Symbols of the United States

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National flag. The true history of the Stars and Stripes on the flag is difficult, there are many myths and legends. The first information about flag was in 1777 on the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia.

The present 50-star flag of the United States which you can see on the picture 1.3 was raised for the first time officially at 12:01 a.m. on July 4, 1960 at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore. The 50^th star had been added for Hawaii, a year earlier the 49^th, for Alaska. Before that no star had been added since 1912, when New Mexico and Arizona were admitted to the Union.

Picture 6.3 – Flag of the USA

The thirteen stripes in the modern flag, seven red and six white, stand for the thirteen colonies that joined together in 1776 to declare themselves free from the rule of England. The fifty white, five-pointed stars stand for the fifty states that now make up the union (see the picture 6.3).

Poets, patriots and composers have given different names to the National Flag. The best known are:

- Old Glory - by William Driver

- The Star-Spangled Banner – the title of the song written by Francis Scott Key. The song was declared the National Anthem by Congress in 1931.

- The Stars and Stripes - by George Henry Preble

- Starry flag – by George Frederick Root.

The Liberty Bell. On July 8, 1776, the bell rang out to announce the first reading of the Declaration of Independence to the people of Philadelphia. It became then and is still the symbol of American Independence. It was made in 1751 and weights about two thousand pounds. Around the bell’s crown there are words “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof”. The bell rang to proclaim liberty until 1855 when it cracked. It was called the Liberty Bell in 1839, before that it was known as the Old State House Bell, The Bell of Revolution and Old Independence.

The Liberty Bell became a symbol of freedom, even though it could not be heard. It became to tour the country by train. Since 1915 the Liberty Bell has been on permanent display in the glass-enclosed building in Philadelphia.

The Bald Eagle. This magnificent bird can be found on many things in the United States. Since ancient times, eagles have been a sign of power. Eagles have great size and strength, and because of this many have claimed this bird as their emblem and symbol.

Not all in Congress wanted this bird as theirs. Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey be the national bird, because it was a true native of the country. It was finally decide that the bald eagle, which was unique to North America, be the choice. In 1782, the bald eagle was finally adopted as the national bird for the country. The bald eagle is not really bald. The head of the adult bird is white and was called “bald” by the people from England who first settled in America. To them “bald” meant “white”, not hairless. The bird also has white tail feathers.

The Great Seal. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson “to bring in a device for a seal of the United States of America”. After many delays a description of a design was approved by the Congress on July 20, 1782. The seal shows an American bald eagle with a ribbon in its mouth bearing the device E pluribus unum (one out of many). In its talons are the arrows of war and an olive branch of peace. On the reverse side it shows an unfinished pyramid with an eye above it.

The Statue of Liberty. To many people the Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most cherished symbols. It is the symbol of freedom, a freedom that millions of people have come to America to find. The Statue of Liberty is on the pictures 6.4. and 6.5.

Pictures 6.4 and 6.5 - The Statue of Liberty of the USA

Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World has stood in New York harbor. It also commemorates American friendship for it was given by the people of France, designed by Frederic August Bartholdi. At the base of the statue the American Museum of Immigration was opened by President Nixon in 1972. It houses a permanent exhibition of photos, posters and artifacts tracing the history of American immigration.

The statue was made from copper sheets and it is a hollow inside. Inside there is a circular stairway from the base to the crown. There is also a lift in it. The figure shows a young woman. She holds a torch in her right hand above her head and in her left hand is a tablet with the date “July 4^th, 1776” on it, which symbolizes the Declaration of Independence. The torch lights up at night. The combined height is 92,99 meters from base of the pedestal to the top of the torch (face is 3 meters from ear to ear). Over the years Liberty Enlightening the World had commonly been called The Statue of Liberty and became the symbol of hope for the millions of immigrants who came by it on their way to settle in America.

National Motto. In God We Trust, designed as the US National Motto by Congress in 1956, originated during the Civil War as an inscription for U.S. coins, although it was used by Francis Scott Key in a slightly different form when he wrote The Star Spangled Banner in 1864. It first appeared on some U.S. coins in 1864, disappeared and reappeared on various coins until 1955, when Congress ordered it placed on all paper money and coins.

QUESTIONS FOR CONTROL:

1. Where are the United States of America situated?

2. Describe the geographical position of the USA from the economical point?

3. What rivers and lakes of the USA do you know? What is their role in life of the country?

4. What mountains of the USA do you know? Where are they situated?

5. How do you find the climate of the country?

6. Why is it so varied?

7. What is the position of the USA in the world?

8. Is life of women in the country the same as men?

9. Name national symbols of the USA and describe one of it.

10. When was the national flag set up?

11. Who and when presented the Statue of Liberty to the USA?