The Don't Tread on Me symbol, also called the Gadsden Flag, was designed by Christopher Gadsden in 1775. It was one of the first flags of the United States, but, of course, it was later replaced as the official flag by the red, white, and blue image we know today. However, it's recently made a return as the symbol of the Tea Party. You can get one of these Wild Animal Patches to show your support for this new party. The Don't Tread On Me Snake Patch Large looks great on the back of a jacket or vest.
The flag was inspired by the first marines of the United States. As they marched through Philadelphia, they carried yellow drums featuring the rattlesnake and the 'Don't Tread On Me' saying. Continental Colonel Gadsden was one of seven Marine Committee members charged with outfitting these marines, and as a part of that, he created the yellow Gadsden flag for Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first commander-in-chief of the navy. Hopkins flew this flag on his flagship. Gadsden also sent a copy of his flag to the congress of his home state, South Carolina.
The flag had fallen into disuse for years, although a few companies like Nike have used the coiled snake in advertising. The band Metallica also released a song called 'Don't Tread on Me' and used the Gadsden Flag as an inspiration for an album cover.
This version of the snake was drawn by Arturo Vilmenay, a talented artist who has designed some of the best patches on The Cheap Place. It measures 12 x 8 inches, so it's going to take up the entire back of a garment.
