1776 Shirts, Historic Apparel, and Founding Milestones
Shop our 1776 shirt, heavyweight tee, hoodie, embroidered caps, and sticker featuring tall condensed 1776 type beneath an arc of 13 stars.
1776 thirteen stars heavyweight tee
1776 thirteen stars dad hat
1776 thirteen stars trucker hat
1776 thirteen stars tee
1776 thirteen stars sticker
1776 thirteen stars hoodie
1776 thirteen stars tumbler
1776 thirteen stars poster
1776 thirteen stars long-sleeve tee
1776 thirteen stars mug
1776 thirteen stars tank top
1776 thirteen stars magnet
1776 thirteen stars beanie
The turning point of 1776
The year 1776 stands at the center of American founding history. Within our patriotic apparel catalog, the 1776 collection marks the summer when the thirteen colonies broke from British rule and declared themselves independent states.
Wearing a 1776 shirt commemorates the conviction expressed in Philadelphia that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed and exists to secure natural, unalienable rights.
What happened in the summer of 1776
The resolution for independence moved through the Second Continental Congress inside the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia over several decisive weeks:
- June 7, 1776: Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution stating that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”
- June 11, 1776: Congress appointed the Committee of Five (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston) to draft a formal declaration explaining the vote. Jefferson wrote the initial draft.
- July 2, 1776: Delegates voted twelve to zero, with New York abstaining, to adopt the Lee Resolution and legally sever political ties with Great Britain.
- July 4, 1776: Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence and ordered it printed as the Dunlap broadsides for distribution across the states and to Continental troops.
- August 2, 1776: Most delegates signed the engrossed parchment copy now housed in the National Archives, pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.
The 1776 thirteen stars design and product lineup
Every item in this collection carries one consistent design: the numerals “1776” set in tall condensed type underneath an arch of 13 stars. You can choose this design across six products:
- 1776 thirteen stars tee: Printed on the Bella+Canvas 3001 (4.2 oz./yd.², 100% combed and ring-spun cotton, with polyester in heather colors; pre-shrunk with side-seamed construction and shoulder-to-shoulder taping, sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US). Available in Athletic Heather, Black, Heather Navy, Heather Red, Navy, Red, Vintage White, and White. Note that the lightweight 4.2 oz fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through in lighter shades such as White and Vintage White.
- 1776 thirteen stars heavyweight tee: Printed on the Comfort Colors 1717 (6.1 oz/yd², 100% ring-spun garment-dyed cotton with a relaxed fit, 7/8 inch double-needle topstitched collar, twill-taped neck and shoulders, and double-needle hems, sourced from Honduras). Available in Black, Granite, Ivory, Red, True Navy, and White.
- 1776 thirteen stars hoodie: Printed on the Bella+Canvas 3719 pullover hoodie (8.0 oz/yd², 52% airlume combed ring-spun cotton and 48% poly fleece for solid colors, 60/40 for heather colors; regular fit with side-seamed construction, sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, or the US). Available in Athletic Heather, Black, Heather Navy, Maroon, and White.
- 1776 thirteen stars dad hat: Embroidered on the Yupoong 6245CM unstructured six-panel low-profile cap (100% chino cotton twill, 3 1/8 inch crown, six embroidered eyelets, curved visor, and adjustable strap with antique buckle, sourced from Vietnam or Bangladesh). Available in Black, Cranberry, Khaki, Navy, Stone, and White.
- 1776 thirteen stars trucker hat: Embroidered on the Yupoong 6606 structured six-panel mid-profile cap (hard buckram front panels, mesh back, 3.5 inch crown, Permacurv visor with matching undervisor, and plastic adjustable closure fitting 21 5/8 to 23 5/8 inches, sourced from Vietnam or Bangladesh). Available in Black/White, Khaki, Navy, Navy/White, Red, and White.
- 1776 thirteen stars sticker: A kiss-cut sticker in White printed on durable 95µ density high-opacity adhesive vinyl for bubble-free application on clean surfaces.
Choosing your fabric and caring for your gear
If you want a lighter shirt for warm July weather, pick the 4.2 oz Bella+Canvas 3001 tee; if you prefer a thicker, garment-dyed shirt with a looser drape that avoids any light-color sheerness, choose the 6.1 oz Comfort Colors 1717 heavyweight tee in Ivory or White. Wash printed shirts and hoodies inside out in cold water and tumble dry low. Pair your 1776 gear with items from our We the People shirts and American flag shirts collections.
Frequently asked questions
What is the historical significance of the year 1776?
The year 1776 marks the founding moment of American independence. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve Richard Henry Lee's resolution declaring the thirteen colonies free from Great Britain. On July 4, delegates approved the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, stating that all people are created equal with unalienable rights.
What design appears on items in the 1776 collection?
Every item in the 1776 collection features the same graphic layout, showing the year "1776" set in tall condensed type directly beneath an arc of 13 five-pointed stars representing the original states. The design is printed on our t-shirts, heavyweight tees, pullover hoodies, and kiss-cut stickers, and stitched on our dad hats and trucker caps.
What blanks and fabrics are used for 1776 shirts and hoodies?
We offer three apparel blanks. The standard tee uses the 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²) Bella+Canvas 3001 in 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (with polyester in heather colors), pre-shrunk with side seams and shoulder-to-shoulder taping. The heavyweight tee uses the 6.1 oz/yd² (206.8 g/m²) Comfort Colors 1717 in 100% ring-spun garment-dyed cotton. The pullover hoodie uses the 8.0 oz/yd² (271 g/m²) Bella+Canvas 3719 in a 52% airlume combed ring-spun cotton and 48% poly fleece blend (60/40 in heather shades).
How do the two 1776 t-shirt blanks compare in fit and weight?
The Bella+Canvas 3001 tee is lightweight at 4.2 oz./yd.² with a side-seamed cut and a slight stretch; note that lighter colors such as White and Vintage White are slightly sheer under bright light. The Comfort Colors 1717 heavyweight tee is thicker at 6.1 oz/yd² with a relaxed fit, a 7/8 inch double-needle topstitched collar, and twill-taped neck and shoulders.
What hats and stickers are included in the 1776 collection?
Alongside the shirts and hoodie, the collection includes the 1776 thirteen stars dad hat (Yupoong 6245CM unstructured 100% chino cotton twill cap with an antique buckle strap), the 1776 thirteen stars trucker hat (Yupoong 6606 structured six-panel cap with hard buckram front panels and a mesh back), and a high-opacity 95µ vinyl kiss-cut sticker in White.