America’s Symbols and HolidaysMrs. AshfordSpring SemesterU.S. Government

Write down one interesting point from each topic from the presentation.

Label each section.

White House Picture

Description • Official residence of the President of the USA• 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.• Washington, D.C. Capital City of USA• Irish-American James Hoban designed it 1792

from contest• Final design by Benjamin Latrobe• Built from 1792 to 1800• Burned down by British soldiers in War of 1812• Rebuilt from 1815 to 1817• President George Washington selected the site for

the White House• 1st President to live in White House was John

Adams (2nd President) in 1800 but not complete until Thomas Jefferson term 1801-1809

White House Trivia• It is also known as the People’s House• Estimate cost was 232,371.83• Three parts: Residence, West Wing and East Wing • 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 6 levels in the

residence• 2 story basement• 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8

staircases, 3 elevators• Its current name was given by President Theodore

Roosevelt in 1901• 5 full-time chefs• Tennis court, bowling alley, movie theater, jogging

track, swimming pool, and “putting green”• 570 gallons of paint covers the house

Presidential Seal

Description

• Based on Great Seal of the USA• First President to use the seal Rutherford Hayes in

1880• President Harry Truman Oct. 26, 1945 redesigned the

seal • American bald Eagle holding a ribbon in its beak• Motto on ribbon: E PLURIBUS UNUM-out of many, one• Eagle clutching olive branch for peace and arrows for

need for war to protect country• Shield represents the unity of the 13 colonies and

Congress• Above eagle are 13 white clouds, 13 white stars• 50 stars surround the eagle• The Words surround the seal

United States Flag

Description• First Design began as early as the 1740s • Colors: Red, White and Blue• White-peace and honesty • Red-hardiness, bravery, strength, valour• Blue-vigilance, truth, loyalty, perseverance, and

justice • 13 Horizontal stripes-Old Glory• 50- 5 pointed stars• Flag changed over time but the final flag was

designed with acts of Congress • Elizabeth Grisom Ross recognized for sewing the

first flag but Betsy Ross first to design with the stars most noted.

Bald Eagle

Description • Bird of prey that is Native to North America

• Became a national symbol of the USA since 1782

• Symbol for victory for two reasons:1. Not afraid of a storm, strong, and smart enough

to soar above it all.2. He wears no material crown

Statue of Liberty

Description • Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor• Gift from France to recognize alliance during the

American Revolution• French Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartoldi• Built in France and finished in July 1884• Brought to USA in 350 pieces on ship June 1885• Statue reassembled and completed Oct. 28, 1886• Formal Name-Liberty Enlightening the World

• 354 steps inside statue and its pedestal• 25 viewing windows in the crown • Woman escapes the chains of tyranny (at the feet)• Right hand holds a torch that symbolizes liberty• Sevens rays of the Crown symbolize 7 seas and

seven continents of the world• Tablet in the left hand reads July 4, 1776

Dollar Bill

Descriptions • First came off press in 1957• Cotton and linen blend with special blend of ink

unknown Front

• Treasury Seal –scales for balanced budget, center a carpenter’s square a tool used for an even cut, underneath is the key to the United States Treasury

Back • Two circles- make up the Great Seal of the United

States. It took Benjamin Franklin and a group of men 4 years to create a seal and 2 years to approve it

Back: Left Hand Circle-Pyramid • Left hand circle• Face lighted and western side dark represent the

country's beginning had not explored the Western civilization

• Pyramid uncapped signify we are not closed to being finished

• All-seeing eye represents divinity-believed with God all things are possible

• Latin word above the Pyramid is ANNUIT COEPTIS means God has favored our undertaking.

• Latin word below the Pyramid is NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM means a new order has begun.

• Based of pyramid 1776 in Roman Numerals

Right Hand Circle-Presidential Seal • Slightly modified Presidential seal • Seal is on every National Cemetery • Centerpiece on most hero’s monuments• Bald eagle symbol for victory• Shield unsupported to show the country can stand

on its own • Top of shield white bar to represent congress and

unity • 13 stars in the right hand circle is arranged in 13

stars to represents a wealthy Jewish man named Hayyim Solomon who saved the Continental Army through his financial contributions and George Washington gave this symbol as a gift.

United States Federal Holidays • News Year’s Day GroundHog Day• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Valentine’s Day• Washington’s Birthday Earth Day• Memorial Day Arbor Day• Independence Day Mother’s Day • Labor Day Flag Day• Columbus Day Father’s Day• Veteran’s Day Patriot Day• Thanksgiving Day Halloween• Christmas Day Pearl Harbor Day

Ethnic and Religious Holidays

Quick Facts Quiz

1. What is the capital city of the USA?2. What is the physical address of the White

House?3. Who won the design competition for the

White House? 4. When was the White House originally built?5. Who was the first president to live in the

White House?6. What does the motto E PLURIBUS UMUM

mean on the presidential seal?7. The 13 olive branch represent what?8. The 13 arrows represent what? 9. Name of the first President to use the seal?10. What are the colors of flag and what do they

represent?

Cont. 11. What does the 13 stripes represent in the flag?12. What does the 50 stars represent in the flag?13. What does the eagle represent for the United States?14. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from what country?15. What year did the statue arrive in the USA?16. Where in the statue are 25 viewing windows located17. What does the torch represent in the Statue?18. What year was the first dollar bill pressed?19. What is the dollar bill made out of?20. Tell me one thing on the front and one thing on the back. 21. Tell me one federal holiday and one observed holiday.

Quick Facts Answers 1. Washington, D.C.2. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave3. James Hoban4. From 1792-18005. John Adams6. Out of many, one7. Peace8. Need to go to war to protect country9. Rutherford B. Hayes 10. White-peace and honesty , Red-hardiness, bravery, strength, valour, Blue-vigilance, truth, loyalty, perseverance, and justice

11. 13 colonies12. 50 states13. Victory14. France15. 188516. The crown17. Liberty18. 195719. Cotton and linen with an unknown oil blend20. Varies21. Varies