By Craig Bushon
On my property, the American flag flies first. Beneath it, the Gadsden flag.
That arrangement is intentional.
For me, the Gadsden flag is not a political provocation or a grievance signal. It is patriotic memorabilia rooted in American history and in the governing philosophy that made the Republic possible. It does not replace the American flag, nor does it compete with it. It exists in relationship to it.
In recent years, the Gadsden flag has been reduced to a caricature. Many people are told what it means today without ever being told where it came from. That reduction ignores its origins, its purpose, and the political logic behind it.
This piece is not written to inflame or persuade emotionally. It is written to restore historical context—what the Gadsden flag meant when it was created, how it functioned at the founding, and why many Americans still view it as deeply patriotic.
A Symbol Born in a World of Naval Power
The Gadsden flag emerged in 1775, when tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain had moved beyond debate and into preparation for armed conflict. Britain had imposed new taxes, restricted trade, dissolved colonial assemblies, and stationed troops among civilians.
But one element of British dominance is often overlooked: naval supremacy.
The British Empire projected its power through control of the seas. Maritime dominance allowed Britain to regulate colonial commerce, enforce blockades, and apply economic pressure across the Atlantic. Any meaningful resistance to imperial authority required not only armies but ships.
When the Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Continental Navy, it was not symbolic. It was strategic.
One of the men involved in that effort was Christopher Gadsden, a South Carolina delegate, merchant, and political organizer. Gadsden understood that sovereignty was not theoretical—it depended on control and defense of trade.
When the navy was formed, Gadsden presented a yellow flag bearing a coiled rattlesnake and the words “Don’t Tread on Me” to Commodore Esek Hopkins.
This was not a protest banner. It was a naval flag meant to fly on ships defending American commerce against imperial enforcement. Its message was precise: the colonies did not seek aggression, but they would defend themselves if coerced.
Attached to the Continental Navy, the Gadsden flag was a direct challenge to Britain’s leverage—not rhetorical theater.
Why the Rattlesnake Was Chosen
The rattlesnake had already entered American political language through the influence of Benjamin Franklin. In 1754, Franklin published the “Join, or Die” cartoon, using a segmented snake to warn that colonial disunity meant vulnerability.
Later, Franklin elaborated on why the rattlesnake was the appropriate American emblem. It was native to the continent. It did not strike unless provoked. It gave warning before attacking. And once engaged, it fought decisively.
The symbolism was deliberate. The colonies did not frame themselves as aggressors. They framed themselves as a people asserting autonomy.
“Don’t Tread on Me” was not an invitation to chaos. It was a conditional statement: respect our liberty, and there will be peace.
Liberty as a Boundary
One of the most persistent modern misunderstandings of the Gadsden flag is the belief that it represents hostility toward government itself. Historically, that interpretation collapses under scrutiny.
The American founders believed in governance. What they rejected was unlimited governance.
The Constitution became the structural answer to the very warning expressed in the Gadsden flag. It enumerated federal powers rather than granting open-ended authority. It divided government into branches. It instituted checks and balances. It embedded limitations directly into law.
“Don’t Tread on Me” was not anti-government. It was pro-limited government.
The flag does not oppose constitutional order; it presupposes it.
Two Flags, One Hierarchy
Flying the American flag above the Gadsden flag is not contradictory. It is hierarchical.
The American flag represents the nation, its unity, its shared sacrifice, and the legitimacy of its constitutional structure.
The Gadsden flag represents the condition under which that legitimacy remains intact—that power must respect the limits placed upon it by the people.
Seen through this lens, the Gadsden flag is not anti-American. It is foundationally American.
For many Americans, displaying it is not an act of defiance. It is an act of remembrance—a recognition that liberty is preserved through vigilance and institutional restraint.
A Symbol That Did Not Disappear
The Gadsden flag did not vanish after independence. Variations of the rattlesnake and the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto appeared in early American naval traditions and military insignia. The symbol remained embedded in the country’s institutional memory, even if it was less prominent than the stars and stripes.
Modern visibility does not represent the invention of a new meaning. It represents the resurfacing of a foundational one.
The Question of Modern Controversy
Over time, the Gadsden flag has been adopted by a range of political movements, including some whose rhetoric and conduct diverge sharply from its historical meaning. Because of that, some institutions have labeled the symbol itself inherently extremist.
That conclusion is historically unsound.
Symbols are not morally accountable for every individual who uses them. The American flag has been present at moments of unity and moments of injustice alike. Meaning must be anchored in origin, not reassigned through selective modern misuse.
A symbol’s meaning cannot be retroactively rewritten through collective guilt.
To apply that logic universally would render most historical symbols unusable.
Patriotism Rooted in Principle
The Gadsden flag represents a form of patriotism grounded in conditional loyalty—the idea that allegiance to a nation is strongest when it is rooted in principle rather than blind obedience.
When flown beneath the American flag, it does not challenge the Republic. It affirms the principles that sustain it: limited power, accountable governance, and liberty defined by boundaries.
For me, that is why it is personal.
It is not a protest. It is not a rejection. It is a historical reminder of the conditions under which this country declared its independence and structured its government.
Bottom line
The Gadsden flag was never about intimidation. It was about restraint—on both sides of authority.
It warned that liberty, once violated, would be defended. At the same time, it reflected a preference for peace, provided autonomy was respected.
Understanding the flag requires historical literacy, not reflexive judgment. When placed in its proper context, “Don’t Tread on Me” is not a threat. It is a principle embedded deeply in the American founding.
Disclaimer
This article is presented for educational and historical purposes. The views expressed are those of the author and do not constitute endorsement of any political party, organization, or movement. Historical symbols discussed herein are examined in their original context, not as endorsements of modern groups or interpretations that may invoke them. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources and form their own informed conclusions.
