Bald Eagle \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\u2605 Political Icons \u2605\t<\/h2>\n\t
For over 150 years, iconic figures have defined American political identity. The name “Uncle Sam” instantly calls to mind a lean, serious man with a white beard, striped pants, and a tail coat, reminding Americans of their duties. Although his origins are unclear, one popular theory traces him to Sam Wilson, a War of 1812 businessman who labeled supply barrels “U.S.,” leading to the nickname. Early artists drew inspiration from “Brother Jonathan,” a parody of New Englanders, adopting his signature long coat and striped trousers. Following the Civil War, cartoonist Thomas Nast and publications like Harper’s Weekly<\/i> solidified Uncle Sam’s appearance. While the female figure Columbia represented the American people, Uncle Sam became the face of the government. His most iconic iteration-James Montgomery Flagg’s stern-faced recruiter-became a global symbol during World War I.<\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n\t
Just as Uncle Sam represents the United States government, the donkey and elephant have served as visual stand-ins for its two major political parties since the 1870s.\u00a0Although the iconic donkey began as a Whig Party insult directed at Democrat Andrew Jackson’s stubborn character, Jackson reclaimed the symbol, using it to represent his determination and connection to the common American. The Republican elephant was popularized by Thomas Nast in 1874; it came to symbolize strength and collective political power. Together, these symbols allowed 19th-century cartoonists to quickly communicate partisan arguments to a broad audience, a tradition that continues to shape American political commentary. <\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n
\n\t\t\t\u2605 Great Seal \u2605\t<\/h2>\n\t
Shortly after approving the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to create a seal for the new country. Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, completed a design for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, synthesizing ideas from three previous committees.<\/p>\n
The face (obverse) of the Great Seal features a bald eagle clutching three symbols: the olive branch, representing a commitment to peace; thirteen arrows, illustrating the nation’s ability to defend itself; and a shield, demonstrating the United States’ unity and self-reliance. The eagle faces the olive branch in its right claw to signify a preference for peace. The motto E Pluribus Unum<\/i>-suggested in 1776 by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams- translates to “Out of many, one.” Like the thirteen arrows, the thirteen stars in the cloud above the eagle, and the thirteen stripes on the shield, the thirteen letters of the national motto correspond to the original thirteen states.<\/p>\n
The back (reverse) of the Great Seal details an unfinished pyramid with MDCCLXXVI (1776) inscribed at the base, overseen by the Eye of Providence. In his official report to Congress, Thomson explained the symbolism:\u00a0<\/p>\n\t
“The Pyramid signifies Strength and Duration: The Eye over it & the Motto allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favour of the American cause.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t
The two mottos, Annuit Coeptis<\/i> and Novus Ordo Seclorum<\/i>, translate to “He [Providence] has favored our undertakings” and “A new order of the ages.” These phrases reflect the 18th-century belief that the American nation was a significant new chapter in human history protected by divine oversight.<\/p>\n
Both sides of the Great Seal have been printed on the back side of the one-dollar bill since 1935, during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration.<\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_2_placeholder\n
\n\t\t\t\u2605 American Flag \u2605\t<\/h2>\n\t
From the nation’s beginning, the American flag has reflected our history and identity. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress officially endorsed our flag with alternating red and white stripes and a circle of thirteen stars on a blue field.\u00a0In 1818, Congress permanently fixed the stripes at thirteen to honor the original colonies, decreeing that a new star be added every July 4 following the admission of a new state to the country. Until President Taft’s executive order in 1912, no specific pattern of stars was required. Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state in 1959, by which time Congress had received over a thousand suggestions for the flag’s new pattern. President Eisenhower selected the current flag design, originally created by 17-year-old Bob Heft for a school project.<\/p>\n
In our earliest decades, American flags were flown over federal naval vessels, military installations, and government buildings. While 19th century wars sparked patriotic civic displays, it was the crisis of the Civil War that motivated citizens to display and honor the flag. President Abraham Lincoln said, “I confess that I do not want to see a single star struck from the flag of my country,” as he raised troops to preserve national unity.<\/p>\n
In the 1880s, a movement led by veterans and civic groups aimed to instill patriotism through honoring the flag.\u00a0 Beginning in New York, in 1888 the Grand Army of the Republic began presenting schools with flags. Youth’s Companion<\/i>, a monthly family magazine, called for a flag in every house and school.\u00a0In 1923, the National Flag Conference wrote guidelines for the display and treatment of the American flag.\u00a0 These standards became the precursor for today’s U.S. Flag Code. Today, we remember the flag’s history on June 14, Flag Day, and when we say the Pledge of Allegiance or listen to the National Anthem.<\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_3_placeholder\n\n\t\t\t\u2605 Savings Bonds \u2605\t<\/h2>\n\t
While the U. S. Treasury has issued debt since the American Revolution, the modern savings bond was born in 1935. These bonds transformed government financing from a pursuit of the wealthy and elite into a tool for everyday Americans. Through the Treasury Department’s extensive advertising campaigns, they became intimately connected to the American Dream of prosperity and stability.<\/p>\n
During World War I, Americans bought “Liberty Bonds” to support the country’s war effort, but this was not without risk.\u00a0The value of Liberty Bonds changed with the market, sometimes leaving citizens with losses if they sold early. To remedy this, President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration issued “Baby Bonds”\u00a0 sold in increments from $25 to $1000. Protected from the market fluctuations, Series A-E bonds were safer investments, sold at 75% of face value, with full maturation after a period of 10 years or more. War bond drives helped support the country during World War II. The Treasury Department continued to tie bond purchases to citizenship in the postwar period, including through a school savings bond stamp program.<\/p>\n
Did you give or receive a Savings Bond to or from a friend or family member for a birth, graduation, or birthday? Currently, Americans can invest in the nation through two primary options: Series EE Bonds, which are guaranteed to double in value in 20 years with a fixed interest rate of 2.5%, and Series I Bonds, with an adjustable rate. Over eight million American households currently hold savings bonds.\u00a0 Today, savings bonds remain a symbol of investment in our government, personal thrift, and national stability. <\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_4_placeholder\n
\n\t\t\t\u2605 Bald Eagle \u2605\t<\/h2>\n\t
On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress selected the bald eagle as the centerpiece of the Great Seal of the United States. Congress chose the eagle for its historical association with victory, strength, and freedom. By adopting this bird, the Founders connected the new nation to an emblem of the Roman Republic. Benjamin Franklin, who was in France, critiqued the eagle’s “bad moral character” in a letter to his daughter, and wondered whether it was the best choice.<\/p>\n
The bald eagle was a uniquely effective choice for an American symbol. Unlike the lions or griffins found in European heraldry, the bald eagle was a native species, found soaring over rivers and lakes in the new nation. On the Great Seal, the bald eagle clutches an olive branch and thirteen arrows, representing a nation that desires peace but is prepared for defense. This imagery signaled that the United States was a sovereign power, distinct from European empires and rooted in its vast land.<\/p>\n
Over the centuries, the eagle’s role shifted from a formal state emblem to a popular icon of national resilience. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), it became a rallying cry for the Union, appearing on regimental flags and recruitment posters. It also featured prominently in the nation’s 1876 centennial celebrations.<\/p>\n
In the 20th century, the symbol took on a new meaning: survival. Numbers of breeding pairs dwindled, due to overuse of the pesticide DDT. Congress passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940. Further protection came with its placement on the endangered species list in 1967. Today, the successful recovery of the species is a symbol of environmental stewardship. Legislation in 2024 made the bald eagle the official bird of the United States.<\/p>\n\tngg_shortcode_5_placeholder\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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National Symbols Political Icons \u2192 Great Seal \u2192 American Flag \u2192 Savings Bonds \u2192 Bald Eagle \u2192 \u2605 Political Icons \u2605 For over 150 years, iconic figures have defined American political identity. The name “Uncle Sam” instantly calls to mind…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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