AHC: Make the Serpent America's National Animal

After watching an episode of John Adams last night, I wondered what it would have taken for the snake to be America's national animal, based on the Gadsen and "Unite or Die" flags. And if the snake was adopted, what might be the cultural - or even environmental - impact?
 
The snake is hard because of its association with Satan in Christian theology.

One possible cultural effect would be a MUCH higher and earlier development of intelligence services in the US, including with them being culturally appropriate.
 
Not sure how much cultural/environmental impact there'd be. The bald eagle's adoption as the national animal did not prevent it from nearly becoming extinct in the mid-20th century (partly due to DDT and other pesticides, but also due to poaching).
 
After watching an episode of John Adams last night, I wondered what it would have taken for the snake to be America's national animal, based on the Gadsen and "Unite or Die" flags. And if the snake was adopted, what might be the cultural - or even environmental - impact?

Unlikely (because of the religious and cultural baggage surrounding snakes in the west) but fascinating. I find the "don't tread on me" and "unite or die" iconography in early US flags interesting. And the choice of the rattlesnake is perfect. Its an indigenous American animal, and because it warns you with its rattle before striking it provides an image of caution and fair play that other snakes (or for that matter the bald eagle) don't provide. "Don't mess with us and we'll leave you alone...but do and we will kill you. Nothing in between" - very American, I'd say.

Unlikely this would make the Rattlesnake a protected species however. They are still dangerous and nowhere near being hunted to extinction despite the many organized rattlesnake hunts and casual tendency of people to kill any snake they see.
 
One other thing to consider (besides the religious symbolism) is that the eagle was already considered a symbol of other European nations as well. The snake is really only respected in places like India and among the Central and South American peoples. Among Europeans the Bible labels snakes as being evil.
 
If there had been some prominent display of the Gadsden Flag during the Revolutionary War that it became even more iconic image for independence (say in a particular important battle, it was used to rally the troops or became a symbol of defiance when the British couldn't take a place that flew it), then it would have a better chance of becoming part of the Great Seal or other official national image. Instead of a heraldic dragon found in Europe, the US would have a heraldic rattlesnake defending the country.

The serpent though is generally unlovable. For a people to identify with it to the point of it becoming the national animal, as an icon it would have to be continuously referenced in subsequent wars that the rattlesnake would become the enduring image of a free people defending their liberty. For example, let's the rattlensnake becomes iconic during the civil war. Then during the War of 1812, instead of the American flag flying over Ft McHenry (or equivalent) in a failed British siege, the Gadsden flag was used once again, and something equivalent of the Star Spangled Banner was created.

It would still be a longshot though. If it became established early enough though, patriotic sentiment might surround it with an allure that this is something quintessentially American and has to be embraced.
 
I think a major change would actually be its effect on high fantasy. In the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings the Great Eagles are considered an analogue of Americans. If the national animal was a snake, perhaps the eagles would be replaced with a race of friendly dragons that oppose Smaug and Sauron. Think about the effects on later fantasy stories if it is established from the start that not all dragons are evil.
 
I think a major change would actually be its effect on high fantasy. In the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings the Great Eagles are considered an analogue of Americans. If the national animal was a snake, perhaps the eagles would be replaced with a race of friendly dragons that oppose Smaug and Sauron. Think about the effects on later fantasy stories if it is established from the start that not all dragons are evil.

WHAAAAT?!

Tolkien repeatedly stated that LotR was NOT allegory. Also, why would the U.S. get a shout-out in what is supposed to be mythological epic for England.
 
If there had been some prominent display of the Gadsden Flag during the Revolutionary War that it became even more iconic image for independence (say in a particular important battle, it was used to rally the troops or became a symbol of defiance when the British couldn't take a place that flew it), then it would have a better chance of becoming part of the Great Seal or other official national image. Instead of a heraldic dragon found in Europe, the US would have a heraldic rattlesnake defending the country.

The serpent though is generally unlovable. For a people to identify with it to the point of it becoming the national animal, as an icon it would have to be continuously referenced in subsequent wars that the rattlesnake would become the enduring image of a free people defending their liberty. For example, let's the rattlensnake becomes iconic during the civil war. Then during the War of 1812, instead of the American flag flying over Ft McHenry (or equivalent) in a failed British siege, the Gadsden flag was used once again, and something equivalent of the Star Spangled Banner was created.

It would still be a longshot though. If it became established early enough though, patriotic sentiment might surround it with an allure that this is something quintessentially American and has to be embraced.

If the rattlesnake were the American national symbol, it would be used against them in every piece of anti-American propaganda ever made.
'Of course they're the Great Satan! Their animal's a snake!'
 
As for the challenge: Make the American War of Independence last longer and afterwards have the US at least in their mind constantly under threat from an outside power: England, Spain, Canada, Mexico, France??? As a consequence the US would rally under a 'mess with us and we strike' rattlesnake for much longer and might not even take up the notion of a 'See me soar and you know I am majestic' bald eagle. To tell it blunt. the rattlesnake was all about 'leave us alone'. The eagle was all about 'manifest destiny' and 'sea to shining sea'. Just have the US play defense long enough and the rattlesnake could become so entrenched as a symbol that it continues in popular culture long after the US switched to going on the offensive with the Munroe doctrine, the US-Mexican war and the annexation of the great plains.

As for the consequences: Get ready for a good laughter from Mexico. Their national eagle eats snakes for breakfast.
 
Depends on what kind of snake we're talking about. The "Join or Die" rattlesnake? Coral snake? Rat snake? King snake? Black racer?

A rattlesnake species would be good for a strictly isolationist America who, like others have said, would have been routinely under threat from outside sources giving the allegory of a dangerous rattlesnake being molested, about to strike.

The common kingsnake would be a better choice for a more active U.S; large, roaming creatures that eat other snakes, killing them with their strong constricting muscles, are immune to their venom and are readily docile -- unless you actually attack them and they can't run, are quite friendly and in my experience will even let you hold them if you're gentle. To top it all off, being a colubrid they don't have the evil-looking expressions vipers have. A king snake would give the impression of a large, strong nation that roams a large territory, immune to the might of the evil powers that fear it, and will maintain amicable relations with you if the same is given, but isn't afraid to unleash its power if threatened.

The subterfugeous ambushing hunting style of snakes may help bolster guerrilla warfare earlier on.

The snake is hard because of its association with Satan in Christian theology.
Snakes weren't always seen as a bad thing in Europe; Aescelepian snakes on staffs are still medical symbols around the world; in antiquity they were allowed to roam temples because they were believed to heal people. If it weren't for their coloration they would look a lot like king snakes.

IIRC, the Old English Bibles used the adder to refer to Satan's serpent. I'm sure in attempting to reconcile a snake as a state animal questions would be asked like "which snake was Satan?" and they'd probably go with some sort of viper or even boid.
One possible cultural effect would be a MUCH higher and earlier development of intelligence services in the US, including with them being culturally appropriate.
How so? Is it because of the intelligence done in pre-revolution Boston?
 
The subterfugeous ambushing hunting style of snakes may help bolster guerrilla warfare earlier on.

TheoreticalTJ said:
One possible cultural effect would be a MUCH higher and earlier development of intelligence services in the US

Given that few people in America today know anything about Bald Eagles, and certainly not uncomfortable facts like their tendencies to scavenge from carcasses and steal from other birds, I highly doubt that the actual behavioral tendencies of any animal the Americans might pick would have any influence whatsoever on anything at all, let alone their tactics or espionage. Most Americans are not, and have never been, animal behavior experts.

I mean seriously, it's a country, not some kind of themed cartoon villain that wears a bird suit and screeches "EAGLE CLAAAAW" when throwing a punch. We don't wear bracelets that ask "What Would a Bald Eagle Do?"

I do think it would make for great anti-US propaganda, and as ennobee pointed out Mexico would have a field day with it (at least until the snake bites the eagle in 1846-8). For that reason alone it's hard to see it getting picked as an official animal, though I can see it having more prominence unofficially than it does today.
 
Could America use the religious connotations to their advantage? Satan rebelled against God, which fits in well with a country born from a revolution. The USA also embraced a lot of enlightenment values that were at odds with traditional Christianity in many ways so the Satanic angle might fit if they chose to run with it.
 
I mean seriously, it's a country, not some kind of themed cartoon villain that wears a bird suit and screeches "EAGLE CLAAAAW" when throwing a punch. We don't wear bracelets that ask "What Would a Bald Eagle Do?"

Wait, we...don't? Er, I mean, yeah, haha...*hides eagle suit and paraphernalia*
 
Unlikely (because of the religious and cultural baggage surrounding snakes in the west) but fascinating. I find the "don't tread on me" and "unite or die" iconography in early US flags interesting. And the choice of the rattlesnake is perfect. Its an indigenous American animal, and because it warns you with its rattle before striking it provides an image of caution and fair play that other snakes (or for that matter the bald eagle) don't provide. "Don't mess with us and we'll leave you alone...but do and we will kill you. Nothing in between" - very American, I'd say.

It seems that the allegory was noted at the time by Franklin:

I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, 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; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device – I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science "That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered," and, "That the base ones cannot have been intended;" he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration – both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her.

But then "the worldly properties" of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense.

I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.

Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. 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. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada.

'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.

The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks."

http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/rattlesnake.html
 
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