National Flags of North and South America.

Canada became a self governing colony in 1867 when four British colonies federated. Later six Canadian provinces joined the Federation

Without a flag for many years, Canada used the British ensign with the Canadian sheild at the fly. Growing pressure for a flag that represented the whole nation, saw the current 'Maple Leaf Flag' receive universal approval and was adopted in 1965.

The United States was formed when 13 British colonies in North America rose against the British.

The states declared their independence on 4 July 1776.

The new flag of 1777 marked a break with old colonial ties, and became the first of a new kind of flag -one that was truely a national flag in the modern sense. It's general design and colours was soon copied by many other new nations.
The stars on the flag represent the present number of states of the US, the red and white stripes, the original 13 colonies.

From 1632 until independence in 1981, Antigua and it's neighbour Barbuda were British colonies.

The flag was the winning entry in a national design competition and was adopted on 27 February 1967, remaining unchanged when Antigua became independent. Barbuda does not have a separate flag.

Flag designed by Reginald Samuel.

Argentina was originally a colony of Spain, gaining independence in 1816.

The colours of the flag were adopted by the leader of the revolution Manuel Belgrano and were first used at the Battle of Rosario in 1812.

According to a popular story, after the 25th May Gathering, the white clouds parted to reveal the blue sky and the shining sun.
The sun at the centre of the flag is called the Sun of May.
Flag adopted 12 February, 1812.

The Bahamas waso riginally known to Europe as a pirate base, The Bahamas became a British colony in 1783. Independence was a long time coming, but was finally gained in 1973.

The flag is based on designs presented by the Bahamian people.

Flag was formally adopted on 10 July 1973.

First settled by the British in 1627, Barbados resisted efforts by the British to become a British Crown colony government until WW1, Barbados gained self rule in 1961, and became a fully independant state within the British Commonwealth in November 1966.

This flag was adopted at the time of independence and was the winning entry in a national competition,

Grantley Prescod was the winning entry.

In colonial times Belize was known as British Honduras. It changed it's name in 1973, and became independant from the UK in 1981.

From 1968, an unofficial flag was in use -a blue background with a version of the coat of arms (without the Union Jack) on a white central disc. At independence in 1981, the flag remained similar, but with the addition of a red horizontal stripe at the top and bottom.

Originally named Upper Peru, the country was named after Simón Bolívar who demanded [and got] Bolivia's secession from Spain in 1825.

The flag of 1825 had 3 horizontal stripes of red green and red, and 5 gold stars within a laurel wreath. 1826 saw the flag altered, with 3 equal bands (top to bottom) of yellow, green and red with the same wreath at the centre. It was altered again in 1851 when the order of colours were reversed.

The flag was adopted 30 November 1851.

A possesion of Portugal until 1822 when Brazil became an independant kingdom. It formed a federal republic in 1889.

The green field and yellow diamond thingo with the Imperial arms were part of the original flag of 1822. In 1889 the Imperial arms were replaced by a view of the night sky over Rio de Janeiro.

The star numbers have altered from time to time, in 1992 they increased to twenty seven. Flag adopted 15 November, 1889.

Mainly by the efforts of José de San Martín (leader of the Army of the Andes), Chile threw off Spanish domination in 1818.

The flag was adopted on 18 October 1817, after San Martín's victory at Chacabuco and was at least the third version during the early years of separation from Spain.
The white star at the hoist was originally reserved for the official flag, but since 1864 it became official for all purposes.

This flag is loosely based on the US 'Stars and Stripes'.

After years of Spanish rule, Columbia became part of Greater Colombia in 1819, then a separate republic in 1830.

The flag of Greater Columbia, adopted in 1819, was retained by Columbia after independence in 1830, though the stripes were changed from horizontal to vertical.

The original version was restored in 1861.

Costa Rica was a signatory to the 'Declaration of Independence from Spain' in 1821, joining the United Provinces of Central America (Provincias Unidas De Centro-américa) 1823 - 1838.

The Central American flag remained in use in Costa Rica until 1848 when a central red stripe was added, (later the coat of arms was added to the centre of the flag).

In 1906 the coat of arms were placed on a white disc -that became oval later and offset towards the hoist.
Flag adopted 29 Sept 1848.

A Spanish colony until 1898 when it was ceded to the US, Cuba gained nominal independence in 1902, though only fully independant in 1953 at the overthrow of dictator Batista.

The flag was designed in 1848 for the liberation movement that sought to detach Cuba from Spain and become a state of the US.
The flag is loosely based on the Stars and Stripes. Adopted 20 May 1902.

Dominica see-sawed between the French and the British control from 1635 until the 1783 Treaty of Paris, when the island was returned to Britain.

This flag was adopted in 1973 and features the Sisserou, a parrot indemic to Dominica only, and now an endangered species.

The ten stars represent the ten parishes of Dominica.

Originally a Spanish colony, and occupied by Haiti from 1820 to 1844. The Trinitarian movement was formed to free the country.

It was the leader of the Trinitarians who designed the flag, quartering the blue and red of the Haitian flag and placing a white cross over it to symbolise the catholic faith.

The civil flag has no coat of arms at the centre.

Ecuador was formerly a Spanish colony, joining the state of Greater Colombia in 1823. In 1830 it seceded from this federation to form the Republic of Ecuador.

The 1819 flag of Greater Colombia was restored in Ecuador in 1860 and since then the flags of Colombia and Ecuador have been very similar.

The national coat of arms were added in 1900.

El Salvador's flag colours recall the colours of the United Provinces of Central America (Provincias Unidas De Centro-américa), a short lived federation that was formed in 1823 consisting of five former Spanish colonies.

The flag of the United Provinces of Central America was used as the national flag until 1865, when a flag based on the 'Stars and Stripes' was adopted.

In 1912 the original design was readopted, with the addition of the arms of El Salvador at the centre.

Originally a French settlement, Grenada was invaded by England in 1762. It became an Associated State of United Kingdom in 1967 and fully independant in 1974.

The flag used prior to 1967 featured a nutmeg as Grenada is the world's foremost supplier.

The nutmeg reappeared on the centre (hoist side) of the new flag of 1974.

Guatemala's flag colours recall the colours of the United Provinces of Central America (Provincias Unidas De Centro-américa), a short lived federation that was formed in 1823 consisting of 5 former Spanish colonies.

When the pro-Spanish took over Guatemala in 1851, they added the Spanish colours of red and yellow.

In 1871 the original colours were restored, but in vertical not horizontal stripes -with a new coat of arms.

Taken as a British possession from the Dutch in 1814, the three areas formerly controlled by the Dutch became British Guiana in 1831. It became independant in 1966 and a republic within the UK Commonwealth in 1970.

This flag, known as the 'Golden Arrow' originally flew across a red feild, but this colour was changed to green in 1966 when the black and white fimbriations were added.

Flag adopted 20 May 1966.

Haiti became a French colony in 1697, but in 1803 a rebellion broke out . Independance was granted in 1804

The red and blue was retained of the French Tricolore after it was torn up by rebel leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1803. The two parts were stiched together horizonltally to form a new flag

A rival flag of vertical red and black panels was also used at various times most recently in 1964-86 during the regime of the hated Duvalier family.

Honduras' flag colours recall the colours of the United Provinces of Central America, a short lived federation that was formed in 1823 consisting of five former Spanish colonies.

Nicaragua's flag colours recall the colours of the United Provinces of Central America, a short lived federation that was formed in 1821 consisting of four former Spanish colonies.

The central emblem (the coat of arms) contains a triangle with the rays of the sun, the Cap of Liberty and five volcanos inside the words "Republica de Nicaragua. America Central".

In 1821 the flag was similar but the words read 'Provincias Unidas del Centro de America'.

Panama was originally a provice of Columbia, but was detached in 1903 to secure the building of the Panama Canal within a US controled zone.

The flag of Panama was designed by Maria Ossa de Armador and was officially adopted in 1925.

Red and Blue represent the rival political parties in Panama, the white for peace in Panama.

Peru was freed from Spanish rule in 1819 by an army led by José de San Martin. Since 1824 it has been an independant unitary republic.

The colours chosen by San Martin for the Peruvian Legion were red and white, said (amongst others) to be the colours of the Inca Empire and the rising sun also dating back to the Incas.

The sun was substituted in 1825 for the Peruvian coat of arms at the request of Simon Bolivar) in 1825.

The flag assumed it's present form in 1950.

St Lucia, first settled in 1605 was reularly fought over by France and Britain and finally ceded to the British in 1814. St Lucia became independant in 1979

The flag was adopted when St Lucia became a British Associated State in 1967. The flag was designed by a local artist Dunstan St Omer.

The blue field represents the sea, from which rise the twin peaks of the Pitons said to represent hope.

St Vincent was occupied by the British in 1762 and together with an ajacent island group gained their independance in 1979.

The basic design and colour of the flag date from when it was first hoisted in 1979

Although the first flag was designed by a local, the design did not please all and after a local competition failed to produce a satisfactory design, the problem was submitted to a Swiss graphic artist who suggested the current design.

A British Colony in the Leeward Islands since 1873, the islands of St Kitts (formerly St Christopher) and Nevis gained independance together.

The flag was the winning entry entry in a local competition and was the work of a student Edrice Lewis and it was her that gave the official interpretation of the flag.

The colours represent; the fertile land, the year-round sunshine, the struggle for freedom and the African heritage. The two stars are for hope and liberty.

Suriname, as Dutch Guiana was part of the Dutch kingdom until 1975.

Upon independance the flag was changed. Chosen by a parlimentary commission from designs produced by the public.

The star represents the unity of all ethnic groups and the hope for the future, the red for progress and love, the white for peace and love, the green for hope and fertility.

Trinidad and Tobago were separate British colonies that united in 1889.

The nation became independant in 1962 and a republic in 1976.

This flag was adopted at independance in 1962.