The American flag has 50 stars. Each star represents one of the 50 states in the United States. These stars are arranged on a blue field in nine alternating rows of five and six stars. This design symbolizes the unity of all the states under one nation. The flag also has 13 stripes, which represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain. The current 50-star design has been in use since 1960, following the admission of Hawaii as the 50th state.