The 50 Stars: Arranged in a blue field (the “union”), these stars represent the 50 individual states of the Union. The 13 Stripes: There are 13 horizontal stripes (7 red and 6 white) that represent the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. The “New Constellation”: The original 1777 Flag Resolution described the stars as representing a “new constellation,” symbolizing a bright new hope for mankind.