Time has affected and altered the true meanings behind the Confederate Flag. While the flag's original meaning was to symbolize the Confederate States' freedom, over time, many new interpretations have surfaced. Many feel the flag symbolizes their heritage and fallen soldiers who fought for the Confederate States of America. On the other hand, others feel the flag represents racism, white supremacy, and hatred. This could and has been argued because it might be one's heritage, but that heritage is my slavery. This topic brings out many different emotions and feelings to the people it comes in contact with. 

 To secede is to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union or religious organization. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States which immediately formed an issue for the southern states. He was known as "The Great Emancipator" and was a well-known member of the fight for antislavery. The South felt Lincoln's election threatened their way of living which was based off of slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the states of rebellion. Lincoln was a strong supporter of the 13th Amendment which granted freedom to all slaves within the United States. In the (name of the speech), he even recommended that African Americans be allowed the right to vote. While Lincoln's public stance on slavery continued to change, he made a great effort to improve the lives of slaves. The seven states of the Deep South, which included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, were outraged and made preparations and followed out their plans to secede from the Union. After the Civil began in 1861, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia also seceded. The new Confederate States of America was formed in February 1861. The goal of these states was to preserve slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites.

You can clearly see here where the controversy over the true meaning of the Confederate flag began. While some feel it still symbolizes their heritage, others felt that it represented the Confederacy whose goals were to preserve slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Issues began to arise as the flag became a symbol against civil rights and in support of Jim Crow's segregation laws. Segregation defenders continued to use the flag as a symbol for their cause. If this wasn't bad enough, the Ku Klux Klan got their hands on the flag which did the most damage to the flag's reputation. African Americans and many others have so many emotions when it pertains to the flag because of its use by white supremacists. As African Americans began to gain political power, they challenged the use of the flag. When it came to Confederate leaders, they didn't hesitate when it was time for them to state their opinions on slavery and white supremacy. They were full time supporters. While Confederate troops did use the flag to symbolize fallen soldiers on the battlefield, the flag was also used by white supremacists in controversial ways. The flag was used to support the fact that the Confederate states wanted to separate and in their Confederacy, slaves would be allowed. The Dixiecrat convention was held in opposition to Harry Truman's advocacy of a civil rights plank in the Democratic Party platform. At this convention, along with the American flag and images of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate flag hoisted high. The flag and its many representation continues to cause controversy with people today as their emotions and feelings come into play when deciding what the flag truly stands for. 

Many feel the Confederate flag had no place to be flying at the State Capitol in the first place. It was raised in 1961 to commemorate the centennial of the Civil War. The flag's place at the State Capitol was confirmed by the state legislature a year later. It is argued that the raising of this flag had a more nefarious purpose. Coincidentally, the Civil Rights Movement was occurring around this time. Many feel the flag was most likely raised to display Southern defiance during the time. South Carolina's flag decision didn't cause too much controversy at the time. The civil rights activists were more focused on issues such as securing voting rights and ending legal slavery. Soon, the focus was onto racial issues and the celebration of history was put onto the back burner. 

The question continues to linger about why the Confederate flag reappeared almost an entire century after the Civil War began. South Carolina's flag hasn't flown since the Civil War, so why has it made such a comeback? The flag made its reappearance after World War II. The Dixiecrat party was known to have used the Confederate flag in their campaign. During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, the flag took on more public display. The state of Georgia even redesigned their state flag in 1956 to include the Confederate flag symbol in it. Then, in 1962, the state of South Carolina started flying the Confederate flag on top of the state house. The reasoning was that they were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. Controversy continued to arise because this was around the peak of the Civil Rights Movement which leads many to believe the flag was put up in defiance against the federal government and racial equality. In 2000, a "compromise" or what was meant to seem like a compromise surfaced. The Confederate flag was removed from atop of the capitol and was placed on the state grounds. This movement gave the flag even more attention and made it much more visible than before. Controversy continued to arise as the NAACP boycotted and several different organizations refused to hold their annual conventions in the state of South Carolina. Some people felt that the flag stood for their heritage and South Carolina history, which contains slavery and racism. For other, African Americans especially, they flag stands for white supremacy, racism, and hatred that took place and continues to take place to this day. 

Everyone has their own personal opinions and feelings when it comes to this flag. How can one person tell another that their opinions and feelings don't matter? The Confederate flag has taken on many meanings throughout its time. Slavery and racism is a part of South Carolina history. It cannot be erased. However, this symbol that some connection to that doesn't need to be flying at a place such as the state house where it can and has offended many citizens. I fully agree with the decision to remove the Confederate flag. As an African American, I feel that I can definitely attest to different emotions and feelings pertaining to this flag. Ones heritage is my slavery. Before I began this research, I was just completely against the flag. My research has proven to me that there is another side to the flag and that time has played an important factor in altering its true meaning. I feel that many people, including myself, feel that the Confederate flag belongs in a place such as a museum. This way people can fully learn about the state's history and how the flag has played its part. Southern history contains some tragic times and a museum would be the more appropriate place for the Confederate flag to be held. 

Many were shocked to hear that the Confederate flag was finally coming down. After all the years of controversy, what finally pulled the trigger for the flag to be removed? The tragic incident that occurred at Mother Emmanuel AME Church shocked the world. This was a hate crime. Seeing pictures of Dylan Roof and the Confederate flag made a powerful statement. His friends made statements of Roof and how he had stated his "hatred for black people" and his violent suggestions of "wanting to hurt a whole bunch of people." This event truly touched me. My family and I attend AME Churches. Those innocent lives that were taken just happened to be people in the wrong place at the wrong time. That could have easily been my church or the church of a family member of friend. The preacher of Mother Emmanuel was included in the lives that were lost. My grandfather was an AME preacher for most of his lifetime. It was so hard imaging an event like this occurring because honestly and truly, this could've been us. 

I searched for this article by typing "removal of the confederate flag." This source is an informative source. It explains where and how the controversies and debates about the removal of the Confederate flag first came about. It also goes in depth of South Carolina history. The flag associates with the 19th century Confederacy and the post-World War II racism. This has caused lots of tension and mixed emotions towards the flag. I believe that this decision was a major decision for the state of South Carolina, and I strongly supported the removal. As an African American, seeing a Confederate flag always reminds me of the mere fact that racism is still alive and well today. I know that these issues won't be fixed overnight, but I do feel that the removal of this flag is a giant step in the right direction. This research gave me insight into the true meaning of the flag and how it has been a part of South Carolina history. However, I still stand with my opinion and feel that I will stick with it and this topic. This source will be a secondary source using it in my research. I can use more of the state history and the true meaning of the flag in my research to show that it hasn't always been a negative, racial meaning behind the flag, but as time has gone by, it has adapted that reasoning.

To find this article, I searched "Removal of the Confederate Flag." This source is most likely a primary source. The authors have quotes from citizens who attended the flag removal which leads me to believe they were also in attendance. I used scholar google to help me locate this article. This article also supports my previous knowledge and research regarding this topic. It also briefly speaks upon the other side of the argument stating the reason why the Confederate flag was put up in the first place and comparing it to the new meaning that has transformed over time. The article also touches on pathos by mentioning the incident where the nine lives were lost previous to the flag being removed. I can use this article to show that the Confederate Flag isn't just horrible. It was put up for a positive reason, however, the reasoning seemed to be altered which gave it its negative connotation. I can speak on both sides, but argue my opinion that it should've been removed.

The purpose of this article is to explain some of the many different viewpoints there are on the Confederate flag. Before this research project, I didn't really know too much of this history pertaining to the flag. However, I've always heard of the racial connotations it's carried along. The biggest issue with the flag would have to be its connection with white supremacy. Anyone today hoping to understand why so many African Americans and others perceive the Confederate flag as a symbol of hate must recognize the impact of the flag's historical use by white supremacists. The Civil Rights Era has profoundly affected the history of the Confederate flag in several ways. The flag's use as a symbol of white supremacy has framed the debate over the flag ever since (Coski, Quote 1). The flag was also used during the Civil Rights Era to promote and support segregation. Meanwhile, as the civil rights movement gathered force, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, defenders of segregation increasingly employed the use of the battle flag as a symbol of their cause. Most damaging to the flag's reputation was its use in the hands of the Ku Klux Klan (Coski, Quote 2). After all of the horrible events that took place because of the KKK, any connection including the connection of the Confederate flag would have a negative connotation on many people. On the other hand, there are many people who believe the flag symbolizes the war veterans of the Civil War and the many lives that were lost during this war. Battle flags become totems for the men who serve under them, for their esprit de corps, for their sacrifices. They assume emotional significance for soldiers' families and their descendants. Anyone today hoping to understand why so many Americans consider the flag an object of veneration must understand its status as a memorial to the Confederate soldier (Coski, Quote 3). While there is an argument for both perceptions of the flag, people will believe what they want to believe and what they feel is true to their beliefs. Meanwhile, as the civil rights movement gathered force, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, defenders of segregation increasingly employed the use of the battle flag as a symbol of their cause. Most damaging to the flag's reputation was its use in the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. Battle flags become totems for the men who serve under them, for their esprit de corps, for their sacrifices. They assume emotional significance for soldiers' families and their descendants. Anyone today hoping to understand why so many Americans consider the flag an object of veneration must understand its status as a memorial to the Confederate soldier. In order to discover this source, I typed in "racism + the removal of the confederate flag." This is a primary source because the people who are voicing their opinions were there to witness this event first hand. However, their experiences and opinions do vary, but the common ground is that they all believe the Confederate flag should've been removed. Like one of the sources in the article, Willi Glee, my heart was also saddened to hear about the tragedy that occurred at Mother Emmanuel AME Church. Nine innocent lives were lost and I do believe this incident was the final trigger that was pulled to finally get the flag down. I too attend an AME Church, so this could've easily been me or a family member or friend. This allows me to agree with and understand how these people felt and why they too believed the flag should be removed. This source adds pathos to my research and my argument. I do feel that if I add these emotional responses that it will help others to understand why we feel that the flag shouldn't continue to fly. The author uses evidence to back up statements made on both sides of the Confederate flag debate. He states the true meaning and how southern history is a major part and he also states how the racism has come to be a part. This affects his credibility because he is not being biased and choosing a side, but mainly stating the true facts.

