What do the stripes on the U.S. flag represent?

The stripes on the U.S. flag represent the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. Each stripe symbolizes one of the original states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. These stripes play a critical role in the historical significance of the flag, illustrating the origins of the United States and honoring the foundational aspects of its nationhood.

The incorrect options relate to other elements of U.S. governance and representation. The 50 stars on the flag represent the current states of the union, while the branches of government are denoted by other symbols and not by the flag's design. The stripes specifically connect back to the country's early colonial history, making the representation of the original colonies accurate and meaningful in the context of the flag's symbolism.