What Animal Did Benjamin Franklin Want To Make The American National Animal?

Chief Pages Front Folio Overview Seal FAQs Design Process  1st Commission  2d Committee  tertiary Committee  Final Pattern  Description  Explanation Latin Mottoes  E Pluribus Unum  Annuit Coeptis  Novus Ordo Seclorum Symbols (forepart)  Bald Eagle  Shield  Olive Branch  Arrows  Stars  Rays of Light  Cloud Symbols (dorsum)  Pyramid  Heart  MDCCLXXVI Great Seals  Official Dies  First Engravings  First Painting  1792 Medal  Indian Medals  1882 Medal  I-Dollar Bill Myths  Hawkeye Side  Pyramid Side Themes  Unity  Peace  Freedom  13 Related Wild Turkey  President's Seal  Sightings  Resources Videos  Liberty Tree Song  United Seal Make America Brilliant Again

The Hawkeye, Ben Franklin, and the Wild Turkey A year and a one-half afterwards the Great Seal was adopted by Congress on June xx, 1782 – with the American Bald Eagle as its centerpiece – Benjamin Franklin shared some thoughts about this new symbol of America in a letter. He did non express these personal musings elsewhere, but they have go legendary. Writing from French republic on January 26, 1784 to his daughter Sally (Mrs. Sarah Bache) in Philadelphia, Franklin casts doubt on the propriety of using the eagle to symbolize the "brave and honest Cincinnati of America," a newly formed society of revolutionary war officers. The eagle on the bluecoat of the Society of the Cincinnati Medal looked more like a turkey, which prompted Franklin to compare the 2 birds as a symbol for the United States. Franklin's Letter to His Girl (excerpt) "For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been called the Representative of our Land. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not go his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Militarist; and 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 Baldheaded Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. "With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but similar those among Men who live past Sharping & Robbing he is more often than not poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The trivial King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the Commune. He is therefore past no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country... "I am on this account not displeased that the Effigy is not known every bit a Baldheaded Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more than respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & giddy, a Bird of Courage, and would non hesitate to assail a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Grand with a red Glaze on." Ben Franklin'south Other Ideas His 1775 letter in the Pennsylvania Journal made a good case for the Rattlesnake every bit an advisable symbol of "the temper and acquit of America." In 1776, Franklin's official proffer while on the outset Neat Seal committee was an historic scene with Moses and Pharaoh, which that commission recommended for the reverse side of the Nifty Seal. 3 other kinds of birds were suggested by William Barton of the third committee: a rooster, a dove, and a "phoenix in flames." "Because of their size, bald eagles are not concerned near threats from other birds. Nevertheless, eagles are often chased by smaller birds, who are trying to protect their young. . . It was Benjamin Franklin's observations of a bald eagle either ignoring or retreating from such mobbing that probably led to his claim of the baldheaded hawkeye's lack of backbone." (BaldEagleInfo.com)

Source: https://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html

Posted by: aguilaronoten.blogspot.com

Share this post