The United States, like every nation, has its symbols — specific objects that

represent beliefs, values, traditions, or other intangible ideas that make it unique.
These symbols can help to bind a nation together by reminding its people of their
nation’s history and most important principles.

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The United States has several symbols that represent these principles

Pledge of Allegiance. Click for 8.5 x 11 printing. Also available in mini-poster print HERE.
United States Flag – The flag of the United States is commonly known as the “Stars
and Stripes” or “Old Glory.” On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a
resolution stating: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union is thirteen stars, white in a blue field,
representing a new Constellation.” It is unknown whether Betsy Ross sewed the
first flag created under this resolution; many historians view this story as a myth.
The current 50-star flag is the 27th edition of the flag and has been used the
longest since 1960. In 1818, Congress passed a law stating that a new star would be
added for each new state; the 13 stripes would remain constant to represent the 13
colonies.
The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and can be found in all of the contiguous
United States and Alaska. Photo by Saffron Blaze.
National Bird – Bald Eagle – The bald eagle has long been the national bird of the
United States. In 1782, the Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal of the
United States, which depicts a bald eagle holding 13 olive branches in one talon and
13 arrows in the other. The olive branch stands for the power to make peace, while
the arrows stand for the power to make war. The bald eagle was chosen because of
its long life, great strength, and majestic looks and because it was believed to exist
only on this continent at the time.
National Mammal – North American Bison – The bison, like the bald eagle, has been a
symbol of America for its strength, endurance, and dignity, reflecting the pioneer
spirit of our country. The bison was officially made the National Mammal in May
2016 and designated during a November ceremony at Wind Cave National Park in
South Dakota. Tens of millions of bison, also known as buffalo, once thundered
across a range stretching from central Canada through the Great Plains and
northern Mexico. After a century-long slaughter driven by commercial hunting for
buffalo pelts, the population dwindled to a thousand or fewer by the late 1800s.
However, about 30,000 wild bison roam the country again, with the largest
population in Yellowstone National Park. They can also be found scattered in public,
tribal, and private lands in the U.S. and Canada.

The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Carol Highsmith.

The Liberty Bell – When the Pennsylvania colony’s leaders wanted a bell for its state
house (now known as Independence Hall) that could be heard around the city, the
Liberty Bell was commissioned in 1752. One side of the bell has a biblical quote:
“Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” The
most notable feature of the bell is a crack in the metal that runs up from the bell’s
lip. Although there is no proof, many people believe that the Liberty Bell was rung
to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. In the
1830s, abolitionists adopted the bell as a symbol of their struggle to abolish slavery;
they popularized the name the Liberty Bell. Between 1885 and 1915, the bell
traveled around the country for exhibitions and patriotic events. The bell currently
resides in the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia’s Independence Mall. The bell’s
crack is the source of many stories that have reached nearly mythic proportions;
the crack’s appearance may have added to the bell’s symbolic power.

The Star-spangled Banner by James Fuller Queen, 1861. Click for 8.5 x 11 printing.
The National Anthem – “The Star-Spangled Banner,” has a colorful history. Francis
Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the anthem as a poem in 1814, after he witnessed the
British Navy bombarding ships during the Battle of Fort McHenry in
Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812. The melody was “borrowed” from the
tune of a popular British song. The song became the official national anthem in
1931, replacing several other songs commonly sung at public events. The anthem is
somewhat controversial because of its war-related imagery and the music’s
challenge to singers.
National Motto – In God We Trust – In 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower approved
a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress declaring “In God We Trust” as the official
national motto of the United States of America. This motto supplanted “E Pluribus
Unum,” which had been in use since the initial 1776 design of the Great Seal of the
United States. The motto first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.

The Great Seal of the United States.

Great Seal of the United States – This seal, established in 1782, is used to authenticate
certain documents such as foreign treaties and presidential proclamations. The
symbols on the seal reflect the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted
to pass on to their descendants. In the center of the seal is our national bird — the
bald eagle that holds a scroll in its beak inscribed with our original national motto:
“E Pluribus Unum,” Latin for “one from many,” representing a nation created from
13 colonies. The eagle grasps an olive branch in its right talon and a bundle of
thirteen arrows in its left, representing the power of peace and war. The reverse
side of the Great Seal depicts the national coat of arms used on numerous
documents, including United States passports, military insignia, embassy placards,
and various flags. The coat of arms includes a 13-step pyramid with the year 1776
in Roman numerals, an eye at the top of a pyramid with the Latin motto “Annuit
Coeptis,” which means “He favors our undertakings.” Below the pyramid, a scroll
reads “Novus Ordo Seclorum,” Latin for “New Order of the Ages,” referring to 1776
as the beginning of the American new era.

Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam – With the initials “U.S,” Uncle Sam is a common national personification
of the U.S. federal government or the country in general that, according to legend,
came into use during the War of 1812. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat
packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States
Army during the War of 1812. He is portrayed as an older, bearded man dressed in
clothes that evoke the U.S. flag. While the figure of Uncle Sam specifically
represents the government, Columbia represents the United States as a nation.
National Tree – Oak Tree – The mighty oak tree was designated as the official
national tree of the United States of America in 2004. With more than 60 species of
oak growing in the United States, it is cherished for its beauty, abundant shade, and
top-quality lumber. One U.S. senator said: “It is a fine choice to represent our
nation’s strength, as it grows from just an acorn into a powerful entity whose many
branches continue to strengthen and reach skyward with every passing year.”
 Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty – With the formal title of “Liberty Enlightening the World, the
statue was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Dedicated in 1886,
the statue shows Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. Located in New York
Harbor, the statue holds a torch in one hand and a tablet representing the law in
the other. The date of the Declaration of Independence is inscribed on the tablet. A
broken chain sits at Libertas’s feet. The statue is an iconic symbol of freedom.
Protestors worldwide have used the statue’s image in their struggles for political
freedom. Today the neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island is part of the Statue of
Liberty National Monument and is a significant tourist attraction.
National Flower – Rose – The rose was designated as the official flower and floral
emblem of the United States of America in 1986. The rose grows naturally
throughout North America, blooming in several colors, including red, pink, white, or
yellow, and can have a wonderfully rich aroma. The rose is a symbol of love, beauty,
war, and politics all over the world. Several of the 50 states have also adopted the
rose as their official state flower, including New York, Oklahoma, Georgia, Iowa,
and North Dakota.