American Eagle Foundation | Symbolism in U.S. History

Eagle Symbolism In U.S. History

On June 20, 1782, the Congress of the United States officially made the bald eagle our national symbol. The bald eagle was not everyone's choice. Benjamin Franklin argued in favor of the wild turkey. He said, "The turkey is a much more respectable bird." In fact, Franklin went so far as to question the bald eagle's moral character! He wrote "He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly; you may see him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk (osprey); when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him."

Franklin based his statements on the fact that the bald eagle is an opportunistic bird of prey which has been known to scavenge for food off road-kill or other carrion or even steal fresh fish from the mouths of hapless osprey. However, others disagreed with Franklin's assessment of the bald eagle as "a rank coward." Statesmen John Adams and Thomas Jefferson favored the bald eagle. They said the bird was " a free spirit, high-soaring, and courageous".

The bald eagle appears on many of the official seals of the United States such as the national seal, and the seal of our nation's president. Our original seal depicted an eagle with its wings outspread, an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other and a scroll inscribed with the Latin words, E Pluribus Unum . This emblem has changed only slightly in two hundred years and still appears on the seal of the United States and on currency and coins. In fact, on paydays around the nation people used to say "the eagle flies."

Military units have used the bald eagle in many ways to symbolize strength, courage, and fierceness. During the Civil War, a Wisconsin regiment had an eagle called "Old Abe" - named after President Lincoln - as a mascot. During World War Two, a U. S. Air Force Squadron called "The Screaming Eagles" became very well known for bravery against the enemy.



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	VU Study » Symbolism » Symbolism in U.S. History Eagle Symbolism In U.S. History On June 20, 1782, the Congress of the United States officially made the bald eagle our national symbol. The bald eagle was not everyone's choice. Benjamin Franklin argued in favor of the wild turkey. He said, "The turkey is a much more respectable bird." In fact, Franklin went so far as to question the bald eagle's moral character! He wrote "He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly; you may see him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk (osprey); when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him." Franklin based his statements on the fact that the bald eagle is an opportunistic bird of prey which has been known to scavenge for food off road-kill or other carrion or even steal fresh fish from the mouths of hapless osprey. However, others disagreed with Franklin's assessment of the bald eagle as "a rank coward." Statesmen John Adams and Thomas Jefferson favored the bald eagle. They said the bird was " a free spirit, high-soaring, and courageous". The bald eagle appears on many of the official seals of the United States such as the national seal, and the seal of our nation's president. Our original seal depicted an eagle with its wings outspread, an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other and a scroll inscribed with the Latin words, E Pluribus Unum . This emblem has changed only slightly in two hundred years and still appears on the seal of the United States and on currency and coins. In fact, on paydays around the nation people used to say "the eagle flies." Military units have used the bald eagle in many ways to symbolize strength, courage, and fierceness. During the Civil War, a Wisconsin regiment had an eagle called "Old Abe" - named after President Lincoln - as a mascot. During World War Two, a U. S. Air Force Squadron called "The Screaming Eagles" became very well known for bravery against the enemy.

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