By: Amanda GuernseyBy: Amanda Guernsey

ITEC 2120ITEC 2120

Spring 2006Spring 2006

In 1777, our first national flag was designed by Betsy In 1777, our first national flag was designed by Betsy Ross.Ross.

Our flag has gone through many changes, but Our flag has gone through many changes, but currently has 50 white stars and 13 stripes seven currently has 50 white stars and 13 stripes seven are red and six are white.are red and six are white.

The stripes represent the 13 original colonies The stripes represent the 13 original colonies and the 50 stars represent the 50 states in the and the 50 stars represent the 50 states in the USA.USA.

Every time a new state joins the union a star Every time a new state joins the union a star is added to our flag.is added to our flag.

Our flag's nickname is “Old Glory.”Our flag's nickname is “Old Glory.”

Flag Day recognizes the Flag Day recognizes the day in June 1777 when day in June 1777 when the Continental Congress the Continental Congress adopted the "Stars and adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the official Stripes" as the official flag of the United States. flag of the United States.

For the first time in 1877 For the first time in 1877 Flag Day was observed, Flag Day was observed, the 100th anniversary of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of our the adoption of our country's red-white-and-country's red-white-and-blue banner. blue banner.

Beginning on July 4, 1776 Beginning on July 4, 1776 our Founding Fathers our Founding Fathers (Benjamin Franklin, John (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Adams, and Thomas Jefferson)Jefferson) created the Great created the Great Seal of the United States.Seal of the United States.

The seal pictures an The seal pictures an American bald eagle holding American bald eagle holding a ribbon in its beak; the a ribbon in its beak; the ribbon has the motto of the ribbon has the motto of the USAUSA "Out of many, one." "Out of many, one."

The eagle is grasping an olive branch The eagle is grasping an olive branch in one foot (symbolizing peace) and 13 in one foot (symbolizing peace) and 13 arrows in the other (the 13 stands for arrows in the other (the 13 stands for the original 13 colonies and the arrows the original 13 colonies and the arrows symbolize the acceptance of the need symbolize the acceptance of the need to go to war to protect the country).to go to war to protect the country).

The shield in front of the eagle has 13 The shield in front of the eagle has 13 red and white stripes (representing the red and white stripes (representing the original 13 colonies)original 13 colonies) with a blue bar with a blue bar above it (it symbolizes the uniting of above it (it symbolizes the uniting of the 13 colonies and represents the 13 colonies and represents congress).congress).

Native to America the bald eagle is a brilliant bird of Native to America the bald eagle is a brilliant bird of prey.prey.

The bald eagle has white feathers on it’s head so it The bald eagle has white feathers on it’s head so it is not really bald.is not really bald.

The eagles got its name “ bald” from an old-The eagles got its name “ bald” from an old-fashioned English word meaning white.fashioned English word meaning white.

Since 1782 the bald eagle has been the Since 1782 the bald eagle has been the national symbol of the USA .national symbol of the USA .

Located on Liberty Island in New Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty is a gigantic sculpture.is a gigantic sculpture.

The people of France gave the The people of France gave the USA the monument as a gift to USA the monument as a gift to show their thankfulness for our show their thankfulness for our help in the during the help in the during the American Revolution.American Revolution.

““Liberty Enlightening the Liberty Enlightening the World” is the statue’s World” is the statue’s formal name.formal name.

In Liberty’s right hand In Liberty’s right hand she holds a torch that she holds a torch that symbolizes liberty of the symbolizes liberty of the USA.USA.

Click the lesson to see its Click the lesson to see its detailsdetails

The Liberty Bell has become The Liberty Bell has become the symbol of freedom in the the symbol of freedom in the United States. United States.

This gigantic bell is made of This gigantic bell is made of bronze and is the length of bronze and is the length of your arm and is as wide as your arm and is as wide as your fingernail. your fingernail.

During a test ringing the bell During a test ringing the bell cracked and it was made cracked and it was made again twice in 1753.again twice in 1753.

The bell was originally called the State House The bell was originally called the State House Bell or the Province Bell. The bell was first called Bell or the Province Bell. The bell was first called the Liberty Bell around 1839. the Liberty Bell around 1839.

The last time the bell rang was on February The last time the bell rang was on February 23, 1846 for George Washington's birthday 23, 1846 for George Washington's birthday celebration.celebration.

Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia for everyone to see.Philadelphia for everyone to see.

Located in Potomac Park, Washington, D.C., the Located in Potomac Park, Washington, D.C., the Lincoln Memorial honors our 16Lincoln Memorial honors our 16thth President of the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.United States, Abraham Lincoln.

A hugeA huge statue made of blocks of marble of Lincoln statue made of blocks of marble of Lincoln sitting is situated inside the building.sitting is situated inside the building.

Construction on the Lincoln Memorial began on Construction on the Lincoln Memorial began on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 1915; the date Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 1915; the date of the dedication was May 30, 1922.of the dedication was May 30, 1922.

Abraham Lincoln, was the 16th Abraham Lincoln, was the 16th President of the United States of President of the United States of America.America.

He served as President from He served as President from March 4, 1861, until April 15, March 4, 1861, until April 15, 1865.1865.

Lincoln was elected President in Lincoln was elected President in 1860. During Lincoln's 1860. During Lincoln's presidency, the Southern states presidency, the Southern states left the Union because Lincoln left the Union because Lincoln and the Northern states were and the Northern states were against slavery. against slavery.

Six weeks after becoming President, the Civil War Six weeks after becoming President, the Civil War began. In this war, the Northern states fought the began. In this war, the Northern states fought the Southern states. Southern states.

The Civil War lasted from 1861 until 1865.The Civil War lasted from 1861 until 1865.

President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865, by President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth (an actor). Lincoln had been John Wilkes Booth (an actor). Lincoln had been attending a play at Ford's Theater in Washington attending a play at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. Lincoln died the next morning. He was the first D.C. Lincoln died the next morning. He was the first US president ever assassinated.US president ever assassinated.

The Washington Monument is an obelisk-shaped building The Washington Monument is an obelisk-shaped building in Washington D.C. that was built to honor the first in Washington D.C. that was built to honor the first President of the United States of America, George President of the United States of America, George Washington. Washington.

The architect who designed Washington, D.C.The architect who designed Washington, D.C., , Pierre Pierre Charles L'Enfant, planned in 1783 to have a well-known Charles L'Enfant, planned in 1783 to have a well-known statue honoring George Washington near the White statue honoring George Washington near the White House and Capitol. House and Capitol.

The exterior of the Washington Monument The exterior of the Washington Monument was completed on December 6, 1884; it was was completed on December 6, 1884; it was opened to the public on October 9, 1888 opened to the public on October 9, 1888 (after the Interior was completed). The (after the Interior was completed). The giant obelisk contains 36,491 blocks and giant obelisk contains 36,491 blocks and weighs 90,854 tons.weighs 90,854 tons.

George Washington (1732-George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President 1799) was the first President of the United States of of the United States of America. America.

He served as President from He served as President from April 30, 1789, until March 4, April 30, 1789, until March 4, 1797.1797.

Washington was unanimously Washington was unanimously elected President of the elected President of the United States of America by United States of America by electors in early 1789 and electors in early 1789 and again in 1792.again in 1792.

Washington's first inauguration took place in Washington's first inauguration took place in New York City, New York. His second New York City, New York. His second inauguration took place in Philadelphia, inauguration took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania.

Washington refused a third Presidential term, Washington refused a third Presidential term, saying in his farewell speech that a longer rule saying in his farewell speech that a longer rule would give one man too much power. would give one man too much power.

Washington died on December 14, 1799, at his Washington died on December 14, 1799, at his home, Mt. Vernon, located in Fairfax County, home, Mt. Vernon, located in Fairfax County, Virginia.Virginia.

For over 200 years, the White House has been the official home of For over 200 years, the White House has been the official home of the President of the United States.the President of the United States.

It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the USA.the capital city of the USA.

White House was designed by the Irish-American architect James White House was designed by the Irish-American architect James Hoban, who had won a architectural design competition in 1792.Hoban, who had won a architectural design competition in 1792.

The White House was originally built from 1792 to 1800. It was The White House was originally built from 1792 to 1800. It was burned down by British soldiers during the War of 1812, but was burned down by British soldiers during the War of 1812, but was rebuilt from 1815 to 1817. rebuilt from 1815 to 1817.

The Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise of is a promise of faithfulness.faithfulness.

The words to the pledge The words to the pledge are as follows:are as follows:

I pledge allegianceI pledge allegianceto the flagto the flagof the United of the United States of AmericaStates of Americaand to the and to the RepublicRepublicfor which it stands,for which it stands,one nation,one nation,under God,under God,indivisible,indivisible,with libertywith libertyand justice for all.and justice for all.

The Star Spangled Banner is our national The Star Spangled Banner is our national anthem or song of the United States.anthem or song of the United States.

The words to the song were written in 1814 The words to the song were written in 1814 as a poem by Francis Scott Key. as a poem by Francis Scott Key.

He watched a night-time battle between He watched a night-time battle between England and America; He was filled with England and America; He was filled with happiness when the American flag was still happiness when the American flag was still flying the next morning.flying the next morning.

These are the words Key wrote These are the words Key wrote for the song:for the song:Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight;Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight;

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet waveOh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Works CitedWorks Cited

1.1. http://www.enchantedlearning.comhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com

2.2. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2

3.3. http://www.educationworld.com/http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson005.shtmla_lesson/lesson/lesson005.shtml