Why does the flag of the United States have 13 stripes?

The flag of the United States features 13 stripes to honor the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. These colonies—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island—played a fundamental role in the founding of the nation. Each stripe symbolizes one of these colonies, reflecting their significance in the history of the United States.

The other options do not accurately represent the historical context behind the flag's design. While battles and amendments are indeed important in U.S. history, they are not directly tied to the symbolism of the stripes. Similarly, while the number of states has increased over time, the stripes specifically commemorate the original colonies, not the current number of states in the union.