American Symbols

1. American Symbols Introduction We live in the United States of America. Our country is something to be very proud of. There are many symbols to help us show American Pride. Click on the flag below to read about each American Symbol. Record facts about each symbol in your Reading Log. Then, use the information to answer The BIG Question ! in your Reading Log.

2. American Symbols After you record facts about each symbol, go on to The BIG Question

3. The Star-Spangled Banner The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem or song of the United States. The words were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. He watched a night-time battle between England and America. He was very excited when the American flag was still flying in the morning. He wrote a song about the flag. Click to return to American Symbols

4. Independence Hall Independence Hall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this building, colonial leaders met to plan the future of the 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. Click to return to American Symbols

5. White House The White House is the home of the President of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. 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 to return to American Symbols

6. American Flag The United States flag has 13 stripes. Seven are red and 6 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 new states join the union. Click to return to American Symbols

7. Our Capital Every country has a capital. This is where the government makes important decisions, such as laws. It is also where the President lives and Congress meets. The Supreme Court judges work here too. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. It is named after George Washington, who was the first President of the United States, and Christopher Columbus, a famous explorer. Washington, D.C. is located on the east coast and is surrounded by the states of Maryland and Virginia on the Potomac River. It is America's first planned city and was designed by African American, Pierre L'Enfant. Click to return to American Symbols

8. The Great Seal On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were asked to make a seal for the United States of America. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention thought a symbol and national coat of arms would show we were proud of our nation. The Great Seal was approved on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted to pass on to their descendents. The eagle stands for the U.S. The olive branch stands for peace. The arrow means the U.S. will fight for what is right. The stripes on the shield stand for the first 13 states. Click to return to American Symbols

9. The BIG Question! Use what you have learned about the different American Symbols to answer the following question. What do these symbols tell you about being an American? Use information about American Symbols to support your response. Click on the flag to return to home!

10. References • All information and graphics were reproduced for educational purposes and were obtained from: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). May 2009. Ben’s Guide to U.S Government. Retrieved May 2009 from http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html