To begin to unravel the controversy that lies within the flag, one must understand the history. This flag was developed when the thirteen colonies were trying to obtain freedom from the British during the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin can be connected with this flag because in 1751, he wrote a commentary to “thank the Brits for their policy of sending convicted felons to America [and] American colonists should send rattlesnakes to England” (“Rattlesnake Flags & Early American Snake Symbolism”). In 1775, a snake symbol arose in areas all over the colonies. It is unknown who exactly started the use of the rattlesnake however, it is known when it was used in a combat. By the fall of 1775, “the British were occupying Boston and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge,” short on ammunition (“Gadsden Flag History”). In October, private letters were sent to the Second Continental Congress “that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the British troops” (Gadsden Flag History). It was then decided that the colonies needed the ammunition more than the British, so a plan was devised to …show more content…
When people look at the phrase ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ they automatically create their own version to what it mean. Two common versions of this are “leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone” or “I will attack if you attack” (“Gadsden Flag TRUE MEANING AND HISTORY”). When one says these phrases, they imply that if something is done to them, they will do the same back in retaliation or peace. To tread on someone is to walk over them and crush them. Some people choose to take this word aggressively and interpret it as though the one displaying the flag with hurt another and that the other should be cautious. The society today has buckled the true meaning of the flag and has made it