National Symbols: Flag, Eagle, and Liberty Bell: Second Grade Social Studies
National symbols are special objects, animals, and landmarks that represent the history, values, unity, and freedom of the United States of America.
What Is a National Symbol?
A symbol is an object, picture, or design that stands for a big idea. Just as a red octagonal sign instantly means "stop," a national symbol stands for an entire country's ideals and heritage. When Americans look at national symbols, they feel a sense of shared pride, remembering the brave people and democratic values that unite our nation.
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| GREAT AMERICAN SYMBOLS |
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| THE AMERICAN FLAG | THE BALD EAGLE | THE LIBERTY BELL |
| 50 Stars: States | National Bird: | Philadelphia, PA: |
| 13 Stripes: First | Strength, freedom, | Proclaims liberty, |
| 13 colonies | and independence | iconic crack |
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The American Flag: Old Glory
The flag of the United States is one of our most recognizable national symbols. It is often affectionately called the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, or the Star-Spangled Banner.
The Meaning of the Stars and Stripes
Every part of the American flag was chosen with intentional symbolism.
The fifty white stars set inside a blue field in the upper left corner represent the fifty states that make up the United States today. Whenever a new state joined the Union throughout history, an additional star was added to the flag. The thirteen horizontal stripes—seven red and six white—represent the original thirteen American colonies that declared independence in 1776.
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[ 50 Stars = 50 States ] [ 13 Stripes = 13 Colonies ]
The Colors of the Flag
The colors of the flag carry deep symbolic meanings: Red stands for courage, bravery, and the willingness to sacrifice for freedom. White stands for purity, clean motives, and innocence. Blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Etiquette for the Flag
Americans treat the flag with dignity and respect. The flag should never touch the ground or floor. When displayed outdoors, it is raised briskly at sunrise and lowered slowly and ceremoniously at sunset. When the flag passes in a parade or during the Pledge of Allegiance, citizens stand, remove hats, and place their right hands over their hearts.
The Bald Eagle: Symbol of Strength and Freedom
In 1782, the founding leaders of the United States chose the bald eagle as our national bird and the central figure on the Great Seal of the United States.
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/ '._.-'''''-._.' \
\ o o / THE BALD EAGLE:
\ ( ^ ) / Majestic national bird
'._ '---' _.' representing freedom
'--.....--' and soaring strength.
Characteristics of the Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is not actually bald; its head and tail are covered with bright white feathers that contrast with its dark brown body. Founding leaders chose the bald eagle because it is native solely to North America, flies fearlessly through mountain skies, possesses remarkable eyesight, and symbolizes independent freedom and courage.
The Great Seal of the United States
On the official Great Seal, the bald eagle holds an olive branch with thirteen leaves in its right talon (representing the desire for peace) and a bundle of thirteen arrows in its left talon (representing the power to defend our freedom in war). In its beak, it carries a banner with the Latin motto: E Pluribus Unum, which means "Out of many, one."
The Liberty Bell: Ringing for Freedom
The Liberty Bell is a historic cracked bronze bell located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that serves as a worldwide symbol of liberty and human rights.
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/ | LIBERTY |
| BELL |
| / | <--- The Famous Crack
\ / /
'---/ '
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The Inscription on the Bell
Cast in the 1750s for the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), the Liberty Bell bears a famous biblical inscription around its crown: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof."
The Famous Crack
The bell rang on historic occasions, including public readings of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. Over decades of ringing, a small hairline crack began to develop. In 1846, while ringing to celebrate George Washington's birthday, the crack widened dramatically, rendering the bell unable to produce its musical tone. Today, the cracked bell rests safely in a glass pavilion in Philadelphia, where millions of visitors view it each year.
Abolitionists and the Name "Liberty Bell"
In the 1830s, brave Americans working to end slavery—known as abolitionists—adopted the bell as their symbol and first popularized the name "The Liberty Bell." They pointed to the bell's inscription to remind all Americans that freedom must belong to every human being.
Exercises and Review
Exercise 1: Explain what the fifty stars and thirteen stripes on the American flag represent and describe the symbolic meaning of the three colors.
Exercise 1 Solution: The fifty white stars on the American flag represent the fifty individual states that form the United States today, while the thirteen red and white stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that declared independence in 1776. The color red symbolizes courage and bravery; the color white symbolizes purity and innocence; and the color blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Exercise 2: What objects does the bald eagle hold in its talons on the Great Seal of the United States, and what do those two objects signify?
Exercise 2 Solution: On the Great Seal of the United States, the bald eagle holds an olive branch in its right talon and a bundle of thirteen arrows in its left talon. The olive branch signifies the nation's strong desire for peace, while the thirteen arrows signify the nation's readiness and strength to defend its freedom during times of conflict.