What is the purpose of the "rebel" flag?

Answer 1

Purpose of the flag?...
Identification on the battlefield. Which side is which? Plus any flag is a rallying symbol for troops. As long as the flag is up and flying, you keep the spririt of fighting on. In a sense, that is why it is still flown in many areas of the South, that flickering link to an idea that nearly was.

Although you can finger slavery as the core issue behind the war, much more was seen at stake by those fighting on behalf of the confederacy, large federal govt. vs. states' rights, the North's attempt to bankrupt the South by focing immediate changes to their economic structure, etc. The civil war was really the beginning of our strong federal govt - income taxes, forced conscription, federal minting of money, federal banks, etc.

BUT, as far as the History of the "traditional" rebel flag goes..

The best-known of all Confederate flags—the battle flag—is often erroneously confused with the national flag of the Confederacy. The battle flag features the cross of St. Andrew (the apostle was martyred by being crucified on an X-shaped cross), and is commonly called the "Southern Cross." A large degree of the Southern population was of Scottish and Scotch-Irish ancestry, and thus familiar with St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The stars represented the eleven states actually in the Confederacy, plus Kentucky and Missouri.

I hope that helps.

Answer 2

You're referring to the flag of the Confederate States of America? I suppose that the "purpose" of that flag is the same as the "purpose" of any other flag.

Answer 3

To distinguish the southerners from the northerners during the Civil War.

Answer 4

It's an historical icon, like any other. Read the link to find out more.

Answer 5

it stands for us southerners who should have won the war against the north.