Its design proclaims an assertive warning of vigilance and willingness to act in defense against coercion. It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag, along with the Moultrie flag. The flag is named after politician Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution. Some modern versions of the flag include an apostrophe. Beneath the rattlesnake are the words: 'Dont Tread on Me', all in uppercase letters. The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike.
( November 2020)Ī yellow banner charged with a yellow coiled timber rattlesnake facing towards the hoist sitting upon a patch of green grass, with thirteen rattles for the thirteen colonies, the words 'Dont Tread on Me' positioned below the snake in black. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points.