Rebel Flag Facts

The term rebel flag is used colloquially to refer to the series of flags used by the Confederate States of America (CSA) to represent the country formed from the states that succeeded from the Union prior to the Civil War.

Stars and Bars

The first rebel flag was adopted on March 4, 1861. The flag was called the Stars and Bars, and consisted of a circle of white stars against a blue background in the upper left hand corner, and three lateral bars of white and red.

Confusion

The Stars and Bars rebel flag was too similar to the U.S. flag used by the Northern states, which also consisted of stars and lateral bars. The CSA stopped using this flag on the battlefield for this reason.

Battle Flag

The rebel flag that is most recognizable today in popular culture is called the Confederate battle flag. It consists of a large blue X-shaped bar containing stars against a red background.

Battle Flag Becomes Official

Although the Stars and Bars flag was not carried into battle, the flag remained the official flag of the CSA until May 1863, when the battle flag was adopted in its place.

State Rebel Flags

Elements of the battle flag of the CSA were adopted after the Civil War into the flags of many Southern states, including Georgia and Mississippi. The use of these symbols today remains controversial.

References

• Rebel Flag Facts