The Official Don't Tread On Me Blog

“Don’t Tread On Me”

The French and Indian War was the first major civil conflict in America. Taking place prior to the Revolution, this was the event that first triggered most of the disunity among the Colonies and those who inhabited them. To address this problem, Benjamin Franklin offered a straightforward solution, “Join, or Die.” This slogan was the title for the first American political cartoon, of which he was the artist (See Image 1). A rattlesnake cut up into ten pieces is illustrated in this cartoon: the six New England colonies being represented by its head and the other seven seen through the rest of the body. This piece of propaganda was intended to bring awareness to the people of the potential consequences they would suffer if they failed to unite during a time of domestic hostility. In the way that people are still forced to side with political obligations, the rattlesnake that Franklin created to unite certain factions of the people is still seen in modern-day movements that urge for unity in both political and social realms. Though its symbolism has been used in different eras, this timeless icon of unity has ridden on the back of internal tensions that are heightened in relation to a call for change. Such a notion of uniting Americans into a politically-motivated category which uses the symbol of Ben Franklin’s rattlesnake as the rallying point for the defiant group’s cause is something that has been evident throughout our nation’s history since the French and Indian War and even still today through its effective use in the Tea Party Movement.
When Franklin created the illustration, the words “join or die” sent a forceful, commanding ultimatum that stated that if the people do not come together for this cause of independence, the idea of unity that was building in the Colonies for years would self-destruct. The icon evolved gradually into the Gadsden Flag, the most commonly seen form of Franklin’s snake today with the words, “Don’t Tread on Me” placed below it. In this furthering of Franklin’s message that was now used as a battle flag in the fight for independence, the snake’s red eyes correlate to the aggressive pioneering attitude of the early settlers while the thirteen rings on its rattle come to symbolize the colonies. Their making up one rattle, the snake’s tool to warn off an attack, they are now united as one due to their willingness to strike against the unfair treatment they were receiving from their King in Britain.
The Tea Party is an emerging political group calling Americans to action against “Big Government” that has adopted the Gadsden flag and other forms of the “Don’t Tread on Me” text as their identity. Their use of the rattlesnake is seen as a way to incite the rebellious and passionate characteristics of the 18th century patriots into 21st century conservative voters. Unlike the way that that the Gadsden flag was created as a sign of pride for the whole of a nation against their enemy, the Tea Party has adopted it into one that unites only a certain category of Americans who are using it as a symbol of rebellion against their own people. The intended meaning of the flag has been altered from its original context under the Tea Party Movement, and thus, has taken a more controversial role in society than it did in the Revolutionary era.
Because of this, people are most likely mystified when they view the image of the flag, using their previous experiences and current beliefs to develop a meaning of the image that applies in any way that they want it to. The revolutionary colonists used the flag as a mystical tool that urged of need for unity against their British oppressors. Using the inspiring metaphorical values that the colonists found in the rattlesnake during their fight for a political voice, the Tea Party Movement has taken the identity of the flag as a way to spur a sense of patriotism in the people who they seek to captivate with their message. Taking advantage of the mystical ties that the Gadsden flag has embedded in our history, the Tea Party has also managed to do so by altering the face of party lines in Washington, D.C.—most recently in the fall November elections of this year as the Tea Party influenced candidates which overtook 60 seats in the House.
Similar to the Tea Party’s urging for a greater awareness among voters about the current happenings in Washington, D.C. and statehouses nationwide, Benjamin Franklin’s appeal to the American people was to come together and fight for a common cause. Just as in any group, success correlates directly to strength and unity, key elements that Franklin saw as necessary in the fight for independence. As the colonists who held true to these strong ideals had a passion for their country and were not receptive to any form of oppression that they felt from the British, the Tea Party has taken an identical approach to creating a fury of followers in the wake of a 2010 election that saw the rise of their candidates coming out of a belief in the potential impact their movement could make in Washington. Franklin’s cartoon was a great step to encourage people to unite, ultimately resulting in the birth of a new country. This historical significance has become a rallying point that the Tea Party uses to corral people in the same way, except this time with the motive of finding the birth of a new political identity for the nation.
I believe the Gadsden flag is a tremendous representation of what it takes to be an American, as we are a country founded by a group of patriots who wanted the freedom to make their own choices. I credit the Tea Party with holding a firm grasp to these principles as the basis for inciting a similar movement in the modern world. Fighting for small government and other strong stances absolutely justifies their use of the Gadsden flag, due to the typically oppressed conditions these ideas have been approached by from our current government. I can relate to Tea Party supporters in the sense that we share similar political stances and possess like characteristics when it comes to being outspoken and passionate when the time calls to stand up for our beliefs.
The political division of American people today is similar to the dissent that the Founding Fathers saw amongst their people, but in that sense it is what makes our country politically diverse. An abundance of Americans share the characteristics of the rattlesnake on the Gadsden Flag, which means there is no solution to agree on every issue. Each person wants to live their life created by their own rules, which makes division therefore inevitable. What can be agreed on, though, is that we as Americans contain a blazing passion inside of us that seeks to rally behind a cause that has these interests we associate with at the fore of their mission.
The Tea Party has managed to do so in using the Gadsden flag as the face of their fight. Unlike when it was initially used as a defiant symbol against a government halfway across the world during the American Revolution, the party instead uses it as a way to send a similarly defiant message to their own government. Disagreeing with the decisions made by a predominantly liberal government, they use the flag to represent their conservative thought, using the “Don’t Tread on Me” text as a fitting motto for their fight against excess government control. The content of its words sends a message to Washington, D.C. that the hard-working people of our nation want the government to be in their hands. In doing so they’ve seemingly sent a warning to the legislators that if the government continues to make decisions without cross-party consultancy, the fabric that stitches the House and Senate’s majority voice will change, just as it did last month when Tea Party backed Republicans gained nine more seats in the Senate. The most significant impact the Tea Party made on the elections is the 700 state seats overtaken by Republican candidates. The Gadsden flag was used to rally behind a common ideal that the earliest Americans saw to be reflective of the message our founding fathers laid forth. In doing so, the Gadsden flag was successful in uniting the separate factions of citizens who came to create our nation; a role it’s once again experiencing as the symbol of the 21st century Tea Party movement.

Do you have a history buff in your family?  Do you have a student graduating college with a history degree?  Do you have a history teacher or professor that you’d like to give a gift to?  Gadsden and Culpeper has the perfect gift idea for you.

Everyone needs to dress up at some point in their lives.  When they do, they are going to need a tie.  At Gadsden and Culpeper we have a selection of silk ties that are influenced by history.

The tie designs range from the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to the Boston Tea Party, the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, and historical fire arms.

While wearing these ties, any history buff will be able to signal to others that he is knowledgeable.  These ties also allow you to proudly display your love for your country.  So make sure that you check out all of the items available at Gadsden and Culpeper, because they are all influenced by history.

March 5^th marks the anniversary of the Boston Massacre, an event which sparked the original Patriots of this nation into action to free themselves from the chains of oppression.

As British taxation was becoming more and more protested, British soldiers were sent to occupy the Colonies to ensure that the taxes were enforced. This lead to the Colonists to grow even more angry, as British soldiers would compete for other jobs when they were off duty.

Boston residents gathered outside the Customs House and started to taunt a lone British guard, going as so far as the pelt him with snowballs. The guard called for reinforcements. A squad of British Redcoats arrived under the command of Captain Thomas Preston, who ordered his men to fix bayonets and to stand at the ready.

Fuming with anger, the Bostonian colonists dared the soldiers to open fire. Due to the snow, one of the soldiers slipped, which caused his rifle to accidentally discharge. This prompted rest of the soldiers to fire. When the smoke cleared, five colonist were dead or mortally wounded: Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, and James Caldwell. These were the first casualties of the Revolution—the first men to die for America.

The entire company of soldiers were put on trial and were actually defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy Jr. in order to show support of the colonial justice system. Two of the six soldiers, including Preston, were found guilty of manslaughter. They were branded on the thumb and released.

It is important that we remember this significant day in our nation’s history as it was the first time that Patriot’s blood was split in defense of our country.

Patriots—we are in the dead of winter.  Some areas of the country have been blasted with snow.  Temperatures are cold and the wind is ferocious.

But as miserable as it may be outside this time of year, we must always remember what our forefathers endured so that we may enjoy the freedom that we have today.

232 years ago, at this time, the Continental Army, under command of General George Washington, had set up winter quarter in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Not only did they have to worry about attacks from the British, but they had to fight harsh winds, dangerously low temperatures, little food, tattered clothing, and an onslaught of disease.

But these Patriots were up for the challenge.  Not only did they manage to survive the winter, but they also reorganized and retrained themselves into an army that was ready to take the fight to the British.  Their efforts were rewarded when they were able to declare themselves an independent nation.

So as you bundle up and ridicule nature for the cold temperatures, remember how our founding fathers pushed through a more difficult winter, and came out ready to free their nation.  The cold of winter can only affect us if we let it.  Don’t let winter tread on you!

Let us know how you fight back against the winter in the form of a comment.

From February 4 until February 6, more than 600 Tea Party leaders gathered together for the first National Tea Party Convention, where supporters of the movement could share the message and develop real, effective strategies for getting the word out about the Tea Party, as well as for taking on all of the government issues that plague our nation.

“The tea party movement has grown out of a sense of frustration about government here in Washington,” senior adviser David Axelrod said Friday in an interview that will air Sunday on C-SPAN. “It’s not isolated to Democrats or Republicans. . . . There is a sense that this town is consumed by politics, that people are consumed by their own ambitions and that we’re not dealing with the real problems.”

From socialist agendas to the feeling that the Constitution is being trampled on in Washington, the Tea Party Convention was designed to come up with solutions to these issues. With tons of leaders from around the nation,and a keynote address by former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, anyone who attended would agree that the event was a step in the right direction in terms of getting the movement really going.

Start spreading the message of the movement in your community. Take your cue from this convention.

Former Alaskan Govenor, Sarah Palin, was the keynote speaker at the National Tea Party Convention. The convention was held on February 4-6, 2010.
On the final night of the convention, Palin began her remarks by stating that the Democratic agenda is, “running out of time.” She quickly added that the recent election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate from the state of Massachusetts, is a clear indicator of impending political change.
Palin also referred to the strength of the Tea Party and seemed to align herself with the movement. Several times during her speech she used the word “us” to describe the convention-goers.
Palin took the time to criticize President Obama on his administration’s handling of the Christmas Day Bomber. She was upset with the fact that supposed terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, will be allowed to seek legal council for his trial. Palin is fed up with the fact that the President is treating this incident more like a crime as opposed to an act of war. Palin added, “Treating this like a mere law enforcement matter places our country at great risk. To win that war, we need a commander-in-chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern.”
The former governor also attacked the President on issues such as economic spending, national security, and foreign policy.
The Tea Party movement seems stronger than ever, and with a new ally in Sarah Palin, there is much to look forward to in the coming days.

Want to be patriotic even when you’e not shopping? Looking for a place to display your patriotism other than your wardrobe?

Consider looking into SIRIUS Satellite Radio: SIRIUS Patriot Channel 144. You can tune in from your computer, or from your vehicle, to listen to conservative perspectives from commentators who like to tackle every issue and not hold anything back.

With talk show hosts such as Bill Bennett, Mike Church, Andrew Wilkow, and Sean Hannity, there is a wide array of topics and genres from political discussion, government policies, news headlines, sports, and popular culture. There is a little something for everyone.

Have an opinion that you can’t keep to yourself? Feel free to call in and be a part of the station that holds the United States in extremely high regards and connect with others who share your passion.

Let us know which shows or hosts are your favorites!

The most ambitious of the tea party events planned in 2010 looks to be the Tea Party Express III. The event is a 20-day, 42-city road trip that is scheduled to start in March featuring a cross-country caravan tour.

Organizers are encouraging supporters to get in buses and join them (with Gadsden flags waving, of course) at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, on March 27 and to continue along for the ride as the caravan makes stops in cities like Little Rock, Arkansas; Springfield, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; Detroit, Michigan; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Boston, Massachusetts. The final stop is Washington, D.C., on April 15 – which is Tax Day.

Will you be hopping on the caravan in March? Is it stopping in your hometown? Keep us posted on what you’re doing to support the Tea Party Express and how it is received in your community when it stops.

2009 was a big year for the Tea Party Movement and 2010 looks to be even more eventful. According reports from major movement officials, the first major event of the year looks to kick off tomorrow (January 20) when tea party activists plan a national strike marking the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration.

“The tea party movement has the potential to drive public opinion and electoral support in ways that are hard to fully appreciate right now. The American people are angry at both parties, and the tea party movement fills an important void that neither party currently addresses,” said Democratic strategist and Fox News contributor Doug Schoen in a recent interview on the start of the Movement’s 2010 season.

The strike, which is backed by discontent over healthcare, government spending, taxation, bailouts, and global warming policy, promises to be a very pivotal start to 2010 for the Tea Party Movement and we want to know – what are you doing to support the cause tomorrow? Will you be organizing in your home town or trekking to D.C. to make your voice heard? Will you fly a Gadsden flag or hand out literature in your community? Tell us what you’re doing to spread the word in 2010.

On January 14, 1784, the United States Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, marking an end to the war for America’s independence. But more than 225 years later, do we still remember the importance of the revolution? Of the brave men who fought for freedom? Of the strides made in our nation’s history? Unfortunately, many forget that it took a revolution to really make change in our nation. It took bloodshed. It took courage. It took patriotism. No matter how you look at it, sacrifices were made, and they deserve to be recognized.

Take time this week to learn about our nation’s history by reading up on the Revolutionary War. Think about what heroes of our nation looked to accomplish when faced with adversity. Think about the strides they made to create a better future. Think about their commitment to freedom and their bravery in the face of death. Think about all of these things, and more, but most importantly, recognize that this conflict was the start of a great nation; one that was based on freedom, pure and simple.