STUDENT: BREAZDĂU MONICA
ANUL I
SYMBOLS OF AMERICA
Symbols exist since the creation of the first nations. Symbols are not only
representation of a nation, it is a form of communication. With them, we can interact with
several people and express lots of feelings. In nations and countries, Symbols has different
meanings important to know how to use and when to use them.
U.S.A SYMBOLS
Uncle Sam, a figure symbolizing the United States, is seen as a tall, white haired man,
often dressed in red, white and blue, and wears a top hat. The exact origins of Uncle Sam as a
symbol for the United States are unknown. The origin of this symbol is usually associated
with a businessman from Troy, New York, Samuel Wilson, known as “Uncle Sam” Wilson.
The barrels of beef that he supplied the army during the War of 1812 were stamped “U.S.” to
indicate government property. This identification is said to have led to the widespread use of
the nickname Uncle Sam for the United States and a resolution passed by Congress in 1961
recognized Wilson as the namesake of the national symbol.
The most representative symbol for a country is its national flag. An invention of the
ancient Indians or of the Chinese, the flags have some specific colors and designs, which are
usually not arbitrarily selected but rather stem from the history, culture or religion of the
particular country. The newly independent United States’ choice of the red-white-blue colors
for the Stars and Stripes was based on its former affiliation with Britain and the colors of the
Union Jack. The stars (mean the 50 states in the Union) and the 13 red and white stripes of
the flag represent the values of democracy, unity, justice and equality, regardless of race,
gender or religion. The American Flag was officially recognize by a resolution of Continental
Congress in 14 June 1777.
The Bald Eagle: is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and also the tail
and it`s the national bird of the United States from 1782. The image of the bald eagle can be
found in many places in the U.S., such as the Great Seal, Federal agency seals, and on the one
dollar bill. For six years, the members of Congress engaged in a dispute over what the
national emblem should be. As a result of the debate, the bald eagle was chosen because it
symbolized strength, courage, freedom, and immortality.
The Great Seal of the United States was designed to represent the beliefs of the
Founding the Fathers. The Bald Eagle is in the center of the seal with a scroll in its beak, with
the words ”E pluribus unum” which means ”out of many, one”. The official custodian of the
Seal is the Secretary of State.
The Liberty Bell was made in London in 1751 to commemorate William Penn`s
founding of the 1701 Charter of Privileges. It was rung until 1846 when a crack had appeared
on the side of the bell. It is now on permanent display in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Rose is The National Floral Emblem of U.S.A. In 1986, President Ronald
Reagan issued a proclamation designating the rose as the country's national flower and this
announcement was made in the White House Rose Garden. Today, there are more than 20
native species of wild roses in the country.
Washington DC, the capital of the country, was chosen by Congress in 1970 as the
site for a permanent seat of government for the new nation. Washington became one of the
few cities in the world that was planned expressly as a national capital. The city has its name
after George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789-97) and the “Father of
His Country”. It was he who negotiated a contract with the French military engineer Pierre-
Charles L’ Enfant to design a plan for the city. Also, a focal point of the National Mall, the
Washington Monument is a tribute to George Washington, America's first president. The
Construction was completed in 1884 at which time it was the world's tallest building.
Modeled after an Egyptian obelisk, the monument symbolizes the timelessness of civilization
while also conveying respect from a grateful nation to George Washington.
The official residence of the president of the United States is the White House,
formerly (1818-1902) Executive Mansion. The main building has been the home of every
U.S. president since John Adams and is the oldest federal building in the capital. In close
relation to the United States’ presidents is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Named, after a New York lawyer, it was transformed by a Mormon sculptor of Danish origin,
Gutzon Borglum, who carved out the faces of four American presidents: George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The four huge heads
represent, respectively, the nation’s founding, political philosophy, preservation, and
expansion and conservation.
A gift from France to the United States in the 1800s, the Statue of Liberty still
stands today in New York Harbor. Often referred to as Lady Liberty, this statue was
dedicated in 1886, then became recognized as a National Monument in 1924. She is a symbol
of democracy, freedom, hope, and liberty. The statue's message inspires not just the people of
the United States, but also people around the world.
The famous American monetary unit is the dollar. Originally, it was a silver coin that
circulated in many European countries. In modern times, it is the standard monetary unit in
the U.S., Canada, Australia and other countries.
Another important symbols of U.S.A are: The New York City, The United States
Capitol, The Lincoln/The Jefferson/The Martin Luther King Memorials, the oak tree,
The American bison etc.
Even if the army is the group that most use symbols because they sing the anthem
every day and they are always very connected with symbols, for every citizen the symbols is
a very nice way to express patriotism and the power of the nation.
Concluding, a nation without symbols is a very insipid one, but, more than that, I
believe it doesn`t exist. The symbol is the sign of living in a free world.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.slideshare.net/MichaelBillera/symbols-of-the-united-states-of-
america
2. https://slideplayer.com/slide/8587615/
3. https://www.ipl.org/essay/Historical-Influences-Of-The-Constitution-Essay-
F3ZD6KFMGXPT
4. https://www.slideshare.net/Irene_Ermolova/national-symbols-of-the-usa
5. https://www.slideshare.net/Ottamay/symbols-of-america-32185609
6. https://www.didactic.ro/materiale-didactice/america-ppt#google_vignette
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_the_United_States
8. ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, INC. 1994-2001 [CD-ROM]
9. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Macropaedia-Knowledge in
10. Depth, 27,Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc.1992,p. 73
11. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference,
1, Chicago:Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1992. p.460
12. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference
4, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1992. pp.156, 631, 812
13. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference
7, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1992. p. 332
14. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference
8, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc. 1992. p 373
15. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference
12, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1992. p.631
16. NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, THE. Micropaedia-Ready Reference
28, Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 1992. p.474
17. WORDEN, MARK. "New York - The City of Islands". In Speak up
magazine,Anno XII - 3(132), March 1996, Milano. pp. 45,47, 48
