The birthday of the American flag falls on the 14th day of June, each year. It was on that day in 1777 that Congress met in Philadelphia and adopted the red; white, and blue.

The first flag was made by Betsy Ross at the request of George Washington.

It had thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. The stripes were red and white. The stars were white on a field of blue. They were arranged in a circle.

The stripes represented the thirteen. original states. The circle of thirteen

stars represented the Union.

The flag of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars remained without change until 1794.

At that time two states had been admitted to the Union. It was thought that the new states should have the same representation in the flag as the thirteen original states.

Two stripes and two stars were accordingly added to the flag. It was seen that if a new stripe and a new star were added for each new state, the flag would become too large.

So Congress passed an Act which limited the stripes to the original thirteen.

It provided that a new star should be added to the flag for each new state.

Since that Act was passed many new states have been admitted to the Union. In each case a new star has been added to the flag.

To-day our flag has forty-eight stars representing fortyeight states.

This growth in the number of states from time to time is shown by the number of stars in the flag during the

The Stars and Stripes, as our flag is often called, is among the oldest national flags. It is older than the present Union Jack of England; it is older than the Tricolor of France; older than the flag of Spain; and much older than the flag of Italy.

It has been an inspiration to Americans in time of peace and in time of war.

Our national hymn is called "The Star Spangled Banner." It was written by Francis Scott Key.

Key was a prisoner on a British vessel at Baltimore during a battle in the War of 1812.

He watched for a day and a night while the British bombarded an American fort.

Sometimes the flag on the fort was hidden by the smoke of shot and shell, as the battle raged on. Sometimes a gleam of it showed through the clouds. At night it was lost to sight entirely.

Key stayed at his post wondering if, in the darkness, its folds had been dragged down.

At the first ray of dawn he strained his eyes for a sight of the beloved flag.

1 At end of war.

There it was waving in the breeze! He knew the fort was safe and that the British were conquered.

With his heart full of joy, Key sat down, and on the back of an old letter, wrote the stirring lines of our national hymn, "The Star Spangled Banner."

We are proud of the American flag.

No stain has ever marred its stripes and stars.

It stands for liberty, justice, and right.

Wherever it flies, it brings happiness and protection to

the weak, -courage and hope to the strong,

to all.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

Repeat the "Salute to the Flag."

What is the birthday of the American flag?

On what day and in what year was the flag adopted?

By whom was the first flag made?

freedom

How many stripes did the first flag have? How many stars?

What color were the stripes?
How were the stars arranged?
What did the stars represent?

What color were the stars?

What did the stripes represent?

How long did the flag remain unchanged?

How many states were added to the Union at that time?

What were added to the flag?

What Act was passed by Congress concerning the number of stripes and stars in the flag? Why?

Since that time what has been added to the flag as each state has been admitted?

How many stars are there in our flag to-day?

What do they represent?

Tell of the growth in the number of states as shown by the number

of stars in the flag during the various wars.

How old is our flag, as compared with the flags of other countries? Tell the story of "The Star Spangled Banner."

For what does the American flag stand?

What does it bring to the weak? To the strong? To all?

PART VIII- EVERYDAY ECONOMICS

LESSON I

WHY WE SHOULD STUDY ECONOMICS

The history chapter which we have just read is largely a story of the past. It is the story of the founding and the growth of the nation.

We read of the character and life of the early colonists. We read also of the various leaders and events, as our country has grown.

We have seen the changes in conditions as time went on, and how they affected life. Changes are still going on, and they continue to affect life.

Our future history depends greatly on how we meet these changes and the problems they bring with them. It also depends on the prosperity of each and every one of us. And so, before closing this book, we shall take a forward look into some of the most common problems and questions.

We shall consider, also, a few of the most practical ways of getting ahead in the world.

We shall do this through a very simple study of everyday economics.

Many think that the study of economics is concerned only with big business.

They think it has to do only with building railroads, running factories, or things of that kind. This is a mistake. There are certain simple laws of economics that touch the lives of each and every one of us.

They affect the affairs of every average man and woman. These so-called laws are truths.

They apply to everything we do, whether it is getting a job, buying a pair of shoes, building a house, or running a fruit stand.

Because of this we should know and understand more about them. If we understand these plain truths better, we shall also understand better some of the things that may puzzle us now.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

Name some of the changes in conditions as our country has grown. How have these changes affected life?

What changes are going on at the present time?

What do these changes bring with them?

How should we meet these problems?

Upon what does our future history largely depend?

Why then, should we study everyday economics?

What are the laws of economics?

Whom do they affect?

How will understanding these truths help us?

LESSON II

WHAT WEALTH IS

In Part IV of this book, we read of our country's wealth. We saw that the United States is the richest country in the world. The United States has harbors, waterpower, factories, forests, mines, cattle, wheat, and cities.