The blue flag with a yellow stripe is known as the Gadsden flag. It features a coiled rattlesnake on a field of yellow, with the words “DON’T TREAD ON ME” printed underneath. This historic banner was designed by American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden in 1775 during the opening stages of the American Revolution. The Gadsden flag became a symbol of American patriotism and resistance against British rule. Today, it endures as an emblem of American independence and freedom.
History of the Gadsden Flag
In 1775, the American colonies were on the brink of rebellion against Great Britain. Christopher Gadsden, a military leader and statesman from South Carolina, felt the colonies needed a unifying symbol under which they could rally. At the time, the New England colonies used individual symbols, such as pine trees or beavers, while the Southern colonies often used rattlesnakes. Gadsden sought to combine these regional icons into one banner that could represent all 13 colonies.
According to legend, Gadsden was inspired by a political cartoon published in Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper in 1754. The cartoon depicted a rattlesnake cut into sections, with each segment labeled with the initials of a different American colony. The caption read “Join, or Die.” This illustration resonated with Gadsden, so he retained the rattlesnake theme but portrayed the serpent as whole and coiled, ready to strike.
Gadsden also borrowed the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me” from the lyrics of a popular patriotic ballad sung by American soldiers as they prepared to fight the British. By uniting the rattlesnake with a defiant motto, Gadsden created a banner that symbolized American unity and resistance.
The Gadsden flag was likely presented to Commodore Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Navy, sometime in late 1775. The flag was intended to represent the spirit of the American revolutionary cause. There is debate among historians about whether it was first hoisted on Hopkins’ flagship USS Alfred or presented to him on shore before the fleet’s departure. Nevertheless, the Gadsden soon became the standard maritime flag of the American Navy.
Symbolism of the Gadsden Flag
The Gadsden flag was rich with symbolism and imagery meant to unify the American colonies against their British oppressors. Here is an overview of the key symbolic elements:
– Rattlesnake – In the 1700s, the rattlesnake was viewed as uniquely American. Its rattle serves as a warning, much like the colonies increasingly vocal opposition to British taxes and policies. The snake’s striking pose signaled that Americans were ready to fight if necessary.
– Coiled Shape – By coiling the snake, rather than showing it slithering on the ground, Gadsden conveyed strength and power. The tension in the coils suggests stored energy, ready to strike.
– 13 Rattle Segments – The traditional 13 rattle segments on the snake referenced the original 13 American colonies. This showed that the flag represented all of British America.
– “Don’t Tread on Me” – This defiant phrase warned Britain not to underestimate the increasingly organized and united colonies. It signaled that America would not tolerate excessive taxation and tyranny.
– Yellow Background – In heraldry, yellow traditionally symbolizes vigilance, courage, and military strength. This connected the flag to the growing colonial militias.
Use During the Revolutionary War
The Gadsden flag quickly grew in popularity after its introduction in 1775. As hostility between Britain and the colonies intensified, more American ships and regiments adopted the banner. The flag became a standard symbol of American patriotism and independence.
Here are some notable wartime uses and appearances of the Gadsden flag:
– Flown as the first American naval jack by Commodore Hopkins’ Continental Navy fleet. This squadron later captured the British forts at Nassau in the Bahamas in 1776.
– Carried ashore by Continental Marines under Captain Samuel Nicholas during the first amphibious raid on British-held Fort Nassau in the Bahamas in March 1776.
– Painted on drums used by American soldiers during the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. This key clash occurred near Philadelphia during the British campaign to seize the revolutionary capital.
– Prominently displayed on uniforms by the 1st South Carolina Regiment, led by Colonel Christopher Gadsden himself, throughout the siege of Charleston in 1780.
– Used as a jack by American privateer ships preying on British merchant vessels. Privateers disrupted vital British supply lines and captured badly needed provisions.
By war’s end, the Gadsden flag was widely recognized as a central symbol of the American revolutionary spirit. It helped give visual representation to the patriotic cause.
Use After the Revolutionary War
Even after America won its independence in 1783, the Gadsden flag continued to appear in various contexts as the new nation developed its identity. Here are some notable post-Revolutionary uses:
– Displayed by American ships dealing with piracy from the Barbary states in the 1780s and 90s. Just as it defied the British navy, the flag showed America’s resolve against Mediterranean pirates.
– Flown above customs houses as a symbol of sovereignty and independence from Britain in the 1790s through the War of 1812 era.
– Adopted as a symbol by the fledgling U.S. Marine Corps in 1821, appearing on the Corps’ first seal and early uniforms. The flag’s spirit of tenacity fit the Marines’ role as expeditionary fighters.
– Carried by American troops during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. The iconic flag served as a reminder of America’s revolutionary tradition as it expanded its territory.
– Embraced by the United States Navy once again in 1876, with the rattlesnake jack inspiring the first version of the First Navy Jack. This jack, featuring red and white stripes with a rattlesnake, is still flown by some U.S. Navy ships today.
Modern Usage of the Gadsden Flag
While the Gadsden flag originated in the American Revolution, it underwent a resurgence in popularity in the later 20th century. Since the 1970s, the flag has been adopted for various political purposes:
| User Group | Usage Context |
|---|---|
| Right-libertarians | Used to symbolize general anti-government and pro-individual liberties sentiment |
| Tea Party | Embraced from 2009 onward to represent concerns about perceived federal government overreach |
| Gun rights activists | Used to demonstrate commitment to 2nd Amendment rights and resistance to gun control |
| Some far-right figures | Appropriated to signal contempt for liberal policies and politicians |
This uptick in prominence has made the Gadsden flag a political lighting rod in modern times. Critics argue that the flag’s historical meaning has been distorted, while supporters see it as representing timeless American ideals of independence and freedom. The flag also remains popular outside politics as a general patriotic symbol and rejection of tyranny.
Legal and Cultural Controversies
The Gadsden flag’s resurgence sparked debate over its meaning and display, resulting in some legal and cultural disputes:
– In 2013, a truck driver named Shawn Geffre sued his employer after being fired for refusing to remove a Gadsden flag decal from his truck. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in the driver’s favor, calling the firing over his right to free expression “un-American”.
– Some African Americans have criticized the flag for being appropriated by racist groups, arguing it now represents white supremacy and contempt for minorities more than independence.
– In 2016, the U.S. Navy banned Gadsden flags from being flown on ships after reports of the banner being flown during racially-tinged harassment incidents targeting minority servicemen. This order was later rescinded due to 1st Amendment concerns.
– The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in 2019 that Gadsden flag displays are not inherently racist or hostile in the workplace, in most cases representing political opinions protected by federal law.
– In 2021, Nike discontinued a line of shoes featuring the Gadsden flag after objections that its meaning had drifted from patriotism toward intolerance.
Conclusion
The Gadsden flag remains an important artifact of America’s revolutionary period, created to unify the colonies against British rule. While its modern political associations are divisive, the flag’s core symbolism of independence and resistance still resonates. For supporters, the rattlesnake banner will continue to signify a spirit of defiant patriotism, while critics feel more ambivalent about its current implications. Regardless, the flag occupies an important place in U.S. history as an icon of America’s beginnings.
