Why does the flag have 50 stars?

The flag of the United States features 50 stars, with each star symbolizing one of the 50 states that make up the union. This design reflects the federal structure of the United States, where each state has equal representation in the form of a star on the flag. The stars have been added over time as new states were admitted, officially culminating in the current design following Hawaii's statehood in 1960.

The other choices do not accurately represent the reason behind the stars on the flag. There were originally only 13 colonies, not 50, so that answer does not align with historical fact. While there are indeed 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, they are not represented by the stars on the flag. Lastly, the choice about a star for every year since the Declaration of Independence is misleading, as the number of stars corresponds strictly to the number of states, not years. This highlights that the flag's star representation directly correlates with the states, affirming the correct answer's relevance.