Modern display of the Confederate battle flag

Left: Square variation, based on the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. It is featured on the Confederate national flags, as well as the 1894–2020 flag of Mississippi and both the 1956–2001 and 2001–2003 flags of Georgia, thus enjoying the most popular "official" adoption. Right: Most common modern variation, based on the Second Confederate Navy Jack and the battle flag of the army of Tennessee.

Although the Confederate States of America dissolved at the end of the American Civil War (1861–1865), its battle flag continues to be displayed as a symbol. This modern usage can be traced to the 1948 United States presidential election, when it was used by the Dixiecrats, southern Democrats who opposed civil rights for African Americans. Further display of the flag was largely a response to the civil rights movement and the passage of federal civil rights laws in the 1950s and 1960s.

The display of flags associated with the Confederacy is controversial. Supporters associate the Confederate battle flag with pride in Southern heritage, states' rights, and historical commemoration of the Civil War, while opponents associate it with glorification of the Civil War and celebrating the Lost Cause, racism, slavery, segregation, white supremacy, historical negationism, and treason. Incidents such as the Charleston church shooting, the Unite the Right rally, and the murder of George Floyd led to public official display of the flag being mostly retired in the United States, but not abroad.

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