The flag of
Mississippi echoes the Confederate "Stars and Bars" flag and the
Confederate battle flag. It was adopted in 1894. It is the only
United States state flag currently to incorporate the Battle Flag
of the Confederacy.
Pledge to the Mississippi State Flag
The pledge to the state flag is:
“ I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for
which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and
with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God.
”
1861 flag
When Mississippi seceded from the Union on January 9, 1861, near
the beginning of the Civil War, as a sign of independence the
Bonnie Blue Flag (a single white star on a blue field) was raised
over the capitol building in Jackson. This flag was originally
used in the West Florida revolt of 1810. On January 26,
Mississippi officially adopted a new flag, which included the
Bonnie Blue Flag in its canton and a magnolia tree in its center
field, known as the "Magnolia Flag." This flag remained in use
until 1894.
2001 flag referendum
In 2000, the Supreme Court of Mississippi ruled that state
legislation in 1906 had repealed the adoption of the state flag in
1894, so what was considered to be the official state flag was
only so through custom and usage. Governor Ronnie Musgrove
appointed an independent commission which developed a new proposed
design,[4], and on April 17, 2001, a state referendum to change
the flag was put before Mississippi voters. The proposal would
have replaced the Confederate battle flag with a blue canton with
20 stars. The outer ring of 13 stars would represent the original
Thirteen Colonies, the ring of six stars would represent the six
nations that have had sovereignty over Mississippi territory
(Indian nations, France, Spain, Great Britain, the United States,
and the Confederate States), and the inner and slightly larger
star would represent Mississippi itself. The 20 stars would also
represent Mississippi's status as the 20th member of the United
States. The new flag was soundly defeated in a vote of 65% to 35%
and the old flag was retained. |
