"An Appeal to Heaven" is a phrase from John Locke's Second Treatise on Government, where it is used to describe the right of revolution. The concept represents that when all other political and individual methods of resisting tyranny are exhausted, only an "appeal to heaven" remains. The phrase became embodied in the famous Pine Tree Flag during the American Revolution, featuring a green pine tree on a white field with the words "An Appeal to Heaven" above it. This flag was used by a Navy squadron of six floating batteries in 1775 during the American Revolution. The green pine tree on the "Appeal to Heaven" flag was chosen because the pine tree was a symbol of strength and resiliency within the New England states. The symbolism became especially powerful after the Pine Tree Riot. The conflict arose because Britain had few trees big enough for the Royal Navy's ships, and so the Crown claimed ownership over all the tall white pines of northern New England.