The Gadsden Flag: History, Meaning & Symbolism

Few American symbols are as instantly recognizable as a coiled rattlesnake on a bright yellow field above the words “Dont Tread on Me.” The Gadsden flag was born in the opening months of the American Revolution, and nearly 250 years later it still flies from front porches, appears on license plates, and shows up at rallies across the political spectrum. This guide covers where the flag came from, who designed it, what its symbols mean, how it has been used and argued over since, and how to display one today. Every historical claim below is drawn from the sources listed at the end of this page.

What Is the Gadsden Flag?

The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag showing a timber rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, on a yellow field, with the motto “Dont Tread on Me” beneath it. It is named after Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina, who designed it in 1775 and gave it to Esek Hopkins, the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy, to use as his personal standard. Today it is widely flown as a symbol of individual liberty and limited government.

In short, the flag carries three ideas at once: a uniquely American animal, a warning to would-be aggressors, and a promise that the colonists would defend themselves if provoked.

Who Was Christopher Gadsden?

Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805) was a Charleston, South Carolina, merchant and political leader. He represented South Carolina as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later served as a brigadier general in the Continental Army. In Congress he sat on the Marine Committee that outfitted the first American naval mission, and historian Paul Aron has described him as a “leading advocate of an American navy.”

Like many wealthy men of his era in South Carolina, Gadsden was also a slaveholder, a fact noted in modern reference works and part of any honest account of his life. His flag, however, was created for a specific wartime purpose: to give the new American navy a distinctive standard.

By the winter of 1775, South Carolina’s leaders expected a British attack on Charleston. The South Carolina Provincial Congress recalled Gadsden from Philadelphia to command the 1st South Carolina Regiment, and he returned home in early 1776, bringing his flag design with him.

Origins: Franklin’s Rattlesnake and “Join, or Die”

Gadsden did not invent the rattlesnake as an American symbol. That credit goes largely to Benjamin Franklin.

1751 – A satirical proposal. When Britain was shipping convicted criminals to its American colonies, Franklin published a satirical piece in The Pennsylvania Gazette suggesting the colonists return the favor by sending rattlesnakes to Britain.
1754 – “Join, or Die.” During the French and Indian War, Franklin published a woodcut of a snake cut into segments, each representing a colony or region, with New England at the head and South Carolina at the tail. It is widely described as the first political cartoon published in an American newspaper. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service identifies the snake as a timber rattlesnake.
1774 – Paul Revere. Revere added Franklin’s snake to the nameplate of Isaiah Thomas’s newspaper, the Massachusetts Spy, where it was shown fighting a British griffin.
December 1775 – “American Guesser.” Writing under that pseudonym in the Pennsylvania Journal, Franklin explained why the rattlesnake suited America. He noted that the snake has no eyelids and “may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance,” and that “she never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders.”

The timber rattlesnake lives in the region of the original Thirteen Colonies. Like the bald eagle, it was native to the Americas, which made it a useful way to express an identity separate from the Old World. By the start of the Revolution the rattlesnake appeared on drums, military buttons, and flags. According to Wikipedia’s account of the period, the first Marines carried yellow drums painted with a coiled rattlesnake with thirteen rattles and the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”

1775–1776: Esek Hopkins, the Alfred, and the Continental Navy

In 1775 the Continental Congress created a navy to intercept British supply ships and support a badly undersupplied Continental Army. Gadsden decided the fleet needed a distinctive flag and made one himself.

He gave the yellow rattlesnake flag to Commodore Esek Hopkins to serve as his personal standard aboard the flagship Alfred. Wikipedia reports that Hopkins unfurled it on the Alfred’s mainmast on December 20, 1775, while the ship was at anchor; two days later Congress made Hopkins commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy. When he was aboard, Hopkins flew the flag from the mainmast as his personal banner. The Continental Marines also flew the flag in the early part of the war.

The U.S. Navy’s own Naval History and Heritage Command states: “There is no doubt as to the authenticity of Hopkins’s personal standard, usually referred to as ‘the Gadsden flag.’”

February 9, 1776: The Flag Comes to South Carolina

After returning to Charleston, Gadsden presented an example of the flag to the South Carolina Provincial Congress. The congressional journal for February 9, 1776, as quoted by the Naval History and Heritage Command, records that:

“Col. Gadsden presented to the Congress an elegant standard, such as is to be used by the commander in chief of the American navy; being a yellow field, with a lively representation of a rattle-snake in the middle, in the attitude of going to strike, and these words underneath, ‘DON’T TREAD ON ME!’”

The South Carolina Encyclopedia notes that the flag was ordered preserved in the hall of the Provincial Congress that day, and that the rattlesnake and motto were later used on a flag of South Carolina’s naval forces. The Charleston Museum describes the same sequence: first a flag for Hopkins, then a second of the same design for the South Carolina Congress.

It is worth being precise here. The South Carolina Encyclopedia says Gadsden’s creation of the flag rests on “inferential evidence and the weight of tradition,” and the Naval History and Heritage Command notes the historical record is incomplete on related flags such as the striped rattlesnake jack. What is well documented is Hopkins’s use of the standard and the February 1776 presentation in Charleston.

Symbolism: What the Gadsden Flag Means

Each element of the flag carries meaning.

The Timber Rattlesnake

The rattlesnake was a native American animal, unlike the lions and eagles of European heraldry. In Charleston it was seen as a “noble and useful” animal that gave warning before it attacked. The Charleston Museum notes there is some debate over which species the flag depicts (some have suggested an Eastern Diamondback or Canebrake), but most modern sources, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, identify it as a timber rattlesnake.

The Coiled Posture

The snake is coiled and ready to strike, but it is not attacking. As the Charleston Museum explains, the rattlesnake is fairly docile until threatened, and anyone who ignores its warning and steps, or “treads,” on it makes a dangerous choice. That is the heart of the flag’s message: defensive, not aggressive.

The Rattles

Franklin admired how the rattles were “distinct and independent of each other… and yet how firmly they are united together.” The image of thirteen rattles, associated with the early Marine drums, is commonly read as the thirteen colonies, separate yet bound together. (Rattle counts vary on modern reproductions.)

The Yellow Field

The 1776 journal entry describes “a yellow field.” In modern times, the yellow or gold color has also become strongly associated with libertarianism.

“Dont Tread on Me” and the Missing Apostrophe

Many versions of the flag read “Dont Tread on Me” with no apostrophe, a detail the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service points out. Other versions include it: the February 1776 journal entry, as quoted by the Navy, renders the motto as “DON’T TREAD ON ME!” Both forms are considered legitimate today, and the typeface may be serif or sans-serif.

There is no single official Gadsden flag, and many variations exist:

With or without the apostrophe in “Don’t.”
With or without green ground beneath the snake. Representations from 1885 and 1917 show nothing below the rattlesnake.
Left- or right-facing snake. The snake usually faces left, as in early depictions, but some versions face right.

Several other historic flags share the rattlesnake motif:

The First Navy Jack, with thirteen red and white stripes, a rattlesnake, and the same motto. The Naval History and Heritage Command says the evidence makes it impossible to say for certain whether the Continental Navy used it as its jack.
The Culpeper Minutemen flag of Virginia, which also pairs a coiled rattlesnake with “Don’t Tread on Me.” Wikipedia notes a flag with the rattlesnake and motto was carried by David Jameson of Culpeper County on April 27, 1775.
The United Companies of the Train of Artillery of the Town of Providence, led by Esek Hopkins before his naval command, flew a flag similar to Gadsden’s.
The U.S. Army’s War Office seal. In 1778 the Continental Congress approved a War Office seal featuring a rattlesnake holding a banner reading “This we’ll defend,” a design carried forward into the Department of the Army’s seal.

Gadsden Flag Timeline at a Glance

Year	Event
1751	Franklin’s satire in The Pennsylvania Gazette proposes sending rattlesnakes to Britain.
1754	Franklin publishes the “Join, or Die” snake woodcut.
1774	Paul Revere adds the snake to the Massachusetts Spy nameplate.
April 1775	A rattlesnake flag with the motto is carried in Culpeper County, Virginia.
December 1775	Hopkins flies Gadsden’s yellow rattlesnake standard on the Alfred; Franklin’s “American Guesser” essay appears.
February 9, 1776	Gadsden presents the flag to the South Carolina Provincial Congress.
1778	Congress approves the War Office seal with a rattlesnake and “This we’ll defend.”
1860–1862	Both sides contest the rattlesnake symbol on the eve of the Civil War.
1970s	Libertarians adopt the flag as a symbol of individual rights.
2009 onward	The flag becomes a fixture of Tea Party rallies.

The Gadsden Flag in the Civil War

The flag’s meaning was contested in the run-up to the Civil War. According to Wikipedia’s account, between 1860 and 1862 both pro- and anti-slavery sides claimed it. The Union side eventually abandoned the rattlesnake, countering it with images of snakes being stomped or eaten by eagles, while Confederates used it unofficially before turning to the Southern Cross battle flag. In 1861, a Georgia ship that entered Boston Harbor flying a version with fifteen stars, one for each slave state, was confronted by an angry crowd, who destroyed the flag. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service likewise notes that rattlesnake symbolism was used by both Union and Confederate forces at different times.

Modern Use

After the Revolution the Gadsden design was largely a historical relic for many years, but it has since become one of the most visible flags in American life.

Charleston and State License Plates

For historical reasons the flag is still popularly flown in Charleston, where Gadsden first presented it. It is also a specialty license plate option in several states. As of 2022, Wikipedia lists Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

A Libertarian Symbol

In the 1970s, libertarians began using the Gadsden flag to represent individual rights and limited government. The New Hampshire-based Free State Project uses a version with a porcupine in place of the snake.

The Tea Party and the Political Right

Beginning in 2009, the flag was widely carried by supporters of the Tea Party movement, and members of Congress displayed it at Tea Party rallies. In a 2010 NPR interview, historian Joseph Ellis traced the flag back to 1775 and discussed its adoption by the movement. The flag was also displayed during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Use on the Left and Beyond

The flag has never belonged to one side alone. In the mid-1970s, the New Left People’s Bicentennial Commission used Gadsden symbolism on buttons and literature. Rainbow versions have been used by some libertarians and LGBTQ+ self-defense advocates, and after the Dobbs decision some abortion-rights activists carried a modified version. Abroad, the flag appeared among supporters at the 2023 inauguration of Argentine president Javier Milei.

Popular Culture

The flag appears in Ron Swanson’s office in Parks and Recreation, in the series finale of Jericho, and in The Last of Us on HBO. Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album includes the song “Don’t Tread on Me,” and the album cover shows a coiled rattlesnake. A popular internet parody replaces the motto with “No Step on Snek.”

Controversy and Legal Cases

Because the flag has been embraced by so many movements, its meaning is sometimes disputed. A fair account includes these episodes:

New Rochelle, New York (2013). A Gadsden flag was raised at a vacant city-owned armory without permission. The city ordered it removed; a veterans’ group sued on First Amendment grounds. A federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that the flagpole was city property and did not represent private speech.
The EEOC case (2014). A U.S. Postal Service employee complained about a coworker repeatedly wearing a Gadsden-themed hat. The Postal Service dismissed the complaint, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reversed that dismissal and called for further investigation. The EEOC later clarified that it had not decided the flag is a “racist symbol.” As reported by The New Yorker, the agency stated that “it is clear that the Gadsden Flag originated in the Revolutionary War in a non-racial context,” while noting it is “sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts.”
Las Vegas (2014). The perpetrators of a shooting that killed two police officers and a civilian reportedly placed a Gadsden flag on one officer’s body, an act widely condemned.
Colorado Springs (2023). A seventh grader was removed from class at The Vanguard School for wearing patches including a Gadsden flag. After public criticism, including from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, the school reversed its decision.

Historian Marc Leepson, quoted by The New Yorker, summarized the flag’s origins this way: they “were completely, one hundred percent anti-British, and pro-revolution.” Its modern meaning depends heavily on context and on who is flying it. For most people who display it today, it stands for the same idea it did in 1775: leave free people alone, or face the consequences.

How to Display a Gadsden Flag

The U.S. Flag Code governs the flag of the United States, not historical or political flags like the Gadsden. Many owners still follow common courtesy when flying both:

Fly the U.S. flag in the position of honor. On the same halyard, the U.S. flag goes on top. On separate poles, it goes to its own right (the viewer’s left).
Match the flag to the pole. Common flag-industry guidance pairs a 3×5 ft flag with a house-mounted or modest in-ground pole, with larger sizes for taller poles.
Pick the right material. Nylon and polyester flags hold up better outdoors; printed cotton or embroidered versions suit indoor display.
Check local rules. Homeowners’ associations, landlords, schools, and employers may have their own display policies.

Ready to fly your own? Browse Gadsden flags and gear at the Our Gadsden Flag store.

Gadsden Flag FAQ

What does the Gadsden flag mean?

It is a warning against aggression and a symbol of vigilance and liberty. The coiled rattlesnake does not start a fight but will defend itself if stepped on. Originally aimed at British rule, it is now widely used to represent individual rights and limited government.

Why does the Gadsden flag say “Dont” without an apostrophe?

Many versions, including those described by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, print “Dont” without an apostrophe. Others, matching the 1776 South Carolina journal’s wording “DON’T TREAD ON ME!”, include it. Both versions are common today.

What snake is on the Gadsden flag?

Most sources, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, identify it as a timber rattlesnake, a species native to the region of the original Thirteen Colonies. Some, as the Charleston Museum notes, have suggested an Eastern Diamondback or Canebrake.

Who designed the Gadsden flag?

Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina, a Continental Congress delegate and later Continental Army brigadier general, is credited with designing it in 1775. The South Carolina Encyclopedia notes this attribution rests on inferential evidence and tradition.

Is the Gadsden flag a military flag?

It began as one. It was Commodore Esek Hopkins’s personal standard in the Continental Navy, and the Continental Marines flew it early in the Revolution. It is not an official flag of today’s U.S. military.

What is the difference between the Gadsden flag and the First Navy Jack?

The Gadsden flag shows a coiled rattlesnake on a plain yellow field. The First Navy Jack shows a rattlesnake stretched across thirteen red and white stripes. Both carry the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”

Is it legal to fly the Gadsden flag?

Yes. Flying a Gadsden flag on your own property is generally protected expression in the United States, though private rules such as HOA covenants, lease terms, or workplace and school dress codes can still apply.

What size Gadsden flag should I buy?

For most homes, a 3×5 ft flag is the common choice for house-mounted poles. Choose larger sizes for taller in-ground poles and smaller ones for indoor, desk, or vehicle display.

Sources

Wikipedia, “Gadsden flag.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag
Naval History and Heritage Command, “The U.S. Navy Jack.” https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/banners/usnavy-jack.html
South Carolina Encyclopedia, “Gadsden flag.” https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/gadsden-flag/
The Charleston Museum, “Gadsden Flag, 1775.” https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/news/gadsden-flag-1775-so-called-for-its/
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, “Don’t Tread on Me.” https://www.fws.gov/story/dont-tread-me
NPR, “Tea Party Adopts ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ Flag” (March 25, 2010). https://www.npr.org/2010/03/25/125184586/tea-party-adopts-dont-tread-on-me-flag
The New Yorker, “The Shifting Symbolism of the Gadsden Flag.” https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-shifting-symbolism-of-the-gadsden-flag