The story behind this iconic American flag is rich in history and reverberates with the voices of fervent patriots. The Gadsden Flag, which features a rattlesnake and the motto “Don’t Tread on Me,” was designed in 1775 during the American Revolution by Christopher Gadsden. It was the first American flag to use a snake as its central motif and is a symbol of defiance against tyranny.Go here:ultimateflags.com
A number of different versions of the Gadsden Flag exist today. In general, the yellow field depicts a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike with the words “Don’t Tread on Me” positioned below it. The coiled rattlesnake is usually shown facing left and some representations feature an apostrophe in the word “Don’t.” The earliest of these flags did not include an apostrophe in the slogan.
Gadsden Flags: Empowering Symbols of Liberty and Resistance
It has been a popular symbol of individual liberty since the American Revolution and continues to be a strong anti-government emblem. However, as the Tea Party movement emerged in the late 2000s, the Gadsden flag began to be co-opted by factions of the populist right and even the far-right that have very different values from those it has traditionally represented.
It is important for the people who value classical liberal principles to stand up against this co-option of the Gadsden Flag and remember that it does not represent populism, xenophobia, or the far-right. It stands for individual liberty and freedom from oppression. Just like the swastika, which had no racial connotations when it was used in Hinduism and Buddhism, the Gadsden Flag must not become associated with white supremacy ideologies in order to retain its power to inspire.