Why does the flag of the United States have 13 stripes?

The flag of the United States features 13 stripes to represent the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. These colonies—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island—were the first to form the United States. The design of the flag serves as a reminder of this foundational aspect of American history, emphasizing the unity and collective identity of the colonies that came together to establish a new nation. The stripes alternate between red and white, symbolizing valor and purity, respectively, while the blue field and stars represent the states and the union. This historical significance makes the representation of the original colonies crucial to the flag's design.