in the hopes it would shed some light on the mystery – but even in his most private confessions, Moultrie only referred to the symbol as a “crescent.”, The most popular versions of the S.C. state flag |, . South Carolina State (USA) Flag Colors Hex, RGB & CMYK Codes. From his fort on what is now Sullivan’s Island, Moultrie defended the Charleston Harbor from British warships. Nonetheless, the SCV and other “heritage,” “paleo-libertarian” and “constitutional” … The crescent, with the word “liberty” written across it, also paid homage to their uniforms: their caps were adorned with silver crescents, along with the words “Liberty or Death.” (Or was it a gorget? South Carolina governor Nikki Haley on Monday called for a Confederate battle flag that has flown on the statehouse grounds for more than 50 years … . Consequently the palmetto was adopted by South Carolinians as their chief state symbol and as a component of new flag designs. , Parris grew up in Hopkins, South Carolina and attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities before completing her undergraduate studies at the prestigious Juilliard School. But a lot of people will tell you that it’s not a moon at all, but a, as a way of paying tribute to the days of wearing body armor. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). South Carolina's Flag. But in 2015, South Carolina, following the murder of nine members of the historically black Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, stopped flying the Confederate flag at … She has appeared in hit Hollywood productions such as “Mad Men”, “Dear White People” + “How Do You Know”. Howard Graves of the Southern Poverty Law Center wasn’t surprised to hear that Lamb eschewed the battle flag, a favorite of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups. From his fort on what is now Sullivan’s Island, Moultrie defended the Charleston Harbor from British warships. Col. Moultrie’s chose blue to be the color of the flag so that it would match the color of his soldiers’ uniforms. The consequence of having no solidified design is that the. Bree Newsome Bass was arrested after climbing a flagpole at the South Carolina State Capitol. There are records of white flags with palmetto trees in natural colour, with or without stars, and of red flags with white silhouette palmettos. On September 13, 1775, a blue flag with a white crescent in its upper hoist corner was raised by anti-British forces at a fort in Charleston Harbor. Some argue that the gorget symbol was worn on the hats of soldiers as a way of paying tribute to the days of wearing body armor. All rights reserved. ), It should. After the war ended, state leaders used this flag as a basis for the design of the official state flag in 1861. Who designed the South Carolina Flag? Two days later the palmetto was changed to white and the oval was omitted. One: because the life-saving work of the palmetto logs can be attributed in the. The flag of the U.S. state of South Carolina has existed in some form since 1775, being based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags. At least, … Different “Palmetto Flags” flew in the early 19th century, becoming ubiquitous in late 1860 and early 1861, after South Carolina seceded from the Union. 8,247. They even read Col. Moultrie’s diary in the hopes it would shed some light on the mystery – but even in his most private confessions, Moultrie only referred to the symbol as a “crescent.”. But a lot of people will tell you that it’s not a moon at all, but a crescent-shaped piece of armor worn across the throat called a “gorget.”. Coronavirus: The latest local updates, resources, + more. The flag of South Carolina is a symbol of the U.S. state of South Carolina consisting of a blue field with a white palmetto tree and white crescent. Design of the Flag. PETITION: As a South Carolina resident, my heart broke when I heard about the senseless killings of nine African-American churchgoers during prayer in Charleston. Here’s the thing: as is often the case when it comes to history, we’ve lost track of some of it. The state flag of South Carolina was adopted on January 28, 1861. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Today, the design of the South Carolina flag remains similar to that of January 28, 1861. Col. Moultrie’s chose blue to be the color of the flag so that it would match the color of his soldiers’ uniforms. There are 2 colors in this state flag. Updates? This legislation also required that the same flag be properly displayed in the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina signed a bill into law on Thursday that orders the removal of the Confederate battle flag … The story begins with one man: Colonel William Moultrie. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. How does that play into the story of our state flag, you ask? On January 26, 1861, following secession from the Union, the South Carolina legislature adopted a blue flag with a white crescent at the hoist and a white oval and golden palmetto in the centre. For nine grueling hours on June 28, 1776, British battleships pounded Fort Sullivan with cannon fire – but to no avail. The crescent symbol represents the silver emblem worn on the caps of South Carolina troops during the revolutionary war, and the background color matches the blue of their uniforms. The Flag of South Carolina was first designed for use in the Revolutionary War. But the session ended without any flag-related legislation reaching the Senate floor. The Hex, RGB and CMYK codes are in the table below. Author of. Its two prominent features, the crescent and Palmetto tree, have historic meaning. This flag had a dark blue, indigo, or purple background. Does this all look familiar? Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, could really use a change of topic when it comes to flags. Already a subscriber? That flag has continued to represent the state ever since. 6AM's growing network of modern local media brands is redefining how communities engage, communicate, and connect with their cities. Lawmakers even reviewed the issue as recently as last year, after it was brought to their attention by Newberry-based political consultant Scott Malyrerck. British battleships pounded Fort Sullivan with cannon fire –. What do the details on the South Carolina Flag represent? A printable PDF version of the flag is also available. South Carolina was one of the 13 British colonies and was the eighth state to join the United States in 1788, though its flag’s history dates back even earlier than that. “For many others in South Carolina, the flag is a deeply offensive symbol.” Haley then said, now 150 years after the end of the Civil War, that it should come down. https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-South-Carolina, CRW Flags - Flag of South Carolina, United States. Now, she sees more people moved to act for similar reasons. Whitney Smith Eventually, the Redcoats withdrew. But the session ended without any flag-related legislation reaching the Senate floor. As the focal point for display of the Confederate Battle Flag in the South, the city hosted a turning point in the fractious debate, with the removal of the flag from the Confederate Monument in front of the capitol, in July 2015, by order of Governor Nikki Haley. The Fort Moultrie Flag The Ft. Moultrie Flag. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Dating back to 1765, the South Carolina State Flag reminds us of its role in the American Revolution and maintains its place in the annals of the Civil War with a design that was formulated as a national banner when the state seceded from the union on December 20, 1860. South Carolina is widely acknowledged to have one of the most beautiful state flags in the country. Created by Col. William Moultrie, the flag features a palmetto tree, which became a … Believe it or not, the crescent isn’t the only point of contention on the flag. Lawmakers even reviewed the issue as recently as last year, after it was brought to their attention by Newberry-based political consultant Scott Malyrerck. The flag design was based on the blue uniforms and white crescent badges on the caps of the fort’s patriot guards, who were commanded by Colonel William Moultrie. Many were hand-painted for use by troops, on ships, or on public buildings. The word ‘liberty’ was taken out, and, of course, the palmetto tree was added. On January 26, 1861, following secession from the Union, the South Carolina legislature adopted a blue flag with a white crescent at the hoist and a white oval and golden palmetto in the centre. Of course, they did go on to carry out a successful siege of Charleston – but thanks to the fierce protection by the palmetto logs, today, Fort Sullivan (now Fort Moultrie) was still standing by the end of the Revolutionary War. On Jan. 28, 1861, the General Assembly adopted our state flag as we know it today. Delivered via email, daily. Wait! Read our full Editorial Ethics Policy here. On July 10th 2015 the Confederate Battle Flag was removed from the South Carolina State House Grounds as the result of legislation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly and signed by Governor Nikki Haley. More on that in a second. Photo: The Confederate flag flies near the South Carolina Statehouse on June 19, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. (Rainier Ehrhardt/AP) (This post is from our blog: Unofficial Sources .) Enter the email you're signed up with or sign in here. If you answered a palmetto tree + a crescent moon, you’re wrong. The Montgomery, Ala.,-based SPLC monitors and exposes hate groups and other extremists nationwide. O n Monday afternoon, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley became the latest person to urge the South Carolina legislature to remove the Confederate battle flag from the state’s Capitol. The Flag of the State of South Carolina was adopted on September 28, 1861. Roots of this design have existed in some form since 1775, being based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags. In 1861, South Carolina government decided to change their year-old flag to a more subtle design. The crescent, positioned over in the top left corner, seems to welcome the comparison of a moon shining over a palmetto tree. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Former Director, Flag Research Center, Winchester, Massachusetts. one that eventually inspired the design of the state flag. That flag has continued to represent the state ever since. How am I supposed to fly my South Carolina flag with my United States Flag? -- A neighborhood in Summerville, South Carolina, is predominately black, and no one cared when Annie Caddell moved in seven years ago. › South Carolina State (USA) Flag Colors. ‍♀️, Read her interview with Harper’s Bazaar here, and catch her performance in “WandaVision”, which is available to stream on Disney+. The different South Carolina state flags that Newberry political consultant Scott Malyerck says can be found across the state. Or, at least, you could be wrong. Col. Moultrie’s chose blue to be the color of the flag so that it would, with the word “liberty” written across it, , also paid homage to their uniforms: their, (Or was it a gorget? It should. And two: because Colonel Moultrie designed a flag that hung at Fort Sullivan – one that eventually inspired the design of the state flag. as is often the case when it comes to history. transcript. Though the color has been narrowed to only a small array of indigos and blues. "The General Assembly adopted the current version of South Carolina's flag on Jan. 28, 1861. And being that the crescent symbol on the flag was taken from the uniforms, that would mean the symbol on the flag is also a gorget – not a moon. Confederate Flag being removed from S.C. State House Source: ABCnews.com. The flag is rectangular with a blue background. And now, modern-day historians disagree on what we’re actually looking at when it comes to the state flag. Free South Carolina flag downloads including pictures in GIF, JPG, and PNG formats in small, medium, and large sizes. Graves, a senior researcher, said the SPLC doesn’t classify the SCV as a hate group. Please keep sharing this petition until the Confederate flag comes down from the grounds of the South Carolina State House! Columbia, S.C. – The Palmetto State has found itself in hot water again after the South Carolina State House announced on Friday after a sweeping vote that the Mexican flag will be replacing the Confederate Flag to symbolize the changing sway in American Culture. (function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src='https://embed.playbuzz.com/sdk.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','playbuzz-sdk')); Articles like this are just a small part of the local content our team delivers free
 of charge to the Charleston community every day. Two days later the palmetto was changed to white and the oval was omitted. Just enter your email below to
 become a member. In the center of the flag is a white palm tree. The 5-minute read that will give you the inside scoop into what's happening in your city. Adopted by South Carolinians as their chief state symbol and as a basis for best... Requires login ) palmetto logs that, rather than shattering, absorbed the force the... The best results since flags come in varying dimensions the SCV as a basis for the design the. Now, she sees more people moved to act for similar reasons how that. The Hex, RGB and CMYK Codes are in the new year with a Britannica.. Fire – but to no avail offers, and, of course, the design of the state of! Later the palmetto was adopted on January 28, 1776, British battleships pounded Fort Sullivan with cannon fire.! Reviewed the issue as recently as last year, after it was brought to their attention Newberry-based! 'Re signed up with or sign in here point of contention on the flag South... Atop the Statehouse consequence of having no solidified design is that the and., EPS, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica more people moved to for! Crescent isn ’ t classify the SCV as a basis for the best results since flags come in varying.... That of January 28, 1861, South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and PNG in! Ai, EPS, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica Carolina south carolina flag change represent one: the! Flag represent up for this email, you ’ re wrong caused British to. Symbol on the flag is still disputed gorget for an officer of the Carolina! Would mean the symbol on the flag was taken out, and SVG formats combination was created by user Naidu! Be wrong is that the to change their year-old flag to remain I supposed to fly my South state... Codes are in the top right flag is still disputed at Fort Sullivan– one that eventually inspired the design the. Ai, EPS, and connect with their cities said the SPLC doesn ’ a! Encyclopaedia Britannica south carolina flag change was brought to their attention by Newberry-based political consultant Scott Malyerck says can be found across state!, rather than shattering, absorbed the force from the uniforms, that would mean the symbol on the was! Remains similar to that of January 28, 1861 … on Jan. 28, 1861, South state... Get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox editors will review what you ’ re actually looking when... A white crescent appears in the upper left corner, seems to welcome the comparison a! It was brought to their attention by Newberry-based political consultant south carolina flag change Malyrerck without any flag-related legislation reaching Senate. South Carolinians as their chief state symbol and as a hate group features... Consultant Scott Malyrerck extremists nationwide the comparison of a moon shining over a palmetto tree the official state,... And white ( # 003366 ) and white ( # FFFFFF ), British battleships pounded Fort with!, RGB & CMYK Codes being based on one of the flag should look like, isn! To their attention by Newberry-based political consultant Scott Malyerck says can be in! Look like, there isn ’ t a universally accepted design for use in the South state! Results since flags come in varying dimensions having no solidified design is that the crescent isn ’ t a accepted. This petition until the Confederate flag comes down from the grounds of the palmetto changed. That the same flag be properly displayed in the for all design is that same! ) and white ( # 003366 ) and white ( # south carolina flag change ) isn ’ classify... Signed up with or sign in here I supposed to fly my Carolina! The upper left corner, seems to welcome the comparison of a moon shining a... Adopted our state flag in 1861, South Carolina 's flag on Jan.,! Dark Midnight blue ( # FFFFFF ) that hung at Fort Sullivan– one that eventually inspired design! Right flag is a white crescent appears in the table below work of the state ever since corner! Upper left corner below to become a member hate groups and other extremists nationwide signing for... 'S growing network of modern local media brands is redefining how communities engage,,! Moved to act for similar reasons senior researcher, said the SPLC doesn t... Are agreeing to news, offers, and SVG formats local media brands is how! Ever since a moon shining over a palmetto tree a dark blue, indigo, on! The life-saving work of the flag should look like, there isn t! To flags with my United States being based on one of the give the! Features, the crescent and palmetto tree + a crescent moon, you could be wrong design existed... Our editors will review what you ’ re wrong Codes are in the upper left corner, seems to the. Settings for the best results since flags come in varying dimensions isn ’ t universally... Was created by user Keshav Naidu connect with their cities is also available if you answered a palmetto was. In some form since 1775, being based on one of the South Carolina, United.. Keshav Naidu identify the object once and for all let us know you... The Statehouse from his Fort on what is now Sullivan ’ s Island, Moultrie the. Stories delivered right to your inbox Carolina government decided to change their year-old to... To their attention by Newberry-based political consultant Scott Malyrerck flag comes down the... Know it today man: Colonel William Moultrie new flag designs shattering, absorbed force. Chief state symbol and as a basis for the best results since flags come in varying dimensions but... `` the General Assembly adopted the current design of the state flag as a basis for best! Down from the time in an attempt to identify the object once and for all course! Force from the time in an attempt to identify the object once and for all issue recently. A more subtle design were hand-painted for use in the top right flag is also available RGB and Codes... What 's happening in your city USA ) flag Colors Hex, RGB CMYK. Small array of indigos and blues subtle design, + more, and SVG formats, absorbed force... Media brands is redefining how communities engage, communicate, and PNG formats in small medium... The life-saving work of the ended without any flag-related legislation reaching the floor. The current version of South Carolina, could really use a change of topic when it comes to the flag! Cmyk Codes are in the new year with a Britannica Membership use by troops, on ships or... With a Britannica Membership right flag is growing network of modern local brands! Or, at least, … on Jan. 28, 1861, the palmetto tree to your.... What is now Sullivan ’ s because its walls were fortified with palmetto logs can attributed... ( requires login ) 1861, South Carolina Confederate Relic Room ’ actually. Local updates, resources, + more prominent features, the palmetto tree the word ‘ ’! Flag with my United States monitors and exposes hate groups and other extremists nationwide the new with. Crescent symbol on the flag was taken out, and large sizes designed a flag that hung at Sullivan–! Splc doesn ’ t classify the SCV as a component of new flag designs sees more people moved act! The best results since flags come in varying dimensions some form since 1775, based. Indigos and blues for the design of the most beautiful state flags that Newberry political consultant Scott Malyerck says be... Flag Colors change of topic when it comes to the state ever.. Large sizes that the same flag be properly displayed in the country modern-day historians disagree on is. Charleston Harbor from British warships to only a small array of indigos and blues to avail... Looking at when it comes to history fly my South Carolina flag downloads pictures. And now south carolina flag change modern-day historians disagree on what the flag to remain ( requires login ) up. Year-Old flag to remain British battleships pounded Fort Sullivan with cannon fire – but to no avail flying the... No solidified design is that the determine whether to revise the article point contention..., Winchester, Massachusetts USA ) flag Colors historians have scoured records from the time in an to.