Download Flag of the United States

American symbols
Fourth of July / Independence Day
Independence Day is an annual holiday commemorating the the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. The
holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which
time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang,
and bands played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until
1941. The Fourth is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades and
pageants, patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and
cannons and displays of fireworks. Family picnics and outings are a
feature of private Fourth of July celebrations.
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776, after the first public reading of
the Declaration of Independence. The bell weighs 943.5 kg (2080 lb) and is
3.7 m (12 ft) in circumference at the lip. The bell bears the following
inscription: ―Proclaim Liberty throughout All the Land unto All the
Inhabitants Thereof. Leviticus XXV:X.‖
The bell was ordered in 1751 and was cast in London. It arrived in
Philadelphia in August 1752 and was cracked while being tested. It was
melted down, and a second bell was cast in April 1753, but this one was
also defective. A third was cast in June of that year. On June 7, 1753, the
third bell was hung in the tower of Independence Hall.
In 1777, during the American Revolution, British troops occupied Philadelphia. The bell was removed
from the tower and taken to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for safekeeping. It was returned to Philadelphia
and replaced in Independence Hall in 1778.
Thereafter, the bell was rung on every Independence Day (July 4) and on every state occasion until
1835, when, according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John
Marshall. The bell was moved to its present location in a glass pavilion near Independence Hall in
1976.
Flag of the United States
The official national flag of the United States consists of 13 horizontal
stripes, 7 red alternating with 6 white, and in the upper corner near the
staff, a rectangular blue field containing 50 five-pointed white stars. The
stripes symbolize the 13 colonies that originally constituted the United
States of America. The stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The
symbolic meanings of the colors as used in the flag, ―White signifies
Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance,
Perseverance and Justice.‖ Because of its stars, stripes, and colours, the American flag is frequently
called the Star-Spangled Banner, the Stars and Stripes, or the Red, White, and Blue. Another popular,
patriotic designation, Old Glory, is of uncertain origin.
Early flags were often adaptations of the British Union Jack. As relations with Great Britain became
more strained, the colonists designed a large number of flags expressive of their political sentiments
and ideals. A favourite emblematic device in the flags of the southern colonies was a rattlesnake. The
idea of liberty also appeared on many flags. A favourite device was the pine tree, called the liberty
tree.
In 1775 a committee was appointed to design a national flag. The flag adopted signified the two
dominant contemporary political ideas: colonial unity against oppression and continued union with
Great Britain. The first idea was represented in the flag by 13 horizontal stripes, 7 red alternating with
6 white. The second idea was symbolized by including, in a blue canton at the top of the flag near the
staff, the crosses of the British Union Jack—the cross of St. George and the cross of St. Andrew. It
was known as the Continental flag, or the Congress colours. In later times it came to be called the
Grand Union, or Cambridge, flag.
On June 14, 1777, Congress made the following resolution: ―The flag of the United States shall be
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white on a blue field …‖
Official announcement of the new flag was not made until September 3, 1777. Legislation enacted in
1818 instituted the policy, ―That on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added
to the union of the flag …‖
Great Seal
The Great Seal of the United States is the official seal of the US government. It
is two-sided, having both an obverse and a reverse. Only the obverse (front)
has been cut as a die (stamp), but the design of the reverse has been copied
and appears, for example, on the U.S. one-dollar bill.
The dominant figure on the obverse of the seal is an American eagle, shown
with wings spread. On its breast the eagle bears a shield having 13 vertical
stripes (states), 7 white and 6 red, which are surmounted by a broad horizontal
stripe of blue, the chief (federal government). The eagle holds an olive branch
(peace) in its right talon, a cluster of 13 arrows (war) in its left, and in its beak a scroll on which
appears the Latin motto E pluribus unum (―From many, one‖). A cluster of 13 five-pointed stars,
surrounded by a glory, appears above the eagle.
A pyramid (strength and duration) is the central figure of the reverse side.
The base of the pyramid is inscribed with the date 1776 in Roman numerals.
At the zenith of the pyramid, within a triangle surrounded by a glory, appears
the all-seeing eye of Divine Providence. Above the eye is inscribed the motto
Annuit coeptis (―He has smiled on our undertakings‖). Below the pyramid is a
scroll bearing the motto Novus ordo seclorum (―New order of the ages‖) (the
beginning of the new American era).
The designing of a seal of the U.S. was first commissioned immediately after the signing of the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Charles Thomson, secretary to the congress, prepared
a design which, with some alterations, was adopted by the congress on June 20, 1782.
In 1789 the custody of the seal was entrusted to the secretary of state (foreign minister). The
impression of the obverse side of the seal appears on a wide variety of documents, including
presidential proclamations and the commissions of cabinet officers, ambassadors, and other foreign
service officers.
Bald Eagle
The bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent coined in
1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S. coins.
The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it
was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal. It appears in many
government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured bird
in all of America. The eagle appears on the president’s flag, military insignia, and
billions of one-dollar bills.
The members of Congress held a bitter dispute over what the national emblem
should be. It wasn’t until 1789 that the bald eagle was finally chosen to represent
the new nation. One of the most prominent opponents to the bald eagle’s status
was Benjamin Franklin. In a letter to a friend, Franklin wrote:
I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad
moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and
often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird and withal a true, original native of
America.
Bald eagles, like other eagles worldwide, had been seen by many as symbols of strength, courage,
freedom and immortality for generations. And, unlike other eagles, the bald eagle was indigenous only
to North America.
Purple Heart Medal
The Order of the Purple Heart is the oldest American decoration for military
merit, originally established by George Washington in 1782. The Purple Heart
is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been killed or
wounded in action against an enemy. It may also be awarded for maltreatment
endured while a prisoner of war.
The original decoration, known as the Badge for Military Merit, consisted of a
purple heart-shaped piece of silk, edged with a narrow binding of silver, and with the word merit
stitched across the face in silver. The decoration was revived in 1932 as a heart-shaped medal with a
centre of purple enamel and a border and relief bust of Washington in gold colour. On the reverse is
the inscription ―For Military Merit,‖ with the decorated person's name engraved beneath.
White House
The White House, the official residence of the president of the U.S., was built in its original form
between 1792 and 1800, and situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. Known
variously through its history as the President's Palace, the President's House, and the Executive
Mansion, the building has always been most popularly known as the
White House. This designation became official in 1901, when Theodore
Roosevelt had the name engraved on his stationery. It has been the
home of every president in American history with the exception of
George Washington, who approved the act that led to its construction.
The private apartments of the president occupy the second floor of the
main building, and the third floor consists chiefly of guest rooms and
quarters for the staff. On the ground floor are cloakrooms, a china room, the kitchen, and the library.
On the first floor are the formal rooms of state, which are open to the public. Among these stately
rooms are the East Room, the largest room in the White House, used for state receptions and balls,
and where the bodies of William McKinley and John F. Kennedy once lay in state; the oval Blue Room,
where the president receives guests at state dinners; the Red Room, in which the First Lady, or
president's wife, receives guests; the Green Room, used for informal receptions; and the State Dining
Room, used for formal dinners.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day was first celebrated in early colonial times in New
England. The actual origin, however, is probably the harvest festivals that are
traditional in many parts of the world. After the first harvest was completed by
the Plymouth colonists in 1621, Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day
of thanksgiving and prayer, shared by all the colonists and neighbouring
Native Americans. In 1623 a day of fasting and prayer during a period of
drought was changed to one of thanksgiving because the rain came during
the prayers.
Gradually the custom prevailed in New England of annually celebrating
thanksgiving after the harvest. In 1817 New York State adopted
Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and by the middle of the 19th
century many other states had done the same. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a day of
thanksgiving, and since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, generally
designating the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday. Certain kinds of food are traditionally
served at Thanksgiving meals: first and foremost, turkey is usually the featured item on any
Thanksgiving feast table (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes referred to as "Turkey Day").
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, originally called Liberty Enlightening the World, is a colossal
statue on Liberty Island, located in New York City's harbour.
The statue symbolizes liberty in the form of a woman wearing flowing robes and a
spiked crown who holds a torch aloft in her right hand and carries in her left a book
inscribed ―July 4, 1776‖; broken chains of tyranny are depicted at her feet.
Designed by the French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the statue was given
by France to the United States to commemorate the centennial of U.S.
independence. France raised funds by popular subscription to pay for the statue;
U.S. donors financed the pedestal and installation of the monument. The work was dedicated by
President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886. The statue, the island, and nearby Ellis Island were
declared a national monument in 1924.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the largest statues in the World. It was once one of the first sights to
welcome immigrants arriving in the US. Originally conceived as a gesture of international friendship,
the statue has become a global symbol of freedom, marking the arrival of millions of immigrants to the
United States. In 1903 the sonnet ―The New Colossus‖ by the U.S. poet Emma Lazarus was inscribed
at the main entrance to the pedestal. The last lines of the verse are
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States is an oath of loyalty
to the U.S. national emblem and to the nation it symbolizes. The pledge was
first used on October 12, 1892, during Columbus Day observances in the
public schools. The original wording of the pledge was as follows:
I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one
nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The pledge was amended by the substitution of the words ―the flag of the United States of America‖ for
the phrase ―my flag.‖ The newly worded pledge was adopted officially in 1924. The pledge was further
amended in 1954 by the addition of the words ―under God.‖ This is how the pledge now reads:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
When reciting the pledge of allegiance, civilians should stand at attention or with the right hand over
the heart. Men should remove their hats. Armed services personnel in uniform face the flag and give
the military salute.
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam, nickname and cartoon image, is used to personify the U.S.
government. It is derived from the initials U.S. and was first popularized on
supply containers during the War of 1812. Samuel Wilson, a businessman
from New York also known as Uncle Sam, stamped his shipments during
the War of 1812 with the initials of the United States, U.S. The coincidence
led to the use of the nickname Uncle Sam for the United States government.
The first visual representation or caricature of an Uncle Sam figure, attired in
stars and stripes, appeared in political cartoons in 1832. The character
came to be seen as a shrewd Yankee. In the 20th century Uncle Sam has
usually been depicted with a short beard, high hat, and tailed coat. In 1961
the U.S. Congress adopted the figure as a national symbol.
James Montgomery Flagg’s recruiting poster for World War I (1914–1918), with the beckoning words ―I
WANT YOU,‖ has become one of the best-known portrayals of the character known as Uncle Sam.
US National Anthem
War of 1812
Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, wrote the lyrics as a poem after seeing the
bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, by British ships in Chesapeake Bay during the
War of 1812. The poem, titled "Defense of Fort McHenry," was set to the tune of a popular British
drinking song.
In 1814 Key and John S. Skinner were on a mission to secure the release of William Beanes who had
been accused of aiding in the arrest of British soldiers. Key and Skinner boarded a British flagship and
spoke with the Admiral over dinner. After much persuasion, he agreed to release Beanes.
Because Key and Skinner had heard details of the plans for the attack on Baltimore, they were held
captive until after the battle. During the rainy night, Key had witnessed the bombardment and
observed that the fort’s smaller "storm flag" continued to fly, but once the shelling had stopped, he
would not know how the battle had turned out until dawn. By then, the storm flag had been lowered,
and the larger flag had been raised. Key was inspired by the American victory and the sight of the
large American flag flying triumphantly above the fort.
US National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner
O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave
On the shore, dimly seen thro’ the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
’Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation,
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.