The History Square

Symbols of the US Government: The White House

The White House is the home of the President of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Every President except George Washington has lived there.

The President’s office is called the Oval Office. Here the President does the business of the country. He signs bills and Executive Orders, and he meets with staff, visitors, and guests.

Symbols of the US Government: The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is located in New York. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes freedom throughout the world. The Statue was actually a gift from the people of France.

The Statue represents a woman escaping the chains of tyranny. She holds a torch, which represents liberty. The Statue’s full name is Liberty Enlightening the World.

Symbols of the US Government: The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. It rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

The Bell was cast in London, England in 1752. It is made mostly of copper and tin. After it arrived in the U.S., the Bell cracked. A new bell was made from the metal in the old one, but this one also cracked. A third bell was built from the same metal, and now this one has a crack too!

The last time the bell rang was on February 23, 1846 for George Washington's birthday celebration. Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia for all to see.

Symbols of the US Government: Independence Hall

Independence Hall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this building, colonial leaders met to plan the future of the new nation.

Many of the most important documents in U.S. history were written at Independence Hall. Independence Hall was also the home of the Liberty Bell for over 200 years.

Symbols of the US Government: The Flag

The United States flag has 13 stripes. Seven are red and 6 are white. It also has 50 white stars on a blue background. The stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The 50 stars represent the 50 states in the U.S.

The first U.S. flag was designed in 1777. The flag has been changed many times since then. New stars are added each time new states join the union.

Citizenship

The United States is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants." You may have also heard the phrase "melting pot." In its short history the United States has seen many waves of immigrants come to its shores and borders. For reasons such as political or religious persecution or in search of better economic conditions, many people have fled their native lands to live in America, the land of the free. This has resulted in a very diverse U.S. population. People living here have different heritages, religious beliefs, ethnicity, languages, and national origins.Though there are these differences, Americans are bound together by basic political values and principles described in historical documents.

Symbols of the US Government: The Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The Founding Fathers chose the bald eagle to be the national bird of the United States in 1782. This majestic bird can only be found in North America.

The word "bald" does not mean that this bird has no feathers. Instead, it comes from the word piebald, an old word which means "marked with white."

Voter Registration

Any citizen of the United States over the age of 18, and who meets certain state requirements, may vote in Federal elections. This has not always been the case. When the United States first won its independence, there were many restrictions on who could vote. In some states, only white male landowners over the age of 21 could vote. Beginning in 1870, however, a series of Constitutional Amendments (15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th) and passage of certain pieces of legislation have extended voting privileges to more and more citizens.

It is everyone's civic responsibility to vote, but in order to do so you must be registered. Requirements for registration and registration deadlines vary from state to state and the District of Columbia. North Dakota is the only state that does not require voters to register.

State Government

State governments have their own constitutions, similar to that of the national Constitution; however, the laws made in individual states cannot conflict with the national Constitution. The state constitutions all differ because each state has unique histories, needs, philosophies, and geography.

During the first 100 years of United States history, the states did most of the governing that directly affected the people. The national government mainly concentrated on foreign affairs. This is known as "dual federalism," where each level of government controlled its own sphere. However, during this time a rift began to form between the two over the issue of who had sovereignty that would culminate in the Civil War.

National versus State Government

The first type of government in America was based primarily on state government. Prior to the signing of the Constitution, America had been made up of thirteen colonies, which had been ruled by England. Following the Revolutionary War, these colonies, although they had formed a league of friendship under the Articles of Confederation, basically governed themselves. They feared a strong central government like the one they lived with under England's rule. However, it was soon discovered that this weak form of state government could not survive and so the Constitution was drafted. The Constitution:

• defines and limits the power of the national government,
• defines the relationship between the national government and individual state governments, and
• guarantees the rights of the citizens of the United States.