The Bonnie Blue Flag, a single white star on a blue field, was the flag of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. In September 1810, settlers in the Spanish territory of West Florida revolted against the Spanish government and proclaimed an independent republic. The Bonnie Blue Flag was raised at the Spanish fort in Baton Rouge on September 23, 1810. In December, West Florida was annexed by the United States and the republic ceased to exist, after a life of 74 days. The Bonnie Blue Flag, referred to in the song. ... Image File history File links Bonnieblue. ... Map of East and West Florida in the early 1800s. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the region. ... Capitol Building Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state of the United States of America. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Influence on other flags

In 1836, The Bonnie Blue served as the inspiration for the second flag of the Republic of Texas, known as the Burnet Flag. It was replaced in 1839 by the currently used Lone Star Flag, which also bears a single star. The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag was also the inspiration for the red star in the 1846 Bear Flag of California. Flag of Texas The flag of Texas is defined by law as follows: The flag is known as the Lone Star Flag (giving Texas its nickname of the Lone Star State). This flag was introduced to the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Flag of Texas The flag of Texas is defined by law as follows: The flag is known as the Lone Star Flag (giving Texas its nickname of the Lone Star State). This flag was introduced to the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The modern Bear Flag of California The flag of California was first flown during the Bear Flag Revolt as the flag of the California Republic, and a modified version was then adopted by the California state legislature in 1911 as the state flag. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Civil War usage

The original territory of West Florida was divided up among four Southern states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. When Mississippi seceded from the Union on January 9, 1861, as a sign of independence, the Bonnie Blue Flag was raised over the capitol building in Jackson. An Ulster immigrant named Henry McCarthy was present, and later wrote "The Bonnie Blue Flag" ("bonnie" being a Scottish word meaning "beautiful") which became a popular marching song, and led to the flag being used as an unofficial flag of the Confederate States of America. Typically, the refrain is: Historic Southern United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... : Crossroads of the South : The city of Grace and Benevolence United States Mississippi Hinds, (very small portions in Madison and Rankin) 106. ... This article is about the nine-county Irish province. ... The Bonnie Blue Flag, referred to in the song. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Religion...

Hurrah! Hurrah!

For Southern Rights, Hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a Single Star!

On January 26, 1861, Mississippi officially adopted a new flag, which included the Bonnie Blue Flag in its canton and a magnolia tree in its center field (known as the Magnolia Flag). is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Flag of Mississippi from 1894-present 1861 flag The flag of Mississippi echoes the Confederate Stars and Bars flag and the Confederate battle flag. ...

Current usage

The flag is still used to represent the South, and for some is a way of representing favor for the doctrine of states' rights. Since the flag pre-dates the Civil War and is not associated with slavery, it is considered to be a less-offensive alternative to the Confederate Battle Flag. Historic Southern United States. ... States rights refers to the idea, in U.S. politics and constitutional law, that U.S. states possess certain rights and political powers in relation to the federal government. ... The Confederate States of America used several flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865. ...

Today, the flag flies in most of the Florida Parishes of Louisiana, and is used on road signs along Interstate 12, which has been designated the "Republic of West Florida Parkway". The Florida Parishes The Florida Parishes are those parishes in Louisiana which were part of West Florida in the early 19th century. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Map of Interstate 12 Interstate 12 (abbreviated I-12) is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana, United States. ...

HMGS-South uses the flag in reference to the organization’s location and appreciation of history especially for activities related to miniature wargaming. H.M.G.S.-South is a Florida, USA based chapter of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society. ... Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry, 1811, from the historical wargame Volley & Bayonet. ...

A nearly identical, yet unrelated, flag portraying a single star on a blue field is normally displayed during US military ceremonies indicating the presence of a US Navy Rear Admiral (Lower Half) or Brigadier General of the USAF, USMC, or US Army, along with the United States Flag and the flag of the military branch. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Flag ratio: 10:19; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars...

Popular culture

In the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell and the 1939 film Gone with the Wind, Rhett Butler decides to call his newborn daughter "Bonnie Blue Butler" when Melanie Wilkes remarks that her eyes are "as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag." 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the Canadian politician, see Margaret Mitchell (Canadian politician); for the Scottish politician, see Margaret Mitchell (Scottish politician). ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ... Rhett Butler is the handsome, dashing hero of Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. ... Melanie Hamilton Wilkes is a fictional character first appearing in the novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. ...

In the 2005 movie Sahara, a Confederate ironclad is said to be steaming up the Niger River under a "banner of a single star", likely referencing the Bonnie Blue Flag. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

See also

• Flags of the Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America used several flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865. ...

External links

• Flags of Mississippi
• Flags of Florida
• The U.S. Takeover of West Florida
• West Florida by Ann Gilbert
• History of the flag at the Republic of West Florida Historical Museum.