The Union Flag was the Stars and Stripes. The Confederate flag was the stars and bars, representing many fewer states.
Much of the controversy comes from misunderstandings. First, what flag do they have issues with? Most people when asked what the "Confederate Flag" looks like would point to a red banner with a blue cross corner to corner with 13 stars in the cross. Some people even refer to this flag as the "stars and bars" because it has white stars on blue bars. Both of those beliefs are FALSE! The flag that most people think of as the "Confederate Flag" is the Confederate Navy Jack (rectangular flag) or the Confederate Cavalry or Artillery flag (square flag). There were three (3) official flags of the Confederate States of America and this flag was NOT one of them. The Confederate Stars and Bars (first flag of the Confederate States of America) looks nothing like the Confederate Navy Jack or Cavalry flags. Take a look at Georgia's state flag. Except for the state seal in the circle of 13 stars, that is the first flag of the Confederacy, the "Stars and Bars." The second point: Some will say that the "Confederate Flag" stands for slavery or racism. Others will say that the "Confederate Flag" stands for rebels and "red necks." The association of the "Confederate Flag" with controversy may have begun with "white supremacy" movements of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) founded in the Southern States in 1865 by Confederate veterans.
13 Stars
Bonnie Blue is the Confederate States of America National Flag. Stars and Bars is the Confedate War Flag
The flag referred to as the "Rebel Flag" in the United States is typically the rectangular Confederate flag known officially as the Confederate Navy Jack. The square flags with the same red background and diagonal blue cross with 13 white stars are the Cavalry and Artillery flags of the Confederacy (the Confederate States of America). These flags were NOT official flags of the Confederate States of America but rather battle-related flags. There is a common misconception that these battle flags are called the "stars and bars" because they actually have stars and bars. But the actual "stars and bars" flag is the first of three National Flag of the Confederacy... doesn't look a thing like the battle flags.
The stars on the confederate flag represent the original 13 states that belonged to the Confederate States of America. The first confederate flag had only 7 stars which represented the 7 southern states that were in the confederacy.
The Union Flag was the Stars and Stripes. The Confederate flag was the stars and bars, representing many fewer states.
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.
The stars represent the states of the CSA, the Confederate Staes of America.
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.
Much of the controversy comes from misunderstandings. First, what flag do they have issues with? Most people when asked what the "Confederate Flag" looks like would point to a red banner with a blue cross corner to corner with 13 stars in the cross. Some people even refer to this flag as the "stars and bars" because it has white stars on blue bars. Both of those beliefs are FALSE! The flag that most people think of as the "Confederate Flag" is the Confederate Navy Jack (rectangular flag) or the Confederate Cavalry or Artillery flag (square flag). There were three (3) official flags of the Confederate States of America and this flag was NOT one of them. The Confederate Stars and Bars (first flag of the Confederate States of America) looks nothing like the Confederate Navy Jack or Cavalry flags. Take a look at Georgia's state flag. Except for the state seal in the circle of 13 stars, that is the first flag of the Confederacy, the "Stars and Bars." The second point: Some will say that the "Confederate Flag" stands for slavery or racism. Others will say that the "Confederate Flag" stands for rebels and "red necks." The association of the "Confederate Flag" with controversy may have begun with "white supremacy" movements of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) founded in the Southern States in 1865 by Confederate veterans.
Neither the 13 stars found on the flag represented the 13 Colonies.
Bonnie Blue is the Confederate States of America National Flag. Stars and Bars is the Confedate War Flag
The Stars & Bars.
13 Stars
The flag referred to as the "Rebel Flag" in the United States is typically the rectangular Confederate flag known officially as the Confederate Navy Jack. The square flags with the same red background and diagonal blue cross with 13 white stars are the Cavalry and Artillery flags of the Confederacy (the Confederate States of America). These flags were NOT official flags of the Confederate States of America but rather battle-related flags. There is a common misconception that these battle flags are called the "stars and bars" because they actually have stars and bars. But the actual "stars and bars" flag is the first of three National Flag of the Confederacy... doesn't look a thing like the battle flags.
The rebel flag, also known as the Confederate flag, features a blue diagonal cross with 13 white stars on a red background. It is a controversial symbol associated with the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.