Pat's Patriotic Site - Symbols of America

Symbols of America

The Official Seal of the United States America
Seal Fun
Uncle Sam
About the Artist
The Statue of Liberty
Measuring Up!

The Official
Seal of the
United States
of America

Illustration by Rance Barela

The official seal of the United States government is two-sided. The designs on each side of the seal appear on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill.
On one side of the seal is an American eagle, shown with wings spread. On its breast the eagle bears a shield having 13 narrow vertical stripes, 7 white alternating with 6 red, which are topped by a broad horizontal stripe of blue. The eagle holds an olive branch in its right talon, a cluster of 13 arrows 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.

Why do you think the number 13 was used in this symbol?

On the other side of the seal is a pyramid. The base of the pyramid is inscribed with the date 1776 in Roman numerals: MDCCLXXVI. At the zenith (top) 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").

Why do you think the pyramid was used in this symbol?

The designing of a seal of the U.S. was first commissioned by the Continental Congress immediately after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. A committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson submitted a design that was deemed unacceptable, as were designs submitted by two succeeding committees. In 1782 these designs were turned over to Charles Thomson, secretary to the congress, who prepared a design which, with some alterations, was adopted by the congress on June 20, 1782.

Paraphrased from "Great Seal of the United States,"

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Great Seal

Continental Congress — June 20, 1782
The Blazon of the Great Seal of the United States
and Charles Thomson's Remarks and Explanation

Symbols on the Great Seal and
The People Who Put Them There

Seal Fun

Not everyone agreed that the bald eagle should be the National Bird. Find out who disagreed and what he thought the National bird should be. Use this code: A=1; B=2; C=3; and so on.

_ _ __ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ __ __ _
2 5 14 10 1 13 9 14 6 18 1 14 11 12 9
__
14

Using the same code, what bird did he think should be the National Bird. Can you think of a reason why he felt this way?

__ _ __ _ __ __ __ __ _ __
23 9 12 4 20 21 18 11 5 25

Now, reverse the code (Z=1; Y=2; X=3; and so on) to answer these questions.

The Bald Eagle is a good representative for the United States because it symbolizes:
__   _   __   __   __   __   __    __   __   _   __   _
21   9   22   22   23   12   14,   11   12   4   22   9,   and
__   __   __   __   _   _   _
14   26   17   22   8   7   2.

This bird was also considered to represent the United States.

The __ __ __ _ __.
20 12 12 8 22

Uncle Sam

Many people don't know that Uncle Sam was a real guy. His name was Samuel Wilson, born in Troy, NY in 1766. He was a meatpacker during the War of 1812 and the supposed inspiration for the Uncle Sam character. He provided large shipments of meat to the US Army, in barrels that were stamped with the initials "U.S." Supposedly, someone who saw the "U.S." stamp suggested -- perhaps as a joke -- that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson. The suggestion that the meat shipments came from "Uncle Sam" led to the idea that Uncle Sam symbolized the federal government. He died in 1854. His grave in Oakwood Cemetery, north of Troy, is diligently maintained by the local Boy Scout council, who raise the American flag over it each day.

About the Artist
James
Montgomery
Flagg

The single most famous portrait of Uncle Sam is the "I WANT YOU" Army recruiting poster from World War I. The poster was painted by James Montgomery Flagg in 1916-1917.

If you were asked to create a brand-new Uncle Sam how would you change his appearance? Would you change his hairstyle and shave his beard? Would you dress him in red, white, and blue? Would you use stars and stripes? Have fun coming up with a new symbol for America.

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The Statue
of Liberty

Standing at the entrance to New York harbor is a 151-foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch. "Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of American Independence.
After Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi prefabricated the figure in Paris by molding sheets of cooper over a stainless-steel framework, it was shipped to the United States in 241 crates in 1885. Some of the money to erect the statue was contributed by American school children. The sculptor intended his work to be an immense and impressive symbol of human liberty. It was certainly that for millions of immigrants who came to America in the 19th century seeking freedom and fulfillment of their dreams.

See below for some interesting facts!

Measuring Up!

During the unveiling ceremony on October 28, 1886, only two women were allowed to attend. Officals said it was to protect women from being hurt in the crowd.

How do you measure up to The Lady?

	Her Measurements	Your Measurements
Length of Hand	16 feet 5 inches	__________
Length of Index Finger	8 feet	__________
Width Across One Eye	2 feet 6 inches	__________
Length of Nose	4 feet 6 inches	__________
Width of Mouth	3 feet	__________
Length of Right Arm	42 feet	__________

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