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The phrase to rally round the flag, the earlier phrase to rally round the standard, and their variants, mean: (of a group) to demonstrate loyalty to the nation or to a cause, especially at a time of perceived threat.
In particular, with reference to patriotic feelings, rally round the flag is used attributively in the noun rally-round-the-flag effect, which Eloise Cassier (research associate at the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group) defined as follows in The Modesto Bee (Modesto, California, USA) of Friday 22nd May 2026 [page 7A, column 3]:
It is commonly held wisdom that the American people unite behind their president in times of crisis. This “rally round the flag” effect describes boosts in presidential popularity that bridge the partisan divide.
These are, in chronological order, the earliest occurrences of the phrases to rally round the standard and to rally round the flag that I have found:
1-: Early occurrences of the phrase to rally round the standard:
—Note: With one exception (cf., below, quotation 1.3), these occurrences are all from British publications, and refer to the French Revolution (1789-1799):
1.1-: From The National Convention, on the first accounts of Dumourier’s [sic] conduct, proposed the following address to the Belgic Army, published in The Bath Chronicle (Bath, Somerset, England) of Thursday 18th April 1793 [page 2, column 3]:
—Note: The French Revolutionary Armée de Belgique (Belgic Army in the text) was under the command of the French Army officer and politician Charles François Dumouriez (1739-1823):
“The National Convention is ᴏɴᴇ as well as the nation; it will maintain the indivisibility of the Republick; it rallies round the Standard of Liberty, and will carry it, if need be, into your ranks; it unanimously takes an oath to die with you, or to extirpate conspirators, tyrants, and their followers.”
1.2-: From a transcript of the debates that took place in the House of Commons on Friday 30th May 1794, published in the Leicester Journal (Leicester, Leicestershire, England) of Friday 30th May 1794 [page 4, column 3]:
—Note: William Pitt (1759-1806) was the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1783 to 1801:
Mr. Pitt defended the Secret Committee, and requested the House to remember the repeated assertions, that dangers existed only in the imaginations of Ministry. The second report of the Secret Committee might properly induce some to alter that opinion. If it should appear that there existed a party in league with the party of France. If it should appear that measures were taken not only in this country, but in every country in Europe, that the disaffected and treacherous in all countries might rally round the Standard of Jacobinism; it surely then would be admitted there existed dangers worthy of being dreaded. If the peace and safety of Britain was inconsistent with Jacobin Government, it was certainly an object worthy the attention of this country, by the most effectual means, to destroy it.
1.3-: From a transcript of the address to George Washington (1732-1799), President of the United States, which was delivered in the U.S. Senate on Saturday 22nd November 1794 by John Adams (1735-1826), Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate—transcript published in The Connecticut Courant (Hartford, Connecticut, USA) of Monday 1st December 1794 [page 2, column 4]:
We have derived the highest satisfaction from the enlightened patriotism, and animating zeal with which the citizens of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia have rallied around the Standard of government, in opposition to anarchy and insurrection.
1.4-: From The Times (London, England) of Monday 20th July 1795 [page 3, column 1]:
—Note: Philippe Antoine Merlin (1754-1838), also known as Merlin de Douai, was a prominent jurist and politician during the French Revolution:
It is a circumstance well worthy of remark, that all the popular commotions at Paris, and all the partial insurrections, which of late have taken place in France, seem to have an obvious tendency towards the restoration of Rᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ. Whether it be, that, according to an expression of Merlin of Douay, “Royalism rides on the saddle-back of terrorism,” or that a deep sense of their misfortunes leads the French people back to a Monarchical Government, this much at least is certain, that the factious, as well as the true loyalists, endeavour to rally round the Royal Standard, as the only object capable of making strong impressions on the people, which assuredly is a striking proof of the public opinion becoming daily more divided in favour of Royalty.
2-: Early occurrences of the phrase to rally round the flag:
—Note: These occurrences are all from U.S. publications, and refer to the defence of the U.S. Republic:
2.1-: From the following song, published in the Greenfield Gazette (Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA) of Monday 17th August 1807 [page 4, column 1]:
SONG For VOLUNTEERS.
Tune, “Tally ho, the hounds,” &c.Come raise our country’s standard high,
Let martial music rattle;
Fly, fly, to arms! young patriots fly!
And seek the field of battle.
Hark! from afar
The voice of war
Is heard with grating sound, sirs;
Then peace adieu!
To honor true,
Our flag we’ll rally round, sirs.
And rally round,
And rally round,
And rally round our flag, sirs.
[&c.]
2.2-: From a letter to the Printer of The Maryland Herald, dated Wednesday 23rd September 1807, by ‘A Corn Planter’, published in The Maryland Herald, and Hager’s-Town Weekly Advertiser (Hagerstown, Maryland, USA) of Friday 25th September 1807 [page 3, column 3]:
I […] could scarcely persuade myself that such an event was possible—that men, who in the critical times that have passed were found among the friends of true principles—should now feel so little regard towards the preservation of Republican freedom—that men, who once would have sacrificed their lives in the cause—should now be so indifferent whether they rallied round the sacred flag of liberty, or followed the hideous banners of tyranny.
2.3-: From a song entitled The Soldier’s Call, dated Washington County, Tuesday 16th January 1810, published in The Maryland Herald, and Hager’s-Town Weekly Advertiser (Hagerstown, Maryland, USA) of Wednesday 17th January 1810 [page 4, column 1]:
Rouse, rouse, ye brave, ye gallant souls,
Who cherish Independence,
That country you so dearly love,
Demands your quick attendance,
Injur’d, insulted, she has been,
By Britain—haughty nation.
[…]
Though war we never do desire,
We do not dread its terrors,
Columbia’s thunder shall once more
Shew kingcraft all its errors.
Her Volunteers will rally round,
The starry flag of freedom,
Nor shall Quebec arrest their march,
If heroes only lead ’em.
[&c.]
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