The picture posted below is the Gadsden Flag, a flag designed during Revolutionary America. From its design we see one of the major sentiments prevalent during the American Revolution. The rattlesnake and slogan best represent the idea of the government not encroaching on people’s rights, as before a threat approaches a rattlesnake always gives a warning with its rattle. If the aggressor is to proceed any closer, the snake bites. Coupled with the slogan “Don’t tread on me” it accurately warns the audience that only harm will come from injuring them. This connects with the Declaration of Independence in which it is stated that “Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” In this statement we see that like a rattlesnake who has been given its warning and is ready to strike, the United States has already made fair warnings to Britain about its transgressions, and yet rather than heeding to them Britain has only added insult to injury, which has led America to finally revolt. Do think there are any other ways this sentiment is best expressed? How do you interpret the symbolism of this flag?
Hey Erik! I really like your assessment of this snake illustration, as well as the way you interpreted the symbology as it relates to American identity formation. A detail which I also noticed was the snake’s wide-open mouth. I interpreted it as our right as Americans to speak, even if at times what we may say isn’t inherently peaceful or conformist.
Something this picture reminded me of was the ‘Join Or Die’ illustration by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s propaganda featured a dead snake which was disembodied, with each segment of the snake representing a different colony. This image was meant to encourage a union amongst the colonies or risk forfeiting the evidence they were trying so hard to achieve. I think that image definitely applies to this one as well because both of them present serpentine imagery with an intent to garner American fervor in the face of British hegemony.
I think it could also be interpreted as the relationship between citizens and government in early America, where many people were wary of expanding the federal government in case it would encroach on states and individual rights. I can’t really think of another way it would be expressed better, because rattlesnakes are unique in that they only live in the Americas and didn’t exist in Europe and they really embody the concept of ‘don’t tread on me’ because they generally leave people alone unless bothered and give many clear warnings before they strike.