A More Perfect Union: Symbolizing the National Union of States

Symbols for a New Nation Symbols are history encoded in visual shorthand. Eighteen-century Euro-Americans invented or adopted emblems -- images accompanied by a motto -- and personifications -- allegorical figures -- to express their political needs. They used them as propaganda tools to draw together the country's diverse peoples (who spoke many languages) in order to promote national political union, the best hope of securing liberty and equal justice for all. Benjamin Franklin was responsible for suggesting the country's first emblem -- a native rattlesnake -- and its first personification -- Hercules. Both were readily understood by his contemporaries: the snake device conveyed the need for political solidarity among the colonies, while the strength of the infant Hercules was likened to that of the mighty young nation. Subsequent devices continued to symbolize national union, while personifications were generally composite figures that fused ideas of Liberty, America, Wisdom, or Civil Government. The Capitol's early planners drew upon this small but expressive group of accepted American symbols to convey to the public its actual and metaphorical roles. Symbols of Union Benjamin Franklin consulted Baroque emblem books to find an appropriate symbol for the union of the colonies. A French source provided the image of a cut snake with the motto that translated as "Join, or Die." An Italian iconography book stated that snakes symbolized democracy, government by the people. Probably owing to the snake's negative connotations, Franklin and others sought alternative symbols of union.These included a circular chain of thirteen links and a Liberty Column supported by hands and arms that represented the states. After the Revolution, national political union was embodied in the Great Seal of the United States. Several groups of thirteen elements -- leaves on the olive branch, arrows clutched by the eagle, stars above its head, and a shield of stripes on its breast -- referred to war, peace, and the American flag, itself the Revolution's principal symbol of union.

First American Symbol Was Pre-Revolutionary in Origin Benjamin Franklin "Join or Die" Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia), May 9, 1754 Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division Library of Congress (1)

Paul Revere Adopts Snake Device Paul Revere "Unite or Die" Massachusetts Spy (Boston), July 7, 1774 Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division Library of Congress (2)

Symbol of the Continental Congress [Liberty Column Supported by Twelve Arms] Journal of the Proceedings of the [Continental] Congress Held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Philadelphia: William and Thomas Bradford, 1774, title page Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (3)

Eagle Decorating Ancient Roman Temple Robert Wood "Soffit of the door of the cell of the Temple [of the Sun]," in The Ruins of Palmyra, Otherwise Tedmor in the Desart [sic]. London: 1753, Table XVIII, H Copyprint Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (4.1)

Eagles Sacred to Native Americans John Faber "Tomo Chachi Mico" Samuel Urlsperger, Ausfurliche nachricht von den saltzburgischen emigranten. Halle: Waysenhauses, 1744, frontispiece Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (5)

Eagles Identified with Native Americans on Indian Peace Medal Robert Scott Indian Peace Medal, c. 1800 Bronze National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (6)

First Publication of Great Seal James Trenchard "Arms of the United States" The Columbian Magazine, (Philadelphia) September 1786, p. 33 Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (9)

First Design for Great Seal After Eugene du Simitiere [Design for the Great Seal of the United States,] 1776 Pencil on paper Thomas Jefferson Papers, Manuscript Division Library of Congress (11)

Minerva as America "America Triumphant and Britannica in Distress," Boston: 1782 Engraving Prints and Photographs Division Library of Congress (13)

Membership Certificate of Brotherhood of Revolutionary War Officers Pierre Charles L'Enfant [Society of Cincinnati Certificate of John Yeamons], January 1784 Engraving on parchment Manuscript Division Library of Congress (14)

Adult Hercules Suggested as Symbol of America Francois, Marquis de Barbi-Marbois, designer "Allegory of the American Union," 1784 Water color on paper American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia (16)

Minerva, or Civic Virtue, Associated with Franklin and Washington W.D. Cooper "America Trampling on Oppression" The History of North America, E. Newberry: London, 1789, frontispiece Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (18)

Official Statue of Minerva as American Liberty Giuseppe Ceracchi "Minerva as the Patroness of American Liberty," 1791 Copyprint of patinated terra cotta bust Library Company of Philadelphia (19)

Constitution Allegorized as Architectural Structure "Federal Pillar" Massachusetts Centinel, (Boston) August 2, 1789 Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division Library of Congress (20)

"Fame" Announces Ratification of Constitution "Tenth Pillar" City Gazette (Charleston), July 22, 1788 Newspaper Newspaper Collections State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison (21)

Modern Philadelphians Reenact July 4, 1788 Federal Procession Alvin Holm, Reconstruction of Charles Wilson Peale's Grand Federal Edifice, 1988 Copyprint From the collection of The Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia (23)

Classical Temple Dedicated to Liberty, Justice, and Plenty James Trenchard "Temple of Liberty" The Columbian Magazine, (Philadelphia) 1788, opp. p. 473 Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (24)

Meeting Place of First Federal Congress Amos Doolittle "View of the Federal Edifice in New York" The Columbian Magazine (Philadelphia), August 1789 Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (25)

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