Symbols of the United States Facts & Worksheets

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The Founding Fathers of America envisioned their country as a free society for all of its people. These unparalleled liberties are defined by symbols that are important to Americans and aspired to by other nations around the world too.

See the fact file below for more information on Symbols of the United States or you can download our 26-page Symbols of the United States worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS A NATIONAL SYMBOL?

• A nation’s history, traditions, culture, and government are substantially represented by its national symbols. 
• By serving as reminders of the values and history of their country, these symbols have a huge impact on uniting the nation as a whole. 
• The national flag evokes a sense of pride in the nation and its citizens. Similar to this, a country’s national bird, animal, tree, or fruit represents the region’s abundant and diversified flora and fauna.
• At many important events, including sporting competitions, national symbols are frequently displayed. Holidays and other important days of observance are marked with symbols.
• National symbols should be respected because they provide a focal point for different civilizations to express and traverse what it is that unifies and symbolizes them.

THE AMERICAN FLAG

• The 13 American colonies were symbolized by the 13 stars and 13 stripes on the original flag, which was designed in 1777. According to the National Flag Foundation, there have been 27 variations of the American flag since that time.
• The first American flag’s origin is a mystery. According to some historians, it was crafted by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross and designed by New Jersey congressman Francis Hopkinson.
• Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio, who was 17 at the time, entered the design in a competition. Robert’s design was chosen by President Dwight Eisenhower from more than 1,500
  other submissions.

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

• The poem “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” written by Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, served as the inspiration for the Star-Spangled Banner, which is now the national anthem of the United States. 
• Key penned the poem while being held captive on a British ship and watching the Battle of Baltimore unfold. He could make out the American Flag through the dust and smoke, and it was still flying when the Americans finally won.

THE GREAT SEAL

• The Great Seal of the United States is a representation of its sovereign Nation. It can be found on official papers, including proclamations, warrants, treaties, and commissions issued by senior
  government authorities.
• On July 4, 1776, the same day they adopted the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress first established a committee to produce a seal for the United States.
• After three attempts, the fourth design was approved on June 20, 1978, which was created by Charles Thomson with slight changes from William Barton.
• The Great Seal makes significant use of the number 13. It stands for the first 13 states and the founding colonies.

THE BALD EAGLE

• America’s national bird, the Bald Eagle, is a representation of strength and independence. 
• The American bald eagle has previously risked extinction despite being regarded as a national treasure. The Bald Eagle Preservation Act, established by Congress in 1940, forbade the killing, selling, or possession of birds.
• Its populations also decreased in the 1960s as a result of their starting to perish from consuming prey that had been exposed to the pesticide DDT, which was widely utilized in World War II.

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

• The Statue of Liberty is a copper statue that was gifted to the United States by France in 1886 and is one of the most recognizable symbols of America.
• On Liberty Island in the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was built as a welcome sign for immigrants who were looking for the freedoms and prosperity that America provided.
• It depicts Libertas, a Roman goddess of liberty, holding a torch aloft in her right hand and a tabula ansata bearing the inscription July IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776) in her left.
• The seven spikes on the statue’s crown signify the world’s seven continents and seven oceans, underscoring the welcome, acceptance, and freedom she espouses.

THE LIBERTY BELL

• The Liberty Bell is housed in the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• By indicating the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776, assisted in commemorating America’s Independence. 
• It was originally known as the Old State House Bell or the State House Bell.
• The bell’s famous crack appeared when it was manufactured incorrectly after arriving in Philadelphia and was twice fixed by local craftsmen.

UNCLE SAM

• A personification of Uncle Sam is used to represent the American government and the United States as a whole.
• Uncle Sam’s origins are unknown, although it’s widely accepted that he was modeled after Samuel Wilson and became well-known during the War of 1812.
• James Montgomery Flagg, an artist, drew the most well-known portrait of Uncle Sam (1877-1960). Uncle Sam is seen in Flagg’s version staring directly at the audience while sporting a tall top hat and blue jacket.
• During September 1961, Samuel Wilson was acknowledged by Congress as “the progenitor of America’s national symbol of Uncle Sam.”

THE WHITE HOUSE

• When John Adams moved into the White House in 1800, it had served as the residence for every president. 
• The term “president and his staff” is frequently used to refer to both. Construction of Aquia Creek Sandstone, painted white, occurred between 1792 and 1800. 
• James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, had designed the building.
• Currently, the White House complex consists of an Executive Mansion where the president resides, a West Wing where official government business is conducted, an East Wing, an Eisenhower Executive Office building, and a guest residence called Blair House.

ROSE

• The rose is cherished by Americans as a symbol of the country’s beauty and tenacity and serves to foster a feeling of national identity.
• After great deliberation, the rose was selected as the nation’s flower, in part because fossil evidence indicated that the plant has existed in the country for a very long time.
• Even President Washington was known to breed a wide variety of roses on his property, which is where the White House’s expansive rose garden is located.

MOUNT RUSHMORE

• With 60-foot-tall portraits etched into a South Dakota granite, Mount Rushmore honors four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
• Charles E. Rushmore, a lawyer from New York City, is credited with giving Mount Rushmore its name.
• Gutzon Borglum, who directed the sculpture’s construction from 1927-1941, designed the piece.
• Dynamite explosions were used in part to carve the four presidents’ likenesses on Mount Rushmore. During construction, the mountainside was stripped of almost 450,000 tons of stone. It was known as “honeycombing” to use the dynamite in this manner. It simplified the work of the men using chisels and jackhammers.

Symbols of the United States Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Symbols of the United States across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Symbols of the United States. The Founding Fathers of America envisioned their country as a free society for all of its people. These unparalleled liberties are defined by symbols that are dear to its residents, unlike any other country in the world.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Symbols of the United States Facts
2. See the Symbols
3. Symbolic Truth
4. America in a Sentence
5. Map the Symbols
6. The Lady’s Story
7. But wait, there’s more!
8. I Represent …
9. Two of a Kind
10. Blast from the Past
11. Three is a Proud

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the national bird of the United States?

The national bird of the United States is the Bald Eagle. It is a symbol of freedom, strength, and courage.

What does the flag of the United States represent?

The flag of the United States, also known as the Stars and Stripes, represents the 13 original colonies that declared their independence from Britain and formed the United States, as well as the values of freedom, democracy, and unity.

What is the significance of the Statue of Liberty in the United States?

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and democracy in the United States. It was a gift from France and is located in New York Harbor. The statue represents the welcoming spirit of the United States and serves as a symbol of hope for immigrants coming to the country.

What is the national flower of the United States?

The national flower of the United States is the Rose. It is a symbol of beauty, love, and patriotism, and has been used in many official ceremonies and events throughout U.S. history.

What is the Great Seal of the United States and what does it symbolize?

The Great Seal of the United States is a symbol used to authenticate official government documents. It features an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, with a shield on its chest, and a banner with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of Many, One). The eagle and shield represent strength and protection, while the olive branch and arrows symbolize peace and war. The motto signifies the unity of the states that form the United States.

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