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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. [https://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>