History Of Don T Tread On Me

It s credited to christopher gadsden a soldier and politician from south carolina.

By the time of the war of independence the rattlesnake frequently used in conjunction with the motto don t tread on me was a common symbol for the united states its independent spirit and. The gadsden flag is a historical american flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Featuring a rattlesnake stretched across 13 red and white stripes with don t tread on me below the secretary of the navy ordered in 2002 that this powerful american symbol will fly on all naval ships for the duration of the war on terrorism. Don t tread on me began on what s known as the gadsden flag which features a rattlesnake coiled above the expression on a yellow background.

The flag was first flown on a warship in 1775 as a battle cry for american independence from british rule. The navy later adapted the snake emblem and don t tread on me motto into what is now known as the first navy jack. Gadsden created this purely american icon to be used by the first american navy which he not only supported but also paid for. Don t tread on me in the american revolutionary war general christopher gadsden designed the famous flag depicting a rattlesnake and the words don t tread on me the symbol of the rattlesnake dated back as far as 1751 when benjamin franklin sardonically wrote that since the british were sending convicts to the colonies the colonists should send rattlesnakes which were native to.

Ships that flew the first navy jack. This flag is gadsden s take on franklin s snake metaphor depicting a coiled snake on a yellow field with the warning dont sic tread on me printed below it. Dont tread on me. In december 1775 a period correspondent who saw a similar rattlesnake and don t tread on me motto painted on the drum of a marine company in philadelphia noted that the rattlesnake never begins an attack nor when once engaged ever surrenders.

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The flag is named after american general and politician christopher gadsden 1724 1805 who designed it in 1775 during the american revolution. She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. People inspired by the don t tread on me motto have adopted the flag for their country s political movements. Published in 1880 william preble s book history of the flag of the united states depicts a slightly different don t tread on me navy ensign.

Perhaps this is why the famous don t tread on me flag is a solid bright yellow. The heavy metal band metallica recorded a song called don t tread on me nike has used the rattlesnake to support the national soccer team. Historians agree that preble s rare color plate probably shows the traditional design of the first navy jack flag and it developed into the flag we know today. Some modern versions of the flag include an apostrophe.

Beneath the rattlesnake are the words.