Its champions have argued it's a symbol of Southern culture, the historic flag of the South. Critics say it's a racist symbol that represents a war to uphold slavery and, later, a battle to oppose civil rights advances. We take a look at the flags of the Confederacy to sort out the facts.
The emotional reactions surrounding the flag are a marker of the its often-controversial legacy and its importance as a symbol of the South - one with roots in design, military history and psychology.