You might have come across yellow Gadsden flags featuring a rattlesnake and the caption, “Don’t Tread On Me”. These are generally present at political gatherings and stages and put on top of tall flagpoles. Many people actually do not know what the symbol and message means. Some might ask how the flag began and what made people continue to use it for political rallies. What does the rattlesnake signify? Why is it yellow? Here are some answers.
The statement, “Don’t Tread on Me”, was actually a famous line used by American Patriots when they were trying to win the independence of the United States from the British regime during the American Revolutionary War. Many of the heroes of the United States asserted that freedom should be given to everyone and the British Rule should not be allowed to hold Americans captive in their own land. The line, “Don’t Tread On Me” was repeated again and again throughout history whenever citizens feel that the government is suppressing their rights.
The rattlesnake image was first used to fight the British Crown way back in 1751. At that time, the British had a unique way of getting rid of their worst criminals. They would send them off to the New World or the old America to establish colonies. According to an article published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, Benjamin Franklin advised that they should also send England a ship full of rattlesnakes. On a “Join or Die” campaign staged by Franklin, the rattlesnake again emerged. The rattlesnake in the poster was divided into 13 parts, representing the 13 colonies.
Labels: custom flag, custom flag maker, custom flag. personalized flag, flagpoles, Gadsden flag
by:
The Flagman
