Description: I will now submit my second installment of a military related tutorial that I think all or some of you will enjoy drawing and reading about. The lesson is going to be on a flag that has been used since the 1700's. The flag that you will draw represents American unity, and most importantly, freedom. I will show you "how to draw the Gadsden Flag step by step”. It all began in 1751 when Ben Franklin was being considered a famous man for his humor. One day he took it upon himself to write an article in the Pennsylvania Gazette. In the article he wanted to thank the British for their policy on how they send convicted felons to the States. In return Franklin suggested that we should send rattlesnakes in return to all of England. Well after that day, everyone got a good laugh. But it wasn't until three years later that he posted another illustration to make a point that wasn't so amusing as the first article he had written three years prior. This time he drew an illustration that contained the very same snake he talked about in the past, the rattlesnake. The political cartoon was the image of the rattlesnake cut into eight pieces. Each piece of the snake represented a colony of America. The arched pieces of the snakes body represented the coastline, with New England being the head of the snake and South Carolina being the tail. The inscription under the drawn out cut up snake read “Join or Die”. This was the beginning of the campaign to bring the country together as a unit instead of sectioned off pieces. What Benjamin Franklin was asking for, is his county men to come together and defend each of the colonies during the French and Indian war that was going on. What the cut up snake also signified, is putting the pieces back together to restore life. The illustration was so strong, that every colony reprinted Franklin's plea. The Boston Gazette reprinted the snake with a new inscription that read “Unite and Conquer” with the words coming straight from the snakes mouth. There is more to the history of the rattle snake and it's meaning. Ten years later it was used again to fight for freedom against England, when they wanted Americans to pay their debt after the French and Indian War. Of course the colonies refused saying they “we are not children of England, we are the ones that fled from their tyranny”, “the British government didn't nourish the colonies, the colonies flourished on their own despite what the British government did and did not do”. It was Colonel Isaac Barre that stated “the colonists are the sons of liberty”. Some time later an anonymous writer wrote into the Pennsylvania journal words that tickled the throats of men, woman, and children, it read “I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattlesnake, with this modest motto under it, 'Don't tread on me.' As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America." The anonymous writer was basically speculating on why the rattlesnake was chosen to be used as a symbol for America. Later it was determined that the rattlesnake can not be found in any other part of the world, but America. The sharp eyes of the snake stands for vigilance. The writer also wrote “She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her." Again the anonymous writer finally wrote " I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. ... "'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living." It was later revealed that the anonymous writer was in fact Benjamin Franklin himself. I hope you guys enjoy this tutorial on "how to draw the Gadsden Flag step by step”. I will be back with more in a bit so stay tuned in. Peace be with you all and happy drawing!