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Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

Answer. Any of these is accepted.
Because there were 13 original colonies
  • Also accepted
  • The stripes represent the original colonies
Remember it: Stripes for the start, stars for the states.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2025 civics test. Last reviewed September 5, 2026.

This is question 121 of 128 on the 2025 USCIS civics test, in the section American symbols. It is one of the 20 questions on the 65/20 version.

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