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The seven stars in the first Confederate flag represented the seven states that made up the Confederacy at the time.
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The first seven states of the Confederacy in order of first to join were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
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As new states joined the Confederacy new stars were added to represent them on the flag, until the final total of 13 states had joined..
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The first national flag design with seven stars was in use from March 4th, 1861 until May 21st, 1861.
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The first national flag design with nine stars was in use from May 21st, 1861 until July 2nd, 1861.
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The first national flag design with 11 stars was in use from July 2nd, 1861 until November 28th, 1861.
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The first national flag design with 13 stars was in use from November 28th, 1861 until May 1st, 1862.
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The second national flag design with 13 stars was in use from May 1st, 1863 until March 4th, 1865.
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The third national flag design was in use from March 4th, 1865 and onward. It also had 13 stars.
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The 13 states represented by the 13 stars in the Confederate flag design from November 28th, 1861 were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
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The first Confederate flag was also known as 'The Stars and Bars'. This design featured three horizontal bars (two red and one white) and a blue square in the left hand upper side with seven white stars. The number of stars increased to 13 as more states joined.
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The second Confederate flag design was also known as 'The Stainless Banner'. This design featured the Southern Cross (the Battle Flag) in the upper left hand corner and a white background where the red and white bars had been previously.
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The third Confederate flag design was also known as 'The Blood Stained Banner'. This design featured the Battle Flag in the upper left hand corner on a white background (as in the second design) but it also had a vertical red bar on the right side of the flag.
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The Confederate flag is still a strong symbol of the American South, despite the fact that the Confederacy collapsed shortly after the design of the Confederate flag was adopted. All the states eventually rejoined the United States of America.
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