Why does the U.S. flag have 13 stripes?

The U.S. flag has 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. These colonies were the foundation of the United States, and the stripes serve as a tribute to their importance in American history. Each stripe symbolizes one of the first colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. This design element of the flag connects the current nation to its historical origins and signifies unity among these foundational states. The other choices do not correctly capture the significance behind the 13 stripes—while they highlight important aspects of U.S. history, only the representation of the original colonies specifically aligns with this design feature of the flag.