It took a couple of years before the Continental Congress decided to create a flag that would unite its new nation under one flag. On June 14, 1777, Congress resolved “the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
There was no real direction on how to place the 13 stars, but the most famous variation is what is known as the Betsy Ross flag, with its 5-pointed stars in a circular pattern against the blue field.
With the creation of a new flag on June 14, 1777, coincidentally Jones was handed a new ship: the sloop Ranger. Built in America and commanded by the Scotsman, Ranger sailed to Europe later that year to harass the British fleet and its shipping lanes. Just days later after the Treaty of Alliance was signed with France, on Feb. 14, 1778, the French fleet saluted the Stars and Stripes flown by Jones’ sloop Ranger, acknowledging their acceptance of the United States of America and making the French the first to salute our country’s flag.