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|  [[File:Columbus flag.png|125px]] ||The flag of [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1492, bearing the initials of his patrons Ferdinand and Isabela, king and queen of Spain.  

|  [[File:Columbus flag.png|125px]] ||The flag of [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1492, bearing the initials of his patrons Ferdinand and Isabela, king and queen of Spain.  

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|  [[File:Bandera cruz.png|125px]] ||The ''Cross of Burgundy'', flown by Spanish colonists in Florida until the territory's purchase by the United States in the early 1800's.  The slightly-modified cross is preserved in the current flags of Alabama and Florida.  

|  [[File:Bandera cruz.png|125px]] ||The ''Cross of Burgundy'', flown by Spanish colonists in Florida until the territory's purchase by the United States in the early 1800s.  The slightly-modified cross is preserved in the current flags of Alabama and Florida.  

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|  [[File:BritishFlag1606.png|125px]] ||The ''Union Flag'', so named when James VI of Scotland was placed on the throne of England upon the death of [[Elizabeth I]] in 1603, which united both kingdoms; it was the flag flown over colonial America prior to the Revolution.  

|  [[File:BritishFlag1606.png|125px]] ||The ''Union Flag'', so named when James VI of Scotland was placed on the throne of England upon the death of [[Elizabeth I]] in 1603, which united both kingdoms; it was the flag flown over colonial America prior to the Revolution.  

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|  [[File:An_Appeal_to_Heaven_Flag.svg|125px]] ||The flag of ''Washington's Cruisers'', commonly known as the [[Pine Tree Flag]] - is the flag of the fleet of ships that comprised the Massachusetts Navy.  The Massachusetts Navy was the precursor to the [[United States Navy]].

|  [[File:An_Appeal_to_Heaven_Flag.svg|125px]] ||The flag of ''Washington's Cruisers'', commonly known as the [[Pine Tree Flag]] - is the flag of the fleet of ships that comprised the Massachusetts Navy.  The Massachusetts Navy was the precursor to the [[United States Navy]].

|  [[File:Striped Jack.png|125px]] ||This flag was flown by the [[Sons of Liberty]] during the [[Boston Tea Party]], earning the sobriquet ''Rebellious Stripes''; it may also have been ''"the striped jack"'' referred to in the letters of [[Commodore Esek Hopkins]] as one of the first flags of the Continental Navy during the [[American Revolution]]

|  [[File:Striped Jack.png|125px]] ||This flag was flown by the [[Sons of Liberty]] during the [[Boston Tea Party]], earning the sobriquet ''Rebellious Stripes''; it may also have been ''"the striped jack"'' referred to in the letters of [[Commodore Esek Hopkins]] as one of the first flags of the Continental Navy during the [[American Revolution]]

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|  [[File:CulpeperMinuteMen.jpg|125px]] ||The 1st Virginia Regiment consisted of about three hundred militiamen under the command of Colonel [[Patrick Henry]]; one hundred of these men were from the town of Culpeper, and as all of them marched to Williamsburg in October-November 1775, the Culpeper men flew this flag, based on the symbolism that the rattlesnake represented for the American colonies, with Henry's patriotic words added as well.     

|  [[File:CulpeperMinuteMen.jpg|125px]] ||The 1st Virginia Regiment consisted of about three hundred militiamen under the command of Colonel [[Patrick Henry]]; one hundred of these men were from the town of Culpeper, and as all of them marched to Williamsburg in October–November 1775, the Culpeper men flew this flag, based on the symbolism that the rattlesnake represented for the American colonies, with Henry's patriotic words added as well.     

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|  [[File:1st Navy Jack.JPG|125px]] ||The second jack used by Commodore Hopkins placed a rattlesnake over the words "DON'T TREAD ON ME"; engravings of Hopkins during this period show he did fly such a flag.  The ''First Navy Jack'' is still in use today, flown on the bows of all United States naval warships.

|  [[File:1st Navy Jack.JPG|125px]] ||The second jack used by Commodore Hopkins placed a rattlesnake over the words "DON'T TREAD ON ME"; engravings of Hopkins during this period show he did fly such a flag.  The ''First Navy Jack'' is still in use today, flown on the bows of all United States naval warships.

|  [[File:Gadsden flag.png|125px]] || By 1775, at the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the [[U.S. Marine Corps]], some of the Marines that enlisted during the first month in [[Philadelphia]] may have also been the first [[American]] citizens to combine the rattlesnake symbol, seen on the [[Gadsden Flag]], with a defiant "Don't Tread on Me" slogan. The Gadsden Flag, chosen by Commodore Hopkins as his personal standard, was designed by Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina, and presented to the Continental Congress in 1776.  Hopkins flew this flag during the first amphibious invasion conducted by the American Navy in the [[Bahamas]].  Outside of the military, all three [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)|rattlesnake]] flags have found a use in the [[Tea Party Movement]] as a visual banner and symbol against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government.  

|  [[File:Gadsden flag.png|125px]] || By 1775, at the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the [[U.S. Marine Corps]], some of the Marines that enlisted during the first month in [[Philadelphia]] may have also been the first [[American]] citizens to combine the rattlesnake symbol, seen on the [[Gadsden Flag]], with a defiant "Don't Tread on Me" slogan. The Gadsden Flag, chosen by Commodore Hopkins as his personal standard, was designed by Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina, and presented to the Continental Congress in 1776.  Hopkins flew this flag during the first amphibious invasion conducted by the American Navy in the [[Bahamas]].  Outside of the military, all three [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)|rattlesnake]] flags have found a use in the [[Tea Party Movement]] as a visual banner and symbol against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government.  

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|  [[File:Grand Union Flag.png|125px]] ||Considered the first flag of the United States, the ''Grand Union Flag'' was in use from late 1775 until mid 1777.

|  [[File:Grand Union Flag.png|125px]] ||Considered the first flag of the United States, the ''[[Grand Union Flag]]'' was in use from late 1775 until mid 1777.

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|  [[File:Betsy Ross Flag.png|125px]] ||Allegedly created at the request of [[George Washington]] in June, 1776, the ''Betsy Ross'' flag has much legend instead of fact surrounding it; Ross is popularly credited with this creation of the first Stars and Stripes.

|  [[File:Betsy Ross Flag.png|125px]] ||Allegedly created at the request of [[George Washington]] in June, 1776, the ''Betsy Ross'' flag has much legend instead of fact surrounding it; Ross is popularly credited with this creation of the first Stars and Stripes.

|  [[File:13 star flag.PNG|125px]] ||The original ''Stars and Stripes'', the first official flag of the new United States, and the first American flag recognized and saluted by a foreign power.

|  [[File:13 star flag.PNG|125px]] ||The original ''Stars and Stripes'', the first official flag of the new United States, and the first American flag recognized and saluted by a foreign power.

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|  [[File:Bennington Flag.png|125px]] ||The ''Bennington Flag'' is associated with the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, on August 16, 1777, but some historians speculate that it may have been created by a veteran of that battle upon the outbreak of the [[War of 1812]] [http://www.cvsflags.com/bennington.cfm#benn], or as a centennial flag in 1876.  The flag itself was made to evoke the pride of the ''Spirit of '76'', and for that reason it is one of the few non-rattlesnake flags flown during the current Tea Party Movement.  

|  [[File:Bennington Flag.png|125px]] ||The ''Bennington Flag'' is associated with the [[Battle of Bennington]], Vermont, on August 16, 1777, but some historians speculate that it may have been created by a veteran of that battle upon the outbreak of the [[War of 1812]] [http://www.cvsflags.com/bennington.cfm#benn], or as a centennial flag in 1876.  The flag itself was made to evoke the pride of the ''Spirit of '76'', and for that reason it is one of the few non-rattlesnake flags flown during the current Tea Party Movement.  

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|  [[File:Green Mountain Boys flag.png|125px]] ||The flag of the ''Green Mountain Boys'' is more properly associated with Bennington than the above flag, as well as several other notable battles during the Revolution under [[Ethan Allen]].  It still flies today as the colors of the Vermont National Guard.

|  [[File:Green Mountain Boys flag.png|125px]] ||The flag of the ''[[Green Mountain Boys]]'' is more properly associated with Bennington than the above flag, as well as several other notable battles during the Revolution under [[Ethan Allen]].  It still flies today as the colors of the Vermont National Guard.

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|  [[File:Guilford Courthouse Flag.png|125px]] ||An odd variation of the early United States flag possibly flew during the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina on March 15, 1781.

|  [[File:Guilford Courthouse Flag.png|125px]] ||An odd variation of the early United States flag possibly flew during the [[Battle of Guilford Court House]] near Greensboro, North Carolina on March 15, 1781.

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|  [[File:Perry flag.png|125px]] ||During the [[War of 1812]], the American frigate [[USS Chesapeake|USS ''Chesapeake'']] fought a losing battle against the British frigate HMS ''Shannon'', and as Captain [[James Lawrence]] lay dying he uttered "fight her till she sinks, and don't give up the ship."  His friend and fellow officer [[Oliver Hazard Perry]] had his last words sewn to a large blue flag in time for the [[Battle of Lake Erie]]; the ''Perry Flag'' flew over USS ''Niagara'' to victory near Put-In-Bay, Ohio in September, 1813.

|  [[File:Perry flag.png|125px]] ||During the [[War of 1812]], the American frigate [[USS Chesapeake|USS ''Chesapeake'']] fought a losing battle against the British frigate HMS ''Shannon'', and as Captain [[James Lawrence]] lay dying he uttered "fight her till she sinks, and don't give up the ship."  His friend and fellow officer [[Oliver Hazard Perry]] had his last words sewn to a large blue flag in time for the [[Battle of Lake Erie]]; the ''Perry Flag'' flew over USS ''Niagara'' to victory near Put-In-Bay, Ohio in September, 1813.

|  [[Image:Starsand bars1.png|125px]] ||Called the ''Stars and Bars'', it was first flown over Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861 at the start of the [[American Civil War]].

|  [[Image:Starsand bars1.png|125px]] ||Called the ''Stars and Bars'', it was first flown over Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861 at the start of the [[American Civil War]].

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| [[Image:CSAnational1.png|125px]] ||The First National Flag of the Confederacy.  Also called the ''Stars and Bars'', this flag incorporated the 11 stars which symbolized the states that had seceeded from the Union by March, 1861.

| [[Image:CSAnational1.png|125px]] ||The First National Flag of the Confederacy.  Also called the ''Stars and Bars'', this flag incorporated the 11 stars which symbolized the states that had seceded from the Union by March, 1861.

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| [[Image:CSAbattleflag.png|125px]] ||The flag of General [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia; called the ''Southern Cross'' and the Confederate Battle Flag.  The design became so popular that is was used as the canton of the Confederate national flag.

| [[Image:CSAbattleflag.png|125px]] ||The flag of General [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia; called the ''Southern Cross'' and the Confederate Battle Flag.  The design became so popular that is was used as the canton of the Confederate national flag.

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==Also See==

==See also==

* [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)]]

* [[Rattlesnake (American symbol)]]

* [[Gadsden Flag]]

* [[Gadsden Flag]]

[[Category:United States of America]]

[[Category:United States of America]]