United States, Georgia, Chatham County, Savannah, 32.08354, -81.09983Cleenewerck, HenryCleenewerck, Henry, artist; Howell, R. H., lithographer1860A coiled rattlesnake and the words "Our Motto Southern Rights, Equality of the States, Don't Tread on Me" appeared on a flag raised in Savannah upon Abraham Lincoln's election as U.S. president in November 1860. The words, adapted from a Revolutionary War motto, suggest that secessionists drew parallels between southern independence from the Union and American independence from England.This image shows a nocturnal scene in Johnson Square in Savannah, Georgia, after Abraham Lincoln's reelection in November 1860. A coiled rattlesnake and the words "Our Motto Southern Rights, Equality of the States, Don't Tread on Me" appears on a flag raised in front of the obelisk in the center of the image. A crowd of people stand in the street. A bonfire lights the scene. The words, taken from a Revolutionary War motto, suggest parallels between southern independence from the Union and that claimed from England by American patriots.image/jpegLibrary of Congress. Prints and Photographs Divisionhttp://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/secessionForms part of: New Georgia Encyclopediahttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/secessionForms part of: New Georgia EncyclopediaFarm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph CollectionFlags--Georgia--SavannahObelisks--Georgia--SavannahBonfires--Georgia--SavannahCrowds--Georgia--SavannahMen--Georgia--SavannahPlazas--Georgia--SavannahBuildings--Georgia--SavannahTrees--Georgia--SavannahSerpents in artFlag of IndependenceStillImage