Eleven .
13 Stars
The Union Flag was the Stars and Stripes. The Confederate flag was the stars and bars, representing many fewer states.
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13
The "rebel flag" is the red flag with the blue X crosss with 13 stars. The 13 stars represent the 13 confederate states. This was also called the battle flag for the Stars and Bars as it was the flag used in battle to identify the regiment. They also carried the Confederate States National flag, which underwent 3 different designs---one of which included the Stars & Bars in the corner. Today the Rebel Flag has become to symbolize Southern heritage, people who want to party, anti-establishment, Klu Klux Klan, motorcycle gangs, SkinHeads and a many other rebellious causes. If you look up KKK photos of the 50's and 60' you wil see NO Confederate Flags present. Only the American flag was carried until the klan was abolished. The new klan is not the same as it was in the past. The original KKK was mostly Northern men from Ohio and Indiana and I hear a lot of klaverns still exist there. During the 1920's, the Klan was a large organization that politicians could not ignore. Most of the members were from the northern states.
13 Stars
The Union Flag was the Stars and Stripes. The Confederate flag was the stars and bars, representing many fewer states.
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This is actually the the confederate battle flag. The "crossed stars" is still incorporated in flags of a few southern states (Georgia and Mississippi maybe more). The official flag of the Confederate states of America changed many times in its short life. The Stars and Bars is the a common nickname, but this is the name of the actual confederate flag that did not have the crossed star pattern at all. The "crossed stars" design is sometimes called the "rebel," "southern cross" or "Dixie" flag. The final official flag of the confederate states, "The Bloodstained Banner," did have the "crossed star" design in the upper right corner.
The first official Confederate flag only contained seven stars. These seven stars represented the seven original Confederate States. In 1863, the second Confederate flag contained thirteen stars. These stars represented the seven original States plus the six States that seceded. Two of these six were unsuccessful but were still included.
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There were 28 stars
35. The stars of the Confederate States that seceded from the union were not removed from the flag because the Federal Government didn't recognize the legality of the secession and would not acknowledge it with the removal of the stars from the flag.
The design of the battle flag was not changed at all. In the east, in General Lee's Army, they were usually 4' X 4", square, while in the Army of Tennessee in the west they were usually rectangular, as is seen today. The flag design which was changed was the Confederate National Flag, the Stars and Bars. General Beauregard designed the battle flag because the Stars and Bars, on smoky battlefields, looked too much like the old flag, the Stars and Stripes of the Union. This might cause friend to fire on friend. or allow the enemy to draw too near, from misinterpreting which flag they were showing. But the Confederate Navy continued to use the "First National" Flag, the Stars and Bars. This soon was seen to cause confusion at sea as much as it had on land, so the "Second National" flag was adopted, which was a white flag, with a miniature representation of the battle flag in the upper corner, where the stars had been. But this looked too much like a white flag of surrender, and more confusion resulted. So the "Third National" Flag was adopted, which was the same as the Second but with a broad red stripe added up and down the end, so it would no longer look like Rebel vessels were flying a white flag.
The flag was important during the war because it was a symbol of the new country; the Confederate States of America. However, do you mean why is it so popular today?? Most people are familiar with the Confederate Battle Flag. The battle flag, which is different than the Confederate National Flag, was the one carried in battle. Today it is known as the Rebel Flag. This flag has become a symbol of rebelliousness in many forms and many people display it to show they are different. It is used by the KKK and racists. It is still displayed by Southerners who like to show their pride in their country background.
It once stood for the CSA (Confederate States of America). Now, it's a symbol of southern heritage.
There is 50 stars on my flag which is the American flag's number of stars.