Question

Which of the following MOST influenced Mississippi lawmakers? (A) Voters in Mississippi called on lawmakers in 2001 to approve a new design for the state flag. (B) Governor Tate Reeves required lawmakers to hold a ceremony to remove the state flag. (C) Activists, athletes and community leaders argued that lawmakers should change the state flag. (D) Supporters of the Mississippi flag told lawmakers that the flag represents Southern heritage.

Answer 1

Mississippi lawmakers were influenced by C)activists, athletes, and community leaders to change the state flag in response to broader social movements and threats of economic sanctions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the options provided, the factor that most influenced Mississippi lawmakers to change the state flag was pressure from activists, athletes, and community leaders (Option C). In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and facing pressures from organizations such as the Southeastern Conference, which threatened to boycott the state, lawmakers were prompted to take action. The previous flag, which featured the Confederate battle emblem, was seen as a symbol of Mississippi's history of secession and violence during the Civil War, as well as the state's past of enslavement and segregation. The new Mississippi state flag, which was adopted in 2021, eschews references to the Confederate past and instead includes symbols like the magnolia flower and stars to represent Mississippi's commitment to unity, its contributions to the arts, and respect for indigenous people.