How The Confederate Battle Flag Became An Enduring Symbol Of Racism

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A drawing of four Confederate Army flags
A lithograph from 1897 displays four prominent designs of the Confederate flag and states that the images “help in keeping within us recollections of those who gave their lives to the ‘Lost Cause,’ and to perpetuate the memories and traditions of the South.”Photograph courtesy the Library of Congress

The Confederate flag’s rise from the Civil War

Though it came to symbolize the Confederate cause, the flag was never the official symbol of the Confederate States of America. Instead, it was one of multiple banners that emerged during the brief Civil War.

The CSA formed in the wake of the secession of 11 Southern states beginning in 1861. During the raid on Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, that kicked off the rebellion, members of South Carolina’s militia identified themselves with a flag featuring a single white star on a dark blue background. Known as the “Bonnie Blue flag,” the lone star was quickly picked up as a symbol of Confederate bravery.

In 1862, the CSA adopted its first national flag, the “Stars and Bars.” With a white star representing each Confederate state and three stripes, the flag riffed on the Union flag.

On the battlefield, however, both looked similar enough to cause confusion among Confederate soldiers. The problem became tragically clear during the Civil War’s first battle, First Manassas.

As Confederate General Pierre Beauregard later recalled in his memoirs, he saw “a flag which I could not distinguish … I could not tell to which army the [waving] banner belonged.” “Friendly fire” and general disorientation caused frustration despite a victory for Confederate armies.

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