In the time of our Civil War, the Federal Government was much smaller and weaker than it is today, and the states were more distinct and independent. In December of 1861, South Carolina pulled the plug and left the union of states known as the United States of America. Other southern states quickly followed suit forming the Confederate States of America. The point is that many people today think of the Confederacy and the Civil War as being an aberation, but for more than three bloody years, there were two "United States" of America, complete with two seperate White Houses, Presidents, Constitutions, and yes, flags.
For those few tragic years, the various flags of the Confederacy were every bit as much "American flags" as the Union 20 star flag was. In fact, the "Confederate flag" that is so despised by so many today was not actually the flag of the Confederacy at all, but the Confederate Naval Jack.
Fortunately, there are those who recognize that preserving not just "The American Flag", but all American flags, is an important part of preserving our national heritage. That’s why it warms my heart that the good people of the Massachusetts Historical Society donated a Confederate First National Flag (there were three) to it’s original home – the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson, Louisiana.