| Use | Civil and state flag |
|---|---|
| Adopted | January 28, 1861 |
| Designed by | White palmetto tree on an azure field. The canton contains a white crescent. |
The flag of the state of South Carolina has, in some form, existed since 1775, being based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags.
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The symbolism in this flag dates back to 1765 when opponents of the Stamp Act marched in protest behind a blue flag bearing three white crescents.
In 1775, Colonel William Moultrie was asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety to design a flag for the South Carolina troops to use during the American Revolutionary War. Moultrie's design had the blue of the militia's uniforms and the crescent from the emblem on their caps. This flag was flown in the defense of a new fortress on Sullivan's Island, which was seen as so heroic -- having saved Charleston, South Carolina from conquest for four years -- that it came to be the symbol of the Revolution, and liberty, in the state.
Soon popularly known as either the Moultrie Flag or Liberty Flag, it became the standard of the South Carolina militia, and was presented in Charleston, by Nathaniel Greene, when that city was liberated at the end of the war.
The palmetto tree was added in 1861 to honor Moultrie's heroic defense of the palmetto log fort on Sullivan's Island against the attack of the British fleet on June 28, 1776. South Carolina's flag was ranked as the 10th best designed state or provincial flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001.
After considering many designs for the Republic of South Carolina flag, it was decided that the existing State flag with an upward facing crescent and blue background could be modified for a National flag. On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly adopted a new flag by adding a golden palmetto tree encircled with a white background. However, this flag has become known as the "2-day flag" because the golden palmetto tree was changed on January 28 to a simple white palmetto tree on the blue background.[1] Less than three months later, a variation of the palmetto flag unfurled over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861, the day it was surrendered to Confederate General Beauregard, making it likely the first Confederate flag flown over captured United States' territory. [2] The flag consisted of a palmetto tree on an entirely white background with a red star in the upper left quadrant, and is commonly known as "The Palmetto Guard Flag"
The palmetto tree represents the palmetto logs used to construct the fort on Sullivan's Island. These logs are soft, so the cannonballs that the British fleet fired on the fort did not shatter them. On June 28, 1776, Colonel William Moultrie and his troops were able to successfully defend Charleston using this fort, and the fort would be named Fort Moultrie in honor of this defense[3].
The top left corner bears a crescent shape. The symbolism of this has long been a matter of controversy - suggestions have included a crescent moon and a gorget.[4]
As for the crescent, it is known to have been worn on the caps of South Carolina's revolutionary soldiers, and it is likely according to many experts that it is a gorget, not a moon as is commonly thought. However, its significance is based more on legend than on documented facts. One hypothesis is that it stems from the crescent as the cadence mark of a second son. It is true that many of the early colonists were second (and third, etc.) sons who had no inheritance in England and came to America to find their fortunes. Their coats of arms would have crescents to distinguish themselves from the first sons; and thus, perhaps the crescent was adopted as a symbol for the colony. An alternative hypothesis is that the crescent may be derived from the crescent on the coat of arms of the Bull family, which was prominent in the early days of the colony and produced one of Charleston's more illustrious Royal Governors.[5]
The Sovereignty flag was never recognized as an official flag in South Carolina. However, it was flown all over the Union over businesses and universities during the American Civil War as a show of support for the South. There are also claims that it was flown for a short period of time in South Carolina after its secession on December 20, 1860. Another significant flag, not pictured here is the "South Carolina Seccession Flag", the day after South Carolina seceded a red flag, with two tails, a large white star and an upside down crescent moon at the top by the flag staff was raised over the Charleston Custom House. It then spread to other cities as a symbol of secession.[6]
Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, and other accessories featuring the flag's palmetto tree and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other southeastern states as a symbol of the state's long-standing heritage. It is also customary for alumni and supporters of the state's main universities (the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the College of Charleston, and The Citadel) to display the state flag in their school colors.
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