American History
The Great Seal of the United States of America
OBSERVE REVERSE Do you know why they chose these images? OBVERSE: The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E. Pluribus Unum (meaning…
Read MoreIf You Know Mr. Madison’s Constitution, You’ll Want to Preserve It
March 16 was the birthday of a little man who made a huge impact on America. At 5’4” and not much over 100 pounds, James Madison—our fourth President (1809-1817)—was the smallest of America’s Founders. But he was a Constitutional giant. Madison didn’t write the Constitution single-handedly; it was the product of argument and compromise among…
Read MoreOUR FLAG – The Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read: “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen strips, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue…
Read MoreCelebrating Flag Day June 14, 2023 aka Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes
“During the night of September 13, 1814, the British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry in the harbor at Baltimore, Maryland. Francis Scott Key, a 34-year-old lawyer-poet, watched the attack from the deck of a British prisoner-exchange ship. He had gone to seek the release of a friend, but they were refused permission to go ashore until…
Read MoreBenjamin Banneker – America’s First Clock
Known as the first African-American scientist, Benjamin Banneker invented a wooden clock that struck on the hour. He built the clock in 1753 a the age of 22 and scholars believe he modeled it after a borrowed pocket watch, which he studied after taking it apart piece by piece. He built his wood clock entirely…
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