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[[File:Gadsden flag.png|right|275px]]

[[File:Gadsden flag.png|right|275px]]

The '''Gadsden Flag''' is a symbol of [[American]] [[independence]] and [[freedom]], which includes a fierce [[rattlesnake]], coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and a defiant '''"Don't Tread on Me"''' motto.  The Gadsden Flag, originally seen in 1775 painted onto the drums of some of the first enlisted [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marines]] during the [[American Revolution]], was meant to represent the 13 original colonies and their battle for independence from the [[British]] [[monarchy]].<ref name=gadsdenhistory>Chris Whitten. [http://www.gadsden.info/history.html Gadsden Flag History: An American Guesser], Gadsden.info, 2001-2009.</ref><ref>Diane Macedo. [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/30/dont-tread-license-plates-growing-trend/ 'Don't Tread on Me' License Plates Become a Growing Trend in the U.S.], FoxNews.com, Published November 30, 2010.</ref> In due course, the Gadsden Flag was also adopted by groups of the [[Tea Party Movement]] as a message against [[big government]].  

The '''Gadsden Flag''' is a symbol of [[American]] [[independence]] and [[freedom]], which includes a fierce [[rattlesnake]], coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and a defiant '''"[[Don't Tread on Me]]"''' motto.  The Gadsden Flag, originally seen in 1775 painted onto the drums of some of the first enlisted [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marines]] during the [[American Revolution]], was meant to represent the 13 original colonies and their battle for independence from the [[British]] [[monarchy]].<ref name=gadsdenhistory>Chris Whitten. [http://www.gadsden.info/history.html Gadsden Flag History: An American Guesser], Gadsden.info, 2001-2009.</ref><ref>Diane Macedo. [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/30/dont-tread-license-plates-growing-trend/ 'Don't Tread on Me' License Plates Become a Growing Trend in the U.S.], [[FoxNews]].com, Published November 30, 2010.</ref> In due course, the Gadsden Flag was also adopted by groups of the [[Tea Party Movement]] as a message against [[big government]].  

Although [[Benjamin Franklin]] helped create the American rattlesnake symbol, his name isn't generally attached to the rattlesnake flag.  The yellow "Don't tread on me" standard is usually called a Gadsden flag, for Colonel [[Christopher Gadsden]], or less commonly, a Hopkins flag, for Commodore [[Esek Hopkins]].<ref>[http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html Don't Tread on Me: Gadsden Flag], FoundingFathers.info, July 5, 2001.</ref>  

Although [[Benjamin Franklin]] helped create the American rattlesnake symbol, his name isn't generally attached to the rattlesnake flag.  The yellow "Don't tread on me" standard is usually called a [[Gadsden]] flag, for Colonel [[Christopher Gadsden]], or less commonly, a Hopkins flag, for Commodore [[Esek Hopkins]].<ref>[http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html Don't Tread on Me: Gadsden Flag], FoundingFathers.info, July 5, 2001.</ref>  

==History of Rattlesnake Flags==

==History of Rattlesnake Flags==

Three years later, in 1754, he used a snake to illustrate another point. This time not so humorous.

Three years later, in 1754, he used a snake to illustrate another point. This time not so humorous.

Franklin sketched, carved, and published the first known political cartoon in an American newspaper. It was the image of a snake cut into eight sections. The sections represented the individual colonies and the curves of the snake suggested the coastline. [[New England]] was combined into one section as the head of the snake. [[South Carolina]] was at the tail. Beneath the snake were the ominous words "Join, or Die."<ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/snake.html Rattlesnake Flags]</ref>

Franklin sketched, carved, and published the first known political cartoon in an American newspaper. It was the image of a snake cut into eight sections. The sections represented the individual colonies and the curves of the snake suggested the coastline. [[New England]] was combined into one section as the head of the snake. [[South Carolina]] was at the tail. Beneath the snake were the ominous words "[[Join, or Die]]."<ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/snake.html Rattlesnake Flags]</ref>

The meaning of "Join, or Die" was a plea for unity in defending the colonies during the [[French]] and [[Indian War]]. It played off a common superstition of the time: a snake that had been cut into pieces could come back to life if you joined the sections together before sunset. The snake illustration was reprinted throughout the colonies. Dozens of newspapers from [[Massachusetts]] to South Carolina ran Franklin's sketch or some variation of it. For example, the Boston Gazette recreated the snake with the words "Unite and Conquer" coming from its mouth. Whatever the reason for newspapers to reprint the rattlesnake symbol, Franklin's snake wiggled its way into American culture as symbolism of an early, shared national identity.

The meaning of "Join, or Die" was a plea for unity in defending the colonies during the [[French]] and [[Indian War]]. It played off a common superstition of the time: a snake that had been cut into pieces could come back to life if you joined the sections together before sunset. The snake illustration was reprinted throughout the colonies. Dozens of newspapers from [[Massachusetts]] to [[South Carolina]] ran Franklin's sketch or some variation of it. For example, the Boston Gazette recreated the snake with the words "Unite and Conquer" coming from its mouth. Whatever the reason for newspapers to reprint the rattlesnake symbol, Franklin's snake wiggled its way into American culture as symbolism of an early, shared national identity.

===American independence===

===American independence===

The snake symbol came in handy ten years later, when Americans were again uniting against a common enemy.

The snake symbol came in handy ten years later, when Americans were again uniting against a common enemy.

In 1765 the common enemy was the Stamp Act. The British decided that they needed more control over the colonies, and more importantly, they needed more money from the colonies. The Crown was loaded with debt from the French and Indian War. Why shouldn't the Americans — "children planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence," as [[Charles Townshend]] of the [[House of Commons]] put it — pay off England's [[debt]]?  

In 1765 the common enemy was the [[Stamp Act]]. The British decided that they needed more control over the colonies, and more importantly, they needed more money from the colonies. The Crown was loaded with debt from the French and Indian War. Why shouldn't the Americans — "children planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence," as [[Charles Townshend]] of the [[House of Commons]] put it — pay off England's [[debt]]?  

Colonel [[Isaac Barre]], who had fought in the French and Indian War, responded that the colonies hadn't been planted by the care of the British government, they'd been established by people fleeing it. And the British government hadn't nourished the colonies, they'd flourished despite what the British government did and didn't do. In this speech, Barre referred to the colonists as "sons of liberty."

Colonel [[Isaac Barre]], who had fought in the French and Indian War, responded that the colonies hadn't been planted by the care of the British government, they'd been established by people fleeing it. And the British government hadn't nourished the colonies, they'd flourished despite what the British government did and didn't do. In this speech, Barre referred to the colonists as "sons of liberty."

Although Benjamin Franklin helped create the American rattlesnake symbol, his name isn't generally attached to the rattlesnake flag. The yellow "don't tread on me" standard is usually called a Gadsden flag, for Colonel Christopher Gadsden, or less commonly, a Hopkins flag, for Commodore Esek Hopkins. These two individuals were mulling about Philadelphia at the same time, making important contributions to American history and the history of the rattlesnake flag.

Although Benjamin Franklin helped create the American rattlesnake symbol, his name isn't generally attached to the rattlesnake flag. The yellow "don't tread on me" standard is usually called a Gadsden flag, for Colonel Christopher Gadsden, or less commonly, a Hopkins flag, for Commodore Esek Hopkins. These two individuals were mulling about Philadelphia at the same time, making important contributions to American history and the history of the rattlesnake flag.

Christopher Gadsden was an American patriot if ever there was one. He led Sons of Liberty in South Carolina starting in 1765, and was later made a colonel in the Continental Army. In 1775 he was in Philadelphia representing his home state in the Continental Congress. He was also one of three members of the Marine Committee who decided to outfit and man the Alfred and its sister ships. Gadsden and Congress chose a [[Rhode Island]] man, Esek Hopkins, as the commander-in-chief of the Navy. The flag that Hopkins used as his personal standard on the Alfred is the one we would now recognize. It's likely that John Paul Jones, as the first lieutenant on the Alfred, ran it up the gaff.

Christopher Gadsden was an [[American patriot]] if ever there was one. He led Sons of Liberty in South Carolina starting in 1765, and was later made a colonel in the Continental Army. In 1775 he was in Philadelphia representing his home state in the [[Continental Congress]]. He was also one of three members of the Marine Committee who decided to outfit and man the Alfred and its sister ships. Gadsden and Congress chose a [[Rhode Island]] man, Esek Hopkins, as the commander-in-chief of the Navy. The flag that Hopkins used as his personal standard on the Alfred is the one we would now recognize. It's likely that [[John Paul Jones]], as the first lieutenant on the Alfred, ran it up the gaff.

It's generally accepted that Hopkins' flag was presented to him by Christopher Gadsden, who felt it was especially important for the commodore to have a distinctive personal standard. Gadsden also presented a copy of this flag to his state legislature in [[Charleston]]. This is recorded in the South Carolina congressional journals:

It's generally accepted that Hopkins' flag was presented to him by Christopher Gadsden, who felt it was especially important for the commodore to have a distinctive personal standard. Gadsden also presented a copy of this flag to his state legislature in [[Charleston]]. This is recorded in the South Carolina congressional journals:

* [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)]]

* [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)]]

* [[Tea_Party_Movement#Symbols|Tea Party Movement (Symbols)]]

* [[Tea_Party_Movement#Symbols|Tea Party Movement (Symbols)]]

[[Category:United States of America]]

[[Category:United States of America]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category: Flags]]

[[Category: Flags]]