The emblem of the USA. History of the emblem of the USA. What kind of bird is on the coat of arms of the United States?

Unlike most powers in the world, the state emblem of the United States of America has two sides, like a coin. This symbol of the country is also called the Great Seal. It is used to certify only certain documents approved by the government of this great power, such as the President's appeals and international treaties. The Secretary of State of the United States of America is responsible for keeping the seal. But it is not hidden from the general public: everyone can see the valuable original in Washington, in the exhibition hall of the State Department. The US emblem flaunts on the obverse of the Great Seal. What is depicted on the reverse, who came up with these symbols of statehood, and also about the magical figure 13, which is repeatedly repeated in the emblem and flag of the country, read in this article.

History of the emblem of the USA

On the same day that the independence of the newly formed state was proclaimed on July 4, 1776, a task was set before the Continental Congress to develop a national emblem confirming sovereignty. It is interesting that the creators of the idea of the Big Seal were not artists, but people far from heraldry. But they were eminent figures, who made a lot of efforts to release thirteen states from the dictates of Great Britain. Three members of the Continental Congress committee - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson - developed their projects. Secretary of the US Congress Charles Thomson tried to unite them together. But it took six years and attracting the artist and heraldist Pierre Eugene du Simitier to bring together all the projects and implement the state seal on paper.

Projects of the arms

All three authors of the idea of the Great Seal draw their inspiration from the Bible. In particular, B. Franklin made a parallel between the liberation of the American people from the overseas yoke with the history of the exodus of Jews from Egypt. The US emblem is crowned with the motto "Revolt against tyranny - in the will of God". T. Jefferson saw in the act of sovereignty the people of Israel, led by Moses into the promised land. On the reverse, two Saxon leaders Hengist and Horsa were to be depicted, whose forms of government were adopted by the Americans. The version of J. Adams was, perhaps, the most erotic. On the obverse stood a naked Hercules, leaning on a club, and on the reverse - lightly dressed Virtue, pointing to the road of the ascent, and Laziness offering a crouch on the lawn among the flowers.

The Second Committee

However, however hard Pierre Simmyer tried to think creatively and expound in the heraldic symbols the ideas of the authors of the Great Seal, its design was rejected at the Congress. In the second Committee for the development of the symbols of the new country came Francis Hopkinson. He had already developed the coat of arms of the state of New Jersey before that, and began to emulate the statehood. It is thanks to him that the flag and the coat of arms of the USA are adorned with thirteen red and white stripes with the same number of stars. Also Hopkinson owns the idea of the reverse of the Seal: the unfinished pyramid and the Eye of Providence. However, the obverse, which was attended by two goddesses with an olive branch and arrows, did not like the Congress, so the Third Committee was established.

Final version

The work was attracted by a young, hired lawyer, William Barton. In just five days he submitted to the Congress Congress a sketch of the Great Press. On the obverse was an eagle with straight wings, the reverse was almost the same as the first committee drew it. The Congress was not too pleased with the proposed coat of arms, but there was no time for alteration: it was necessary to certify important state documents under a treaty with Great Britain and the exchange of prisoners. Therefore, the sketch was adopted as a basis, and Charles Thompson was instructed to refine it. This talented secretary of the Congress also created the final version - the US emblem, the photo of which you see in all encyclopedias. Thompson took into account all the interesting ideas of the three Committees. He retained the magical figure of 13 - the number of states that have become the fundamental nucleus of the new state. They also preserved the olive branch and arrows - symbols of peace, but also readiness for war. Only they were already held not by the goddess, but by the claws of the eagle. This layout was approved on June 20, 1782, and in September the Great Seal was placed on a document authorizing Washington to exchange prisoners.

So what kind of bird is on the coat of arms of the United States?

Barton decided that the eagle was too common a heraldic symbol. He wanted to see a truly American bird on the national symbol of the country. This was the bald eagle (the Latin name Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Earlier it was thought that this species of feathered predators is found only in the American continent, but now it is known that its representatives live in Russia, on the island of Bering. Interestingly, a bird that now adorns the coat of arms of the United States could become ... a turkey. She was offered as a symbol of the country by B. Franklin. And that's because turkeys often attacked British grenadiers dressed in red uniforms. However, most Americans reasoned that these birds are universally considered symbols of arrogance and stupidity, and therefore opted for the eagle.

Magic number

The number "13" is found in the Big Seal both on the obverse and on the reverse. By the way, the reverse side of this emblem of statehood can be considered if desired, taking a denomination of 1 dollar. There is an unfinished pyramid of thirteen blocks with the eye of Providence. However, Thompson supplemented the reverse side with a motto of 13 letters: "Annuit Coeptis", which means "God is supportive of our endeavors." The second Latin slogan, Novus Ordo Seclorum, translates as "The New Order for the Ages." At the bottom, the date is 1776. This is the year that symbolizes the beginning of American statehood. The obverse of the seal - in fact, the US coat of arms - is also full of the figure "13". In the eagle's beak there is a ribbon with the inscription "E Pluribus Unum" (with a magic number of letters). Red and white stripes on the shield, stars in the cloud above the bird's head, arrows in the left paw, leaves and olives on the branches in the right-all this displays and glorifies the 13 first states. The symbolism of flowers in the arms is traditional: white - innocence, red - courage and vitality, blue - a sign of vigilance.