Unit1 Summary

American Symbols
The Flag of the U.S.
- British Flag.
- Before the American Revolution, it was
the flag of the thirteen American
colonies.

- Great Union Flag.

- Flag of American army during the
Revolution War.
- British Flag in the corner.
- The red and white stripes were symbols
for the thirteen American colonies.

- In the corner, there were thirteen white stars in

a field of blue.
- The new flag also had seven red stripes and six
white stripes.

- During the War of 1812 the flag had fifteen stars

and fifteen stripes for the fifteen states.
- After a battle Francis Scott Key wrote a song
about the American flag.
- The “Star-Spangled Banner” became the
national anthem of the United States.

- The United States grew and admitted

more states to the Union.
- Now the flag has thirteen stripes for the
thirteen original colonies and fifty stars
for the fifty states.
 - American citizens and immigrants
sometimes recite the Pledge of Allegiance
to the flag.
- The pledge is a promise of loyalty to the
United States.

More American Symbols

- The delegates of the thirteen American
colonies planned the Declaration of
Independence, and Thomas Jefferson
wrote it.
- The document declared the
independence (separation) of the
colonies from England.

- Congress adopted the Declaration of

Independence, and the delegates signed
the document on July 4, 1776.
- The Liberty Bell in the State House in
Philadelphia rang out on that day

- The French gave the Statue of Liberty to

the United States as a symbol of
friendship.
- Now it is a symbol of freedom for new
immigrants to this country.

- The American eagle is the official emblem

(symbol) of the United States.
- It appears on the Presidential flag and on
some coins.
 - The donkey and the elephant first
appeared in political cartoons.
- They are symbols for the Democratic and
Republican Parties.

Uncle Sam has the initials U.S. He originally

appeared in political cartoons and is an unofficial
symbol of the U.S. government.

National Holidays
Holiday Date of Calendar Purpose
Celebration Date
New Year’s Day January 1 January 1 the
celebration of
the calendar
new year

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the third Monday in January 15 the
January remembrance
of the civil
rights leader’s
birthday

Presidents Day the third Monday in February 12 a birthday

February (Lincoln) celebration for
 February 22 two famous
(Washington) Presidents
(See Module
3A.)

Memorial Day the last Monday in May 30 the

May remembrance
of past wars
and a day to
visit military
and family
graves

Independence Day July 4 July 4 the birthday of

the United
States (See
Module 2B.)

Labor Day the first Monday in the first a celebration

September Monday in of the
September industrial spirit
and the dignity
of work

Columbus Day the second Monday October 12 the

in October remembrance
of Christopher
Columbus and
his spirit of
achievement

Veterans Day November 11 November 11 the honoring

 of Americans
who fought in
wars and a
promise to
work for peace

Thanksgiving Day the fourth Thursday the fourth a day to gather

in November Thursday in friends, feast,
November and give
thanks (See
Module 2B.)

Christmas Day December 25 December 25 the

celebration of
the birth of
Jesus Christ