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What symbols appeared on early American Revolutionary flags such as the Gadsden flag?

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flag shapes — flag Various shapes of flags: (from left) rectangle (Algeria), square (Switzerland), pennant (Nepal), swallowtail (Ohio, U.S.).

Early American Revolutionary flags frequently utilized symbols that represented colonial unity and resistance against British authority.

The Gadsden flag, famously used by Commodore Esek Hopkins, features a coiled rattlesnake above the motto "Don't Tread on Me" on a yellow background. The rattlesnake was a popular symbol of unity that originated from Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 "Join, or Die" political cartoon, which depicted the colonies as segments of a snake to encourage collective action during the French and Indian War.1

Other early flags incorporated different imagery:
* Pine Trees: Often featured on naval flags, such as the Pine Tree Flag, representing the importance of the timber industry to the colonial economy.2
* British Elements: The Grand Union Flag, displayed by George Washington in 1776, included the British Union Flag in the canton and thirteen stripes, reflecting the colonies' historical ties to Britain.34

These designs served as powerful visual tools to express the evolving political identity of the American colonies during the struggle for independence.14