Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The first national flag of the Confederate States of America: This term refers specifically to the initial official flag adopted by the Confederate government in 1861, during the American Civil War. It is characterized by a circle of white stars on a blue canton and three horizontal stripes (two red, one white).

Usage

• The term "stars and bars" is used as a proper name for this specific historical flag.
• It is primarily used in historical, academic, or cultural discussions about the American Civil War and Confederate symbolism.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The "stars and bars" was officially adopted by the Confederacy in March 1861.
  • Many people mistakenly refer to the Confederate battle flag as the "stars and bars."
  • The museum's exhibit features an original "stars and bars" from 1861.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often placed in quotation marks or written in italics in historical texts to denote it as the proper name of the flag.
• It is sometimes used metonymically to refer to the Confederacy itself or its cause, though this usage is less direct and more contextual.
  • The sentiment of the "stars and bars" still evokes strong reactions today.

Variants and Related Words

• Confederate flag: A broader term that can refer to any of the several flags used by the Confederate States, including the "stars and bars," the Confederate battle flag, and the later national flags.
• First Confederate flag: A descriptive synonym for "stars and bars."

Synonyms

• First Confederate national flag: A precise descriptive synonym.
• The Confederate States of America's first flag: A formal descriptive phrase.

Notes on Meaning

• It is critical to distinguish the "stars and bars" (the first national flag with a circle of stars and three broad stripes) from the more widely recognized Confederate battle flag (a square or rectangular flag with a blue saltire/St. Andrew's cross decorated with white stars on a red field). They are two distinct flags.
• The term carries significant historical and cultural weight, often associated with the history of slavery, secession, and the American Civil War.

Noun

1. the first flag of the Confederate States of America