Symbols of the USA ***I should recognize/understand these, but I don’t need to know all of the facts!

The Great Seal On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. The Great Seal was finished and approved six years later on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the first leaders of our country wanted to pass on to others. 13 stars in the crest above the eagle 13 stripes in the shield upon the eagle's breast 13 arrows in the eagle's left claw 13 olives and 13 leaves in the eagles' right claw 13 letters in the motto carried by the eagle, E Pluribus Unum~ which means From many, one! Why thirteen? Thirteen represents the first thirteen states.

Independence Hall Independence Hall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this building, colonial leaders met to plan the future of our new nation. Many of the most important documents in U.S. history were written at Independence Hall. Independence Hall was also the home of the Liberty Bell for over 200 years.

The Star Spangled Banner Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2FiqQaSa84

Liberty Bell*** The Liberty Bell has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. It rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. The bell was cast in London, England in 1752. The bell weighs about 2000 pounds and is made mostly of copper (70%) and tin (25%). After it arrived in the United States, the bell cracked. A new bell was made from the metal in the old one, but this one also cracked. A third bell was built from the same metal, and now this bell has a crack, too! The last time the bell rang was on February 23, 1846 for George Washington's birthday celebration. Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia for all to see.

The White House*** Click ME The White House is the home of the President of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The White House was built in 1792 but not finished until 1800. It was burned down by British soldiers during the War of 1812, but was rebuilt in 1815. It took 2 years to rebuild the new White House. Every president except George Washington has lived there. The president’s office is called the Oval Office. Here the president does the business of the country. He signs bills and executive orders, and he meets with staff, visitors, and guests. Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2zK4ckBro30

Statue of Liberty*** The Statue of Liberty is located in New York. The Statue of Liberty stands for freedom throughout the world. The statue was a gift to the United States from the people of France to thank the Americans for their help and friendship during the American Revolution. There are 354 steps inside the statue. There are 25 viewing windows in the crown. The seven rays of Liberty's crown represent the seven seas and seven continents of the world. She holds a tablet in her left hand that reads "July 4, 1776", our Independence Day.

Bald Eagle The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The founding fathers chose the bald eagle to be the national bird of the United States in 1782. This majestic bird can only be found in North America.

American Flag The United States flag is a symbol of freedom. The flag is often called the "Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory". The United States flag has 13 stripes. Seven stripes are red and 6 stripes are white. It also has 50 white stars on a blue background. The stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The 50 stars represent the 50 states in the U.S. The first U.S. flag was designed in 1777. The flag has been changed many times since then. New stars are added each time a new state joins the union. Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14th.

The US Capitol Building The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries. Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government. Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmo-A_8HoOM&feature=player_embedded#!

Uncle Sam Uncle Sam, a figure representing the United States, is shown as a tall, white-haired man with a goatee. He is often dressed in red, white, and blue, and wears a top hat. The exact beginning of Uncle Sam as a symbol for the United States is unknown. But the most widely accepted idea is that Uncle Sam was named after a man called Samuel Wilson. During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson was a businessman from Troy, New York that supplied the United States Army with beef in barrels. The barrels were labeled "U.S." When asked what the initials stood for, one of Wilson's workers said it stood for Uncle Sam Wilson. The suggestion that the meat shipments came from "Uncle Sam" led to the idea that Uncle Sam represented the federal government. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution that recognized Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for the symbol Uncle Sam. The most famous picture of Uncle Sam appeared on an Army recruiting poster. The poster was designed in World War I, and was used again in World War II. The caption reads "I Want You for the U.S. Army."

My Country ‘Tis of Thee or America Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN2I6vdzgts

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt." Gutzon Borglum Mount Rushmore What was once an idea to bring tourism to South Dakota, turned into something much greater. The idea was originated by State historian Doane Robinson. He imagined large figures of the American west carved in South Dakota’s Black Hills. Robinson contacted master sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Borglum liked the idea, but wanted the sculpture to be a monument that conveyed the meaning of America. Work commenced officially on October 4, 1927. After fourteen long years riddled with funding challenges, the monument was completed in 1941. Today Mount Rushmore is visited by millions of visitors a year and stands as a symbol of America and this great nation.

Washington Monument*** The Monument stands in the center of the capital city as a reminder of George Washington’s importance to the new country. Inside the Monument, there is a famous quotation about George Washington and there is a Memorial Stone from the city that he helped to create. Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzsCeIUXOCA

Lincoln Memorial***

Political Parties

America the Beautiful Click ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LINsNCaxZ5U

There are many, many, many more monuments, memorials, landforms, songs, and other symbols of our nation. These were just a few to get you thinking!