Why does the U.S. flag have 13 stripes?

The U.S. flag features 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from British rule in 1776. These colonies—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island—were the foundation of what would become the United States. The stripes are a symbol of unity among these founding colonies and their shared fight for independence, reflecting the historical significance of each colony's role in the formation of the nation.

The other options do not accurately capture the reason behind the design of the stripes. For instance, there are not 13 amendments related to the stripes, nor do they signify original states or presidents, making the association with the 13 original colonies the most historically relevant and correct connection.