Fun Flag Facts

Colonel Christopher Gadsden created the flag in 1775 for then commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy Commodore Esek Hopkins to fly on his flagship.

Before getting any deeper into the history of the Gadsden flag, we’ll take a look at the symbolism of the rattlesnake in colonial America. Prior to and during the revolution, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake was very prevalent throughout the colonies. Benjamin Franklin first used the rattlesnake as a symbol of the colonies in a 1751 satirical cartoon and continued using it for several years. His most notable use was in a 1754 cartoon depicting a snake cut into 8 sections representing individual or groups of colonies, underscored by the phrase “JOIN, OR DIE.” As support for independence grew, so did use of the rattlesnake symbolism.

The first use of the coiled rattlesnake on a yellow field and the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto was not on any flag, but a drum. Painting drums with unique regimental symbols was a common practice at the time. It is believed that Gadsden got the idea for his flag design from the first marine raiders enlisted in Philadelphia who painted their drums very similarly to what would become the Gadsden flag. Shortly before presenting his flag to Commodore Hopkins, Gadsden was representing South Carolina at the First Continental Congress. He was also a member of the Congress’ Marine Committee, further supporting this theory.

State militias in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island used the flag or variations of it throughout the American Revolutionary War. Probably the most notable variation is The First Navy Jack of the United States. It features an uncoiled rattlesnake over a field of 13 red and white stripes as well as the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto, created by English artist Thomas Hart. Many speculate that Hart created the design as an insult, as if “Don’t Tread on Me” was a plea to take mercy on a weak American Navy. Others say that the motto is used as a warning not to provoke the Navy, supported by the fact that the snake is out-stretched and could be striking. The flag was used as the Jack for the Navy until 1777. It was reinstated as the Navy Jack on September 11, 2002 and is still in use.

Today, the Gadsden symbolism is still very prevalent in American culture and often associated with Libertarianism. The Free State Project, a movement to get 20,000 Libertarians to move to a low population state to create a Libertarian stronghold, is represented by a modified Gadsden Flag that replaced the snake with a porcupine. In 2009, the Gadsden flag began appearing at Tea Party rallies and has since been strongly associated with the group. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team also uses the motto “Don’t Tread on Me” and has featured coiled snake details on some of their most recent uniforms.

The flag is still popular in Gadsden’s birthplace, Charleston, South Carolina. It is also where Gadsden first presented the flag to the South Carolina Congress in 1776.