4. The usa national symbols

MIND THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE FOLLOWING DIFFICULT WORDS:

hoist[hOist] поднимать ( что-л. )

haphazard[h@p#h@z{d] случайный,

бессистемный.

inspire[in#spai{] (with) принуждать, побуждать, вдохновлять,

воодушевлять

update[[p#deit] обновлять,

модернизировать,

приводить в соответствие с современными

стандартами,

корректировать,

исправлять

ChesapeakeBay[#tSEs{,pi:k] Чесапикский залив

explode[ik#spl{ud] взрывать(ся)

target[#ta:git] цель,

мишень ,посмешище

(о человеке );

объект, предмет издевок, насмешек, критики и пр.

Forefather[#fO:,fAD{] предок, предшественник

Scavenger[#sk@vindZ{] животное,

питающееся отбросами, падалью

extinct[ik#stiNkt] вымерший; пресекшийся ( о роде ) .

virtue[#vE:tju] добродетель, достоинство

inscription[in#skripS{n] надпись

seclusion[si#klu:Z{n] отделение, изоляция,

уединение

personified [pE:#sani,faid] воплощенный,

олицетворенный

spike[spaik] острый выступ,

острие , шип,

гвоздь, клин

tyranny[#tir{ni] деспотизм, деспотия,

тирания, тиранство

basements[#beism{nt] базис, основание,

фундамент, цоколь

recruiting[ri#kru:tiN] вербовка, набор, наем

aforementioned [{#fO:,mEnS{nd] вышесказанный,

вышеупомянутый

progenitor [pr{u#dZEnit{] прародитель;

основатель рода;

предок, предтеча,

предшественник;

создатель; основатель

READ THE TEXT:

The United States Flag

In 1775, the American colonies were flying the British Flag called "The Union Jack" and decided that they needed to fly their own flag. Benjamin Franklin was the "New Flag" Committee chairman. He didn't want to totally shut off their connection to England, so he felt the flag should have a smaller Union Jack in one corner, with 6 white stripes alternating with 7 red stripes. This flag was hoisted on New Years Day (January 1) in 1776 on Prospect Hill near Cambridge, Massachusetts. It became known as the Grand Union Flag and was the first American flag.

But...once the Declaration of Independence was signed this flag became literally history and as they say today, 'not politically correct.' What to do? Well it took an act of Congress on 6-14-1777 to pass an official Flag Resolution stating the design of the flag with the red and white strips and the 13 stars in a blue.

Now they had problems with just how many points on a star. Some had 5 some had more. And some of the stars were in rows, some in circles and some were haphazard. Then they had to argue over which came first...a red stripe or a white stripe? After a while it became obvious that the flag could be seen from a longer distance better if it had a red stripe first and not a white one.

There is no proof that Betsy Ross actually sewed the first flag. Several men approached her for a flag design, but that doesn't mean she sewed it. Betsy suggested a 5 pointed star because she demonstrated how easy they were to make when you fold cloth a certain way and cut. An actual bill for the design of the flag was presented to Congress by Francis Hopkinson asking for payment for designing this flag. Congress denied his request saying he wasn't the sole designer. Some historians feel the flag was designed by a committee.

As America changed, so did the flag. Every time we got a new state, we also got a new star. Well, the stars were no problem, but after a while, we were getting over-striped. Imagine today if we had 50 stripes and stars? So, on January 13, 1794, Congress passed a second flag resolution stating "the flag shall have 15 stripes, alternate red and white with a union of 15 stars, white on blue field."

It was the 15 striped flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner."

But, by 1817 the flag was getting bigger and bigger and had 20 stars and stripes. So once again Congress did a Flag Act in 1818 and decided that the flag should have no more than 13 red and white stripes (for the 13 original colonies), and only a NEW STAR would be added every time we got a state, but no more stripes of any color.

And then came the Civil War! Many angry Northerners wanted to remove the stars of the states that had succeeded from the union. But President Lincoln disagreed and was determined to hold the Union together. From 1861-1865 Union troops marched under a flag with all the stars and stripes. And in 1863, when West Virginia became a state during the Civil War, they even added it's star. Well, we all know how the war ended, and eventually both the North and the South were flying the same flag with the same number of stars and stripes.

On June 14, 1923 men from 68 patriotic groups met in Washington, DC to draw up a set of rules on how to handle the flag. In 1942, Congress put them all into the official Flag Code. The flag code is updated when necessary, most recently being 1976.

.

The Star Spangled Banner

It was written during the War of 1812 - a different conflict between the US and British.

On September 13, 1814, Fort McHenry's (Maryland) flag was whipping around in the breeze while it was being attacked by the British. On the deck of the H.M.S. Tonnant in the Chesapeake Bay stood Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer.

He had come aboard with Colonel J.S. Skinner to get the release of Dr. William Beanes, an old doctor the British were holding captive. They managed to get Dr. Beanes released by proving he medically took care of both British and American soldiers. And while they were on this ship, they happened to overhear chit chat about British plans to invade Baltimore. So, all three of them suddenly were detained (but not really imprisoned) on this ship until the end of the battle so they could not go back and tell of what they heard.

The first shot towards Fort McHenry was fired on September 13 at 6:00 am (dawns early light?) It was non-stop. All day long Key and his companions watched this battle. At night, Key paced the decks as he watched bad ammunition explode in mid-air before it reached their targets (causing brief moments of light in which Key could see that the American flag was still flying!). Then it began to rain and Key couldn't see anything. They all sat and waited and felt that as long as it was noisy, the battle wasn't over. The Americans were still fighting back! So guess what happened in the morning when suddenly it was quiet? FOG! So who won? When the fog finally cleared and the sun rose in the sky, the 3 men looked out and saw the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry. The British were running!!

Inspired with joy, Francis Scott Key took out an envelope (from a letter he had started and never finished) and put down his feelings in a poem. He worked on it during his boat ride back to shore, and in his hotel room that night. The next day he brought a copy of the poem (all 4 verses) to his brother-in-law, Judge Joseph H. Nicholson, who immediately sent it to a printer and asked that copies be distributed throughout the city. The poem was titled "Defense of Fort McHenry" with a hint that if you wanted to sing it, it would go to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" a popular song of the time. On September 20, 1814 the poem was in the Baltimore newspaper. The song caught on and everyone was singing it...probably badly but it's the spirit that counts.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that "The Star-Spangled Banner" (as it had come to be known by then but I don't know how) would be played at all state occasions. I am not sure how it became a tradition prior to all ball games?

But in 1931 Congress declared it our National Anthem. And what about that flag that Key kept seeing? Where is it? It is in the Smithsonian Museum.

The Eagle

It took 6 years of arguing to come up with a national emblem. We all know how Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey, because the turkey was a domestic, useful and tasty. But the turkey wasn't impressive enough for most of our forefathers. On the other hand, many other nations were using eagles also. But Benjamin Franklin pointed out, "the eagle is a bird of bad moral character" because he was a scavenger that stole food from other birds.

So a compromised was reached in 1782 and Congress chose the BALD EAGLE, rather than the Golden Eagle (most commonly used by other countries) because the Bald Eagle was unique to North America and not used by other countries, while still having impressive nobility. Due to land mismanagement and other factors, the Bald Eagle population was almost extinct. In 1940 Congress passed a law forbidding the capture or killing of bald eagles. Since that time, with the banning of DDT in 1973 and other conservation acts, the Bald Eagle has made a comeback in America.

The Great Seal

The Great Seal of the United States is a round piece of metal cast on both sides. It was first commissioned by Congress after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The final design was approved on June 20, 1782.

The Secretary of State keeps it for use on official documents (but only if the President orders it.) The front of the seal is the Bald Eagle, wings spread, with a shield of the US on his chest. The shield has 13 red and white stripes for the 13 original colonies. The shield stands on the eagle's chest with no support to represent that the US relies on itself, it's own virtue, for right and justice. The top of the shield is a horizontal blue stripe that represents Congress. And in one of the eagle's talons he holds an olive branch for peace. In the other it clutches arrows for war. In the beak is a ribbon with the inscription, "E pluribus Unum" meaning "From many, one." This was to mean, from many states come one nation. Above the eagle's head is a circular cloud filled with 13 5-pointed stars to mean "a glory" or breaking through a cloud.

The back of the seal has a 13 layer pyramid, once again to represent the 13 original colonies. The stone of the pyramid is to represent lasting strength.

And on the bottom is MDCCLXXVI for 1776 (The date of the Declaration of Independence.) So what does that big eye on the pyramid mean? It is to represent the all-seeing eye of Divine Providence. Above the pyramid are the Latin words "Annuit coeptis -" He [God] has favored our undertaking." And at the bottom of the pyramid are the words "Novus ordo seclorum -A new order of the ages [is created]."

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence declares America's independence. A committee of five men, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to write the document. The first draft was written by Jefferson, in seclusion, over a period of several days. John Adams was the first person to revise the document, followed by Benjamin Franklin, and finally the full Congressional Committee. It was altered a total of 47 times before independence was declared. Independence was declared on July 2, 1776, and 39 more revisions to the document followed. John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776.

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was cast in London and was made of 70% copper, 25% tin , and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver. Written on the bell are the words, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." The Liberty Bell cracked the first time it was rung. It was repaired in 1846, and cracked again. The bell has not been rung since.

The Statue of Liberty

The statue stands on Liberty Island in New York. France presented the statue to the United States in 1884 as a symbol of friendship and of the liberty that citizens enjoy under a free form of government. The statue's proper name is Liberty Enlightening the World. Liberty is personified by a proud woman, dressed in a loose robe that falls in graceful folds to the top of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The right arm holds a great torch raised high in the air. The left arm grasps a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. A crown with huge spikes, like sun rays rests on her head. At her feet is a broken shackle, which symbolizes the overthrow of tyranny.

Statue of Liberty National Monument

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Statue of Liberty made of? The Statue of Liberty is made of copper 3/32 inch.thick, the same as two pennies put together.

Why is the Statue green? The Statue's copper has naturally oxidized to form its familiar "patina" green coating. This patina is as thick, in many places, as the copper behind it and is protecting the copper from naturally wearing away. 

How tall is the Statue of Liberty? The Statue is 305ft. from the ground to the tip of the flame. It is the equivalent height of a 22-story building. In 1886, it was the tallest structure in New York.

Is the Statue of Liberty an image of a man or woman? Classical images of Liberty have usually been represented by a woman. The Statue of Liberty's face is said to be modeled after the sculptor's mother.

Is the torch open? No. The torch has been closed since the "Black Tom" explosion of July 30, 1916, which was one of the largest acts of sabotage to our nation prior to the event of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Many people think they've been there and confuse it with climbing a spiral staircase which goes to the crown. National Park Service staff must climb a narrow 40ft. ladder in order to maintain the floodlights which light the torch.

Is the crown open? No. The crown has been closed since September 11, 2001. Since the Statue is anything but a conventional structure, making it easier for people to exit the crown, in the event of any emergency, is not possible. The National Park Service has therefore decided to close the crown.

Do I need a reservation to visit the park? No, however if you want to enter the monument or visit the pedestal (highest level for visitors), you'll need a monument access pass provided at no charge by the ferry company at the time of purchase. These passes allows a specific number of people inside the monument throughout each day. Passes are limited and are distributed on a first-come first serve basis by the ferry company with the purchase of a ferry ticket.

If I have a question about monument access passes and ferry tickets, who should I contact? The ferry company should be contacted regarding advance tickets, confirmations, monument access pass availability.

Can I purchase food or bring my own to the park? You can do either. A food concessionaire is located on Liberty Island and Ellis Island or you can bring your own. (Large coolers will not be allowed through security screening)

Which direction does she face? The Statue of Liberty faces Southeast and was strategically placed inside of Fort Wood which was a perfect base for the Statue. The Statue's position was also perfect for ships, entering the harbor, to see her as a welcoming symbol.

Does the Statue of Liberty get struck by lightning? Yes! Although the Statue is grounded through the massive concrete and granite base she stands on; the Statue gets struck many times each year. Just how many is not known. The Statue's height and the conductive material she's made of, copper, makes it a structure of choice for lightning strikes.

What does the torch represent? The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue of Liberty's torch lights the way to freedom showing us the path to Liberty. Even the Statue's official name represents her most important symbol "Liberty Enlightening the World". The Statue's current replacement torch, added in 1986, is a copper flame covered in 24 K gold. It is reflective of the sun's rays in daytime and lighted by 16 floodlights at night. The original torch was removed in 1984 and is currently inside the lobby of the monument.

 What do the seven spikes on the Statue's crown represent? The seven seas and continents of the world.

Is the Statue in New York or New Jersey? The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, federal property administered by the National Park Service, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of New York. A pact between New York and New Jersey, ratified by Congress in 1834, declared this issue.

Can I dock my personal boat or vessel on the island? No. Docking of private vessels is not permitted! Visitors can only arrive at the island via the contracted ferry concession service presently in place. 

Are Pets Allowed In the Park? No, pets are not permitted on the ferry system or in the park itself. Documented service/assist animals are exempt from this regulation. 

If I take the ferry from one side, must I return to that side? Yes. Ferries depart from both the State of New York and New Jersey. The side you start from is where you should return to. If not, you may be forced to find alternate ways back due to crowding or ticket office closures.

Is the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? No. The park is comprised of two separate islands, Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, the former federal immigration station, is currently a national museum of immigration. 

Can I use my National Park Pass when visiting this park? No. National Park passes are valid at parks that charge an entrance fee. Liberty and Ellis Islands are fee exempt by law. Transportation fee (ferry) does not apply.

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial is a huge mountain sculpture of four US Presidents, located near Keystone, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Presidents depicted are: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. These four Presidents were chosen to represent the founding, growth and preservation of the United States. The work was designed by the sculptor John Gutzon Borglum (March 25, 1871- March 6,1941). The Construction of Mt. Rushmore: The monument was sculpted by Borglum and about 400 stone workers. Construction began on August 10, 1927 (President Coolidge attended the dedication that day). Funding was provided by private donations and the Federal Government.

The sculpting was done by first blasting away tons of rock with dynamite. Workers then sat in hanging "swing seats," and used jackhammers, drills, hammers, and other tools to do the finishing work. Bad weather and a lack of funding slowed work; although it took 14 years to finish the project, work was done for only about 6 of those years.

After Borglum's death, soon before the sculpture was done, the completion of the giant sculpture was overseen by his son, Lincoln Borglum. The monument was completed in 1941 (after Borglum's death).

MT. RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, LOCATED NEAR KEYSTONE, IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, the White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The White House has been the official residence of all the presidents of the United States with the exception of George Washington. Washington served from 1789 to 1797. By the time the White House was completed in 1800, John Adams was President. The house was rebuilt and restored after it was burned by the British in August 1814.

The White House has six floors—two basements, two public floors, and two floors for the First Family. Visitors who tour the White House are able to see the most beautiful and historic rooms in the house including the East Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, and the State Dining Room. These rooms are used by the President and First Lady to entertain guests and to receive leaders of other countries. The Oval Office is where the President does the business of the country—signing bills and Executive Orders and meeting with staff, visitors, and guests.

Symbol of U.S. Government:

Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam, a figure symbolizing the United States, is portrayed as a tall, white-haired man with a goatee. He is often dressed in red, white, and blue, and wears a top hat. The exact origins of Uncle Sam as a symbol for the United States are unknown. But the most widely accepted theory is that Uncle Sam was named after Samuel Wilson.

During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson was a businessman from Troy, NY that supplied the U.S. Army with beef in barrels. The barrels were labeled "U.S." When asked what the initials stood for, one of Wilson's workers said it stood for Uncle Sam Wilson. The suggestion that the meat shipments came from "Uncle Sam" led to the idea that Uncle Sam symbolized the Federal Government and association stuck. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution that recognized Samuel Wilson as the Uncle Sam as a symbol of U.S. Uncle Sam is often depicted as a serious elderly man with white hair and a goatee, with a strong resemblance to President Abraham Lincoln, and dressed in clothing that recalls the design elements of the flag of the United States—for example, a top hat with red and blue stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white trousers.

Uncle Sam's traditional appearance is an invention of artists and political cartoonists. One of these political cartoonists was named Thomas Nast. Nast produced many of the earliest cartoons of Uncle Sam. The most famous picture of Uncle Sam appeared on an Army recruiting poster. The poster was designed in World War I, and was used again in World War II. The caption reads "I Want You for U.S. Army." James Montgomery Flagg drew this picture, and served as the model too!

Origin of the Name

Common folklore holds origins trace back to soldiers stationed in upstate New York, who would receive barrels of meat stamped with the initials U.S. The soldiers jokingly referred to it as the initials of the troops' meat supplier, Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York. The 87th United States Congress adopted the following resolution on September 15, 1961: "Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that the Congress salutes Uncle Sam Wilson of Troy, New York, as the progenitor of America's National symbol of Uncle Sam." A monument marks his birthplace in Arlington, Massachusetts, and a monument marks his burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York. Another sign marks "The boyhood home of Uncle Sam" outside his second home in Mason, NH. The first use of the term in literature is seen in an 1816 allegorical book, The Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq., also in reference to the aforementioned Samuel Wilson.

Another theory suggests that Uncle Sam was a creation by Irish immigrants to the U.S. who used the Gaelic acronym, SAM, or Stait Aontaithe Mheiricea, which is the translation for United States of America, as a nickname for their new host country. However, the precise origin of the term may never be proven.

Earlier representative figures of the United States included such beings as "Brother Jonathan," used by Punch magazine. These were overtaken by Uncle Sam somewhere around the time of the Civil War. The female personification "Columbia" has seldom been seen since the 1920s.

EXERCISES:

I TRANSLATE THE FOLLOWING WORD EXPRESSIONS INTO RUSSIAN:

To shut off one’s connection ;to state the design of ; a 5 pointed star; to alternate red and white with a union of 15 stars; to succeed from the union; to march under a flag; to update the official Flag Code; to get the release of; to be inspired with joy; put down feelings in a poem;

to be holding captive; land mismanagement; to write the first draft in seclusion; huge spikes, like sun rays; to symbolize the overthrow of tyranny; to represent the founding, growth and preservation of the United States; to provide by private donations; to tour the White House;

to stick association; an Army recruiting poster.

II MATCH THE WORD EXPRESSIONS IN PART A WITH THEIR SYNONYMS IN PART B :

A B

1 to hoist a flag A to honor a notable data

2 to pass an official resolution B to renew flag policy

3 to be arranged haphazard C to stand for reservation

and development

4 to deny the request D to reject demand

5.to update flag code E to adopt a state

convention

6 to come up with a national emblem F to undergo reconstruct tion

7 to reach a compromise G to raise a banner

8 to represent growth

and preservation H to achieve

conciliation

9 to escape the chains of tyranny I to break with

shackles of oppression

10 to commemorate a historic event J to be arranged in

a nonsystematic manner

11 to be rebuilt and restored K to propose a state sym bol

III WHICH IS THE ODD WORD OUT:

1 target, aim, goal, objective, end, intention, board .

2 impressive, striking, touchy, remarkable , notable, extraordinary , exciting.

3 to inspire, to enthuse, to stimulate, to emphasize, to encourage, to motivate.

4 precise, exact , accurate, extraordinary, specific, clear-cut, defined.

5 donatation , aid, contribution ,gift, help, assistance, grant.

6 to revise , to renew, to amend ,to modify, to adjust, to alter, to change, to correct, to improve.

7 to stand for, to signify, to denote, to mean, to indicate, to imply, to exemplify, to connote.

8 to overthrow, to put an end to, to cause the downfall, to result in, to bring down, to oust , to depose.

IV MAKE UP YOUR OWN SENTENSES USING POPULAR EXPRESSIONS:

to make an easy target of smb , to make smb an easy target , a target for popular ridicule;

rights imply obligations ; present a gift to ; to heap lavish gifts on; an extravagant gift ;

outright gift ;wedding gift ; to overthrow the dictator; to bring about smb 's downfall ; to attain an objective; gain an objective; win an objective ; make a contribution ; send in a contribution ; charitable contribution ;voluntary contribution.

V LOOK THROUGH THE TEXT AGAIN AND SAY WHO:

1. Was the "New Flag" Committee chairman?

2 Presented an actual bill for the design of the flag to Congress and asked for payment for designing this flag.

3 Wrote the "Star Spangled Banner."

4 Wanted to remove the stars of the states that had succeeded from the union.

5. Met in Washington, DC to draw up a set of rules on how to handle the flag after the Civil War On June 14, 1923 .

6 Inspired with joy after the victory of American force put down his feelings in a poem,titled “Defense of Fort McHenry”

7 In 1916 ordered that "The Star-Spangled Banner would be played at all state occasions.

8 Was appointed to write the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

9 Of American Presidents didn’t live in the White House.

10 Served a model for Uncle Sam, a figure symbolizing the United States and portrayed as a tall, white-haired man with a goatee.

VI QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1 When was it decided to replace “The Union Jack” for the New Flag?

2 What was the name of the first American Flag?

3 How was the problem of the number of stars and stripes on the flag solved?

4 What inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “ Star Spangled Banner”?

5What were the disagreements between South and North of the USA on the eve and during the Civil War?

6 When was the official Flag Code drawn up?

7 Tell the story of the idea put into the poem by Francis Scott Key titled “Defense of Fort McHenry”?

8 What were the ideas proposed for the national emblem of the United States?

Why was it Bald Eagle but not Golden Eagle chosen for the national emblem?

9 When was the final design of the Great Seal approved?

10 Describe the front and the back sides of the Great Seal.

11 What is written on the bottom of the Seal?

12 When and how was the Declaration of Independence created?

13 What is the Liberty Bell made of?

14 Why hasn’t been the bell hung since the 1846?

15 What country and why presented the Statue of Liberty to the US?

16 What is the proper name of the Statue of Liberty and what does it imply?

17What is the Statue of Liberty personified by?

18What is the most popular tourist attractions in the country?

19 What rooms of the White House are open for the public?

20What figure symbolizes the United States?

21 What is the most accepted theory of Uncle Sam’s origin?

22 How is Uncle Sam often depicted?

VII MATCH THE GIVEN BELOW DESCRIPTIONS WITH THE appropriate SYMBOLS OF THE USA:

the usa flag, Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, the great seal, the bald eagle, White House, LIBERTY BELL, THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

1) Symbolizes freedom in the United States of America, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,USA. Was originally cast in 1752 in London, England. It first cracked during a test ringing. After cracking, it was recast twice in 1753 in Philadelphia by John Pass and John Stow (the old one was broken up and melted down, more copper was added to the metal alloy to make it less brittle, and the bell was re-cast). It rang to announce many important events in early American history, including Presidential elections and deaths.

2) is a huge mountain sculpture of four US Presidents, located near Keystone, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Presidents depicted are: George Wshington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. These four Presidents were chosen to represent the founding, growth and preservation of the United States.

3) is a huge sculpture that is located in New York Harbor. This monument was a gift to the USA from the people of France in recognition of the French-American alliance during the American Revolution. It pictures a woman who has escaped the chains of tyranny (the broken chains lie at her feet). It holds a torch that is a symbol of liberty. There are 354 steps inside its pedestal and 25 viewing windows in the crown.

4) Tthe official residence of the President of the United States of America, and has been for over 200 years. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the USA. It was originally built from 1792 to 1800, it was constructed by paid and slave laborers, including stonemasons brought in from Scotland. It was burned down by British soldiers during the War of 1812, but was rebuilt .

5) It is only attached (affixed) to certain documents, such as foreign treaties and presidential proclamations. It is kept in a mahogany cabinet and displayed in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State in Washington, D.C.Both sides of the it can be seen on the back of a U.S. one-dollar bill.

6) It can be seen on the backs of gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar and the quarter. It represents freedom. Living as it does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of nature, it has unlimited freedom, with strong pinions it sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond.Thus full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, it has become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and thought and an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future.

7) is one of the nation's most widely recognized symbols. Within the U.S. it is frequently displayed, not only on public buildings, but on private residences. It is also used as a motif on decals for car windows, and clothing ornaments such as badges and lapel pins. Throughout the world it is used in public discourse to refer to the U.S., both as a nation state, government, and set of policies, but also as an ideology and set of ideas.Apart from the numbers of stars and stripes representing the number of current and original states, respectively, and the union with its stars representing a constellation, there is no legally defined symbolism to the colors and shapes on the flag. However, folk theories and traditions abound; for example, that the stripes refer to rays of sunlight and that the stars refer to the heavens, the highest place that a person could aim to reach.