Abstract:
The Confederate flag is perhaps the most divisive symbol in American history. It is historically associated with the Confederate States of America and the Southern United States. In the past century, however, it has transcended its regional bounds and become a prominent symbol within the "redneck" culture of the white rural North. Politically, the question over the Confederate flag's role in the modern United States is perfectly divided along party lines. The Confederate flag has become intrinsically linked with the Conservative movement and the institutional Republican Party. This study seeks to examine and explain the political history of the Confederate flag as it has made its transition from a symbol of the South to a symbol of the white rural North.
