The US Civil War | The Confederate Flags
The History of the Confederate flag and what it means today

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A | The First Confederate Flag and the Battle Flag

The Stars and Stripes

In 1961, the Confederate government adopted this flag as their official flag and named it ‘The Stars and Bars’. However, on the battlefield, the flag’s similarities with the “Stars and Stripes” of the Union was confusing and even dangerous.

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The Battle Flag | (Dixie Flag)

Consequently, the Confederate army decided to use a different flag on the battlefield to avoid friendly fire. The navy liked that new design and used it as well. Rapidly, the popularity of the official “Stars and Bars” waned/declined while the popularity of that new “battle flag” soared (= quickly grew).

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B | The Second and Third Confederate Flags

The Stainless Banner

In 1863, due to its growing popularity, the Confederate government incorporated the ‘battle flag’ into the top left corner of its second national flag called ‘The Stainless Banner’.

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1865 (3rd Flag)

Now the problem with the new ‘Stainless Banner’ was that the international colour for surrender (white) was now in the background, creating further confusion on the battlefield. Two years later, the Confederate government changed it again, adding a red bar so that it could no longer be mistaken for surrender on the battlefield.  ​

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C | A Romanticized and Mythologized South

Thus, the ‘Dixie flag’ (the other name of the ‘Battle Flag’) was never technically used as the official flag of the Confederacy. The post-war white South embraced the ‘Dixie Flag” to both honour the fallen Confederate soldiers as well as a romanticized version of the Civil War’s purpose. In the early 20th century, white Southerners mythologized an imagined South that fought the war not to preserve the institution of slavery, but rather to protect states’ right and a sophisticated way of life. They perceived Northerners and the Federal Government as a threat to their freedom and autonomy.  

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D| The Dixie Flag today

By the mid-20th century, white supremacists adopted the ‘Dixie flag’ as a symbol of their resistance to ending segregation laws. Today, some people argue that the flag symbolizes slavery, oppression and white supremacy. Others insist it is only a matter of Southern heritage and pride, and that it reflects today’s divisions between the elite and the common people. Nonetheless, the Dixie Flag is still reminiscent of the South’s secession in defense of slavery and centuries of racial injustices. It is undeniable that the flag’s history is forever mired in racism, not heritage.

Trump supporter in Congress (2021)

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