Don’t Tread on Me Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

Don’t Tread on Me is a common yet highly controversial motto and symbol in the USA. Learn what Don’t Tread on Me means today!

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If you’ve ever seen signs and flags that said “Don’t Tread on Me” and didn’t know what they meant, don’t worry! We have everything you need to know about this common phrase right here. 

What Does Don’t Tread on Me Mean?

“Don’t Tread on Me” is an American motto used to express American patriotism and individualism. It has been used by American protesters in rallies for hundreds of years to express people’s desire to have freedom without overarching government rule. 

This phrase is most commonly seen in the modern world written underneath a coiled rattlesnake on a yellow flag. This flag was created during the Revolutionary War to tell the British that the Americans were tired of having to live under their rule. 

The flag has since been appropriated for use in many other contexts in the United States’s political arenas, but it is generally used by conservative political parties. 

What Is the History of Don’t Tread on Me?

In the late 1700s, the American colonies became upset with British rule. Most American colonists at the time were employees in British organizations where they didn’t get much say in how they lived and operated. 

As complaints increased on the American side, Great Britain sent over more police officers to enforce their laws and taxes. Needless to say, this did not sit well with the American colonists. 

Amidst growing tensions and increased frustration with the British, people began to form coalitions and launch organizations to ensure every complaint was heard by the British. After that didn’t go well, American colonists started to look for other ways to change their situation. 

While considering an American Revolution, the first American political cartoon was made. It featured a snake chopped into multiple pieces, one for each primary American colony. This cartoon showed that even though the colonies were all different, they could find unity. 

Based on that visual, Colonel Christopher Gadsden from South Carolina decided to make a flag stating “Don’t Tread on Me” as an emblem of vigilance. Because of this, the “don’t tread on me” flag is also known as the Gadsden flag. 

The Gadsden flag became one of the most popular images of the Revolutionary War and has maintained visual prominence ever since. 

This flag was lauded by many throughout the American Revolution as an emblem of magnanimity. It was the first navy jack in the United States and was the personal standard flag of Commodore Esek Hopkins and his warship, a prominent navy commander of continental marines. Benjamin Franklin was also an avid supporter of this flag and its concepts. 

The Gadsden Flag in the Modern World

Since the Revolutionary War, the Gadsden Flag has been used in a wide variety of ways. However, its use has become a highly contentious and debated symbol in modern America over the past few decades. 

The people who dislike this flag believe that it symbolizes racial discrimination and harassment. Christopher Gadsden has since become known as an owner and trader of enslaved people within the continental navy. 

The flag was initially created to be a “strong picture of the temper and conduct of America.” However, many people believe that as time has gone on, the flag has become an outdated representation of what the country should represent. These people dislike how the phrase represents the values of the past more than the present. 

Modern Debate Over Use of the Gadsden Flag

People who support the flag see it as a motto of true courage and historic value. Various political organizations, including the controversial Tea Party movement, have embraced the Gadsden Flag. It has been used in Tea Party rallies and by demonstrators around the United States. 

Some states—including Alabama, Arizona, and Virginia—have made the Gadsden flag into a specialty license plate that can be purchased at various DMVs for a personal touch to people’s cars. For some people in the USA, the Gadsden Flag is simply a touchstone of American individualism and history. 

However, these very different opinions have led to much debate and legal action relating to this emblem. Some people have filed complaints against their co-workers for wearing or displaying the Gadsden Flag, which has created Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) cases. 

The more liberal political view is that the display and use of the Gadsden flag are unsympathetic to the old generational wounds that the flag reinforces. The more conservative view appeals to both the first and second Amendments, appealing to the freedom of speech and expression.  

Conclusion

Although viewpoints on the meaning of this flag are varied and often at odds with each other, it is still very common to see the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto in use around America, especially in more conservative or southern states. 

While its use in the capital of the USA is no longer very common, its historical impact is still very well known. The debate on its current place in American symbolism is still largely up for debate, and only time will tell if the Gadsden flag and its motto will see a resurgence as time goes on. 

Sources: 

  1. US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | EEOC
  2. Revolutionary War – Timeline, Facts & Battles | HISTORY
  3. Christopher Gadsden (US National Park Service) | National Park Service