E Pluribus Unum

E Pluribus Unum is a phrase that has been a part of American history since the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, first introduced it as a national motto. The phrase is often associated with the Great Seal of the United States, which was designed by Charles Thomson and features a variety of symbols, including the American bald eagle, olive branch, and arrows, as seen in the works of Pierre Eugene du Simitiere. The motto has been featured on various United States currency, including the United States quarter, United States dime, and United States dollar, as well as on the Seal of the President of the United States, used by Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama.

● History

The history of E Pluribus Unum dates back to the American Revolution, when the Continental Congress adopted the phrase as a national motto, inspired by the works of Virgil and Cicero. The phrase was first used on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, and has since been featured on various United States government documents, including the United States Constitution, signed by John Adams, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. The motto has also been associated with the American Civil War, where it was used by Abraham Lincoln and the Union Army to promote unity among the United States, as seen in the Gettysburg Address. The phrase has been referenced by various United States presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, in their speeches and writings, such as the Four Freedoms speech.

● Meaning

The meaning of E Pluribus Unum is rooted in Latin, where it translates to "out of many, one", reflecting the United States' history as a melting pot of different cultures and communities, including African Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans. The phrase is often associated with the ideas of unity and diversity, as seen in the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The motto has been interpreted by various scholars, including Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, as a symbol of the United States' commitment to democracy and freedom, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, signed by John Hancock and Samuel Adams. The phrase has also been referenced in various United States Supreme Court cases, including Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade, which have shaped the country's civil rights and social justice landscape.

● Usage

The usage of E Pluribus Unum has been widespread in American culture, featuring on various United States currency, United States stamps, and United States coins, as well as on the Seal of the President of the United States and the Seal of the Vice President of the United States, used by Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. The phrase has been referenced in various United States literature, including the works of Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, as well as in United States music, such as the Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful, written by Katherine Lee Bates and Samuel Francis Smith. The motto has also been used by various United States institutions, including the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian Institution, founded by James Smithson.

● Design

The design of the Great Seal of the United States, which features E Pluribus Unum, was created by Charles Thomson and Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, and has undergone several changes since its adoption in 1782. The seal features a variety of symbols, including the American bald eagle, olive branch, and arrows, which represent the United States' commitment to peace, strength, and unity. The design of the seal has been influenced by various artistic styles, including neoclassicism and art deco, as seen in the works of Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. The seal has been featured on various United States government documents, including the United States passport and the United States visa, issued by the United States Department of State, led by Antony Blinken.

● Legacy

The legacy of E Pluribus Unum is a testament to the United States' commitment to unity and diversity, as seen in the country's history of immigration, which has shaped the nation's cultural identity, as reflected in the works of Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison. The phrase has been referenced by various world leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel, as a symbol of the importance of international cooperation and global unity, as seen in the United Nations and the European Union. The motto has also been featured in various artistic works, including the Statue of Liberty, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and the Lincoln Memorial, designed by Henry Bacon, which have become iconic symbols of American democracy and freedom. The phrase continues to be an important part of American culture and identity, as seen in the works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and remains a powerful symbol of the United States' commitment to unity and diversity. Category:National mottos