Read Albany Plan of Union, 1754, sponsored by the Library of Congress; “The Culpepper Ensign,” sponsored by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; and poke around the Free State Project's.
Links to the 3 sites:
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan
https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/culpepper-ensign
https://www.fsp.org/
Module 4 Discussion: Don’t Tread on Me
Benjamin Franklin published the first American political cartoon in the Philadelphia-based newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, in 1754. The cartoon featured a snake divided into eight sections representing the colonies, with the message, “Join, or Die,” beneath it. Newspapers throughout the colonies subsequently published the image, which not only expressed ubiquitous colonial discontent, but also called upon colonists to unite against political oppression. The snake ultimately became a symbol of the American Revolution, quickly appearing on money, uniforms, and military flags.
Questions: View the flags below, which include the original “Join, or Die” flag; the Gadsden “Don’t Tread on Me” battle flag, which was designed in 1775 by Christopher Gadsden, Colonel of the First South Carolina Regiment; and a flag created less than ten years ago by members of the Free State Project, a libertarian political movement founded in 2001. What political ideologies unite these three flags? Why would an American citizen fly a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag in the U.S. today?
Your answer should be well written and a minimum of 250 words. Thanks! Be specific in your posts; don’t generalize. Cite examples to support your analysis; explain your assertions; and support your opinions with evidence. Fully answer each discussion question
.
Pick a current event that has national or international significance and that deal with issues of substance. (this year) You must include on the source of their current event. The first part of each summary will be a synopsis of the current event, and the second part will be the student’s thoughts/opinions regarding the current event. The essays will be a minimum of 100 – 150 words for the entire assignment. (please if you pick anything political or controversial on the opinion thought part try to keep neutral) Use the template provided
Full Answer Section
The flag created by members of the
Free State Project, a libertarian political movement founded in 2001 (
https://www.fsp.org/), aligns directly with these historical symbols through its underlying ideology. While the specific visual of their flag isn't detailed in the provided browsed content, the very nature of a "libertarian political movement" inherently champions individual liberty, limited government, and resistance to excessive state control. The "Don't Tread on Me" sentiment perfectly encapsulates the libertarian ethos of individual freedom from government overreach. Libertarians often feel that modern governmental actions, taxation, and regulations constitute a form of "treading" upon their rights, echoing the grievances of the colonists against the British Crown.
Therefore, the political ideologies uniting these three flags are:
- Self-determination and Sovereignty: Whether it's colonies uniting against a distant monarchy or individuals seeking freedom from perceived government overreach, there's a shared desire for control over one's own destiny and governance.
- Resistance to Oppression/Tyranny: All three flags symbolize a readiness to oppose external forces or governmental actions seen as infringing upon fundamental rights or liberties.
- Individual Liberty/Freedom: While "Join, or Die" was about collective action, it was for the sake of colonial liberty. The Gadsden flag is a direct assertion of this, and the Free State Project's ideology is fundamentally rooted in maximizing individual freedom.
An American citizen might fly a "Don't Tread on Me" flag in the U.S. today for several reasons, all rooted in these shared ideologies:
- Expression of Libertarian or Conservative Principles: Many individuals who identify with libertarianism, fiscal conservatism, or states' rights movements use the flag to express their belief in limited government, lower taxes, individual responsibility, and opposition to government intervention in personal and economic affairs.
- Protest Against Government Overreach: It is often flown as a symbol of protest against specific government policies, regulations, or actions that individuals perceive as infringing upon their constitutional rights, economic freedoms, or personal liberties. This can range from perceived restrictions on gun rights to mandates concerning health or business.
- Support for the Military and Patriotism: Due to its historical connection to the American Revolution and its use by parts of the military (like the Navy, as noted for the Culpepper Ensign), some fly it as a general symbol of patriotism and support for constitutional principles, often alongside the U.S. flag.
- Historical Awareness: For some, it's a way to honor American history and the revolutionary spirit of demanding freedom and self-governance that led to the nation's founding.
Current Event
I cannot provide details on a current event that has national or international significance from "this year." My capabilities do not include Browse real-time news or accessing continuously updated databases of current events. Therefore, I cannot fulfill the request for a synopsis and personal thoughts on a recent event.
Sample Answer
The flags "Join, or Die," the Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me," and the flag from the Free State Project, while spanning different historical periods, are united by core political ideologies centered on
resistance to perceived oppression, self-governance, and individual liberty.
The
"Join, or Die" cartoon, published by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, initially called for colonial unity against the French threat during the French and Indian War, as highlighted by the Library of Congress (
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan). However, its adoption and widespread reproduction quickly evolved to represent the necessity of colonial unity against British political oppression leading up to the American Revolution. The severed snake segments symbolized the weakness of individual colonies, while a unified snake implied strength and survival. The core ideology here is one of collective self-preservation and the imperative for separate entities to unite to assert their rights against external control.
The
Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag, designed in 1775, directly embodies the spirit of the American Revolution. As noted by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (
https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/culpepper-ensign), the rattlesnake had long been a symbol of resistance in Colonial America. Its symbolic attributes—the thirteen rattles representing the colonies, its non-aggressive nature unless provoked, and its ability to warn before striking—all underscore a philosophy of defensive liberty. The phrase itself is a stark warning against infringement upon rights and sovereignty. This flag represents a powerful declaration of individual and collective autonomy, asserting the right to resist tyranny and emphasizing that freedom will be defended if challenged.