Brief History of the Alabama State Flag

The current Alabama state flag was adopted in 1895. The flag has a red bar on the top and bottom, with a white band in the middle. The central design is of a crimson cross of St. Andrew on a field of white. This design includes a blue saltire, which is a diagonal cross that does not extend to the edges of the flag.

The first official state flag of Alabama was adopted in 1813. This flag had a small gold disc in the center with an eagle perched atop it. The upper half of the flag was blue and the lower half was white.

In 1819, Alabama joined the Union as the 22nd state. At this time, the Alabama Legislature adopted a new coat of arms, which included a shield with crosses representing the four nations that had controlled Alabama at one point or another: France, Spain, Britain, and America. This shield was supported by an Native American chief and a European settler. Above the shield was a starry sky, and beneath it were motto ” audemus jura nostra defendere”.

In 1866, after the Civil War, Alexander Cummings recommended adopting as the state’s flag a design similar to that used by Northern soldiers during the war. His suggestion was not well-received by most Alabamians who preferred to keep reminders of the Confederacy visible.

In 1891, an Act was passed that required all state officials and agencies to use only the current state seal or coat of arms on official documents. The only exception to this rule were judicial and legal documents, which could continue to display either the state seal or coat of arms.

The current Alabama state flag was adopted in 1895 and has remained unchanged since then. The central design features a crimson cross of St. Andrew on a field of white, with a blue saltire (diagonal cross) that does not extend to the edges of the flag. The current flag is a reminder of Alabama’s rich history dating back to its days as part of four different nations: France, Spain, Britain, and America.