The U.S. Coat of Arms, Seal, Flag and Motto
Why did the U.S. think it necessary even to have a national coat of arms? When
did America adopt her present Great Seal?
At the time when the U.S. declared independence in 1776, it was the
prevailing practice in much of the civilized world – in Europe especially to have a
national coat of arms.
On the very day the U.S. declared its independence, the Second Continental
Congress appointed a committee of three (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson), “to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of
America.”
But the task of providing a suitable “Great Seal” proved to be a difficult one.
For six weeks Franklin, Jefferson and Adams searched, discussed and debated
what would make a suitable “seal” for their newborn country. They considered
many different symbols, coats of arms and various devices. They even considered
the national shields of England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and France.
They also looked at mythological symbolism, such as Hercules choosing
between virtue and sloth. And they seriously considered biblical representations
such as Moses crossing the Red Sea.
What, according to John Adams, America’s second President, were some of the
important details of this committee’s attempt to arrive at a suitable coat of arms?
Some of their suggestions are revealed in the Familiar Letters of John Adams to
His Wife:
“For the seal, he (Du Simit ere) propose the arms of several nations from
whence America has been peopled, as English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German, etc.,
each in a shield.
“On one side of them, Liberty with her pileus, on the other a rifler in his
uniform, with his rifle-gun in one hand and his tomahawk in the other; this dress
and these troops with the kind of armor being peculiar to America, unless the
They spent over six weeks debating various proposals, but could not agree on
what form the seal should take. Their committee report to the Congress was
finally tabled.
Congress appointed two further committees before a satisfactory Great Seal
was devised and adopted – six full years later!
The final design which was presented to, and adopted by, the Continental
Congress on June 20, 1782 incorporated the suggestions of several people. It was,
however, primarily the creation of William Barton and Charles Thomson (both of
Philadelphia).
The official description (or blazon) of this coat of arms is still part of the law of
this land, and reads as follows:
“ARMS. Paleways (vertical lines) of thirteen pieces argent and gules; a chief,
azure; the escutcheon (shield) on the breast of the American eagle displayed
proper, holding in his dexter (right) talon an olive branch, and in his sinister (left)
a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper, and in his beak a scroll, inscribed with the
motto, ‘E Pluribus Unum.’
“REVERSE. A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith, an eye in a triangle, surrounded
with a glory proper. Over the eye these words ‘Annuit Coeptis.’ On the base of the
pyramid the numerical letters MDCClXXVI. And underneath the following motto,
‘Novus Ordo Seclorum.’
What does all this heraldic jargon mean? What does it symbolize? The design
on the “obverse” side (the fact) of the Great Seal is, in the main, the work of the
American heraldist, William Barton, and of the secretary of Congress Charles
Thomas, who made certain modifications in Barton’s plans.
This modified seal was presented to the third committee appointed to select a
design for a U.S. Seal. They worked with Thomas to arrive at the final result. This
final design of the Great Seal of the United States was then presented to, and
approved by, the Continental Congress on June 20, 1782. Since that time the
Great Seal has never been officially modified. It has, however, had certain
unauthorized artistic variations made in it, which were later corrected.
It should also be noticed that the “eagle” which appears on the Great Seal is
specified to be the American bald eagle, also called the white-headed eagle.
Eagles are known for their strength, endurance, vision, grace, and their martial
qualities. They are also known for their independence, and for the exemplary care
which they bestow on their young.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the eagle clutches an olive branch
(containing 13 leaves and 13 olives) in its right talon. And the face of the eagle is
turned toward the olive branch – symbolizing that this “king of birds” desires
peace rather than war.
In the left talon, this bald eagle on our Seal clutches thirteen arrows –
symbolizing her power to make war. It is also significant that during a period of
declared war, the official seal of the U.S. is already in such a way that the eagle
turns its head toward the arrows – showing that the nation is engaged in mortal
combat.
The following quote clearly explains the overall symbolism of the Great Seal:
“The symbolism of the obverse (face) of the Great Seal is conventional and well
known: the American bald eagle: the motto ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (One from many);
the olive branch of peace and the arrows of war; and symbols of the 13 colonies.
That of the reverse (back side) is less familiar. The design incorporates the date of
the founding of the nation 1776; an unfinished pyramid, suggesting the firm and
durable building of the new nation, not complete, however, and having room for
other states; a single eye surrounded by the sun’s rays, suggesting the eye of
providence surrounded by the light of the universe; and two mottoes, ‘Annuit
Coeptis’ (He {i.e., God} has favoured our undertaking) and ‘Novus Ordo Seclorum’
(A new order of the ages), both adapted from Virgil” (Ency. Brit. Vol. 20, 1973 ed.)
It is of interest to understand the symbols which are on both sides of the Great
Seal. When the original committee was appointed to devise a seal, its members,
Franklin, Jefferson and Adams, all thought seriously about using the Red Sea
episode, the biblical symbols of the cloud-and-pillar-of-fire which led the infant
nations of Israel.
When the nation of Israel was released from its Egyptian bondage, was led into
the wilderness of Sinai and was on the eve of receiving the Ten Commandments
at the foot of Mt. Sinai, the Eternal One told them: “Ye have seen that what I did
unto the Egyptian, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto
myself” (Ex. 19:4).
Did the Founding Fathers – Franklin, Adams and Jefferson – influence the
Continental Congress to adopt these symbols of the eagle, the cloud and the glory
(or golden radiance) and the pyramid because of their having drawn a parallel
between Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage, and their own deliverance
from colonial bondage to Britain?
It is certainly a matter of the record that men like Washington, Franklin and
Jefferson repeatedly acknowledged the Supreme Being, and appealed to Him for
guidance and for His Providential care.
In Washington’s farewell address to the Congress in 1783, he said: “I consider it
an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life by commending the
interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who
have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping!”
There is certainly much more behind the artistic symbolism of the Great Seal of
the United States of America than most American ever remotely dreamed of.
The Great Seal can only be used by the President of the United States, but
numerous other seals and coats of arms are based on this Seal and have been
used both by civil and military authorities, and have long appeared on flags,
uniforms, in architectural motifs and on stationery. U.S. diplomats abroad use the
coat of arms above the entrances to their offices.
The Great Seal is a work of art, of beauty – having great symbolical significance
for our great nation!
Surely every patriotic American has been cheered by the majestic fluttering of
“Old Glory.” What is the symbolism behind this beautiful flag?
The original flag of the U.S. was adopted during the Revolutionary War. On
June 14, 1777, John Adams introduced the following resolution to the Second
Continental Congress:
“In God We Trust” first appeared on certain U.S. coins in 1864.This slogan later
disappeared from U.S. coins. Then reappeared and continued until 1955, at which
time Congress ordered it placed henceforth on all coins and paper money. That is
how America came to adopt her “national motto.”
More will follow in this amazing series…
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