American Symbols
Presentation
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Social Studies
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5th - 8th Grade
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Medium
David Rinearson
Used 188+ times
FREE Resource
24 Slides • 25 Questions
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American Symbols
Study the image and read the captions to answer the following questions.
"It's better to be correct than answer first."
-George Washington
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Our Flag
The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
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This image is the earliest known photograph of the White House. It was taken in 1846. The White House is in Washington, D.C. and is the home and workplace of our President. It is a symbol of American leadership and democracy.
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White House
The White House was officially named by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901. It had been called: "President's Palace", "President's House", and "Executive Mansion".
It has also served as the home of every U.S. president except George Washington.
Along with a flower shop and dentist office, the White House also has a movie theater, a bowling alley and a swimming pool.
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The Bald Eagle
The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of our country. It appears in many government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured bird in all of America. The eagle appears on the president’s flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia, and billions of one-dollar bills.
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One of the most prominent opponents to the bald eagle’s status was Benjamin Franklin. In a letter to a friend, Franklin wrote the turkey is a much more respectable bird and withal a true, original native of America. The Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird that symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.
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Great Seal of the United States
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The Great Seal
First used in 1782, the seal is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the federal government of the United States
The recurring number 13 refers to the 13 original states. The arrows and olive branch together symbolize that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war."
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Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the U.S. federal government or our country in general. Since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of the US government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic emotion.
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On September 7, 1813, the United States gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. 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. Wilson (1766-1854) stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as “Uncle Sam’s.”
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The Liberty Bell
The name “Liberty Bell” was first coined in an 1839 poem in an abolitionist pamphlet.
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On July 8, 1776, a 2,000-pound copper-and-tin bell now known as the “Liberty Bell” rings out from the tower of the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, summoning citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
In addition to marking important events, the bell tolled annually to celebrate George Washington’s birthday on February 22 and the Fourth of July.
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Mount Rushmore
Located in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore was created commemorate America's first 150 years as a free country. The artist stated that the four presidents were chosen to, “Commemorate the founding, growth, preservation, and development to the United States of America.”
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Over the decades, Mount Rushmore has grown in fame as a symbol of America-a symbol of freedom and hope for people from all cultures and backgrounds. All the cultures that make up the fabric of this country are represented by the memorial and surrounding Black Hills
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Statue of Liberty
"The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
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The statue is a figure of Libertas, a Roman goddess. She holds a torch above her head, and her left hand carries a tablet with July 4, 1776 inscribed (in Roman numerals).
A broken shackle and chain lie at her feet, commemorating the recent abolition of slavery. After dedication, the statue became an icon of freedom and the United States, as a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving by sea.
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The Statue of Liberty was built in France, taken apart, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, and then reassembled on Liberty Island. The statue also called Lady Liberty, stands 305 feet tall.
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The donkey is a symbol of the Democratic Party while the elephant is a symbol of the Republican party.
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Democrat Donkey
The origins of the Democratic donkey can be traced to the 1828 presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson. Jackson went on to defeat incumbent John Quincy Adams and serve as America’s first Democratic president.
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Republican Elephant
The Republican Party was formed in 1854 and six years later Abraham Lincoln became its first member elected to the White House. An image of an elephant was featured as a Republican symbol in at least one political cartoon and a newspaper illustration during the Civil War.
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Bonus Symbols!
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is located on the Mall. Dedicated in May 1922, it is one of several memorials built to honor an American president. It has always been a major tourist attraction and since the 1930s has been a symbolic center focused on race relations.
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Bonus Symbols!
This is the Washington Monument. It too (like the Lincoln Memorial) is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When it was completed, it was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches.
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Bonus Symbols!
The last symbol presented here is a musical symbol, The Star Spangled Banner. It was created during the Battle for Baltimore and Francis Scott Key's poem “The Star-Spangled Banner” inspired the public. After the war, the flag was often displayed as a symbol of national pride and unity. (more later)
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American Symbols
Study the image and read the captions to answer the following questions.
"It's better to be correct than answer first."
-George Washington
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