It was in 1861 that Kansas joined the Union as a free state, and the thirty–fourth star was added to our flag. In mentioning Old Glory, Senator Charles Sumner once spoke these words, which every American citizen should remember: “The stripes of alternate red and white proclaim the original union of thirteen states to maintain the Declaration of Independence. Its stars, white on a field of blue, proclaim the union of states constituting our national constellation, which receives a new star with every new state. These two signify union, past and present. The very colors have a language which was officially recognized by our fathers. White is for purity, red is for valor, blue is for justice.”
If you enjoyed this article you will want to own the electronic version of the 1899 American History high school textbook from which this excerpt was taken. The electronic version of this 1899 book is available for download, including original images and an enhanced index for easy and fast reference. The ebook is printable.
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