Every country in the world has such national attributes as a flag, anthem and a seal. And the United States is no exception. Symbols of the USA, symbols of American statehood (Symbols of the USA) are the topic of many articles and books. But what are the basic facts you need to know about them?

US flag or "stars and stripes"

Government offices and streets decorated with flags in different countries can most often be seen on holidays or on the eve of them. In America, flags always hang not only on government buildings, but also on the homes of ordinary citizens. A large number of American flags is the first thing you notice when traveling through the states.

The American flag - the tricolor - is represented by three colors: white, red and blue. These colors have a deep meaning: red symbolizes courage and valor, while white symbolizes innocence and purity, and blue symbolizes justice, perseverance and vigilance. The banner is decorated with 13 stripes - 13 British colonies, which formed the state. The stars on the flag, 50 of them, mean the 50 states that are currently part of the United States.

The flag has many different interpretations, one of them belongs to George Washington, and it says the following: “We took the stars from Heaven; the red color meant the country from which we sailed; white stripes on red are a symbol of the fact that we have disconnected from it, and the stripes will have to symbolize the freedom of future generations.”

The Flag of the United States is also called “Stars and stripes,” “Old Glory,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Two sides of the Great Seal of the USA

This seal serves as a tool to authenticate documents issued by the US Government. The Great Seal of the United States appears on the back of the one dollar bill. On the left side of the banknote you can see the image of the reverse side of the seal, and on the right - the front side.

Although seals typically have only one side, the Great Seal of the United States has two. The front part is considered the coat of arms of America. The obverse of the US coat of arms is a bald eagle, the symbol of the United States, in its claws there are 13 arrows and an olive branch with the same number of leaves and olives. Thus, the eagle announces to the world that the United States calls for peace, but is also ready for war.

The reverse side of the great seal also carries deep meaning. Sometimes it is even called spiritual. It is represented by a pyramid with 13 steps and the year 1776 at the foot, which is written in Roman numerals. Above the top of the pyramid is the Eye of Providence and the motto in Latin "Annuit Coeptis", which means "It favors our undertakings." Under the pyramid lies a scroll with the following saying: “A new order for all ages.” This seal is kept by the Secretary of State, and it is placed only on presidential addresses and international agreements.

The word “seal” in English is “stamp, seal”, and the Great Seal of the United States is “Great Seal of the United States”.

US anthem

The text for the American anthem was Francis Scott Key's poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry." This poem was written after the writer witnessed the shelling of the fortress during the Anglo-American War of 1812-1815. In their anthem, called “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the American people sing about the flag. The song became officially considered an anthem only in 1931, and before that the United States did not have an anthem.

The word "hymn" in English means "church anthem", and the national anthem is "national anthem".

Feathered symbol of America

Among the symbols of the United States there are also representatives of the animal world - the eagle, or rather the bald eagle, which in English is called “bald eagle”. This national bird is depicted on the coat of arms, banknotes and various official documents. The Great Seal of the United States is also decorated with an eagle.

In America, there are laws that prohibit killing birds without the appropriate permit.

American mottos

The phrase “In God We Trust,” which translates as “In God we trust,” is the official motto of the United States (national motto). It is printed on all paper banknotes of the country. Sometimes the phrase becomes a source of controversy among Americans. The fact is that freedom of religion is a very important aspect for every person in America. This is even stated in the US Constitution. You can profess any religion, or not profess any religion at all.

Another famous motto of the American people is “E Pluribus Unum”, which translated from Latin means “Out of many, one.” This motto appears on the coat of arms of the United States and the Benfica football club (Lisbon). The quote belongs to Cicero (speech “On Virtues”). The phrase consists of 13 letters - the original number of states that once formed the union now known as the United States of America. Today the motto is interpreted as representing the unity of a nation that once consisted of many nationalities that came to America. The expression "E pluribus unum" can be seen on all US coins.

Other US symbols

The state symbols of the United States are also the Liberty Bell, which rang at the time of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a gray-haired man with a goatee in a top hat and clothes of national colors - “Uncle Sam”, who has become a stable American symbol. For example, the phrase something is needed “for Uncle Sam” means that something is needed for the United States.

Buildings of national significance are also symbols of the USA: the well-known Statue of Liberty, the White House as the presidential residence, the United States Capitol - personifying parliamentary power, the Supreme Court building in Washington, George's memorials Washington, Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, Independence Hall and Mount Rushmore Arlington National Cemetery.

Some of the unique symbols include the sports games beloved by American citizens: baseball and American football, hamburgers and hot dogs, apple pie, bourbon (a type of whiskey), as well as Disneyland, Hollywood film studios, the lights of Las Vegas and Niagara Falls.

Words on the topic national symbols

• Patriotism - patriotism.
• National colors - national colors, this phrase also translates as national flag.
• Motherland/Homeland/Native - land.
• National myths.
• Coat of arms, coat of arms - coat of arms.
• Folk costume - folk costume.
• Folk dance - folk dance.
• National animal - national animal.
• National tree - national tree - oak - oak.
• National flower - national flower - rose -rose.

Anyone who studies English in depth and plans to further study in the United States or plans to become a citizen of an American state needs to know all the facts described above.

If translated literally, the coat of arms of the United States of America in English sounds like the “Great Seal of the USA”. This seal serves to certify the authenticity of government documents. The custody of the Great Seal is entrusted to the Secretary of State.

The decision to create a state seal was made by the American Congress on July 4, 1776, simultaneously with the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence. Such seals always display the country's coat of arms, but the United States of that time simply did not have one.

Front side of the US coat of arms (seal)

Reverse side of the US coat of arms (seal)

Three of the most respected US citizens, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, formed a special committee to create a state emblem. Moreover, each of the three independently developed their own version. B. Franklin wanted to see on the coat of arms a chariot with a pharaoh who was pursuing the people leaving behind the prophet Moses. He proposed the motto: “Rebellion against tyranny pleases God.” T. Jefferson proposed making the coat of arms double-sided. On one side of it, the children of Israel were supposed to follow the cloud, and on the other, there were supposed to be portraits of the leaders of Saxony, whose views on the organization of the state became the basis of the political structure of the United States. J. Adams wanted to see Hercules on vacation on the coat of arms, holding a club in his hand.

However, the trouble with these three outstanding people was that none of them knew how to draw. The artist Pierre Eugene du Simitiere was invited to bring the coat of arms project to life. And by the end of the summer of 1776, the printing project was ready. There were so many ideas that the coat of arms began to consist of two sides. The obverse was a shield with the emblems of those European states, people from which originally settled in the USA - Scotland, England, France, Ireland, Holland and Germany. There were also 13 plaques with state designations. The shield was held by the Goddess of Freedom and the Goddess of Justice. At the top of the obverse of the US coat of arms there was an eye, similar to ancient Egyptian designs. Here below is the date of the declaration of independence of the country, and also the inscription “E Pluribus Unium” was placed. The reverse of the coat of arms corresponded to the proposal of B. Franklin. Congress considered Simitier's idea for 4 years and ultimately rejected it. Then, for six years, three committees worked to create a new project for the Great Seal. Finally, in 1782, Charles Thomson proposed his sketch to Congress, which was solemnly adopted on June 20 of that year as the state emblem of the United States. A copper seal matrix with a diameter of 2.25 inches was immediately made, the first impression of which, made on September 16, certified the signature of Charles Thomson himself on the document instructing George Washington to resolve the issue of exchanging prisoners.

Only the obverse is used as a seal, which is also the national emblem of the United States. Reverse was not used on government documents. However, in 1935, by decree of President F. Roosevelt, the reverse of the coat of arms, along with the obverse, was placed on the one-dollar bill. There he remains to this day.

Some minor elements of the coat of arms have changed; today the version approved in 1885 is used. Currently, the American coat of arms looks like this: the obverse shows a bald eagle holding an olive branch, on which there are 13 olives and 13 leaves, as well as 13 arrows. The eagle's head is turned towards the olive branch, and this means that the United States is committed to peace. The scroll in the eagle's beak contains the motto: "Out of many, one" ("E Pluribus Unium"). Above the eagle’s head there are 13 stars making up a six-pointed star, on the bird’s chest there is a shield with thirteen white and red stripes and 50 stars on a blue background. Thirteen is the number of states that were originally part of the United States.

The reverse represents an unfinished thirteen-level pyramid. At its top there is an eye in a triangle in the form in which it was depicted by the ancient Egyptians. Above the pyramid is another motto: “It is favorable to our undertakings” (“Annuit Coeptis”). Under the pyramid, the date of the formation of the United States is 1776, written in Roman numerals - MDCCLXXVI, as well as the inscription on the scroll: “New Order forever” (“Novus Ordo Seclorum”).

Unlike most powers in the world, the state emblem of the United States of America has two sides, like a coin. This symbol of the country is also called the Great Seal. It is used to certify only some documents approved by the government of this great power, such as presidential addresses and international treaties. The Secretary of State of the United States of America is responsible for maintaining the seal. But it is not hidden from the general public: anyone can see the valuable original in Washington, in the exhibition hall of the State Department. The coat of arms of the United States appears on the obverse of the Great Seal. What is depicted on the reverse, who came up with these symbols of statehood, as well as about the magic number 13, which is repeatedly repeated in the emblem and flag of the country, read in this article.

History of the US Emblem

On the very day that the independence of the newly formed state was proclaimed on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress was tasked with developing a national emblem confirming sovereignty. It is interesting that the creators of the idea of ​​the Great Seal were not artists, but people far from heraldry. But these were outstanding figures who made a lot of efforts to liberate thirteen states from the dictates of Great Britain. Three committee members of the Continental Congress - John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - developed their projects. Secretary of the US Congress Charles Thomson tried to connect them together. But it took six years and the involvement of the artist and heraldist Pierre Eugene do Simitiere to put all the projects together and put the state seal on paper.

Coat of arms designs

All three authors of the Great Seal idea drew their inspiration from the Bible. In particular, B. Franklin drew a parallel between the liberation of the American people from the overseas yoke with the history of the exodus of Jews from the United States. According to this version, the motto “Rebellion against tyranny is in the will of God” is crowned. T. Jefferson saw in the act of sovereignty the people of Israel, led by Moses. The reverse should have depicted two Saxon leaders Hengist and Horsa, whose forms of government the Americans adopted. J. Adams' version was perhaps the most erotic. On the obverse there was a naked Hercules leaning on a club, and on the reverse there were lightly dressed Virtue, pointing to the path of ascension, and Sloth, offering to recline on the lawn among flowers.

Second Committee

However, no matter how hard Pierre Simitiere tried to creatively comprehend and express in heraldic symbols the ideas of the authors of the Great Seal, its design was rejected at the Congress. Francis Hopkinson joined the second Committee to develop the symbols of the new country. He had already designed the coat of arms of the state of New Jersey, and set to work on the emblem of statehood. It is thanks to him that the US flag and coat of arms are decorated with thirteen red and white stripes with the same number of stars. Hopkinson also came up with the idea of ​​the reverse of the Seal: the unfinished pyramid and the Eye of Providence. However, the obverse, which featured two goddesses with an olive branch and arrows, did not please the Congress, so a third Committee was created.

Final version

A young lawyer, William Barton, who was interested in heraldry, was brought in to work. In just five days, he submitted a sketch of the Great Seal to Congress. The obverse featured an eagle with spread wings; the reverse remained almost the same as the first committee had drawn it. Congress was not too pleased with the proposed coat of arms, but there was no time for alterations: it was necessary to certify important state documents under the treaty with Great Britain and the exchange of prisoners. Therefore, the sketch was accepted as a basis, and Charles Thompson was commissioned to finalize it. This talented Secretary of Congress created the final version - the US coat of arms, the photo of which you see in all encyclopedias. Thompson took into account all the interesting ideas of the three Committees. He kept the magic number 13 - the number of states that became the fundamental core of the new state. An olive branch and arrows were also preserved - symbols of peace, but also of readiness for war. Only they were no longer held by goddesses, but by the talons of an eagle. This layout was approved on June 20, 1782, and already in September the Great Seal was placed on a document authorizing Washington to exchange prisoners.

So what bird is on the US coat of arms?

Barton decided that the eagle was too common a heraldic symbol. He wanted the country's national symbol to feature a truly American bird. This became (Latin name Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Previously, it was believed that this species of feathered predator is found only on the American continent, but now it is known that its representatives also live in Russia, on Bering Island. It’s interesting that the bird that now adorns the US coat of arms could be... a turkey. It was proposed as a symbol of the country by B. Franklin. And all because turkeys often attacked red-uniformed British grenadiers. However, most Americans decided that these birds are widely considered symbols of swagger and stupidity, and therefore opted for the eagle.

Magic number

The number "13" appears in the Great Seal on both the obverse and the reverse. By the way, if you wish, you can examine the reverse side of this emblem of statehood by taking a 1 dollar bill. It shows an unfinished pyramid of thirteen blocks with the Eye of Providence. However, Thompson added a 13-letter motto to the back: “Annuit Coeptis,” which means “God favors our undertakings.” The second Latin slogan - Novus Ordo Seclorum - translates as "New Order for the Ages." Below is the date - 1776. This is the year symbolizing the beginning of American statehood. The obverse of the seal - in fact, the US coat of arms - is also replete with the number “13”. In the eagle's beak is a ribbon with the inscription "E Pluribus Unum" (with a magical number of letters). The red and white stripes on the shield, the stars in the cloud above the bird's head, the arrows in the left paw, the leaves and olives on the branch in the right - all represent and glorify the 13 original states. The symbolism of the colors in the coat of arms is traditional: white - innocence, red - courage and vitality, blue - a sign of vigilance.

The reverse side of the seal depicts a trapezoidal unfinished pyramid standing on a grassy plain, the top of which is crowned by an eye in a triangle. The pyramid consists of thirteen levels. On the first level there is the date 1776 (the date of the declaration of independence of the United States) in Roman numerals - MDCCLXXVI. The pyramid is intended to symbolize the construction of a stable and durable building of a new nation. There is an opinion that the pyramid and triangle with an eye are taken from Masonic symbolism. The eye at the top of the pyramid means the “All-Seeing Eye of Providence.” The inscription “Annuit Cœptis” means “It (the Eye) is favorable to our endeavors.” The eye in the triangle and the accompanying upper motto express the hope for divine protection of the young state and the endeavors undertaken by its citizens. The phrase located on the scroll under the pyramid reads "Novus Ordo Seclorum" - "New Order forever." The year 1776 marks the beginning of a new American era.

The reverse side of the seal is sometimes called its spiritual side. In reality, a double-sided US seal was never produced; the reverse exists only on paper.

List of all elements numbering thirteen

You must have noticed that many elements on the coat of arms are repeated 13 times. This seems a surprising circumstance for a country where this is the attitude towards this figure. Many Americans fear and avoid this figure, but nevertheless face it almost daily. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this, it’s just that 13 is the number of the first states that originally consisted of an independent state (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island).

13 stars (obverse)
13 stripes
13 arrows in the eagle's paw
13 olive leaves
13 olives on a branch
13 brick pyramid levels
13 letters in the inscription "E Pluribus Unum"
13 letters in the inscription “Annuit Cœptis”, if the letter œ is counted as two

Interesting facts

The coat of arms of the United States does not depict a conventional heraldic eagle, but a very specific species of bird - the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). This beautiful bird lives on the American continent and is rarely found in the eastern regions of Russia (Bering Island, Kamenka River). The bald eagle is a predator; feeds on fish, small birds and animals.

Now everyone has become accustomed to the fact that the national symbol of the United States is an eagle (more precisely, an eagle; they are similar birds, but still different). However, there was a time when there was heated debate in the country on this issue. The American statesman Benjamin Franklin, speaking very unflatteringly about the eagle, nominated the turkey for the role of the national bird: “This bird (somewhat vain and stupid, but this is not the worst thing for an emblem) is so brave,- he wrote, - who did not hesitate to attack the grenadiers of the British Guards, who happened to invade the farm in their red uniform.". However, the Americans did not listen to the opinion of one of the founding fathers of their country and made the eagle the emblem of the United States. Turkey, however, also became a national symbol - but only a gastronomic one.

The image of the “Great Seal of the United States” was placed on one-dollar bills by act of President Roosevelt on July 2, 1935 and remains on them to this day. On the left is an image of the back side of the seal, on the right is the front side.

For such a large and powerful state as the USA, with its amazing history fraught with many secrets, state symbols must be no less interesting. The coat of arms of the United States conceals many mysterious facts.

The US coat of arms has features that not many people know: for example, it has two sides, like a coin. But more on that below.

Great Seal of the USA

The main emblem of the United States is correctly called the Great Seal of the United States. This indicates the original purpose of using the coat of arms - confirmation of the authenticity of securities and documents issued by the government. The role of Keeper of the Great Seal is officially assigned to the United States Secretary of State. Those who want to see it with their own eyes can fly to Washington and visit the State Department exhibition hall.

Face

It is correct to begin the description of the US coat of arms with its front part. The shield is held by a bald eagle. He holds the shield himself, which means that Americans must rely on their own strength. Those who are interested in the nature of North America will not even have a question about which eagle is on the US coat of arms. They are well aware that this bird of prey, which, by the way, is the crown of the region’s food chain, is found only in these parts. She undoubtedly deservedly became a symbol of the States. In many Native North American cultures, the bald eagle is considered sacred.

The heraldic shield, which covers the chest of the bird, has an azure head, the field is cut thirteen times into silver and scarlet. It resembles the US flag, but the seal has 7 white stripes and 6 red stripes, while the flag is reversed. In some versions, 13 stars are depicted at the head, forming a six-pointed star. In the left paw the eagle holds 13 arrows - a symbol of readiness for war, and in the right paw an olive branch with thirteen leaves and berries - a symbol of peace. The eagle's head faces to the right, where the olive branch is located, hinting that the United States is more inclined towards peace, but is ready for war.

In the eagle's beak is a silver ribbon with the motto "Out of Many, One", which refers to the creation of the country from the united states.

At the top of the US coat of arms there is a cloud, inside of which, in a golden halo on a blue background, 13 stars are arranged in the shape of a regular hexagon.

Reverse side

On the other side of the US coat of arms is a truncated pyramid with 13 tiers. The pyramid is crowned by a triangle in a golden glow with an open eye in the center. On the first tier of the pyramid, Roman letters are engraved, which spell out the date of the declaration of independence - 1776. Above the pyramid is the inscription: “He approved of our endeavors.” Under the pyramid is a scroll on which is inscribed a motto that reads “A New Order of Ages.” By the way, the reverse of the Seal was never made; it exists only on paper. You can see it on the one dollar bill.

The riddle of the number 13

Fans of various kinds of conspiracy theories always pay attention to the frequent repetition of the number 13 in the US coat of arms. Some sources accuse the creators of state symbols of occultism. Others attribute the symbolism of Masonic lodges to the meaning of the US coat of arms. The most obvious core on which such theories rest is the image of a pyramid with an eye in a triangle. It is considered an element of Illuminati symbolism.

Officially, all elements with parts numbering thirteen only indicate the number of first states united in the United States.

Let's remember all the elements of the Great Seal of the USA, where 13 appears. There are so many arrows in the eagle's paw, leaves and berries in an olive branch, stars in a cloud above the eagle's head, levels of a pyramid, stripes on a shield. The letters in all inscriptions are also numbered 13.

History of the US Emblem

On the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, the US Congress decided to develop a state seal, which implied the presence of a coat of arms, which the newly created state did not have. A committee of three people, consisting of Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson, began to resolve the issue.

Franklin offered an option with biblical images. According to his vision, it was necessary to depict Moses with the Israelites, who had just crossed the waters of the Red Sea, followed by Pharaoh. A ray of light was supposed to fall on Moses. Which symbolizes the departure from the imperial tyranny of the new state under the approval of God.

Jefferson proposed to depict the children of Israel led by a cloud into the desert, and on the other side the Saxon leaders, whose political doctrine they used.

Adams suggested depicting Hercules with a club. But Congress needed to be given the only option. It is noteworthy that none of the committee members could draw passably. An additional solution to the issue of creating a coat of arms was to involve another member with drawing skills and competent knowledge of heraldry. As a result, the obverse featured a shield with the coats of arms of six European cultures, and the reverse featured a variant of Franklin with Moses. Four years later, the option was rejected.

Three more committees were then convened, and as a result, the version, selected and revised by Charles Thompson himself, was approved on June 13, 1782.