The american flag is often called

Символы Америки (American Symbols) топик по английскому языку, который достаточно популярен при изучении английского. Изучив топик Символы Америки на английском языке с переводом вы сможете рассказать об основных американских символах таких, как американский флаг, гимн, национальная эмблема и статуя свобода.

Текст топика «American Symbols»

The American flag is often called «The Stars and Stripes» or «Old Glory». It represents the growth of the nation and has thirteen horizontal stripes, seven of them are red and six are white, they stand for the original thirteen states. In the top left hand corner, there are fifty white stars on a blue background. Each star represents a state.

The national anthem of the USA is called «The Star Spangled Banner». The lyrics were written during the Anglo-American war in 1812—1814 and set to the music of an old song. Every state has its own flag, emblem and anthem.

In 1782, the eagle became the national emblem of the USA. The eagle holds 13 arrows — a symbol of strength and an olive branch — a symbol of peace. There is also an eagle on the back of a dollar bill.

The symbol of American democracy is the Statue of Liberty. It stands on the Liberty Island in New York and it is one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea. This National Monument was a present from France to the USA in 1884 as a symbol of friendship. Liberty carries the torch of freedom in her right hand and in her left hand; she holds a tablet with the inscription «July 4, 1776» — American Independence Day.​

Перевод топика «Символы Америки»

Американский флаг часто называют «Звезды и полосы» или «Старая слава». Он символизирует развитие нации, на нем тринадцать горизонтальных полосок, семь из них красные, шесть белые, они представляют тринадцать первых штатов. В левом верхнем углу пятьдесят белых звезд на синем фоне. Каждая звезда представляет штат.

Национальный гимн США называется «Усыпанный звездами флаг». Слова были написаны во время англо-американской войны в 1812-1814 годах и положены на музыку старой песни. У каждого штата свой флаг, символ и гимн.

В 1782 году национальной эмблемой США стал орел. Орел держит 13 стрел –символ силы и оливковую ветвь – символ мира. Так же орел изображен на обратной стороне долларовой купюры.

Символ Американской демократии – Статуя Свободы. Она стоит на острове Свободы в Нью-Йорке и это первое, что люди видят, когда приплывают в Америку по морю. Этот памятник был подарком США от Франции в 1884 году в знак дружбы. Свобода держит в правой руке факел, а в левой руке она держит табличку с надписью «4 июля 1776 года» — День независимости Америки.

National Symbols of the United States of America

The American flag, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, is made up of several elements, each with its own symbolism. The design is comprised of thirteen red and white horizontal stripes, with a blue rectangle in the upper left corner. The stripes stand for the thirteen British colonies which became the first U.S states after declaring independence from Great Britain.

Fifty white, five-pointed stars can be seen inside the blue rectangle, all arranged horizontally in rows of six alternating with rows of five. These stars represent the 50 states of the country.

The earlier designs of the U.S flag had varying numbers of stars, but then a 50-star flag ordered by President Eisenhower in 1959 was created to mark the addition of Alaska to the union. Eisenhower selected it from a variety of 27flag designs, and since then it’s been the longest-used version, flown for over 60 years.

Great Seal of the USA

Designed by the Continental Congress, the Great Seal is the official emblem of the United States of America, a symbol of government authority and a mark of identification. The seal depicts a blue circle with another national symbol, the American bald eagle, holding a ribbon with the motto of U.S.A in its beak.

The bald eagle holds an olive branch in one foot to symbolize peace and a bundle of thirteen arrows indicative of war in the other. The olive branch and the arrows symbolize that while the U.S.A has a desire for peace, it will ever be ready for war. In front of the eagle is a shield with 13 white and red stripes which represent the 13 colonies. The blue bar above signifies the unity of those colonies.

The Great Seal is a unique symbol found on official documents like the U.S passport and also on the reverse of $1 bills.

North American Bison

The Bison represents abundance, might and freedom. Its symbolic power aligns with the spirit of one’s inner strength and connects one to the Great Spirit and the Great Mother. It was an extremely important animal to the Native Americans which is one of the main reasons why it was sacred to them. The Native Americans honored and used every part of the Bison, letting nothing go waste. It provided them with food, tools and warmth and they were grateful to it for its generosity.

The Bison joined the ranks of the American Bald Eagle when it was declared the national mammal of the United States of America and is now an official emblem of the country.

Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle has been famous as the national bird of the US ever since it was officially placed on the Great Seal of the country in 1782. Indigenous to North America, the image of this bird first appeared on the Massachusetts copper cent in 1776 as an American symbol. Since then it has been used on the reverse side of several U.S. coins including the half dollar, quarter and the silver dollar.

The bald eagle has been seen as a symbol of courage, freedom, strength and immortality for many generations. Although it was once plentiful throughout the country, its population has declined greatly over the years. Many were killed by farmers and fishers for getting too close to their fishing nets or poultry and many more were killed by gamekeepers. Now, most of the eagle population is limited to the northern parts of North America and breeding sanctuaries in Florida.

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a 555-foot tall, obelisk-shaped structure, built to honor the first U.S. President, George Washington. Completed in 1884 and opened to the public four years later, it was the tallest building in the world and still remains the tallest in the District of Columbia, U.S.A.

The original plan for the Monument was to have a prominent statue built near the White House to honor the President. However, the National Monument Society decided to have a design competition instead which was won by architect Robert Mills with his winning obelisk design.

The Monument symbolizes the respect, gratitude and awe felt by the nation for its Founding Father. Hence, no other building in the district is allowed to be taller. Its obelisk shape evokes the symbolism of ancient Egypt and the timelessness of the ancient civilizations. Today, it remains one of the most impressive and important symbols unique to America.

White House

The construction of the White House began in October of 1792 and was overseen by President Washington, although he never lived in it. The building was only completed in 1800. President Adams moved into the White House with his family and since then every President of the United States has resided in the White House, each adding his own alterations to it.

For over two hundred years, the White House has been a symbol of the American people, the government of the United States and the Presidency.  It’s also known as ‘The People’s House’.. It’s the only private residence of any head of state that’s open to the public, completely free of charge.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, standing in the Upper New York Bay, U.S.A, is a universally recognized symbol of freedom. It was originally an emblem of friendship between France and U.S., indicating their mutual desire for freedom. However, it’s become so much more over the years. In addition to the name ‘Statue of Liberty’, it’s also known known as the Mother of Exiles, greeting thousands of immigrants from all over the world. The Statue signifies hope and the opportunity for people seeking a better life in the U.S. It gives people the desire for freedom and is representative of the United States of America itself.

Liberty Bell

Previously called Old State House Bell or State House Bell, the Liberty Bell is a famous symbol of freedom and of the American independence. It was used to call lawmakers to legislative meetings and other people to public meetings. It was called the ‘Liberty Bell’ by people in the early 1800s who used it as a symbol against slavery.

The Liberty Bell is known for its famous crack. The first bell, cast in England in 1752, was made for the State House of Pennsylvania. Upon its arrival in Pennsylvania, it cracked and a new one had to be cast from the same metal as the first. Later on in 1846, another crack began to form in the bell. The crack was repaired, and the bell was rung for George Washington’s birthday that year, but it cracked once again and hasn’t been rung since then for fear that it would be damaged irreparably.

The world-famous Liberty Bell is kept on display next to the Independence Hall in a visitor center where millions of people visit it each year. It continues to be one of the most famous symbols of justice and freedom.

Rose

Named the national flower of the U.S.A in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, the rose has been around for over 35 million years, growing naturally all throughout North America. Available in various colors, roses have a rich aroma and the petals and rose hips have been used for medicinal purposes since the ancient times not only by Americans but all over the world.

In the hearts of Americans, roses are held dear as symbols of love, life, devotion, eternity and beauty. The White House boasts a gorgeous Rose Garden and rose bushes are grown in each of the fifty states. Parades and celebrations are decorated with these beautiful flowers and they’re also placed on graves or coffins as a way of honoring the dead.

Oak Tree

The Oak Tree is the official national tree of the U.S.A as declared by Senator Nelson in 2004. It’s one of the newer additions to the list of national symbols in the United States of America. The Oak Tree was chosen to represent the strength of the nation since it grows from just a tiny acorn into a highly powerful entity with many branches that continue to increase in strength, reaching towards the sky over time. There are about 50 different species of oak in the U.S.A which are extremely popular due to their beautiful foliage and strong wood. The Oak tree stands for moral, strength, knowledge and resistance, considered a storehouse of wisdom which is why it was the most obvious and popular choice for the national tree of the U.S.

The above is only some of the most famous and instantly recognizable American symbols. These symbols represent the ideals and values that America is known for, including strength, freedom, liberty, power and patriotism.

The American flag is often called «The Stars and Stripes», it is also called «Old Glory». It represents the growth of the nation. It has 13 horizontal stripes,7 red and 6 white which stand for the original 13 states. In the top left hand corner there are 50 white stars on a blue background: one star for each state. The national anthem of the United States is «The Star Spangled Banner».

The words written during the Anglo-American war of 18X2-1814and set to the music of an old song. Every state has its own flag, its own emblem and its own anthem too.

The eagle became the national emblem of the country in 1782. It has an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and arrows (a symbol of strength). You can see the eagle on the back of a dollar bill.

The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. It stands on Liberty Island in New York. It is one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea. This National Monument was a present from France to the USA. France gave the statue to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship. Liberty carries the torch of freedom — in her right hand. In her left hand she is holding a tablet with the inscription «July 4, 1776» — American Independence Day.

Американский флаг часто называют «звезды и полосы», также иногда «старая слава». Он символизирует развитие нации. На нем 13 горизонтальных полосок, из которых 7 — красные, а 6 — белые, которые представляют 13 пер­воначальных штатов. В верхнем левом углу расположено 50 белых звездочек на голубом фоне: каждая звезда обо­значает один штат. Государственный гимн Америки — это «Усыпанный звездами флаг».

Слова его были написаны во время англо-американской войны 1812-1814 гг. и положены на мелодию одной старой песни. У каждого штата свой собственный флаг, свой собственный символ и свой собственный гимн.

Орел стал национальной эмблемой страны в 1782 году. У него есть также оливковая веточка (символ мира) и стрелы (символ силы). Орла можно также увидеть на обратной стороне доллара.

Статуя Свободы — символ американской демократии. Она стоит на острове Свободы в Нью-Йорке. Когда люди приезжают в Нью-Йорк морем, то первое, что они видят -это статуя Свободы. Этот памятник США получили в по­дарок от Франции в 1884 г. Франция преподнесла памят­ник Америке как символ дружбы. В правой руке у Свобо­ды — факел свободы. В левой руке она держит табличку с надписью «4 июля 1776 года» — День независимости Америки.

1. What do people often call American flag?

2. What are the colours of the American flag?

3. How many stripes has the flag got?

4. What is the national emblem?

5. Where is the statue of Liberty placed?

6. What country did gift to the USA?

to represent — представлять

background — фон

anthem — гимн

eagle — орел

olive branch — оливковая веточка

to arrive — прибывать

torch — факел

Home » Flags » American Flag – History and Symbolism

The famous US flag goes by many names – The Red, The Stars and Stripes, and the Star-Spangled Banner are just a few of them.  It’s one of the most distinct flags among all countries, and even inspired the US national anthem. With over 27 versions, some of them flowing for only a year, the Stars and Stripes perfectly symbolizes the rapid growth of the US nation throughout history.

Different Versions of the American Flag

The US flag has significantly evolved over the years. As one of America’s most important national symbols, different versions of it have become crucial historical artifacts, reminding its people of how key events shaped their nation. Here are a couple of its most popular and esteemed versions.

The First Official US Flag

The first official flag of the United States was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The resolution decreed that the flag would have thirteen stripes, alternating between red and white. It also declared that the flag would have thirteen white stars against a blue field. While each stripe represented the 13 colonies, the 13 stars represented each state of the US.

There were issues with the Resolution though. It did not clearly specify how the stars should be arranged, how many points they would have, and whether the flag should have more red or white stripes.

Flag makers made different versions of it, but Betsy Ross’s version became one of the most popular. It featured 13 five-pointed stars forming a circle with the stars pointing outwards.

The Betsy Ross Flag

While there are ongoing debates on the exact origin of the American flag, some historians believe that it was first designed by New Jersey Congressman Francis Hopkinson and sewn by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross in the late 1770s.

However, there is some doubt that Betsy Ross made the first US flag. William Canby, Besty Ross’s grandchild, claimed that George Washington walked into her shop and asked her to sew the first American flag.

The Pennsylvania Historical Society disagrees, stating that there is little evidence to support Canby’s version of events and considering it more of a myth rather than a historical fact.

The Tale of the Old Glory

Another version of the US flag that has become an important Civil War artifact was William Driver’s Old Glory. He was a sea merchant who decided to go on an expedition in 1824. His mother and some of his admirers created a giant 10- by 17-foot American flag, which he flew high above his ship named Charles Doggett. He used it to express love for his country, flying it high and proud across the South Pacific throughout his 20-year career as a sea captain.

Image of the Original Old Glory. PD.

Driver’s expeditions were cut short when his wife became ill. He then remarried, had more children, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing the Old Glory along and flying it once again in his new home.

As the United States acquired more territories and continued to grow, Driver decided to sew additional stars onto the Old Glory. He also sewed a small anchor onto its lower right side as a remembrance of his career as a captain.

Being the staunch Unionist that he was, William Driver stood his ground when southern Confederate soldiers asked him to surrender the Old Glory. He went as far as to say that they’d have to take the Old Glory over his dead body if they wanted to have it. He eventually asked some of his neighbors to make a secret compartment in one of his quilts where he ended up hiding the flag.

In 1864, the Union won the Battle of Nashville and put an end to the Southern resistance in Tennessee. William Driver finally took the Old Glory out of hiding and they celebrated by flying it high above the state capitol.

There is some debate on where the Old Glory is right now. His daughter, Mary Jane Roland, claims that she inherited the flag and gave it to President Warren Harding who then turned it over to the Smithsonian Institution. In that same year, Harriet Ruth Waters Cooke, one of Driver’s nieces, stepped forward and insisted that she had the original Old Glory with her. She gave her version to the Peabody Essex Museum.

A group of experts analyzed both flags and ruled that Roland’s flag was probably the original version because it was much larger, and it had more signs of wear and tear. However, they also deemed Cooke’s flag an important Civil War artifact, concluding that it must have been Driver’s secondary flag.

The Symbolism of the US Flag

Despite the conflicting accounts about the history of the US Flag, it has proven to be a great representation of the United States’ rich history and its people’s admirable fight for civil rights. Every version of the flag was made with careful thought and consideration, with elements and colors that perfectly capture true American pride.

Symbolism of the Stripes

The seven red and six white stripes represent the 13 original colonies. These were the colonies that rebelled against the British Monarchy and went on to become the first 13 states of the Union.

Symbolism of the Stars

To reflect the United States’ steady growth and development, a star was added to its flag every time a new state was added to the Union.

Because of this constant change, the flag has had 27 versions to date, with Hawaii as the last state to join the Union in 1960 and the last star added to the US flag.

Other American territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and others, may also be considered for statehood and eventually be added to the US flag in the form of stars.

Symbolism of Red and Blue

While the stars and the stripes in the US flag represented its territories and states, its colors appear to have had no specific meaning when it was first adopted.

Charles Thompson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, changed all this when he assigned a meaning to each color in the Great Seal of the United States. He explained that the color red signified valor and hardiness, white symbolized innocence and purity, and blue conveyed justice, perseverance, and vigilance.

Over time, his explanation eventually became associated with the colors in the American flag.

The American Flag Today

With Hawaii joining the Union as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, this version of the US flag has flown for over 50 years. This is the longest time that any US flag has ever flown, with 12 presidents serving under it.

From 1960 to the present, the 50-star US flag has become a staple in government buildings and commemorative events. This led to the enactment of several regulations under the US Flag Act, which were designed to preserve the banner’s sacred status and symbolism.

These rules include displaying it from sunrise to sunset, raising it fast and lowering it slowly, and not flying it during inclement weather.

Another rule states that when the flag is displayed in a ceremony or a parade, everyone except those who are in uniform should face it and put their right hand over their heart.

In addition, when it is displayed flat against a window or wall, the flag should always be positioned upright with the Union placed on the left uppermost side.

All of these rules are in place to give clear expectations of how the American people should pay tribute to the American flag.

Myths About the US Flag

The long history of the US flag has led to the evolution of interesting stories attached to it. Here are some interesting tales that have stuck around over the years:

Wrapping Up

The history of the US flag is just as colorful as the history of the nation itself. It continues to fuel the American people’s patriotism, serving as a symbol of national pride and identity. Depicting unity across all 50 states and showcasing its people’s rich heritage, the US flag remains a sight to behold for many.

American Flag: History, Significance and Facts

On any given day across the United States, the American flag towers up and flies high on stadia, churches, homes, schools, public buildings and military bases or installations. But what do those stripes and stars on the American Flag actually mean? And how many of stars and stripes are currently on the flag?

Find out about the historical progression of the American flag, from the days of the American Revolution to its current design.

Unofficial Union Flags Prior to the Declaration of Independence

The date was January 1, 1776, and the Patriots were approximately 6 months from declaring themselves independent from the British crown. The Patriot’s distinguished general, Gen. George Washington (First President of the United States and one of America’s Founding Fathers) instructed that a flag be raised over the liberty pole in Massachusetts. This was no ordinary flag. As a matter of fact, this flag would be regarded by historians as one of the first unofficial flags of the Union during the American Revolution. Back then it was simply called the Continental Colors or Grand Union Flag.

Grand Union Flag is also known as the First Navy Ensign

This unofficial flag had three main colors: red, white and blue. It composed of 13 stripes of alternating red and white lines. The Union Jack (British Union Flag) was placed in the far left corner of the flag. The Continental Army proudly rode and fought under this flag even before the Declaration of Independence. It was also not uncommon to find it flying high at naval bases and forts in their territories. Many sympathizers and advocates of the Union’s quest patriotically carried the flag, or other variations, on them to war.

Popular among those variations were the ones with the coiled-rattlesnake. For example, the flag that was used by the 1765 Sons of Liberty had 9 red and white stripes. And boldly on it was the coiled rattlesnake with the inscriptions “Don’t Tread on Me”. A similar version of this was carried by the Minutemen of Culpeper County, Virginia. This version, in addition to the coiled rattlesnake and the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto, had the words “Liberty or Death” on it.  Virginia Patriot, Patrick Henry, is the person regarded to have coined the famous “Liberty or Death” phrase.

The first Congress-approved National Flag of the U.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution that gave birth to the first national flag of the Union. Similar to the one hoisted by Gen. Washington, this flag came with both the stripes and stars. The resolution that governed the first official flag read as:

Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.

Interestingly, the nature of how the Stars were to be designed or patterned was not in the resolution. This gave a the designers a leeway to come out with several variations of the star pattern. Quite a few politicians suggested different Star patterns. For example, Francis Hopkinson, a Philadelphia Congressman, opined that the Star pattern be in a ring format.

Also, it has been suggested that Betsy Ross was the person who came out with the stars and stripes design of the first official of the United States. However, there exist no concrete evidence or any sort of records in the history annals to fully substantiate Betsy’s claim.

In some cases, the stars on the flag were arranged in several matrices and rows. Most notable of them were the 4-5-4 and the 3-2-2-3 rows. What often stayed constant, regardless of stars’ pattern, was the number of stripes and their arrangement. The first ever use of this official American Stars and Stripped-flag came at the Battle of the Brandywine. It was ever-present on the military wear of the Union troops back then.

On May 1, 1795, Congress passed a second Flag Resolution that allowed for new stars and stripes to be added in recognition of additional new states to the Union. The U.S. flag briefly became a 15-red and white striped flag when Vermont and Kentucky were admitted into the Union in 1791 and 1792 respectively. Correspondingly, the number of stars increased from its original 13 to 15.

Why has the American Flag Changed Over the Years?

In 1818, 41 years after the first Flag Resolution, Congress enacted a third and final Flag Resolution that kept the number of stripes fixed at 13. This resolution came after 5 more states were admitted into the Union.  Congress maintained the 13 stripes in honor of the 13 original colonies that founded the Union.

Also, it was decided that the number of stars be equal in number to the states in the Union. Having a fixed number of stripes made a whole lot of sense. This is because with every additional state admitted into the Union, the space on the flag would become too small if the stripes were increased. With regard to future additional states, the Continental Congress picked the 4th of July as the day that any new star be added to flag.

How does the Current design of the American Flag Look like?

The Current American Flag is the 27th iteration

Fast forward to 4th of July, 1959 (when Hawaii was admitted into the Union), the American Flag was about to see its 27th version or iteration. The last 25 of the changes were solely seen in regard to number of stars on the flag. Today, this 27th iteration of the national flag of the United States of America holds the record of the longest serving flag version. The officially recognized iteration in use, as at now, consists of 50 stars on a blue background and 13 stripes (7 red and 6 white).

Does the American flag have a Standardized template for its design?

Yes. In 1912, there was an executive order that standardized all future designs of the American flag. This executive order contains everything pertaining to the relative sizes and proportions of the stars, stripes, space and even intervals was specified. In 1934, the American flag got even more standardized with regard to the color shades on the flag.

What do the colors on the flag represent?

Unlike the stripes and the stars that have enough official symbolism and meaning, the colors on the American flag have no official meaning attached to them. The generally accepted meaning of the colors is the one from Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. In 1776, Charles Thomson had this to say about the colors of the American flag:

How important is the American Flag?

Over the years, the American flag has been used to inspire altruism and patriotism among Americans. The rich history of the flag, as well as its evolution throughout two-and-a-half century, is the number one reason why the flag is of such an important element in the lives of all Americans.

It flies on masts of virtually every building and public place in the United States . It is truly a revered symbol of freedom and liberty. The flag has served as a means of conveying the magnanimous and brave efforts of people who have fought to preserve the ideals of equality and freedom. That is why soldiers, students and public officials all recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Tradition also demands that the American flag be flown high on the mast whenever the national anthem is being sung.

Is desecration of the American Flag a Crime?

No. And it has been like that since 1990 because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling (on two occasions actually). The Justices on the bench ruled that prosecuting persons that burnt the U.S. flag was unconstitutional and abridged their rights of free speech. Desecrating of the American flag is just one example of a person’s symbolic expression protected by the First Amendment.

There have been attempts to criminalize flag desecration, but none have have been successful. Proponents of such laws argue that desecration of the flag is a betrayal to the country. They believe that it insulting to all the sacrifices that were made by past Americans in defending civil liberties and democracy. This is the same flag that school children recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every school year. Soldiers and police officers die in service of what the flag stands for: freedom and justice.

The American public still remains divided on this topic. For now, Americans are free to do as they please with any American flag because their rights are fundamentally protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Of what significance do other old flags hold in America?

Ever since the Southern States (represented by the Confederate State of America) capitulated, the items and traditions associated with the Confederacy have slowly faded into obscurity. Similarly, the Confederate flag has been opposed by great section of the American public. The first Confederate flag flew as Stars and Bars on March 5, 1861. Just like the American flag, the flag went through about three modifications in the 5-year course of the American Civil War.

Today, the Confederate flag (also known as the Stainless Banner) brings about a lot of mixed reaction from the American public. Some section of the public hold the view that the flag symbolizes all that is evil in terms of slavery and racism.

Another section of the public feels that the Confederate flag is part and parcel of America’s history. They opine that instead of completely discarding it, it should be embraced in remembrance of the sacrifices that were made by the Confederate soldiers.

15 Interesting Facts about the American Flag

President Woodrow Wilson about the American Flag

The American flag is undoubtedly the most recognizable flag in the world due to the ideals and values that it  has stood for in the past and now. The flag oozes out freedom and bravery. It is also a symbol of national pride for all Americans. The 15 facts below perfectly summarize what the American flag stands for.

• The only time that the number of stripes changed on the flag occurred on May 1, 1795.
• The nickname, “Old Glory”, used for the flag was coined by Captain William Driver in 1831.
• Any official new design to the American flag must come into effect on July 4.