The Confederate Flag
In 1860-1861 eleven southern states seceded from the United States to protect the institution of slavery, forming the Confederate States of America and precipitating the Civil War. During the war, the Confederacy and its military forces used a lot of different flags, but the flag that became most associated with the Confederacy was the battle flag. Organizations such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans adopted the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage but the flag also served as a potent symbol of slavery and white supremacy, which has caused it to be very popular among white supremacists today. This popularity extends to white supremacists beyond the borders of the United States.
Today, the use of the Confederate flag is controversial. While a number of non-extremists still use the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage or pride, there is growing recognition, especially outside the South, that the symbol is offensive to many Americans. However, because of the continued use of the flag by non-extremists, one should not automatically assume that display of the flag is racist or white supremacist in nature. …show more content…
Nor did the South own or operate any slave’s ships. The English, the Dutch and the Portuguese brought slaves to this country, not the Southern Nation despite what a lot of people think. Today people say the Confederate Flag represents racism but in fact the flag is put in a place for lots of controversy in several states and among people. The statement to take the flag down is unjustified. It is very important to keep in mind that the Confederate flag was actually their Battle Flag not the flag to represent the whole south. It was never a National Flag, so how could it have been flown over a slave nation or represented slavery or
In 1860-1861 eleven southern states seceded from the United States to protect the institution of slavery, forming the Confederate States of America and precipitating the Civil War. During the war, the Confederacy and its military forces used a lot of different flags, but the flag that became most associated with the Confederacy was the battle flag. Organizations such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans adopted the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage but the flag also served as a potent symbol of slavery and white supremacy, which has caused it to be very popular among white supremacists today. This popularity extends to white supremacists beyond the borders of the United States.
Today, the use of the Confederate flag is controversial. While a number of non-extremists still use the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage or pride, there is growing recognition, especially outside the South, that the symbol is offensive to many Americans. However, because of the continued use of the flag by non-extremists, one should not automatically assume that display of the flag is racist or white supremacist in nature. …show more content…
Nor did the South own or operate any slave’s ships. The English, the Dutch and the Portuguese brought slaves to this country, not the Southern Nation despite what a lot of people think. Today people say the Confederate Flag represents racism but in fact the flag is put in a place for lots of controversy in several states and among people. The statement to take the flag down is unjustified. It is very important to keep in mind that the Confederate flag was actually their Battle Flag not the flag to represent the whole south. It was never a National Flag, so how could it have been flown over a slave nation or represented slavery or