Alabama’s state flag history began in 1861 when it adopted its first flag at the Secession Convention. It was only used for a few weeks before Alabama began using the Confederate flag. After the Civil War, Alabama used the US flag until 1891 when it designed a new flag, which became the second official state flag in 1895. The current flag is a crimson saltire on a white field, representing courage and purity, and modeled after the Confederate Battle Flag.
Although Alabama became a state in 1819, the history of its state flag didn’t begin until 1861 when the decision was made to secede from the Union. In January 1861, at the Secession Convention, delegates adopted the first state flag of Alabama. That flag was only used a few weeks; in March 1861, Alabama instead began using the first of the two Confederate flags as its own. In 1865, after the end of the Civil War, the flag of the United States became the official flag of Alabama. Finally, in 1891, Alabama designed and eventually adopted a unique flag that has flown over the state ever since.
The 1861 Alabama state flag was designed in Montgomery by a small group of women. On one side of the flag was displayed the figure of the Goddess of Liberty holding a sword in one hand and a smaller flag with a single star in the other; the words “Independent Now and Forever” appeared above the figure. The other side had a rattlesnake coiled together with a cotton plant with the words “Touch Me Not” below this depiction. This flag is sometimes referred to as the flag of the Secession Convention or the flag of the Republic of Alabama. About a month after it was adopted as the state flag of Alabama, a severe storm damaged it and the flag was removed and never flown again.
Shortly after the removal of Alabama’s first state flag, the state elected to use the Confederate national flag. On official occasions, the first national flag or second national flag of the Confederacy was hoisted. Once the Civil War ended in 1865, those flags were removed and Alabama returned to using the United States flag.
Alabama used the flag of the United States until 1891 when a new design for a state flag was commissioned. Finally, in 1895, a new flag was passed by the legislature, which remains the state flag of Alabama today. The approved design was modeled after the Confederate battle flag and became the second official state flag of Alabama.
Of all the 50 state flags, Alabama’s is one of the simplest in design. As enshrined in law, the flag of Alabama is a crimson saltire placed on a white field. The colors used in the flag represent courage and purity, while the cross reflects part of the design of the Confederate Battle Flag. Since the legislation does not dictate whether the flag should be rectangular or square, it is viewed either way.
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