The young lawyer was Francis Scott Key. He had come to Baltimore to ask the British to free an American they held prisoner. Key went aboard a British ship outside Baltimore to discuss this. The British made him stay on board—he had heard too much of their attack plans. When Key saw our flag still flying, he wrote his poem, "feu’ll recognize the first eight lines: 0! say, can you see by the dawns early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 0! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Key’s poem was printed in newspapers, to the tune of a popular British song. It Tike SW-J>pdhjleJ B In 1931, Congress voted to make it our national anthem. It was published as sheet music also got a new name:
I , T k 'ft., ? U 3 e o i m f e d l a n c e ■f All. O ctober 12,1892, was a whole new kind of school day. Twelve million kids in public schools all across the country stood up. Twelve million right hands were placed over hearts. Twelve million young voices rang out The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister. Bellamy was part of a group of educators who were planning a Columbus Day celebration in the country’s public schools. It was to honor the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in America. Bellamy’s pledge was first printed in a family magazine called The Youth's Companion. Copies were also given to schools. Our Pledge of Allegiance has changed since Reverend Bellamy first wrote it.
The United States is a REPUBLIC because we elect people to run our government. ALLEGIANCE means to promise you will be loyal or true. of the United States of America INDIVISIBLE means our nation cannot be divided. All 50 states= one great big country! and to the republic for which it stands. one nation, under God, indivisible. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law in 1954 that added “UNDER GOD.” with liberty and justice for all Some people think the words “UNDER GOD” go against the Constitution, which says religion and government must be separate. To others, “under God” is patriotic and part of our history.
iS r eacj^for Carvin ^""N l \ Jj r ©Veg a Ho L| lay? 1 olidays are really about remembering. We celebrate the brave J[ «- people who fought in wars and those who fought for peace and justice. We honor the forefathers and foremothers who started our country and the workers who built it. We remember just how many things we have to be thankful for!
JANUARY M a r t 1N L u t h e r K i n g , J K V K i Third Monday ★ First celebrated: 1984 Dr. M artin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), was our most famous civil rights leader. In the 1960s, he led the fight for equal laws and voting rights for black people. Dr. King organized peaceful protest marches. His words and actions helped change laws—and peoples lives! Dr. King was a powerful speaker. His famous speech, “I Have A Dream, is often read aloud on this holiday. FEBRUARY I l L P r e s i d e n t s ’ d a y A— jjg j Third Monday * First celebrated: S S mI JW Y7Q2 (Washington>, 1866 (Lincoln) President George Washington (1732-1799), #J /- [ the “Father of His Country,” helped found the nation. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) kept it from falling apart during the Civil War (1861-1865). This holiday honors them and all the other men who have held the toughest job in the country: president. M e m o r i a l D M Last Monday * First celebrated: 1866 When the Civil War was over, people in Waterloo, New Y>rk, closed their shops, flew their flags only halfway up, and put flowers on the graves of soldiers to honor the people who had died. They started a tradition, and the idea spread. Today, we honor Americans who died in all wars on Memorial Day. 55 £
JUNE June 14 * First celebrated: 1877 x American flags fly on most holidays, but especially on June 14. On that day in 1777, the Continental Congress voted to create an American flag. One hundred years later, the United States Congress ordered flags flown on all government buildings on that date. Nearly 75 years after that, President Harry S Truman officially made June 14 flag day. - A ^ - a » . * JULY H im - jV t'E.T’EKDENCE I AY ^ July 4 ★ First celebrated: 1777 \ Jf Happy birthday, America! This is our country’s biggest holiday. It celebrates the Declaration of Independence. It was first celebrated on July 4,1777, even before the country was independent, or free, from British rule! Bells rang. Cannons boomed. Bonfires blazed and fireworks sparkled in the night sky. People cheered wildly in the streets. And the birthday party continues every year! First Monday ★ First celebrated: 1882 Y)u can’t build bridges, buildings, towns, and cities without workers. Labor Day celebrates Americans who labor, or work. In the 1800s, workers got together in groups and formed unions to get better pay, better hours, and safer workplaces. In 1882, some unions in New Y>rk City planned a picnic and parade. More than 10,000 people showed up for this first Labor Day celebration! SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER C olum bus i >ay Second Monday * First celebrated: 1792 Christopher Columbus (1451?-1506) was a bold Italian explorer. He sailed to America in 1492 and thought he had discovered a “New World.” It was only new to Europeans like Columbus. Millions of Native Americans had lived here for thousands of years. Columbus’s arrival changed their way of life forever. NOVEMBER 1 TP T?T> J\ ftr O November 11 * First celebrated: 1919 - I ^ World War I (1914-1918) was the l ) W biggest war the world had ever known at the time. When it was over, President jk Woodrow Wilson declared a holiday. It was a day to 1L celebrate peace at last. In 1954, President Dwight D. B Eisenhower changed this holiday to Veterans Day to k \ honor all Americans who have served in our m ilitary - NOVEMBER J T H A W K S G t v i u g -, m m . Fourth Thursday * First celebrated: 1621 The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, but Thanksgiving did not become a big American holiday until 1863. For nearly 40 years, Sara Josepha Hale, a journalist, wrote about why we should celebrate this holiday. President Abraham Lincoln agreed with her. He declared a national day of thanksgiving. Finally, in 1941, Congress made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.
jaifcEr®1 GuoS^AKY Words that appear in Italics are also defined in this glossary. amendments changes made to laws anthem a patriotic song citizen a person who can legally live In a particular country and enjoy all the rights of that country civil rights the freedoms and protections that legally belong to a citizen Civil War (1861-1865) the war between the Union (the Northern states) and the Confederacy (the Southern states); also called the War Between the States colonies areas where people settle that are ruled by the governments of other countries constitution the written ideas and rules that explain how a country will be run Continental Congress the legislative assemblies that governed the colonies and then the United States before the US. Constitution was adopted democracy a system of government In which people elect their leaders executive branch the branch of government that makes sure are put Into action; It Includes the president Founding Fathers the leaders of the Revolutionary War and of the United States, which was created because of that war government the people or organizations that run a country Immigrant a person who leaves one country to live In another Independent free; self-governed
judicial branch the branch of government that settles arguments about the laws,it includes all of our courts laws the rules made by the government legislative branch the branch of government that makes the laws, it includes our Congress monument a building or statue that honors a person, event, or important idea nation a large group of people who live in the same country under the same government official approved by an authority parchment an animal skin specially treated so that you can write on it patriotic having feelings of loyalty to and love for your country Pilgrims members of an English religious group who sailed to America and founded Plymouth Colony republic a country or government that is run by leaders elected by citizens Revolutionary War (1775-1783) the war fought by the 13 American colonies to gain their independence from Great Britain; also called the American Revolution slavery a system that allows one person to own another; slaves were legally considered property, not people, in some parts of the United States before the Civil War symbol something that stands for something else veterans people who have served in a country’s armed forces War of 1812 (1812-1814) a war the United States fought and won against Great Britain because the British were interfering with American shipping, among other things .
ivfk/r J Books t o r e a l ' Bunting, Eve. Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story. Troll, 1999. * Catrow, David. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States Dial Books for Y)ung Readers, 2002. Curlee, Lynn. Liberty. Atheneum Books for Y>ung Readers, 2000. ______ . Rushmore. Scholastic Press, 1999. Dalgliesh, Alice. The Fourth of July Story. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1995. F in k Sam. The Declaration o f Independence. Scholastic, 2002. Fritz, Jean. Shh! Were Writing the Constitution. Paper Star, 1998. Gibbons, Gail. Soaring With the Wind: The Bald Eagle. William Morrow & Co., 1998. Grace, Catherine O’Neill. The White House: An Illustrated History. Scholastic, 2003. Kay, Verla. Tattered Sails. Putnam, 2001. Lawlor, Veronica (illus.). I Was Dreaming to Come to Memories Fthe Ellis Island Oral History Project. Scott Foresman, 1997. Moore, Kay. I f You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution. Scholastic, 1998. Ryan, Pam Munoz. The Flag We Love. Charlesbridge, 2000. Sampson, Michael & M artin, Bill, Jr. I Pledge Allegiance. Candlewick 2002. Slate, Joseph. The Great Big Wagon That Rang: How the Liberty Bell Was Saved M arshall Cavendish 2002. Spier, Peter. The Star-Spangled Banner. Yearling, 1992. Waters, Kate. Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast. Scholastic, 200L , On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship’s Apprentice and a Passenger Girl Scholastic, 1999. , The Story of the White House. Scholastic, 1992. Weitzman, Jacqueline Preiss & Glasser, Robin Preiss. You Can t Take a Balloon into the National Gallery. Dial Books For Yrnng Readers, 2000. 60
A u t h o r s N o t e 1 used to live along the historic Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts. My favorite pizza Jl parlor was a few doors away from Paul Reveres house. American symbols were everywhere; after a while I took them for granted. Years later, I ended up with a few hours to kill in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I d never seen the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall, so I waited on a long, hot line to get into the Hall (though I probably wasn’t as hot as the Continental Congress had been when they sealed themselves up in there more than 200 years ago!). The tour entered the Assembly Room. I looked at the wooden desks, the candles and the quill pens, the carved chair that George Washington once sat in. I was standing in the very room where the United States was born. I was awestruck. That’s when I decided to write this book, to tell the story of why our national symbols are so powerful, to explain where they come from, and to show how ideas about them have changed over time. Let true freedom ring, —Shelia Keenan ILLUSTRATOR'S tfOTE A s I did the research for the illustrations for this book, I found out about some of the * unusual, brave, and creative people who have shaped this country. It’s pretty amazing to think about how the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written—that just a handful of thoughtful, brilliant, and very dedicated people put their heads together (and sometimes butted heads) to create the foundation of our nation. My favorite historical people are Thomas Jefferson and Dolley Madison. I admire Jefferson because of his amazing mind, and Dolley because she was such a clever hostess, leaving behind dinner for the invading British army so that she would have time to escape while they ate! And I became quite emotional when I drew the face of the statue of Abraham Lincoln. I think the sculptor really captured the expression of this sad, thoughtful man. I made the illustrations for this book in pastel and colored pencil. Pastels are fun to work with because the colors are deep and intense, and because you can smear the colors around to blend them. But pastels are so powdery they can be hard to control when you draw small things. I draw on top of a pastel picture with colored pencils to add details. —Ann Boyajian 61
Adams, John, 11 American Revolution, 6, 30, 31, 37, 4 3 ,4 5 Armstrong, Neil, 33 Baltimore, M aryland, 32, 5 0 Bartholdi, Frederic Auguste, 23-25 Bellamy, Francis, 52 Bill of Rights, 46, 4 8 -4 9 Borglum, Gutzon, 28-29 Capitol Building, 14-15,16 Civil War, 18, 20, 21, 55 Colonies, 8, 40, 4 3 -4 5 Columbus, Christopher, 52, 57 Columbus Day, 52, 57 Congress (Continental), 8, 30, 31, 39, 40, 43, 44, 45, 47, 56 Congress (U.S.), 9,14,15,19, 29, 31, 3 a 39, 41, 49, 51, 56, 57 Constitution, 8,16, 46, 48 -4 9 Declaration of Independence, 8, 23, 35, 40, 41, 42-47, 56 Department of State Building, 4 0 E Pluribus Unum, 41 eagle, 38-39, 41 Eiffel, Alexandre-Gustave, 23-24 Eisenhower, Dwight, D., 53, 57 Ellis Island, 26-27 flag, 8, 30-33, 50-51, 53, 55, 56 Flag Day, 56 * Flagg, James Montgomery, 37 Fort Knox, 46 Fort McHenry, 32, 5 0 Fourth of July, 31, 56 Franklin, Benjamin, 39 Gadsden flag, 3 0 Gettysburg Address, 21 Great Seal of the United States, 8, 39, 40-41 Ground Zero, see World Trade Center Hale, Sarah Josepha 57 Hancock John, 45, 47 Henson, M atthew, 32 Hoban, James, 11 holidays, 54-57 immigrants, 22, 25, 26-27 Independence Day, 56 Independence Hall, 8-9, 34, 48 Jefferson, Thomas, 28, 29, 4 3 -4 5 Key, Francis Scott, 32, 50-51 King, M artin Luther, Jr., 55 Labor Day, 56 Lakota Sioux, 28 Liberty Bell, 8, 3 4 -3 5 Lincoln, Abraham, 20-21, 28, 29, 5 5 ,5 7 In d e x
Lincoln Memorial, 19, 20-21 Madison, Dolley, 11 M assachusetts, 6, 4 0 Mayflower, 5, 6 Memorial Day, 55 Monroe, James, 13 Mount Rushmore, 28-29 National anthem, 50-51 National Archives Building,, 46 National bird, 38-39, 41 National Mall, 19 National Statuary Hall, 15 Native Americans, 57 New York, New York, 22, 26, 33, 5 6 ,6 4 Peale, Charles Willson, 9 Peary, Robert, 32 Pennsylvania 8, 34, 40, 45, 47 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 8, 9, 3135, 43, 45, 47, 4 8 Pilgrims, 6-7, 57 Pledge of Allegiance, 52-53 Plymouth Rock, 6-7 Presidents’ Day, 55 Pulitzer, Joseph, 25 Revolutionary War, American Revolution Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 12 Roosevelt, Theodore, 11, 28-29 Ross, Betsy, 31 slavery, 45 South Dakota 28 “Star-Spangled Banner, The,” 50-51 Stars and Stripes, see flag State House, see Independence Hall Statue of Liberty, 22-25 Supreme Court, 9,16-17 Thanksgiving, 57 Truman, Harry S, 12, 56 turkey, wild, 3 8 -3 9 Uncle Sam, 36-37 Veterans Day, 57 War of 1812,11,14, 37, 46, 5 0 Washington, D.C., 9,10-11,14,16, 18, 20, 40, 45, 46 Washington, George, 9,10,11,13, 15,18,19, 28, 29, 35, 55 W ashington Monument, 18-19 W hite House, 10-13 Wilson, Sam, 37 Wilson, Woodrow, 57 World Trade Center, 33, 64 World War I, 37, 57 World War II, 32, 37, 46 m
M ost of the symbols in this book became famous, then familiar, over time. But symbols don’t always come from the past. Sometimes they’re created in the present. On September 11, 2001, New ’forks World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists. Several thousand people died in this attack. The twin towers became a symbol of America’s pain and strength. The World Trade Center had two soaring glass and steel towers. One stood 1,368 feet high, the other reached 1,362 feet. The 110-story towers sparkled in the sun or disappeared in the clouds. On a clear day, you could see for miles from the observation deck. Remembering the World Trade Center in its glory and respecting the memories of the people who died there is important. It lets us turn an act of hate into a symbol of hope. • • • This page is dedicated to people everywhere who are working to create a peaceful, free world.
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