São Tomé & Prínci
p
e
91
G
a

b
on/Con
g
o
92
–
93
Ango
l
a/Zam
b
ia

9
4–
95
T
anzania/Ma
l
awi

9
6
–9
7
Zimbabwe/Mozambique

98–9
9
N

amibia
/
Botswana

1
00
–1
0
1
L
esotho/
S
waziland
.
102–103
South Africa/Se
y
chelles
.
1
0
4–1
05
C
omoros/Ma
d
a
g
ascar
.

1
06–107
Maur
i
t
i
us

10
8
E
U
ROP
E
Ice
l
an
d


10
9
N
orway/Denmark

11
0
–11
1

S
weden/Finland

112–11
3
Estonia/Latvia

1
1
4
–11
5
L
ithuania
/
Poland

11
6
–11
7
G
erman
y
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

118–12
0
T
h
e
N
et
h
e
rl
a
n
ds
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

1
2
1–1
2
3
Belgium/Ireland

1
2
4
–12

5
U
nited Kingdo
m
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

1
2
6
–130
F
rance

131
L
uxembourg/Monaco

13
2–1
33
Andorra/Portu
g
al

13
4

–13
5
S
p
ain
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

1
36
–1
3
8
Ital
y


1
3
9
Malta/Vatican Cit
y

1
40–141
S
an Mar

i
no
.

1
4
2
S
witzer
l
an
d
Nationa
l
an
d
su
b
nationa
l

fl
ags

1
43–14
7
L
i
ec

h
te
n
ste
in
.

1
4
8
A
ustr
i
a
Nationa
l
an
d
su
b
nationa
l

fl
ags

14
9
–150
H

un
g
ar
y

.

151
C
zec
h
Re
p
u
bl
ic/S
l
ova
k
ia 15
2
–153
S
l
ovenia/Croatia

154–155
Bosn
i
a & Herzegov

i
na

15
6
M
ontenegro

1
57
Serbia/Kosovo

158–15
9
Albania
/
Macedonia

1
6
0–1
6
1
Bul
g
aria/Greece
1
62–163
R
omania

/
Mo
ld
ova
.
164–16
5
Be
l
arus/U
k
raine
.
1
66
–1
67
R
ussian Fe
d
eratio
n
Nationa
l
an
d
su
b
nationa
l

fl
ags
.
168–171
AS
I
A
Azer
b
aijan/Armenia

17
2
–173
T
ur
k
ey/Georgia

17
4
–175
L
ebanon/Syria

1
76
–1
77

C
yprus/Israel

178–179
J
ordan/Saudi Arabia

180–181
Y
emen/
O
man

1
82–18
3
U
nited Arab Emirates/Qata
r

.
1
8
4–1
85
Bahrain
/
Kuwait
1
86–187

Ira
q/
Iran
188
–1
89
T
ur
k
menistan/Uz
b
e
k
istan

19
0
–191
K
aza
kh
stan/Mongo
l
ia

1
92–19
3
K
yrgyzstan/Tajikistan

19
4–1
95
Af
g
hanistan/Pakistan

1
9
6–1
9
7
N
e
p
al/Bhutan
.
1
98
–1
99
In
d
ia
/
Ma
ld
ives
200

–2
0
1
Sri Lan
k
a/Ban
gl
a
d
es
h

.
2
0
2–2
03
Myanmar/T
h
ai
l
an
d

2
04
–2
05
L
aos/Cambodia

2
0
6
–20
7
V
ietnam

20
8
Mala
y
sia
National and subnational
fl
a
g
s

209–21
1
Indonesia
/
East Timo
r


2
12–21

3
Sin
g
a
p
ore/Brunei

2
1
4
–215
P
hili
pp
ines/Taiwan
.

2
16–21
7
Ch
ina/Nort
h
Korea
2
1
8
–21
9
Sout

h
Korea/
J
a
p
an

22
0
–22
1
A
USTR
A
L
A
SI
A
& OC
E
A
NI
A
Austra
l
i
a
Nationa
l
an

d
su
b
nationa
l

fl
ags
.

222
–
223
Vanuatu
/
F
iji


22
4–
225
P
apua New
G
u
i
nea
/
S

olomon Islands 226–22
7
P
a
l
au/Micronesia
.
22
8
–22
9
Mars
h
a
ll
Is
l
an
d
s/Nauru

2
30
–2
3
1
K
iri
b
ati/Tuva

l
u

23
2–2
33
Samoa/Tonga

23
4
–23
5
Ne
w Z
ea
l
a
n
d

236
International fla
g
s
.
237–23
8
In
d
ex

2
39–24
0
5
Flags are part of everyday life.
T
hey are used by countries,
p
rovinces, cities, internationa
l
b
o
d
ies, or
g
anizations, an
d

c
om
p
an
i
es.
E
ARLY FLAG
S
T
he earliest known flags were used

in China, to indicate different parts
of the army. In Europe flags began
with the Roman vexillum, a square
fl
a
g
use
d

by
Roman cava
l
r
y
,
f
rom
w
h
ic
h
t
h
e term “vexi
ll
o
l
o
gy
”—t

h
e
s
tu
dy
o
f

fl
a
g
s—ori
g
inate
d
. In t
h
e
M
i
ddl
e A
g
es,
h
era
ld
r
y

b
ecame
important as a means of identifying
k
ings and lords. The distinctive
c
oats of arms which developed
were used as flags, and some still
e
xist today
.
F
LAGS FOR I
D
E
N
TIFI
C
ATIO
N
Th
e most si
g
ni
fi
cant
d
eve
l
o

p
ment o
f

fl
a
g
s was
f
or use at sea. S
h
i
p
s
fl
ew
fla
g
s for identification at a distance,
and many of the rules of flag-use
developed at sea. Some well-known
flags were designed specifically fo
r

naval use, including the Dutch and
S
p
anis
h

fl
a
g
s
(
see
p
a
g
es 121 & 136
)
an
d
t
h
e Internationa
l
co
d
e
fl
a
g
s
(
se
e

p
a

g
e 238
)
, w
h
ic
h
were use
d

by
s
h
i
p
s
t
o communicate wit
h
eac
h
ot
h
er.
P
OLITICAL FLAG
S
W
ith the growth of independent
nation states, flags have become

m
ore important in politics. Many
newly-independent states choose
fl
a
g
s
b
ase
d
on t
h
ose o
f
t
h
e
p
o
l
itica
l
p
arties w
h
ic
h
secure
d
in

d
e
p
en
d
ence.
R
evo
l
utionar
y
movements usua
lly

h
ave t
h
eir own
fl
a
g
s, an
d

p
rivate
and
p
rofessional or
g

anizations are
increasingly adopting flags.
T
his book deals with national
,

international and subnational flags,
and national coats of arms
,
and is
arran
g
e
d
continent
by
continent.
A
mon
g
nationa
l

fl
a
g
s are t
h
e state
e

nsi
g
n an
d

fl
a
g
,
f
or
g
overnment use
on
ly
on sea an
d

l
an
d
; t
h
e civi
l
e
nsign and flag, for private and
c
ommercial use
;

and the naval
e
nsign, flown by warships.
Subnational flags may be
of states (USA), provinces (Canada),
c
antons (Switzer
l
an
d
), overseas
t
erritories, or ot
h
er suc
h
areas.
K
E
Y FLAG
S
IN WORLD HI
S
TOR
Y
T
hrou
g
hout histor
y

certain fla
g
s
have become the inspiration of
others, starting with the Stars and
S
tr
i
pes
i
n
1
777
(
see pages 11–12
)

;

which has inspired more flags than
an
y
ot
h
er. T
h
e same
d
e
g

ree o
f

in
fl
uence
h
as
b
een exercise
d

by

th
e Frenc
h
Trico
l
ore
f
rom 1794,
(
see
p
a
g
e 131
)
, t

h
e Dutc
h
Trico
l
or
(
see page 121) and its major derivative
t
h
e

Russ
i
a
n Tri
co
l
o
r
(
see page 168
)
which gave rise to most of the flags
of eastern Europe
.
Introductio
n
6
T

ypes of f
l
ags
S
ALTIR
E
A cross with the upright set closer to the
h
oist t
h
an to t
h
e
fl
y
.
A cross is vertical, centrally placed, and
e
xtends across the whole flag.
A cross or saltire which ends short of the
e
dges of the flag is couped
.
A narrow strip of color separating two
broader stri
p
es or lar
g
er areas.
A flag divided into four equal sections of

differin
g
desi
g
n
.
A flag of three stripes of two colors,
h
orizonta
l
or vertica
l
.
C
R
O
SS
S
ERRATIO
N
Q
UARTERE
D
T
RI
C
O
L
O
R

TRIB
AR
C
OUPED
C
R
O
SS
OR
S
ALTIRE
A diagonal cross stretching from corner to
c
orner o
f
t
h
e
fl
a
g.
S
C
A
NDIN
A
VI
A
N
C

R
O
SS
A flag of three stripes of three colors, either
h
orizonta
l
or vertica
l
.
A narrow strip of color separating two
broader stripes or larger areas.
A flag of two stripes of different colors,
e
i
t
h
e
r h
o
riz
o
n
ta
l
o
r v
e
r
t

i
ca
l
.
FIMBRIATED
B
I
C
O
L
O
R
A flag where the central color is surrounded
by a different color.
B
O
RDERE
D
A flag divided by a triangle of a different
c
o
l
or, usua
ll
y at t
h
e
h
oist
.

T
R
IAN
G
L
E
7
Parts of the fla
g
CANTON
:
T
h
e canton
s
trict
l
y re
f
ers to an
y
q
uarter of the flag,
b
ut it common
l
y means
the upper quarte
r

n
earest t
h
e sta
ff
FLY:
T
h
e part o
f
t
he

fl
a
g

f
urthest
f
rom th
e

s
taff; the part which
fl
ies in t
h
e win
d

FIELD:
T
h
e
basic

area

or

b
ac
k
groun
d
co
l
o
r

o
f
the
fl
a
g
C
REST
:

Th
e e
l
ement w
h
ic
h
a
pp
ears at the extreme to
p
o
f

t
he arms
,
above the shiel
d
WRE
A
TH
or
T
ORSE: T
he

rope of colors placed abov
e

th
e
h
e
l
met or s
h
ie
ld
Heraldic terms
S
TA
F
F
:
The pole from
w
h
ic
h
t
h
e
fl
ag is
fl
own
CHARGE: An
y
emblem

pl
ace
d
on t
h
e
fi
e
ld

or

added

to

the

basic

d
esign o
f
t
h
e
fl
a
g
H

OI
S
T
:
The part o
f

t
h
e
fl
a
g
c
l
osest to t
h
e
staff; the part used to
h
oist or raise t
h
e
fl
a
g
R
ATI
O

describes

the

relative

p
ro
p
ortions o
f

h
ei
gh
t a
g
ainst wi
d
t
h
.
For example, ratio: 1:2 represents a
fl
a
g
twice as wi
d
e as it is
h

i
gh
.
C
HI
E
F
:
T
h
e to
p

third of shield
S
U
PPORTER
S:
T
he

fig
ures, human or animal,
which

hold

the

shield

SC
R
OLL
:
T
h
e stri
p
—usua
ll
y
below

the

shield
—
which
contains t
h
e mott
o
M
ANTLING: T
h
e stri
p
s
of cloth hanging or flying
f

rom t
h
e wreat
h
S
HIELD
: T
h
e
b
asic unit
on which the coat o
f

arms is
p
ortraye
d
CO
M
PART
M
ENT
: T
he

b
ase, often a mound, on
wh
ic

h
t
h
e s
h
ie
ld
stan
d
s
8
Th
e Ro
y
a
l
Stan
d
ar
d
s
h
ows t
he
A
rms of Canada, with the personal
e
m
bl
em o

f
Queen E
l
iza
b
et
h
II.
Th
e
q
uarters s
h
ow t
h
e arms o
f

E
ngland, Scotland, Ireland, and
France, t
h
e
h
istorica
l
ori
g
in
f

or t
h
e
m
a
j
orit
y
o
f
Euro
p
ean sett
l
ers to
Canada. The lowest stripe shows
th
e re
d
ma
pl
e
l
ea
f
w
h
ic
h
is Cana

d
a’s
nationa
l
em
bl
em.
THE NE
W
M
A
PLE
L
EAF
F
L
A
G
Pea
r
so
n’
s
P
e
nn
a
n
t

d
i
d
n
ot
m
eet
wi
t
h
universa
l
a
pp
rova
l
, an
d
consensus was
o
n
ly
reac
h
e
d
on t
h
e i
d

ea o
f
t
h
e ma
pl
e
l
ea
f
a
n
d

o
n
t
h
e

use

o
f
t
h
e
n
at
i

o
n
a
l
c
o
l
ors. T
h
e resu
l
t was t
h
e “Ma
pl
e
L
ea
f
F
l
a
g
” w
h
ic
h
was a
d
o

p
te
d

by

Pa
rli
a
m
e
n
t
in 1
9
6
5. The Union Fla
g

i
s o
f
ten
fl
own to s
h
ow
C
ana
d

a’s
l
in
k
s
wit
h
t
h
e Unite
d
Kin
gd
om.
Canada
Rat
i
o
:
1:
2
A
d
opte
d:
Fe
b
ruary 15, 1965
U
sage

:
National an
d
Civi
l
C
ana
d
a
b
ecame a nation in 1
8
67
w
h
en
f
ou
r

co
l
onies unite
d
. Later, six ot
h
er
p
rovinces an
d

two
territories joined the Confederation.
A sty
l
ize
d
map
le

leaf has been
C
ana
d
a’s nationa
l

e
m
bl
em
f
or ove
r

150
y
ear
s
W
hit

e

re
p
resents t
he

snowy nort
h
o
f Canada
R
e
d
re
p
resents t
h
e sacri
fi
ce ma
d
e
b
y
Cana
d
ians
d
uring t

h
e First Wor
ld
Wa
r
C
ANADIAN ROYAL
S
T
ANDA
T
T
R
D
North Americ
a
Th
e ma
pl
e
l
eaves
r
epresent Canada’s
national

emblem
The quarters o
f

t
h
e s
h
ie
ld
re
p
resen
t

Eng
l
an
d
, Scot
l
an
d
,
I
reland

and
F
rance

—t
h
e

h
ome
l
an
d
s o
f

m
any Cana
d
ian peop
le
9
The

shield

dates

f
r
o
m
1
9
07 and was placed
o
n a blue field to make a flag in
1

9
67
. The
sh
ie
ld

d
e
p
icts a scene
f
rom t
h
e vast w
h
eat
l
an
d
s o
f
t
h
e west un
d
er a St. Geor
g
e’s Cross
.

Thi
s
fl
ag, a
d
opte
d

i
n
1
9
60, is an armorial
a
nner of the arms,
g
ranted in
1
9
06
. The
u
n p
l
ace
d
over
h
era
ld

ic waters, represents
h
e province’s position on the west coast.
The flag is intended to recall and to preserve
t
he old Canadian Red Ensi
g
n, with
M
anito
b
a’s s
h
ie
ld
,
d
e
p
ictin
g
a
b
u
ff
a
l
o on a
roc
k

, in t
h
e
fly
. It was a
d
o
p
te
d
in
1
9
66
.
The colors of the flag represent all aspects of
h
e
p
rovince, such as snow, ice, and the sea.
Th
e
d
esi
g
n is inten
d
e
d
to reca

ll
t
h
e Union
a
c
k
, t
h
e
p
revious
fl
a
g
.
Another armorial banner, authorized
in
1
9
65. T
h
e ga
ll
ey s
h
ip stan
d
s
f

or
s
hi
p
buildin
g
, once an im
p
ortant industr
y
,
an
d
t
h
e
l
ion re
p
resents New Brunswic
k
’s
ti
es to Br
i
ta
i
n.
Theoretically the oldest flag of a
ritish Dominion. “Nova Scotia” means

N
ew Scotland. Its fla
g
is a St. Andrew’s
C
ross in reverse
d
co
l
ors, wit
h
t
h
e
c
ottis
h
Ro
y
a
l
Arms
.
Th
e
fl
ag was a
d
opte
d

i
n
1
9
65
and also
attempts to recall and preserve the
C
anadian Red Ensign. The shield is from
t
h
e

a
rm
s

o
f 1
8
6
8
and was the first desi
g
n to
use a ma
pl
e
l

ea
f.
The flag is a banner of the arms granted
n

1
9
05. It
d
epicts an is
l
an
d
, wit
h
a great
ritish oak and its “descendants,” under the
r
otection of a British lion
.
Provincial fla
gs
T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h

p

rovince joined t
h
e Confederation is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e
p
rovince name.
ALBERT
A
T
T
1
9
05
B
R
ITISH COLUMBIA
1
87
1
MA
NIT
OB
A
1
8

70
N
EW

B
R
UN
S
W
I
C
K
1
8
67
N
OV
A
SC
O
TI
A
1
8
67
O
NT
A
T
T

R
I
O
1
86
7
P
RIN
C
E
ED
W
A
R
D
I
S
L
A
N
D
1
8
73
N
EWF
O
UNDL
A
ND

&
LA
BR
A
D
O
R
1
9
4
9
N
orth Americ
a
10
C
anada: Provincial and official flags
Adopted in 1948, this flag is a modern
v
ersion o
f
t
h
e F
l
eur
d
e
l

ys
é
, an o
ld
Frenc
h-
Cana
d
ian
fl
a
g
. T
h
e
fl
eur-
d
e-
l
is
fl
ower is
sym
b
o
l
ic o
f
France

.
Adopted in 1969, the flag combines the
r
ovincia
l
s
h
ie
ld
(re
p
resentin
g

f
orests
nd

g
rain) wit
h
t
h
e
fl
ora
l
em
bl
em, t

h
e
w
estern re
d

l
i
l
y
.
T
h
e
fl
ag was a competition winner in 1969.
I
t contains t
h
e s
h
ie
ld

f
rom t
h
e arms a
d
opte

d
in 1956. The lakes are represented by blue,
snow b
y
white
.
Th
e
fi
gure on t
h
is
fl
ag sym
b
o
l
izes t
h
e stone
m
onuments use
d
to mar
k
sacre
d
p
l
aces. T

h
e
N
orth Star represents the leadership of the
o
mmunit
y
’s elders.
A
ccepted in 1967, the flag uses the 1956
c
oat of arms. Forests, snows and waters
are s
y
mbolized b
y
the colors
.
T
his competition-winning flag was
d
opted in 1994 by Cape Breton in
N
ova Scotia. The bird is a bald ea
g
le.
The spruce sprigs on this regional flag
d
enote t
h

e t
h
ree races o
f
t
h
e
l
ar
g
e
r

New
f
oun
dl
an
d
& La
b
ra
d
or Province.
This flag, dating from 1981, does not use the
British Ro
y
al Crest; it has its own crest of a
l
ion wit

h
a ma
pl
e
l
ea
f.
North Americ
a
When the USA became independent,
o
me
p
eo
pl
e re
f
use
d
to
g
ive u
p
t
h
eir
B
ritis
h
nationa

l
it
y
. Known as Unite
d
mpire Loyalists, they moved to Canada.
T
o honor them, the Union Flag in the
a
ttern of that time is often flown.
QUEBE
C
1867
S
A
S
K
AT
C
HEWAN
1905
N
O
RTHW
E
S
T
T
ERRIT
O

RI
E
S
1870
N
U
NAVUT
1
999
Y
UK
ON
T
ERRITO
R
Y
1
89
8
C
APE
B
RET
O
N I
S
LAN
D
1
99

4
G
OVERNOR-GENERAL
O
F
C
ANADA
1
981
L
A
BRAD
O
R
T
HE

U
N
I
O
N
F
LA
G
O
F 1606–1801
11
N
orth Americ

a
U
nited States of America
Rat
i
o
:
1
0
:19 A
d
opte
d:
19
6
0
U
sage: National an
d
Civi
l
T
h
e
U
nite
d

S
tates was

f
orme
d
w
h
en 1
3
co
l
onies
rose a
g
ainst t
h
e Britis
h
in 1775. T
h
e
y

d
ec
l
are
d
t
h
ei
r

independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.
Th
e
fi
rst
fl
a
g
use
d

by
t
h
e Americans
was an adaptation of the British Red
E
nsi
g
n,
k
nown as t
h
e “Gran
d
Union
F
l
a

g
,”
(
see
p
a
g
e 12
)
. From t
h
is
developed the distinctive “Stars and
Stri
p
es,” as it
k
nown to
d
a
y
, w
h
ic
h

s
ti
ll

h
as t
h
e 13 stri
p
es
f
or eac
h
o
f
t
h
e
original colonies to join the Union,
an
d
a star
f
or eac
h
state w
h
ic
h
is now
p
art o
f
t

h
e USA. T
h
e
l
atest star was
added on July 4, 1960, after Hawaii
b
ecame a state in 1
959.
A
TRULY
N
A
TI
O
N
A
LFL
A
G
T
he flag of 1777 (see page 12)
,
marked
a
b
rea
k
wit

h
o
ld
co
l
onia
l
ties. It
beca
m
e

t
h
e
fir
st

o
f
a
n
e
w kin
d

o
f
flag, one which was truly a national
fl

a
g
in t
h
e mo
d
ern sense. Its
b
asic
d
esi
g
n an
d
co
l
or com
b
ination was
s
oon copied by other new nations.
Th
e Stars an
d
Stri
p
es is an
a
ll
-

p
ur
p
ose
fl
a
g
,
b
ut t
h
e USA is ric
h
in flags of many other kinds.
T
HE PRE
S
IDENT’
S

S
T
A
T
T
ND
A
RD
T
he Presidential standard, in use

t
oday, contains the President’s
version o
f
t
h
e nationa
l
arms, an
d
a
ring of 50 stars. The coat of arms
depicts a spread eagle holding a shield
in t
h
e st
yl
e o
f
t
h
e Stars an
d
Stri
p
es,
13 arrows, and 13 olive leaves,
indicating the country is prepared for
e
it

h
er war or
p
eace. T
h
e motto
“E
Pluribus Unum
,
” meanin
g
“Out of
m
any, one,” reflects the federal
nature o
f
t
h
e
U
nite
d

S
tates.
Th
e 50 stars
stand for each o
f

the

current

states

of
t
h
e Unio
n
I
f
a new state
j
oins t
h
e Union a
star is a
dd
e
d
t
h
e
f
o
ll
owing Ju
l

y 4
13 stri
p
es stand
f
or t
h
e ori
g
ina
l

13 colonies
which
f
orme
d

th
e
U
nite
d

States
ADA
#ANADA
ADA
ADA
-EXICO

XICO
XICO
XICO
&E
D
12
North Americ
a
USA: Historical fla
gs
The
fl
ags of the War of Inde
p
endence and of the Civil War still have an in
fl
uence
on the American
fl
ags of today.
T
HE
G
RAND
U
NI
O
N FLA
G
T

HE
F
IR
S
T
ST
ARS
T
T
AND
ST
RIPE
S
On June 14, 1777, the Union Jack was
e
moved from the flag in favor of a blue
a
nton with 13 stars, re
p
resentin
g
a new
o
nste
ll
ation, w
h
ic
h
now a

l
so re
p
resente
d
h
e Unite
d
States. T
h
is was t
h
e
fi
rst use o
f

t
ars in t
h
is way, an
d
set a prece
d
ent
f
or
m
any later flags
.

The first American flag was adapted from
th
e Britis
h
Re
d
Ensign o
f
t
h
e time. It was
known as the “Grand Union Flag,” i.e. of
t
he
U
nion of 13 colonies. These were
r
e
p
resente
d

by
t
h
e 13 stri
p
es o
f
re

d
an
d

wh
ite. T
h
e
fl
ag was intro
d
uce
d
in
D
ecember 1775 for use on land and at sea.
T
HE FL
A
G
O
F
179
5
When two new states joined the Union
in 1795, two new stars and two new
s
tri
p
es were added to the fla

g
, makin
g

1
5 stri
p
es an
d
15 stars. T
h
is set a
p
rece
d
ent
f
or a
dd
ing new stripes an
d
stars w
h
en eac
h
new state joined the Union. The flag soon
became known as the “Star Spangled
B
a
nn

e
r
.”
THE FLA
G
O
F
1
8
1
8
ive new states were formed after 1795,
u
t a new flag was not designed until 1817
w
hen Con
g
ress decreed that in future onl
y
ew stars wou
ld

b
e a
dd
e
d
an
d
it wou

ld
e
vert to 13 stripes, in or
d
er to preserve t
h
e
p
pearance of the flag. The new stars were
d
ded on
J
ul
y
4, 1818, and this s
y
stem has
een
f
o
ll
owe
d
ever since.
T
HE B
A
T
T
LE FLA

G

O
R
“
FL
A
G

O
F
T
HE
S
O
U
T
H
”
T
HE
ST
ARS
T
T
A
ND BARS
When Southern states seceded from the
Union in 1860-61, a new
fl

a
g

f
or t
h
e
C
onfederacy was hoisted on March 3,
1861. Known as the “Stars and Bars”, it
o
ri
g
inall
y
had 7 stars, but these increased
t
o 13 in t
h
e course o
f
1861
,
as more states
joine
d
t
h
e Con
f

e
d
eracy
.
The Battle Flag with its distinctive saltire
n
a re
d

fi
e
ld

(
Sout
h
ern Cross
)
was
n
troduced in September 1861, specifically
o
r use in battle. On land it was s
q
uare
w
it
h
a w
h

ite
b
or
d
er,
b
ut t
h
e rectan
g
u
l
ar
ava
l
version
,
wit
h
out a
b
or
d
er
,
is now
c
cepted as “The Flag of the South.
”
13

N
orth Americ
a
USA: State fla
gs
T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h
state joined t
h
e Union is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e state name
.
A
L
A
B
A
M
A
1819
A

L
A
S
K
A
1
959
The flag was designed by a Native American
ch
oo
lb
o
y
in 1926, w
h
en A
l
as
k
a was sti
ll
a
e
rritory. It
d
epicts t
h
e P
l
ow an

d
t
h
e
o
rthern Pole star. Gold also represents
A
l
as
k
a
’
s
min
e
r
a
l r
ese
rv
es.
This flag, which was adopted in 1895,
s
h
o
w
s

a
r

ed

sa
l
t
ir
e

o
n
a
whi
te
fi
e
l
d.
I
t
i
s

inten
d
e
d
to reca
ll
t
h

e
S
out
h
ern
C
ross or
Batt
l
e F
l
ag o
f
t
h
e Con
f
e
d
erate States.
A
RIZ
ON
A
1912
The red and yellow rays recall the period
o
f S
p
anish rule and the co

pp
er star stands
f
or minera
l
ric
h
es. T
h
e
fl
a
g
was
d
esi
g
ne
d

l
oca
ll
y an
d
a
d
opte
d
in 1927

.
A
R
K
A
N
S
A
S
1
83
6
The flag recalls the Southern Cross.
T
he lower stars re
p
resent former colonial
o
wers an
d
t
h
e u
pp
er star stan
d
s
f
or t
h

e
C
on
f
e
d
eracy. T
h
e
fl
ag was a
d
opte
d
n
1913
.
CO
L
O
R
A
DO
1876
C
A
L
IF
O
RNI

A
1850
The flag is based on that of the California
Republic declared at Sonora in 1846; it
did not become the state fla
g
until 1911
.
I
t
d
e
p
icts a
g
rizz
ly

b
ear an
d
a star
f
or
f
ree
d
om.
The C-shaped emblem contains the
o

lors of Spain, which once laid claim
o
this area. The
g
old ball also re
p
resents
h
e state’s minera
l
ric
h
es. T
h
e
fl
a
g
was
d
o
p
te
d
in 1911
.
D
E
L
A

W
A
RE
1
78
7
The arms date back to 1777 and the
a
g, adopted in 1913, includes the date
D
elaware joined the Union. The colors
e
call the uniforms worn durin
g
the
W
ar o
f
In
d
e
p
en
d
ence
.
The arms date back to the seal of 1784,
and the blue field to the Civil War period,
w
hen the flag was a Union color. This

desi
g
n was ado
p
ted in 1897
.
CO
NNE
C
T
I
C
U
T
1
78
8
14
North Americ
a
USA: State fla
gs
T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h
state joined t
h

e Union is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e state name
.
D
I
S
TRI
C
T OF
C
OL
U
MBI
A
1
7
91
F
L
O
R
I
D
A
1845

This is another flag which recalls the
o
ut
h
ern Cross use
d

by
t
h
e Con
f
e
d
erac
y

u
ring t
h
e Civi
l
War. T
h
e origina
l

fl
ag,
d

opted in 1868, had only the seal, the red
a
ltire was added in 1
900.
The flag of the Federal District of
C
olumbia is based on a banner of the arms
of
t
h
e Was
h
in
g
ton
f
ami
ly
, w
h
ic
h
ori
g
inate
d

in Eng
l
an

d
an
d

d
ates
b
ac
k
to 1592. It was
adopted in 1938 by a Congress Commission
.
G
E
O
R
G
IA
1
788
The new state flag for Georgia was
introduced in 2003, followin
g
ob
j
ections
t
o t
h
e inc

l
usion o
f
t
h
e Con
f
e
d
erate
fl
a
g
on
th
e previous two
d
esigns. T
h
e t
h
ree
b
ars
e
voke pre-1956 versions of the flag
.
H
AWAI
I

1
95
9
The state flag, originally representing the
n
de
p
endent kin
g
dom, was ado
p
ted in 1845.
Th
e Union
J
ac
k
reca
ll
s a
fl
a
g

g
iven to t
h
e
K
ing

b
y an army o
ffi
cer in 1793. T
h
e stripes
a
n
d
f
o
r
t
h
e
m
a
in i
s
l
a
n
ds.
LLINOI
S
1818
ID
A
H
O

1890
The flag was originally a military color and
bears the state seal in the center; beneath it is
a scroll with the state’s name. The fla
g
in this
f
orm was a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1927, wit
h
new
sp
eci
fi
cations in 1957.
Created in 1915, the central emblem of the
linois flag, depicts elements from the state
e
al, includin
g
a bald ea
g
le and a shield o
f

h
e Stars an
d
Stri
p
es. T
h
e name was a
dd
e
d

e
neat
h
t
h
is in 1970
.
O
WA
1
846
The red, white and blue colors stand for
r
ench Louisiana
,
of which Iowa was once a
a
rt. In the center is the seal of 1847. The

ag
was ado
p
ted in this form in 1921.
The flag was the winning entry in a design
c
ompetition held in 1916, and was
o
fficiall
y
ado
p
ted in 1917. The stars in two
arcs are
f
or t
h
e ori
g
ina
l
states an
d
t
h
e
s
u
b
se

q
uent ones
.
N
D
I
ANA
1
816
15
N
orth Americ
a
K
AN
S
A
S
1861
K
ENTU
C
K
Y
1
792
Another flag derived from the militia
ol
ors. T
h

e
fl
a
g
was a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1918 an
d

e
gu
l
arize
d
in 1962. Li
k
e many state
fl
ags
contains the seal, the state name and a
w
reath of
g
oldenrod, the state flower.
The flag of Kansas follows a very common
s

eal and name
p
attern. The ori
g
inal fla
g
o
f

1925
h
a
d
t
h
e sea
l
, reca
ll
in
g
sett
l
ement an
d
agricu
l
ture, an
d
a sun

fl
ower—t
h
e state
fl
ower. The name was added in 1963
.
L
OUI
S
IAN
A
1812
The pelican, representing self-sacrifice and the
s
tate’s role as a
p
rotector, has lon
g
been the bad
g
e
of
Louisiana,
b
ut t
h
e
fl
a

g
was on
ly
a
d
o
p
te
d
in
1
912 an
d
s
l
ig
h
t
l
y mo
d
i
fi
e
d
in 2004. T
h
e
Acadians or “Cajuns” also have their own flag
.

M
AINE
1
82
0
The flag dates from 1909 when the arms,
d
o
p
ted in 1820, were
p
laced on a blue field.
Th
e star an
d
motto reca
ll
Maine’s nort
h
er
ly
o
cation. It was t
h
e nort
h
ernmost state o
f
t
h

e
n
ion, until Michigan joined in 1837.
M
A
SS
A
C
HU
S
ETT
S

1788
MARY
L
AND
1788
This is the only flag which is a true heraldic
banner, reproducing the arms of the Baltimore
f
amil
y
, once the “
p
ro
p
rietors” of the state.
Eac
h

si
d
e o
f
t
h
e
f
ami
ly
is re
p
resente
d

by
two
q
uarters. It was a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1904.
The flag was originally adopted in 1908 and
e
vised in 1971, replacing a pine tree with
h
e coat of arms ado

p
ted in 1780. The arms,
ep
ictin
g
a Native American
h
o
ld
in
g
a
b
ow,
o
w a
pp
ears on
b
ot
h
si
d
es o
f
t
h
e
fl
a

g
.
M
INNESOTA
1
858
The motto on this flag “The North Star,”
w
as retained from when the state was
h
e northernmost in the
U
nion. The
ag
was ori
g
inall
y
ado
p
ted in 1893 and
e
vise
d
in 1957
.
The arms was adopted in 1832, and
placed on a blue field to make the state
fl
ag in 1911. The mottoes mean “I will

defend,” and “If
y
ou seek a
p
leasant
p
eninsu
l
a,
l
oo
k
a
b
out
y
ou.”
M
I
C
HIGA
N
1
83
7
16
North Americ
a
USA: State fla
gs

T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h
state joined t
h
e Union is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e state name
.
M
I
SS
I
SS
IPPI
1817
M
ISSOURI
1
821
The colors of the flag recall when the region
w
as un

d
er Frenc
h
contro
l
. T
h
e 24 stars stan
d
o
r Missouri
b
eing t
h
e 24t
h
state to join t
h
e
U
nion. Within the seal itself are another 24
ars. The fla
g
was ado
p
ted in 1913
.
The flag of Mississippi was adopted in
1894. It combines both the Confederac
y

’s
Sout
h
ern Cross wit
h
t
h
e stri
p
es o
f
its
fi
rst
fl
ag, t
h
e Stars an
d
Bars, a
l
t
h
oug
h
on t
h
e
fl
ag of Mississippi the upper stripe is blue

.
MO
NTANA
1889
The flag is derived from the former state
militia colors, while the motto “Gold and
Si
l
ver” is in S
p
anis
h
, reca
ll
in
g
S
p
ain’s c
l
aim
t
o t
h
e area. T
h
e
fl
ag was a
d

opte
d
in 1905
and had the name added in 1981.
N
E
BRA
S
KA
1
867
The flag of Nebraska was adopted in 1925
n
d uses the seal which was ado
p
ted in 1867.
Th
is
d
e
p
icts an a
ll
e
g
orica
l

l
an

d
sca
p
e,
y
m
b
o
l
ic o
f
t
h
e state’s agricu
l
tura
l
an
d
n
dustrial development.
N
E
W H
A
M
PS
H
IRE
1788

N
E
V
A
D
A
1864
The flag emerged from a design
c
ompetition and was adopted in 1929. It
was revised in 1
99
1 and the state name was
pl
ace
d
un
d
erneat
h

b
ou
gh
s o
f
t
h
e sa
g

e
b
rus
h
an
d
t
h
e star, w
h
ic
h
represents t
h
e state
.
The design was adopted in 1909, making
s
e of the seal, which dates back to 1775.
de
p
icts a shi
p
, the Ralei
g
h, bein
g
built
n
t

h
e
d
oc
k
s o
f
t
h
e town o
f
Portsmout
h
u
rin
g
t
h
e War o
f
In
d
e
p
en
d
ence
.
N
E

W MEXI
CO
1
91
2
This most distinctive flag was adopted in
9
25 and uses the sun symbol of the
Zia

ueblo
Indians, while the colors re
p
resent
h
e S
p
anis
h
co
l
onia
l
era.
The buff field recalls the uniforms worn
during the War of Independence. The fla
g

with the arms was ado
p

ted in 1896 and
ma
d
e
g
enera
lly
avai
l
a
bl
e in 1938
.
N
EW JERSEY
1
78
7
1
7
N
orth Americ
a
N
EW YOR
K
1788
NO
RTH
C

AR
O
L
I
N
A
1
789
The original flag was adopted in 1861 at
h
e out
b
rea
k
o
f
t
h
e Civi
l
War
,
an
d
was in
h
e same co
l
ors as t
h

e Stars an
d
Bars. T
h
e
r
esent design dates from 1885. It contains
h
e initials of the state in the blue stri
p
e
.
The flag dates originally from flags used in
t
he War of Inde
p
endence, but in this form
o
n
ly

f
rom 1901. Prior to t
h
at t
h
e
fl
a
g

h
a
d
a
b
u
ff

fi
e
ld
. T
h
e two
fi
gures sym
b
o
l
ize
l
i
b
erty
and justice. The coat of arms dates from 1777.
NO
RTH DAK
O
TA

1889
The flag was originally used by the state
militia, the North Dakota Infantr
y
, and was
a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1911, a
l
most wit
h
out a
l
teration,
e
xp
l
aining its squaris
h
s
h
ape. In t
h
e cente
r

i
s

a
v
e
r
s
i
o
n
o
f
t
h
e
n
at
i
o
n
a
l
a
rm
s.
O
H
I
O

1
803
The pennant-shaped flag of Ohio is derived
r
om a cavalr
y

g
uidon of the Civil Wa
r

e
rio
d
. T
h
e 17 stars reca
ll
t
h
at O
h
io was t
h
e
7
t
h
state to join t
h

e union an
d
t
h
e circ
l
e o
r

O
” refers to the state’s initial.
O
REG
O
N
1859
O
KLAH
O
M
A
1907
The basic design emerged from a design
c
ompetition and was adopted in 1925. The
n
ame was added in 1
94
1. The Native
American em

bl
ems, a
ll
s
y
m
b
o
l
s o
f

p
eace,
r
eca
ll
t
h
e
p
revious name, “In
d
ian Territor
y
.
”
This is now the only state flag with a
i
fferent design on its reverse. The obverse

h
ows the seal within 33 stars, the state’s
a
me an
d
its
d
ate o
f
a
d
mission. T
h
e reverse
h
ows a
b
eaver. It was a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1925
.
R
H
O
D
E

I
SL
A
N
D
1
79
0
The anchor, symbolic of hope, has long
e
en the emblem of Rhode Island. The flag,
a
sed on a War of Independence flag, was
d
o
p
ted in 1877 and modified in 1897.
The coat of arms of the state was adopted in
1777 and regularized in 1875. It was placed
o
n a blue field to make the flag in 1907. The
s
hield is su
pp
orted b
y
two horses.
P
EN
N

S
Y
LV
A
N
I
A
1
78
7
18
North Americ
a
USA: State fla
gs
T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h
state joined t
h
e Union is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e state name

.
S
OUTH
C
AROLIN
A
1788
S
OUTH DAKOT
A
1
88
9
The flag of South Dakota was adopted in 1963
n
t
h
e
b
asis o
f

p
revious mo
d
e
l
s an
d

h
a
d
t
h
e
o
rmer motto “T
h
e Suns
h
ine State” aroun
d

h
e seal. This was changed to “The Mount
R
ushmore
S
tate” in 1992.
The flag was adopted in 1861 at the very
s
tart of the Civil War, but contains
e
m
bl
ems use
d

d

urin
g
t
h
e War o
f

I
n
d
epen
d
ence an
d
a
l
so use
d
in t
h
e state
arms. The central palmetto is the state tree
.
T
ENNE
SS
EE
1796
The three stars are for the three
g

eo
g
ra
p
hical divisions of the state,
w
h
i
l
st its
g
enera
l
a
pp
earance reca
ll
s
th
e Batt
l
e F
l
ag or Sout
h
ern Cross
.
T
he flag was adopted in 1905.
T

EXA
S
1
84
5
The flag copies the colors of the Stars and
t
ri
p
es, but with onl
y
one star, which dates
a
c
k
to one on t
h
e
pl
ain
bl
ue
fl
a
g
o
f
t
h
e

R
epu
bl
ic o
f
Texas. It was a
d
opte
d
in 1839
n
d retained after Texas joined the Union
.
V
ERM
O
N
T
1791
U
TAH
1896
The beehive in the flag recalls the emblem
o
f the Mormon state of Deseret, located in
U
tah and the date recalls their settlement
of
t
h

e re
g
ion. T
h
e
p
resent
fl
a
g

d
ates
f
rom
1911, an
d
uses t
h
e sea
l
a
d
opte
d
in 1896
.
The arms, including the Lone Pine emblem,
a
te back to when Vermont was independent

r
om 1777–91. The
p
resent fla
g
, based on
h
e
f
ormer mi
l
itia
fl
a
g
, was a
d
o
p
te
d
in 1923.
Th
e state name appears on a scro
ll.
WA
S
H
INGT
ON

1
88
9
Washington is known as “The Evergreen
t
ate” and this is reflected by its flag. It is the
n
ly state with a green flag. The seal dates
r
om 1889 and was
p
laced on th
e
ag
in 1923.
The state arms was adopted in 1776. The
s
eal, showing Liberty Triumphing ove
r

T
yranny, was placed on the flag in 186
1
at the start of the Civil War. The desi
g
n
h
as
b
een use

d
ever since
.
V
IR
G
INIA
1
788
19
N
orth Americ
a
USA: State and overseas territory flags
T
h
e date w
h
en eac
h
state joined t
h
e Union is s
h
own
b
elow t
h
e state name
.

W
E
S
T VIRGINI
A
1863
W
ISCONSI
N
1
848
The flag is derived from the militia colors of
h
e Union in 1863. It
d
e
p
icts t
h
e state
e
a
l
, supporte
d

b
y a miner an
d
a sai

l
or.
T
he shield also recalls mining and sailing.
T
he name and the date were added in 1
980
.
The coat of arms dates from 1863 when
West Vir
g
inia seceded from Vir
g
inia. The
c
urrent version o
f
t
h
e
fl
a
g
was a
d
o
p
te
d
in

1929 an
d

h
as t
h
e arms wit
h
in a wreat
h
o
f

r
hododendron
,
the state flower
.
W
Y
O
MING
1890
The flag emerged from a design
c
om
p
etition and was ado
p
ted in 1917. The

fl
a
g

h
as
b
een revise
d
severa
l
times—at one
t
ime t
h
e
b
u
ff
a
l
o containing t
h
e arms
f
ace
d
t
he fly. The colors recall the national flag
.

MERICAN
S
AM
O
A
A self-governing US dependency, American
a
moa’s fla
g
shows its links with the
g
uardian
ate
,
in t
h
e co
l
ors an
d
t
h
e American
b
a
ld

a
g
l

e. Here t
h
e eag
l
e carries Samoan
mb
l
e
m
s.
N
O
RTHERN
M
ARIANA
I
S
LAND
S
G
UA
M
The flag was designed locally and adopted
in 1917. In the center of the flag, in the US
c
olors, is the seal of the territor
y
, which
d
e

p
icts an i
d
ea
l
ize
d

l
an
d
sca
p
e. T
h
e
fl
a
g
can
o
n
ly

b
e
fl
own wit
h
t

h
e US
fl
a
g.
The original flag was adopted in 1972,
u
t has undergone several modifications,
n
cludin
g
the addition of the flower-wreath.
t
a
l
so
d
e
p
icts a
g
ra
y

l
atte stone re
p
resentin
g

h
e is
l
an
d
s’ C
h
amorro cu
l
ture.
V
IR
G
IN
I
S
LANDS
(
U
S
)
The flag dates from 1921 and uses part of the
U
S seal
,
with the initials of the islands. The
h
r
ee

a
rr
o
w
s
in
o
n
e

c
l
a
w
sta
n
d
f
o
r
t
h
e
m
a
in
lands; in the other claw is an olive branch.
The resemblance of this flag to that of Cuba
is no coincidence
,

since the two were
designed at the same time, by the same
activists. This version was ado
p
ted in 1952
.
P
UERT
O

R
ICO

20
North Americ
a
M
exico
Rat
i
o
:

4
:7 A
d
opte
d:
Novem
b

er 2, 1821
U
sage: National an
d
Civi
l
North Americ
a
Me
x
ico
was con
q
uere
d

by
S
p
ain in t
h
e 16t
h
centur
y
,
b
ut
b
ro

k
e awa
y
in 1821 to
f
orm a Centra
l
American state. It became a republic in 1822
.
France was the ins
p
iration of those
who detached Mexico from Spain
in 1821 an
d
t
h
e
y

d
evise
d
a new
t
ricolor based on the fla
g
of the
liberation army. At that time the
Ita

l
ian trico
l
or was not in use.
T
h
e

coat

o
f
a
rm
s

o
n
t
h
e

ce
n
te
r
s
tripe distinguishes the flag from
th
at o

f
Ita
ly.
THE
AZ
T
EC
INHER
I
T
A
NCE
Th
e

ce
n
t
r
a
l
e
m
b
l
e
m i
s

t

h
e
Az
tec

pictogram for Tenochtitlán (now
M
exico Cit
y
), t
h
e center o
f
t
h
ei
r

e
m
p
ire. It recalls the le
g
end which
i
nspired the Aztecs to settle on what
was ori
g
ina
lly

a
l
a
k
e-is
l
an
d.
T
h
e
f
o
rm
o
f
t
h
e

coat

o
f
a
rm
s
w
as

m
ost recently revised in 1968
.
A
RM
S
OF MEXI
CO
T
h
e
b
asic
d
esign is
d
erive
d

f
rom t
h
e
Fr
e
n
c
h
Tricolore
The coat of arms incorporates

the bad
g
e o
f
Mexico City
Aztec le
g
end held that
th
ey s
h
ou
ld

f
oun
d
t
h
eir
c
ity on the spot wher
e

t
hey saw an ea
g
le on a
c
actus, eatin

g
a sna
ke
Ribbon

in

the

national

colors
T
he

lake

with

an

island, re
p
resents
Tenoc
h
tit
l
án
53!

'UATEMALA
EMALA
EMALA
EMALA
-%8)#/
-%8)#/
-
-
Re
d
, w
h
ite, an
d
g
reen are t
h
e co
l
ors
o
f
t
h
e
n
at
i
o
n

a
l
l
i
b
eration army in
Mex
i
c
o
21
N
orth Americ
a
G
uatema
la
Rat
i
o
:
5:
8

Ad
opte
d:

A
ugust 17, 1871

U
sage
:
National an
d
Stat
e
Bl
ue

a
n
d
whi
te

a
r
e
the colors of the
origina
l

fl
ag o
f
t
h
e
U

nited Provinces
of Central
A
mer
i
ca
T
h
e coat o
f

arms was adopte
d

i
n
1968
North Americ
a
G
uatema
l
a
d
ec
l
are
d
in
d

e
p
en
d
ence at t
h
e same
time as Mexico an
d
, in 1823,
b
ecame
p
art o
f
a
union with the other
C
entral American states.
In Guatemala the fla
g
of the United
P
rovinces of Central America
,
h
orizonta
l
stri
p

es o
f

bl
ue, w
h
ite,
bl
ue
was used until 1851, when a
p
ro-
Spanish government added the red
an
d

y
e
ll
ow o
f
S
p
ain to t
h
e
fl
a
g
. On

A
u
g
ust 17, 1871, the ori
g
inal colors
were restored as vertical stripes, and
wit
h

G
uatema
l
a’s own coat o
f
arms.
THE QUE
T
ZAL BIRD
T
h
e
n
e
w
coat

o
f
a

rm
s

s
h
o
w
s

t
h
e

q
uetzal, Guatemala’s most famous
b
ir
d
, stan
d
in
g
on a scro
ll

g
ivin
g

t

h
e

date

o
f
t
h
e
D
ec
l
a
r
at
i
o
n
o
f
Independence. The present form
o
f
t
h
e arms was a
d
o
p

te
d
in 1968.
W
hen used at sea for civil
p
ur
p
oses,
t
he flag does not contain the arms.
A
R
M
S
OF GU
A
T
E
MAL
A
T
he quetzal bird
w
it
h
its
d
istinctiv
e

t
ai
l
-
f
eat
h
ers is a
s
ymbol of libert
y
R
i
fl
es an
d
swor
d
s
r
epresent
d
e
f
ence
o
f freedom
Th
e

d
ate o
f
t
he

Declaration o
f

In
d
e
p
en
d
ence
-
EXICO
ELIZE
"E
E
E