Don't tread on me

[Shygal]

I know this isnt really about prepping, more so of the prepping mindset, but a lot of people that post here have mentioned things like this. Since I cant ask in GC, I wanted to ask it here.

What is the significance of that particular flag, and the meaning behind it? And why is it used by so many that are fed up with the government?
I see a lot of TEA Taxed Enough Already signs here, with that flag on it.

I know it's basic history but not why it was made, why the snake, why the phrase, and why is it used now?

[seedspreader]

The snake was representative of the colonies.

The timber rattlesnake and eastern diamondback rattlesnake both populate the geographical areas of the original thirteen colonies. Their use as a symbol of the American colonies can be traced back to the publications of Benjamin Franklin. In 1751, he made the first reference to the rattlesnake in a satirical commentary published in his Pennsylvania Gazette. It had been the policy of Britain to send convicted criminals to America, so Franklin suggested that they thank the British by sending rattlesnakes to England.[1]
Benjamin Franklin's "Join, or Die" cartoon

In 1754, during the French and Indian War, Franklin published his famous woodcut of a snake cut into eight sections. It represented the colonies, with New England joined together as the head and South Carolina as the tail, following their order along the coast. Under the snake was the message "Join, or Die". This was the first political cartoon published in an American newspaper.

As the American Revolution grew, the snake began to see more use as a symbol of the colonies. In 1774, Paul Revere added it to the title of his paper, the Massachusetts Spy, as a snake joined to fight a British dragon.[2] In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin published an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal under the pseudonym American Guesser in which he suggested that the rattlesnake was a good symbol for the American spirit:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag

[Our Little Farm]

Thank you Seedspreader, and thank you for that question Shygal. I did not know either.

OLF

[Txsteader]

Contemporary Significance

Considered one of the first flags of the United States, the flag was later replaced by the current Stars and Stripes (or Old Glory) flag. Since the Revolution, the flag has seen times of reintroduction as a symbol of American patriotism, a symbol of disagreement with government, or a symbol of support for civil liberties.

[Honduras Trish]

Can I tag onto this thread and ask another question? I've seen blog sites (often with the "don't tread on me" flag on them) with III on them . . . what's that about?

[Rainy]

I have this flag flying at my Home.First saw it on Jericho(tvseries) and thought if i could talk to the goverment that is what i would want to say... Did research on it for quite awhile, and it flys right outside my Front door....along with My American Flag....

[Txsteader]

Originally Posted by Honduras Trish

Can I tag onto this thread and ask another question? I've seen blog sites (often with the "don't tread on me" flag on them) with III on them . . . what's that about?

I haven't noticed that. It just has 'III' alone on the web page or on the flag?

[Ernie]

III stands for the "Three Percenters". It's a disorganized movement of folks who are announcing their intent to stand against tyranny. Just what act of tyranny will actually galvanize them is up for debate, as they seem content to let any number of actions go by without coalescing.

The name stems from the number of Americans who actually fought against England in the Revolutionary War. They estimate that only 3% of the population in the colonies actually rose in organized resistance to the crown.

A number of blogs sport this or similar logos, announcing to the world that they are part of the Three Percent movement. Mike Vanderboegh of http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/ has taken on the mantle of an unofficial spokesman of the Three Percent movement after he (just a relatively unknown blogger at the time) was specifically called out BY NAME as an enemy of our nation by Bill Clinton.



Other noteworthies of the movement include Bob Wright of the New Mexico militia and Alvie at "The Cliffs of Insanity" blog.

[lorian]

Wow, that's great seedspreader..will be teaching that next week to the kiddos.

[Honduras Trish]

Originally Posted by Txsteader

I haven't noticed that. It just has 'III' alone on the web page or on the flag?

I don't think it was on the flag. I've just noticed both items on the same sites, rather often.

Originally Posted by Ernie

III stands for the "Three Percenters". It's a disorganized movement of folks who are announcing their intent to stand against tyranny. Just what act of tyranny will actually galvanize them is up for debate, as they seem content to let any number of actions go by without coalescing.

The name stems from the number of Americans who actually fought against England in the Revolutionary War. They estimate that only 3% of the population in the colonies actually rose in organized resistance to the crown.

A number of blogs sport this or similar logos, announcing to the world that they are part of the Three Percent movement. Mike Vanderboegh of http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/ has taken on the mantle of an unofficial spokesman of the Three Percent movement after he (just a relatively unknown blogger at the time) was specifically called out BY NAME as an enemy of our nation by Bill Clinton.



Other noteworthies of the movement include Bob Wright of the New Mexico militia and Alvie at "The Cliffs of Insanity" blog.

Thanks Ernie, I appreciate the info!

[Win07_351]

Originally Posted by Ernie

They estimate that only 3% of the population in the colonies actually rose in organized resistance to the crown.

And many fought at their own expense.

[Shygal]

Thanks for the answers here

I too remember it from Jericho