1. National Symbols of the USA
The United States of America is а federation of states (now there are 50 states), which
was established by the Constitution of 1787. Each state has its own capital city. Each state has its
own national motto, bird and flower as its symbol.
The term the USA was suggested by Thomas Paine (1737-1809), an American
revolutionary patriot, and officially used for the first time in the Declaration of Independence (July
4, 1776). The previous practice was to refer to the "United Colonies".
It was in 1812 when the nickname of the US "Uncle Sam" appeared. Uncle Sam Wilson of
New York supplied beef to the US army during the war of 1812 stamping his barrels with the
letters "US". This beef became known to the army as Uncle Sam's and later on this familiar name
became associated with the US government.
The coat-of arms of the US represents an eagle with wings outspread, holding a bundle of
rods – the symbol of administering – in the left claw and the olive twig – the emblem of love – in
the right claw. The eagle received his name ("bald") because the feathers on his head and neck
are snow-white and give him, when seen at a distance, the appearance of being bald. Like so
many other birds of importance the bald eagle has received a number of other names: "bird of
freedom", "bird of Washington", "brown eagle", "national bird", "American eagle" and others.
The motto on the coat-of arms is "E Pluribus Unum" (One of many).
June 14 is Flag Day in the USA. On that day 1777 the Americans adopted their own flag.
No one really knows who sewed the first American flag but many Americans believe it was made
by Betsy Ross in her own home. Americans think about and treat their flag with respect. In
American schools the day begins with the solemn ceremony of raising the flag.
The flag of the country has 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 states
and 50 stars - for each of the state of it. Each colour in the flag bears a message. The red tells of
the bravery of the men and women who helped to make the nation. The red tells to be fearless in
supporting the cause of justice and right.
The white tells of the pure and noble lives of the founders of the nation. The white tells to
live so to be worthy citizens of the country.
The blue tells a story of the loyalty of the early Americans, who helped to make the US.
The blue tells to be loyal Americans, true to the country and to the flag.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the US. It was written in 1814
during the war of 1812. Francis Key while escorting a prisoner watched the bombing of fort
Millinery by the British army and at the dawn saw the American flag still flying. He knew the British
attack had been turned back. The flag filled him with courage and renewed hope. Today this flag
can be seen in the Museum of American History in Washington D.C. The poem, was long used as
a national anthem, and officially adopted as such by an act of the Congress.
The song "America the Beautiful" is not the national anthem of the US, though many insist
that it should be. But certainly it is a truly loved "national" song. The magnificent view from Pike's
Peak in Colorado inspired Katharine Lee Bates, an English teacher to write the poem in 1893.
The melody composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, was originally a hymn.
The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key John Stafford Smith
Oh, say! Can you see, by the dawn's early light, And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last Gave proof through the night that our flag was still
gleaming, there.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
perilous light, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
streaming?
America the Beautiful

2. Katharine Lee Bates Samuel A. Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies, O beautiful for heroes proved
For amber waves of grain, In liberating strife,
For purple mountain majesties Who more than self their country
Above the fruited plain! loved,
America! America! And mercy more than life!
God shed his grace on thee America! America!
And crown thy good with brotherhood May God thy gold refine
From sea to shining sea! Till all success be nobleness,
O beautiful for pilgrim feet, And every gain divine!
Whose stern, impassioned stress O beautiful for patriot dream
A thoroughfare freedom beat That sees beyond the years
Across the wilderness! Thine alabaster cities gleam
America! America! Undimmed by human tears!
God mend thine every flaw, America! America!
Confirm thy soul in self-control, God shed his light on thee
Thy liberty in law! And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Прекрасная Америка
Бескрайними прекрасна небесами,
Златыми кукурузными полями,
Величьем пашен и багрянцем гор,
Америка, будь Господом любима
И благостью и братством будь хранима
От синих рек до золотых озер.
Прекрасна пилигримами своими,
Чью волю злые бури не сломили,
О, средоточье за свободу битв,
В тебе изъянов нет, ты безупречна,
Мудра в своем спокойствии извечном,
В тебе закон и голос правды жив.
Ты славишься солдатами свободы,
Что не жалели жизней для народа
И их отдали за свою страну.
Америка, во всем доверься Богу,
Укажет он к достоинству дорогу
Среди всех прочих верную одну.
Мечтами патриотов ты согрета,
Сквозь тьму времен находишь ты ответы.
Твою красу слезам не смыть вовек.
Америка, будь Господом любима,
И благостью и братством будь хранима
От золотых озер до синих рек.
Перевод М. Кауфман

3. National Symbols
Test
Choose the statements, which are true.
1. a. The 13 stripes in the modern flag stand for the colonies that now make up the nation.
b. The 13 stars in the modern flag stand for the states that now make up the nation.
c. The 13 stars in the modern flag stand for the states that joined together in 1776, to
declare themselves free from the rule of England.
d. The 13 stripes in the modern flag, seven red and six white, stand for the colonies that
joined together in 1776, to declare themselves free from the rule of England.
e. The 50 white, five-pointed stars stand for the colonies that joined together in 1776, to
declare themselves free from the rule of England.
f. The 50 white, five-pointed stars stand for the states that now make up the nation.
2. Poets, patriots and composers have given different names to the National Flag. The
best known are:
a. God Save the Queen b. Old Glory c. America the Beautiful
d. The Star Spangled Banner e. The Stars and Stripes f. The Union Jack
g. Starry Flag
3. After the war, Uncle Sam became the symbol of the ….
a. US army b. beef c. nation
4. In 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the national bird for the country. The bald eagle
is … .
a. really bald b. black-streaked c. wingless d. "white-streaked"
5. The United States national motto is … .
a. Uncle Sam b. In God We Trust c. E Pluribus Unum