View source for Confederate flag

===Confederate States of America===
:''For a more exhaustive list of flags used by the Confederacy, see [[Confederate States of America#Flags of the Confederacy]]
[[File:Confederate States of America 1st official flag thirteen stars.png|thumb|200px|The Stars and Bars, specifically when it had 13 stars.]]
The first official flag of the C.S.A. was called the '''Stars and Bars''' and was adopted in March 1861.<ref name="usflag.org">[http://www.usflag.org/confederate.stars.and.bars.html Confederate Stars and Bars]. ''usflag.org''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref> The flag was chosen because it resembled the [[Flag of the United States of America|Union flag]].<ref name="historynet.com">Coski, John M. (July 9, 2015). [http://www.historynet.com/embattled-banner-the-convoluted-history-of-the-confederate-flag.htm Embattled Banner: The true history of the Confederate flag]. ''historynet.com''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref> However, the flag quickly became unpopular because it was hard to distinguish from the American flag on the battlefield, making it dangerous to use and causing much confusion.<ref name="usflag.org"/><ref name="historynet.com"/><ref name="sonofthesouth.net">[http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Confederate_Flag.htm Confederate Flag]. ''sonofthesouth.net''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref> Additionally, the flag's resemblance to the Union flag became a liability as the Confederates wanted to show their independence.<ref name="historynet.com"/> Confederate commanders using their own flags on the battlefield in response,<ref name="historynet.com"/> and the flag ceased being official in May 1863.<ref name="usflag.org"/>

[[File:CSAnational2.png|thumb|200px|Second official Confederate flag.]]
On May 1, 1863,<ref name="historynet.com"/> the second official flag of the C.S.A. was adopted.<ref name="usflag.org"/> It was a white flag with [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Southern Cross on the upper-left corner.<ref name="usflag.org"/> Due to the white background, the flag was often mistaken for a flag of surrender.<ref name="usflag.org"/> It remained in use until March 1865.<ref name="usflag.org"/>

[[File:CSAnational3.png|thumb|200px|Third official Confederate flag.]]
On March 4, 1865, the third official flag of the C.S.A. was adopted.<ref name="usflag.org"/> It had the same design as the second flag except for a red stripe running down the fly end of the flag.<ref name="usflag.org"/> It remained the official flag until the end of the Confederacy later that year.<ref name="usflag.org"/>

[[File:CSAbattleflag.png|thumb|200px|Confederate battle flag]]
In 1861, Confederate General [[P.G.T. Beauregard]] proposed changing the first official Confederate flag due to its similarity with the Union flag.<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> After the Confederate government rejected his idea, he then proposed instituting two official flags: the national flag that was already in use, and a battle flag.<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> This idea was accepted, and a battle flag was chosen.<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> This flag was known as the '''Southern Cross''' and closely resembled a previous contestant for the first official Confederate flag<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> designed by William Porcher Miles.<ref name="PBSNewsHour"/> The flag became popular among the Confederate Army and the general population.<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> The Southern Cross is also known as the battle flag of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]], commanded by [[Robert E. Lee]].<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> Unlike the Confederate flag most used today, the Battle Flag was square-shaped rather than rectangular.<ref name="usflag.org"/><ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/>

In addition, numerous other flags used by the C.S.A. and by different regiments of the army.<ref name="sonofthesouth.net"/> The number of stars on the official flags changed as more states joined the Confederacy.