The Continental Army was not well-equipped and disease and other hardships were taking their toll on the troops. At the same time the British were occupying Boston. It was known as the “American Colonies” ruled by the world’s superpower at the time – Great Britain.Īs the story goes, during late 1775 when the rebellion against the British rule of the colonies was already well underway, the American army (known as the Continental Army) was waiting in Cambridge, Massachusetts under orders from their General George Washington. The United States was not actually the United States at all at that time. The short answer to “where did it come from” is – The War of Independence in the United States (also known as the Revolutionary War) in the 1770’s.
Here’s a good overview to give you a really good idea of it’s general history from inception to present day. Not all the stories or timelines are the same. You can do an online search and find lots of details about the phrase “don’t tread on me” and how it’s connected to the Gadsden Flag and Benjamin Franklin, etc. First Things First! Where Did it Come From? This is known as the Gadsden flag and falls within the historical flags of America. The phrase was written under the image of a rattle snake and emblazoned on a yellow flag. Don’t Tread on Me is a very strong statement in the United States with very deep historical roots.