Confederate Flag: Controversial Symbol of the South

Patriotic Symbols of America

by Hal Marcovitz

The issue of slavery had divided the nation for decades, but problems came to a head after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. Fearing that Lincoln would attempt to abolish slavery, the legislatures of 11 southern states voted to withdraw from the United States and create a new nation, the Confederate States of America. This would result in four bloody years of Civil War in which more than 600,000 Americans were killed. The Confederacy adopted several flags between 1861 and 1865; the best known today is the battle flag, which featured a blue saltire cross on a red background. To some people, the Confederate flag is a proud symbol of Southern heritage and bravery. Others, however, view the Confederate flag as a symbol that represents the enslavement and oppression of African Americans. As a result, the Confederate flag is among the most controversial of American symbols.

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Hal Marcovitz has been making his living as a writer for more than a quarter-century. He has worked as a reporter and columnist for several daily newspapers, and can now be found reporting for The Morning Call of Allentown, PA, where he covers government and politics in the Bucks County Courthouse in suburban Philadelphia.

Hal is also the author of more than 50 nonfiction books for young readers. He has written biographies of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, civil rights leader Al Sharpton, farm labor leader Cesar Chavez, and film director Ron Howard. He has also written about the lives of several presidents, including Bill Clinton, John Adams, James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.

Hal lives in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Gail, and daughters Ashley and Michelle.

Reviews

[Jeff Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Younger Look on an Old Symbol!

The book provides a younger readers' prospective on the birth, fall and often nowadays resurrected look at the controversial symbol know as the Confederate flag. It provides keywords, names and asks questions. It even threw in a few names that I myself have never heard of and I've studying the Civil War since I was a kid. But it's an interesting read nonetheless.

[Dale Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual History of the Confederate Flag

The book was well written and easy to understand. It still leaves it up to the individual as to how the person feels about the flag. Facts were given for individual interpretation today.