Rebel Confederate States of America Flag History

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The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the

Confederate States, and CSA) was the name of the former government
formed by eleven southern states of the United States of America between
1861 and 1865. However, since the CSA was never recognized by other
countries, by international law and custom, it was never properly an
independent country.

Seven states declared their independence from the United States before
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President; four more did so after the
Civil War began at the Battle of Fort Sumter. The United States of America
("The Union") held secession illegal and refused recognition of the
Confederacy. Although British and French commercial interests sold it
warships and materials, no European nation officially recognized the CSA.

The CSA effectively collapsed when Robert E. Lee and Joseph Johnston
surrendered their armies in April of 1865. The last meeting of its Cabinet took
place in Georgia in May. Nearly all remaining Confederate forces surrendered
by the end of June. A decade-long process known as Reconstruction
temporarily gave civil rights and the right to vote to the freedmen, expelled ex-
Confederate leaders from office, and re-admitted the states to representation
in Congress.

The Confederate States of America used several flags during its existence
from 1861 to 1865. Since the end of the American Civil War, personal and
official use of Confederate flags, and of flags derived from these, has
continued under considerable controversy. Currently the state flags of
Mississippi and Georgia draw heavily upon Confederate flag designs, and
those of Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee arguably incorporate
certain elements from these designs.

What is now often called "The Confederate Flag" or "The Confederate Battle
Flag" (actually a combination of the Battle Flag's colors with the Second Navy
Jack's design), despite its never having historically represented the CSA as a
nation, has become a widely recognized symbol of the South. It is also called
the "rebel" or "Dixie" flag, and is often incorrectly referred to as the "Stars and
Bars" (the actual "Stars and Bars" is the First National Flag, which used an
entirely different design).

The use of the flag by soldiers came under investigation after some African-
American soldiers filed complaints. By the end of World War II, the use of the
Confederate flag in the military was rare. However, the Confederate flag
continues to be flown in an unofficial manner by many Southern soldiers, who
make up a plurality of the United States Armed Forces. It was seen many
times in Korea, Vietnam, and in the Middle East.

The number of states in the Confederacy was increased to 11 by the

secession of Virginia in April and of Arkansas and North Carolina in May,
followed by Tennessee in June. The provisional Confederate Congress, which
had met for four sessions between February 4, 1861 and February 17, 1862,
was replaced by a permanent legislature on February 18, 1862. The
Confederate capital was moved on May 24, 1861 from Montgomery to
Richmond, Virginia. At the first general elections held under the permanent
constitution on November 6, 1861, Davis was elected president and Stephens
vice president. In February 1862, Davis was inaugurated president for a term
of 6 years. The last years of his service were marked by the conflict between
the civil and military forces and gave rise to the assertion that the government
of the Confederacy had become a military dictatorship. The tendency toward
dictatorship was increased by the custom of holding secret sessions of the
Congress, by the practice of cabinet officers exercising their rights to sit in
Congress, and by the gradual lowering of the political morale and
independence of Congress. This condition was further complicated by
personal controversies among officials. The first permanent Congress held
four sessions; the second Congress, two sessions, with the final adjournment
of the body taking place on March 18, 1865.

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