Question 121 of 128 ★ 65/20
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Official USCIS answers
- (Because there were) 13 original colonies
- (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
Why this is the answer
The first U.S. states were the 13 original colonies. The stripes are a historical symbol of those colonies. They do not stand for the number of states today.
💡 Memory tip: 13 stripes = 13 original colonies.
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Source: USCIS, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), M-1778.