Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1367 Primary Sponsor:Jackson Committee Number:11 Type of Legislation:JR Subject:Confederate History Month Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:1367 Introduced Date:19940419 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19940419 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Jackson Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________
1367 Senate 19940419 Introduced, read first time, 11
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF APRIL AS "CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FLAG OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA SHALL FLY ATOP THE STATE HOUSE DURING CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH ONLY; TO PROVIDE THAT NO FLAG OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES FLAG, THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FLAG, AND THE FLAG OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA SHALL FLY ATOP THE STATE HOUSE; AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE STUDY OF CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION HISTORY.
Whereas, by a Concurrent Resolution of the General Assembly in 1962, the Confederate Battle Flag flies atop the State House beneath the United States Flag and the South Carolina State Flag; and
Whereas, the flagpole atop the State House should fly only two permanent flags, the United States Flag and the South Carolina State Flag, as the State House should permanently recognize only those symbols which represent the sovereignty of the permanent federal and state governments; and
Whereas, the consecutive periods of American history known as the Civil War and Reconstruction are universally recognized as two of the most significant landmark eras in our nation's and our state's heritage; and
Whereas, the continuous growth of the public's awareness of and interest in the Civil War and Reconstruction periods remain an integral part of America's and South Carolina's cultural heritage; and
Whereas, the study, preservation, recognition, and interpretation of the literature, symbols, occasions, and sites associated with this period are imbedded in the educational and cultural heritage of both our country and our State; and
Whereas, the beginning of the Civil War occurred in April of 1861 with the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, and the effective ending of the Civil War occurred in April of 1865 with the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, Virginia, making April the most important month of the year in Civil War history; and
Whereas, the Civil War era represents a time when the State of South Carolina struggled with its sovereignty and is the occasion in history which presents a compelling rationale for designating the month of April for flying the Confederate Flag atop the State House; and
Whereas, during the course of the War, an estimated two hundred sixty thousand Southerners lost their lives; and
Whereas, the United States Congress has, by joint resolution, identified the month of April, 1994, as "Civil War History Month" to mark this significant era of American history; and
Whereas, the heritage of the Civil War deserves the attention and respect of all individuals in this State. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The month of April shall permanently be designated as "Confederate History Month" in the State of South Carolina.
SECTION 2. In accordance with the statewide celebration of "Confederate History Month", the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (General Robert E. Lee's Army), as described in Section 3, shall fly atop the State House for the month of April only. For the remaining eleven months of the year, the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia shall fly from a prominent location on the Capitol grounds other than atop the State House or any other State Office Building on the Capitol Grounds. No flag other than the United States Flag and the State Flag shall permanently be flown atop the State House, and only the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, during the month of April of each year only, shall periodically be displayed atop the State House.
SECTION 3. The Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is square with a Greek Cross of blue, edged with white, with thirteen equal five-pointed stars, upon a red field; with the whole banner bordered in white. The total outside measurement of the flag to be flown above the State House is fifty-one inches square, inclusive of the white border. The blue arms of the cross are 7.5 inches wide and the white border around the flag proper is 1.5 inches wide. The stars are five-pointed, inscribed within a circle six inches in diameter, and are uniform in size. There should be five eyelet holes in the hoist next to the staff.
SECTION 4. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations to ensure that a comprehensive study of these periods is incorporated into the curricula of the state's public schools, including a study of the pre-War era, a study of the War era, and a study of the post-War Reconstruction era. This program of study shall also include an identification of the individuals who were influential during these times, including, but not limited to, John C. Calhoun, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Reconstruction-era statesman R. Martin Delany, Confederate Commanding General Robert E. Lee, President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, Confederate General James Longstreet of South Carolina, and Reconstruction-era statesmen Joseph Rainey and Robert Smalls. In addition, the program of study shall include a study of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (African Descent), redesignated as the 33rd United States Colored Troops, which was the first regiment of Negro troops raised by the Union army.