Gadsden Flag Don’t Tread On Me Flags Double Sided Double-Embroidered Outdoor Nylon Sewn Flags 3 x 5 ft.

Gadsden Flag — Don’t Tread on Me Flags for Sale

Size:  3×5 ft Military Quality Double Nylon Embroidered Double Sided Design

America’s Oldest Flag, Still Flying

On January 4, 1776 — more than six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed — a yellow flag with a coiled rattlesnake and thirteen words rose above the deck of the USS Alfred in the harbor at Philadelphia. It was the first flag ever flown by an officer of what would become the United States Navy, and it carried a message that has never lost its edge in the 250 years since.

Don’t Tread on Me.

Christopher Gadsden and the Birth of a Symbol

Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina was one of the most outspoken voices for American independence in the Continental Congress. A merchant, military officer, and committed revolutionary, Gadsden understood that the new nation needed more than words — it needed symbols. He designed the yellow rattlesnake flag and presented it personally to Commodore Esek Hopkins, the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy, as Hopkins prepared to take command of America’s first naval fleet.

Hopkins flew the flag from his flagship, the Alfred, on that January morning in 1776 — making it the earliest documented flag of the United States in any official capacity, predating the Stars and Stripes by more than a year.

The flag is also known as the Hopkins Flag in recognition of the man who first flew it into American history.

The Rattlesnake — Benjamin Franklin’s Argument

The rattlesnake had been building symbolic weight in colonial America for decades before Gadsden formalized it on his flag. Benjamin Franklin had used the timber rattlesnake to represent the American colonies as early as 1751, and in a 1775 essay published in the Pennsylvania Journal, he made the case in detail:

The rattlesnake, Franklin argued, was a uniquely American creature found nowhere else on earth. It never strikes without first giving warning — its rattle a declaration of intent before violence. It does not initiate attacks. It never retreats. Its eyes are bright and sharp, and once provoked, it is absolutely deadly. Each rattle on its tail, Franklin noted, represented one of the colonies — individual segments that functioned as a unified whole.

No imported heraldic lion or eagle could have carried the same meaning. The rattlesnake was American by birth, American in character, and American in its refusal to be provoked without response.

Esek Hopkins and the Continental Navy

Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island was a seasoned merchant mariner when the Continental Congress appointed him the first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy in December 1775. His first significant operation — the Nassau Expedition of March 1776 — saw his small fleet successfully raid British-held Nassau in the Bahamas, capturing cannon, powder, and military stores desperately needed by the Continental Army.

Hopkins flew the Gadsden Flag alongside the First Navy Jack — a striped rattlesnake flag — as part of the visual identity of America’s first naval force, establishing a flag tradition that would outlast the Revolution itself.

Two and a Half Centuries of Relevance

Few flags in American history have traveled as far across political and cultural contexts as the Gadsden. It flew with Continental Navy ships in the Revolution. It was carried by militia and Patriot units throughout the war. It was adopted by the U.S. Navy as a historical ensign and has been flown continuously by the oldest commissioned vessel in the US Navy fleet.

In modern use it has been embraced by libertarian and small-government movements, military veterans’ organizations, and special operations units — each finding in the coiled rattlesnake the same core meaning Gadsden intended: a free people, patient and peaceful until the moment they are not.

Flag Details & Construction

Quality Tier: Military Quality — Double Nylon Embroidered (2-Ply), Double Sided

This is the highest-rated flag construction available — built for conditions where lesser flags fail.

• Size: 3 feet x 5 feet
• Material: Double-ply nylon — twice the thickness and durability of single-layer construction
• Construction: Fully embroidered on both sides — words and design read correctly from front AND back, not mirrored
• Thread: Bright embroidery thread adds texture, depth, and visual weight
• Edges: Double and quad stitched throughout
• Header: Reinforced metal grommet rings for maximum durability
• Weather rating: All-weather — built for permanent outdoor display including heavy weather, ships at sea, and year-round exposure without taking down

Recommended Uses

• Permanent all-weather outdoor pole display
• Ships, vessels, and marine environments
• Military encampments, armed conflict, battlefield display
• Indoor honor guard and memorial display
• Historical reenactments and educational exhibits
• Premium collector piece for American history and patriotic display

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Gadsden Flag historically significant? It is the oldest recorded flag flown in an official United States military capacity — first raised aboard the USS Alfred on January 4, 1776, more than six months before the Declaration of Independence. It predates the Stars and Stripes and represents the earliest visual identity of the American naval tradition.

Who was Christopher Gadsden? Colonel Christopher Gadsden was a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress, a merchant, and one of the earliest and most vocal advocates for American independence. He designed the yellow rattlesnake flag and presented it to Commodore Esek Hopkins in early 1776 as a personal flag for the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy.

Why is a rattlesnake on the flag? The timber rattlesnake was used by Benjamin Franklin and other colonial thinkers as a symbol of the American character — a creature that never strikes without warning, never retreats, and is uniquely native to the American continent. Gadsden adopted the symbol to represent a people who sought peace but would respond with deadly force if provoked.

What does “Don’t Tread on Me” mean? It is a declaration of sovereignty and warning — a statement that the American colonies (and later the American people) would not accept subjugation, interference, or aggression without response. In its original context it was directed at British imperial authority. It has since been adopted by various movements as a general expression of individual liberty and resistance to overreach.

What is the difference between the Gadsden Flag and the First Navy Jack? Both feature rattlesnakes and the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto. The Gadsden Flag is yellow with a coiled rattlesnake on a plain field. The First Navy Jack features an uncoiled rattlesnake stretched across alternating red and white stripes — a different design used as a naval jack flown from the bow of ships rather than the stern ensign position. Both originate from the same Revolutionary-era tradition.

Why is this flag associated with modern political movements? The Gadsden Flag has been adopted by libertarian, Tea Party, and small-government movements since the early 21st century as a symbol of limited government and individual rights. Its original meaning — resistance to external authority and a warning against encroachment on liberty — translates across historical contexts, which has kept it politically active long after its Revolutionary origins.

What makes Military Quality construction different from other flag tiers? Military Quality double nylon embroidered (2-ply) is the highest-rated flag construction available. The double-ply nylon provides twice the thickness and strength of standard single-layer flags. The fully embroidered construction on both sides — with text and design reading correctly from both faces — makes it suitable for the most demanding permanent outdoor and all-weather applications where lesser flags would degrade.

Check out our Full Collection Here of Gadsden Flags for Sale