March9, 1885;140 years ago(1885-03-09) (modified June 24, 1991)
Design
A blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter "N" in gilt on the left and the letter "C" in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union.
Designedby
William G. Browne Johnston Jones
The flag of the State of North Carolina, often referred to as the North Carolina flag, N.C. flag, or North Star, is the state flag of the U.S. state of North Carolina.
North Carolina did not have an official state flag until the North Carolinian state constitutional convention of 1861. During this convention, delegates voted to join the Confederacy. They established a committee to come up with a flag. This flag was ratified by the convention on June 22, 1861. The flag consisted of a red field with a white star in the center. Inscribed above the star was the date May 20, 1775, the controversial date of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Inscribed below the star in a semi-circular form was the date May 20, 1861, which was the date North Carolina declared it had seceded from the Union. The flag also contained two bars of equal width, one in blue and one in white. The design is similar to one suggested by Raleigh artist William G. Browne.[1]
During the American Civil War, secessionist leaders spoke of the Mecklenburg Declaration with reverence, attempting to connect it with the state's joining the Confederacy. Confederate leader Jefferson Davis spoke to a Charlotte crowd in September 1864, saying "people of this section were the first to defy British authority and declare themselves free" encouraging them to continue backing the Confederacy's civil war effort.[2][3]
A former Confederate soldier and adjutant general of North Carolina (1877–1888), Johnston Jones, introduced the bill which led the state legislature to adopt a new flag in March 1885, to replace the flag that had been adopted on June 22, 1861. The red field of the old flag was replaced by a blue field. This was the first and only flag formally representing the State of North Carolina as a part of the United States.[5]
The flag of the state of North Carolina was adopted by statute of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1885. It is defined in the general Statute 144-1 as follows:
That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter "N" in gilt on the left and the letter "C" in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the center of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription "May 20th 1775," and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: "April 12th 1776".[6]
During the Spanish-American War the state organized the 1st North Carolina Regiment, which carried the state flag.[7]
The North Carolina state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.
Flag modification of 1991
On June 24, 1991, a bill was passed by the North Carolina Senate that changed the official proportions of the state flag. It changed from "… the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width" as written in the 1885 act to "… the total length of the flag shall be one-half more than its width."[8]
Other flags
Digital reconstruction of a proposed state flag on March 3, 1885
According to Fairfield Weekly Journal, an earlier state flag was adopted by the state House of Representatives.[10] The design was described as:
A white bar and a red bar run horizontally, the red bar is above the white. Near the staff the color is blue to a depth of one-third of the flag. In the center of this blue portion is the coat of arms of the state in gold.
—Fairfield Weekly Journal, April 9th, 1885
In August of 1885, Governor Scale's flag was raised in over R. A. Shotwell funeral. It was described as having a blue field with the state coat of arms in the middle.[11]
In 1892, Lieutenant Cramer of the state's Naval Militia received a Naval Battalion flag. It was 5 feet (1.5m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) long, the field was navy blue and in the center was the state's coat of arms. Above the arms was two red scrolls with the top one saying "1st Battalion," in gold, and the bottom one "Naval Artillery." On the left side of state's arms are the letters "N. C." and to the right is "S. G" In each corner of the banner is their insignia, two crossed cannons with and anchor in the middle. The whole thing costed $80 ($3,560 adjusted for inflation) and was made in Columbus, Ohio.[12]
In 1902, senator Glenn proposed to removed the star and "N. C." and replaced them with the coat of arms of the state.[13]
In 1905, Governor Glenn was given his own flag. It was described as being the same as the state flag but with inscription: "General Headquarters, State of North Carolina," across the red and white bars in gold[14]
In 1908, Professor Robertson proposed that the flag should have 2 stars with the new date "May 26, 1908"[15]
In 1920, a unique state flag was flown bearing the words: "States Rights Defense League." The banner was raised to protest the new state laws about flag desecration.[16]
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