Some parts of the United States today have declared the flag unsavory with some uncomforted reports about arrests on people who have the flag on display.A recent addition however, is the green grass beneath the snake. Most representations of the flag dating from 1887 to 1917 show a completely yellow background where the snake is resting.However, some versions today show that the snake is facing the right. The earliest versions of the flag show that the rattlesnake is facing to the left.The word “Don’t” may be written with or without the apostrophe.The typeface can either be serif of sans-serif.Currently, there are several variations of this flag but the message remains the same.įollowing are some of the minor changes that may be found for the Gadsden flag. The Gadsden flag was created by Christopher Gadsden who was an American statesman and general. In a satirical article, Benjamin Franklin suggested that the Americas send rattlesnakes to Britain as a response to their sending of convicted criminals to the colonies. The fact is that the eastern diamondback rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake were both fairly abundant within the colonies. The use of the snake or more specifically the rattlesnake did not happen by chance. This tells people not to step on or take advantage of the Americans or they will strike. Basically, the “Don’t Tread on Me” phrase combined with the snake ready to strike is a warning. The symbolism in the flag partnered by the image holds deep meaning. This is known as the Gadsden flag and falls within the historical flags of America. The phrase was written under the image of a rattle snake and emblazoned on a yellow flag. Dont-tread-on-me-meaning.jpgDon’t Tread on Me is a very strong statement in the United States with very deep historical roots.