The History of the Betsy Ross Flag: This flag was adopted June 14, 1777 (Flag Day). The Continental Congress on this day resolved, “That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”. The circular design was by George Washington, Francis Hopkins and Betsy Ross. The Congress however did not specify an arrangement for the stars in the canton; as a result there are many variations in the flags that followed until 1912.