Which states celebrate their admission to the Union each month? Here is a month-by-month account, plus links to view the flags of each state!
Georgia, January 2
Alaska, January 3
Utah, January 4
New Mexico, January 6
Connecticut, January 9
Michigan, January 26
Kansas, January 29
Massachusetts, February 6
Oregon, February 14
Arizona, February 14
Ohio, March 1
Nebraska, March 1
Florida, March 3
Vermont, March 4
Maine, March 15
Maryland, April 28
Louisiana, April 30
Minnesota, May 11
South Carolina, May 23
Rhode Island, May 29
Wisconsin, May 29
Kentucky, June 1
Tennessee, June 1
Arkansas, June 15
West Virginia, June 20
New Hampshire, June 21
Virginia, June 25
Idaho, July 3
Wyoming, July 10
New York, July 26
Colorado, August 1
Missouri, August 10
Hawaii, August 21
California, September 9
Nevada, October 31
North Dakota, November 2
South Dakota, November 2
Montana, November 8
Washington, November 11
Oklahoma, November 16
North Carolina, November 21
Illinois, December 3
Delaware, December 7
Mississippi, December 10
Indiana, December 11
Pennsylvania, December 12
Alabama, December 14
New Jersey, December 18
Iowa, December 28
Texas, December 29
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]]>On January 12, 1962, the United States military officially entered the Vietnam Conflict. On March 29, 1973, the last remaining U.S. combat troops left and our military role in the Republic of Vietnam ended.
During that time more than 3,000,000 U.S. troops were deployed to Vietnam.
More than 58,000 lost their lives.
More than 1,500 are still unaccounted for.
Questions surrounding U.S. involvement in Vietnam have always been a source of contention, often costing American veterans the civic and familial support they need.
While the motivations for warfare should always be examined, the people sent to endure the most difficult task of fighting the war deserve the dignity of recognition...
In 2012, a day of appreciation for Americans who served in the Vietnam Conflict was observed for the first time, and a process for permanent establishment of an annual commemoration began. In 2017 the process was finalized and National Vietnam War Veterans Day was codified by Congress...
If you are looking to honor a loved one who served in the United States military during the Vietnam Conflict, please consider the Vietnam Veterans grave marker, the POW/MIA flag, and the Honor and Remember flag.
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]]>Abilene, Kansas is home to a cultural treasure that offers visitors a unique journey through the life and legacy of one of the The United States' most revered leaders: the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home. This institution serves as a testament to the accomplishments and impacts of the 34th President of the United States.
Guided tours led by knowledgeable docents make a deeper understanding of Eisenhower's life and presidency available, while interactive exhibits provide immersive learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Additionally, the tranquil surroundings of the Eisenhower Complex, set on the Kansas prairie, offer a serene setting for peaceful contemplation.
The campus is a sprawling complex, but the starting point for most visitors lies at the core; the boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Visitors are invited to take a step back in time and explore the modest two-story frame house where Eisenhower spent his formative years.
The Boyhood Home offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a young "Ike," showcasing the simple, hardy existence that would shape his character and leadership style in the years to come.
Adjacent to the Boyhood Home stands the impressive Eisenhower Presidential Museum, a massive building that stores a tremendous amount of artifacts, documents, and exhibits that chronicle Eisenhower's journey from his small hometown in Kansas to the global stage.
Visitors are treated to a meticulously curated collection that spans Eisenhower's life. Events from his early military career to his presidency and beyond are documented here.
Interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and immersive exhibits highlight the pivotal moments that defined his tenure, including the World War II period, the Cold War era, and his commitment to public service and civic engagement.
Beyond the museum's exhibits lies the Eisenhower Presidential Library, a trove of historical archives and resources dedicated to preserving and disseminating knowledge about Eisenhower's life and times.
Scholars, researchers, and history enthusiasts from around the world travel to this institution because of its particular collection of documents, photographs, letters, and oral histories.
The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home are a collective tribute to our 34th President, and a testament to the enduring effects of leadership, integrity, and service to others.
The institution seeks to inspire future generations to embrace the diplomacy and sense of civic responsibility that define Eisenhower's legacy.
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]]>The Medal of Honor is a U.S. military decoration awarded to armed forces personnel who have distinguished themselves in actual combat by acts of valor. It is presented to recipients by the President of the United States and awarded in the name of the United States Congress.
The Medal of Honor was established on July 13, 1862, and National Medal of Honor Day is observed on March 25 each year.
What began as a star-shaped medal with "personal valor" inscribed upon the back that was awarded to soldiers and petty officers during the American Civil War, has evolved into the Medal of Honor in three distinct variants that we know of today.
As of this writing, the United States has awarded just over 3,500 Medals of Honor to members of our armed forces.
Lincoln's influence on the modern Medal of Honor was as a figure of formality, but important nonetheless. The first Medals of Honor were minted at his co-urging, and the bill that passed formalizing the creation of the medals on a more far-reaching basis received his hasty signature.
Those medals, generated and dispensed in the 1860s, are the precursors to the medals we have used to recognize our armed personnel in all the time since.
Today, there are three distinct variants of the Medal of Honor —
While they are deserving of our appreciation every day of the year, March 25 each year is National Medal of Honor Day, a friendly signpost reminding us to give thanks to the people who give some measure of their own existence as a sacrifice that wards off aggression around the world.
From our hearts, thank you to all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The Department of Defense Directive 1005.8 asserts the order of precedence of military personnel, which we can safely assume mirrors that of military flags on an Outdoor Flagpole. That order is as follows: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. However, the Coast Guard Flag moves up right behind Navy when the Coast Guard operates as a service of the Department of the Navy during a time of war. As of this writing, the D.O.D. Directive has not been updated to include the Space Force flag (current as of 2003).
The recent addition of the Space Force flag has, therefore, generated some confusion. Most visible examples show the Space Force flag placed between the Air Force and Coast Guard flags. However, though it meets with historic precedent and follows the same guiding reasoning, this precedence has not been documented in writing that we have found.
In a mandatory directive from the Secretary of The Air Force (downloadable here) in August of 2020, the Space Force flag is ordered to be flown in the sixth position, after the Coast Guard flag (as pictured throughout our website).
When the flags are being flown on multiple Outdoor Flagpoles, the American Flag should always be flown first in line. If you are flying a military flag on the same pole as your American Flag, it should be of equal size or smaller and flown below the American Flag.
100% American-Made Ceremonial United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
When displaying Military Ceremonial Flags, the order of precedence remains the same as when they are displayed outdoors. The American Ceremonial Flag is always displayed first in the order. It’s also important to remember that when a Military Ceremonial flag is presented by a color guard, either indoors, during a parade, or on the playing field, a Parade Carry Belt must be worn.
Military Desk Flags and sets are another way to show your support for U.S. Armed Forces. Desk flags are small and versatile; they can be displayed on a podium, a desk, or even a window sill. These small flags can also be waved during a parade or other celebration.
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]]>St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated for centuries — long before there was the United States of America — but American traditions have kept St. Patrick's Day celebrations in perpetual bloom. From New York City hosting the world's first ever St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 17, 1762) to Chicago's annual dyeing of its river green, St. Patrick's Day has been a holiday for Americans to celebrate with ever-increasing fervor. Here are seven facts to further amplify your St. Patrick's Day glee!
Every American is Irish on March 17th (or so the saying goes,) but millions of Americans are Irish all year long! With an Irish-American population nearing 35 million, Ireland is responsible for nearly 10% of the overall population of the United States! Only Germans make up a larger share.
Oh, and that 35 million is more than 7 times the population of Ireland itself (a lucky calculation).
Look no further than Breezy Point, Queens, NY. This neighborhood has the highest concentration of Irish-Americans per capita of any neighborhood in the United States at 54.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
By comparison, the next highest concentration of Irish-Americans is somewhere in the mid-30s.
There are 19 cities in the United States whose namesakes are all the capital city of Ireland.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia all have cities or townships called Dublin.
That means that wherever you are, you're just a wee-short drive away from Dublin!
We've got shamrocks galore! These 10 states all have cities named Shamrock; Colorado, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Missouri.
We think that's a pretty good distribution of Irish luck!
Of the 56 men who signed the American Declaration of Independence, nine of them were Irish. By comparison, only eight were British.
The nine men were Thomas McKean, Charles Caroll, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, Edward Rutledge (also the youngest man to sign the document), Thomas Lynch Jr. (representing Thomas Lynch Sr., his father), George Read, and John Dunlap.
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's most prestigious personal military decoration. In the history of the United States military, Irish-Americans have been awarded this medal more than any other ethnicity.
As of this writing, 2,021 Irish-American servicemen of the United States military have been awarded a Medal of Honor for their acts of valor during military operations.
The current Erin Go Bragh flag has a green field with a gold harp in the center and the words "Erin Go Bragh" inscribed below the harp.
The original banner, dating back to the 1640s, had just a simple harp.
Updates in the 1800s modified the harp to include the "Maid of Erin" and the text. The words "Erin Go Bragh" are actually the Anglicization (surviving several declensions) of a traditional Irish language phrase, "Éirinn Go Brách." This translates to "Ireland forever," or more literally to "Ireland until the end of time."
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]]>For two weeks in late March and early April each year, the Japanese Cherry Blossom trees along the Potomac in Washington D.C. receive national attention...
Why?
Because the Potomac and the Tidal Basin become something of their own national monument during the brief time when the trees are in bloom. The beauteous trees that have inspired an annual festival also provide astounding ornamentation for the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial.
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]]>The history of the Bennington flag is widely debated — some reports claim that it was carried by Nathaniel Fillmore at the Battle of Bennington (which actually took place between Waloomsac and North Hoosick, New York). This is where the flag’s name is derived.
Conversely, there are those who believe that the flag could not have been constructed until at least a quarter century after the American Revolution. This group of historians think the Bennington Flag may have been crafted either as part of the 50-year commemoration of the signing of The Declaration of Independence around 1826, or as a centennial item in the last half of the 1800s.
Whatever the case may be, these seven features and facts about the Bennington flag are not disputed...
The Bennington flag is one of the more popular historic American flags, and you can order your Bennington flag replica here!
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]]>Each year on March 10, we celebrate the return of U.S. troops home from the 1991 Gulf War, also known as Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Kuwait War, First Iraq War, or Iraq War (until this moniker was used to refer to the second war with Iraq in 2003).
The conflict began in August of 1990 when Saddam Hussein's Iraqi military invaded Kuwait. This action resulted in an immediate response from the global community, which ultimately gave Iraq until January 15, 1991 to withdraw from Kuwait. When it did not, the 35-nation counter-offensive known as Operation Desert Storm defeated and removed the Iraqi forces in less than two months.
Prior to their invasion of Kuwait, Iraq had a checkered past with the global community; being allied with the Soviet Union in the Cold War, having been suspected of involvement with terrorist operations globally, and having borrowed large sums of money from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to fund their efforts in their war with Iran.
Unable or unwilling to pay down their debt to Kuwait, Iraq chose instead to seize control of large areas of Kuwait, particularly places where Kuwait's oil fields were located. Iraq's army was also positioned within striking range of Saudi oil fields — a situation which threatened most of the world's economy at the time.
When all was said and done, the Iraqi military was removed in short order, with coalition forces inflicting critical damage from a distance — controlling and minimizing the risk to and loss of life for coalition troops.
The United States Armed Forces were widely applauded for their role at the forefront of the planning and execution of the military operation, which is considered to have been one of the most efficient and effective in history. However, the U.S. Department of Defense reports that 293 Americans did lose their lives in the effort.
Though the casualties were held to unprecedented lows, the human cost continues to today. Veterans were exposed to an array of environmental and chemical hazards whose effects impact their health and quality of life to this day. For more information or to see if there is some way you can help support affected veterans, this link to the U.S. Veterans Affairs website is a good place to start.
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]]>Located in Independence, Missouri, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum stands as a repository of history that invites visitors to delve into the life and legacy of one of America's most influential leaders.
This architectural gem houses a wealth of artifacts, documents, and interactive exhibits that offer an immersive look into the mind of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, and into the pivotal events of his era.
When entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a captivating journey through Truman's life, from his humble beginnings in Missouri to his tenure in the Oval Office. Curated exhibits, trace Truman's path from farmer and haberdasher to U.S. Senator to President of the United States.
Personal artifacts, including family photographs, letters, and possessions, provide an intimate insight into his character and the values that guided him throughout his life.
Most of the museum is dedicated to telling the story of Truman's presidency. Visitors explore crucial moments such as Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb, the founding of the United Nations, and the onset of the Cold War.
Interactive displays allow guests to grapple with the complex decisions faced by Truman during his time in office, and offer a nuanced presentation of the person behind the presidency.
In addition to his presidency, the museum highlights Truman's enduring impact on American politics and society. From his advocacy for civil rights to his role in shaping post-war foreign policy, Truman's influence is still woven through the fabric of modern America.
In addition to its permanent exhibits, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum offers an array of periodical exhibits and educational programs that are intended to engage visitors of all ages.
Beyond its role as a museum, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library serves as a vital repository of historical documents and artifacts. Scholars and researchers from around the world visit the library to access its extensive collection of presidential papers, photographs, and oral histories.
Through its archival efforts, the library hopes to ensure that Truman's presidency is understood by future generations.
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]]>In 1865 the final chapter of the American Civil War was unfolding. General Lee made his surrender, and by June of that year the fighting finally came to an end.
The end of the Civil War was a welcome beginning to a new era. Many flags and banners came and went with the Civil War, and the Bonnie Blue is among them. Here are seven facts about the Bonnie Blue flag.
Liberty Flags offers desktop and outdoor sizes of a full line of replica historical flags, including the Bonnie Blue flag. Click to purchase an outdoor historic U.S. flag.
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]]>George Washington's life is often viewed as the premier example of the ideals of American leadership, sacrifice, and dedication. Born into a Virginia plantation family in 1732, Washington rose to prominence as a result of his military success during the American Revolutionary War. There, he commanded the Continental Army to victory against the British, and worked to secure independence for the United States.
His leadership qualities and strategic acumen earned him widespread admiration and trust, culminating in his unanimous election as the first President of the United States in 1789.
His public and presidential achievements are widely known and taught, so in honor of his birthday, here are some of the lesser known facts about the person, George Washington.
Before his military and political career, Washington worked as a land surveyor in the Virginia wilderness. His expertise in surveying earned him valuable land grants and provided him with intimate knowledge of the frontier landscape, which later proved advantageous during military campaigns and in negotiations with indigenous tribes.
Washington was not only a statesman and military leader but also a successful whiskey distiller. He operated one of the largest whiskey distilleries in America during his time, located at Mount Vernon. This profitable venture was one of several that showcased his entrepreneurial spirit.
Washington played a crucial role in leading the Continental Army to victory against the British during the American Revolutionary War. His strategic prowess and resilience were pivotal in securing independence for the United States from British rule.
Washington is credited with implementing or advancing the use of several innovative military strategies during the Revolutionary War, including the concept of irregular warfare and the use of intelligence gathering. His adaptive tactics and ability to inspire his troops were instrumental in achieving key victories against the British.
George Washington holds the distinction of being the first President of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797.
His leadership during the Revolutionary War and his role in shaping the early government of the United States were instrumental in proving his leadership mettle.
Washington remains the only president in American history to have been unanimously elected. In both the 1788–1789 and 1792 presidential elections, he received all electoral votes, a testament to his widespread popularity.
As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Washington played a pivotal role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. His contributions to the formation of the nation helped establish the framework for the American government.
Despite his pivotal role in American history, Washington was initially reluctant to take on leadership positions. He preferred the idea of retirement at Mount Vernon but answered the call of duty when his country needed him most, demonstrating his selfless devotion to the cause of liberty and the greater good of the nation.
Washington's 1796 Farewell Address is regarded as one of the most important speeches in American history. In it, he warned about many of the dangers we have routinely faced in both foreign and domestic affairs.
Washington's plantation home, Mount Vernon, located in Virginia, is a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist destination. The estate provides insight into Washington's life as a farmer, businessman, and statesman, showcasing his contributions to early American agriculture and society.
Washington had a deep passion for horticulture and landscape design, evident in the meticulous gardens and grounds of Mount Vernon. He experimented with various crops and cultivation techniques, promoting agricultural innovation and sustainability.
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]]>The Bedford flag is one of the oldest flags in American history, and one that harbors many secrets since its origin and past use are not well documented. It is, by today's customs, unusual in shape and design. It is nearly square, measuring 29 x 27 inches, not unlike the painted battle [...]
]]>The Bedford Flag is one of the oldest flags in American history, and one that harbors many secrets since its origin and past use are not well documented. It is, by today's customs, unusual in shape and design.
It is nearly square, measuring 29 x 27 inches, not unlike the painted battle flags of 16th and 17th century Scotland and England. What you won't see in pictures of the flag is the silver fringe that once bordered it or the tassels that once hung from the original banner's sheath.
We can derive many details from what we see, but much of the flag's history must be gleaned from written sources. In the case of the Bedford flag, gathering information has proved to be a significant challenge. For example, how did it become known as the Bedford flag despite being carried for generations by the family of famous minuteman, Nathaniel Page?
Perhaps its name has something to do with an unchronicled relationship with the town of Bedford or the Bedford Minutemen Company. Whatever the case may be, those secrets that historians do believe to be discernible are detailed here . . .
1704, Prussian blue
The age of the Bedford flag is unknown, as no documentation of its creation has been found. However, spectroscopic research revealed that a paint pigment, Prussian blue, was used in the flag's artwork.
Since Prussian blue was discovered in 1704, historians can conclude that the Bedford flag was created afterward.
1720, generation gap
Further evidence to suggest that the flag might have originated in the early 1700s includes the textile pattern that is the background of the flag. The woven floral pattern is indicative of the earliest part of the 18th century.
Additionally, a commission that is on display with the Bedford flag names members of the Page family in flag-bearing military positions. The commission was submitted to the Bedford Free Public Library in 1737.
The combination of facts suggests that the Bedford flag could have been carried by enlisted members of the Page family as early as 1720.
1775, Concord
Based on written passages of oral history, historians agree that it is reasonable to conclude that the Bedford flag made an appearance in the American Revolution at the Battle at North Bridge, Concord.
It was there, on April 19, 1775, that Nathaniel Page is believed to have carried the flag out to meet the British in battle.
The original Bedford flag now resides in the care of the trustees of the Bedford Free Public Library, a gift from Nathaniel Page's grandson, Cyrus Page.
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]]>...is a bit of an unsolved mystery in the United States. Not only has it been bounced around the calendar a time or two (some legislation called for it to be nearer the original presidential inauguration date... in March), but there is also some question as to whether the holiday is intended to honor all U.S. Presidents, the sitting U.S. President, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington alone.
Well, here are 5 facts to shed some light on the historical context of the holiday and offer a few fun bits of little-known information about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (since we celebrate their birthdays within a week of each other).
Presidents Day is not actually a federal holiday, but George Washington's birthday observance is. Initially entered into law in 1879, the observance fell on Washington's actual birthday, which is February 22. This was the situation for nearly 100 years . . .
Then, in 1971, the law was augmented so that the holiday now falls on the third Monday in February each year. Though many states call the holiday Presidents Day, some continue to call it by its still-official name: Washington's Birthday. Still others call it Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday... or one of at least 15 different variations on the theme.
Ironically, two of the more intellectually respected U.S. Presidents in our nation's history were largely self-taught. Washington's education unraveled early due to the untimely death of his father — his older brothers were both sent overseas to gain higher education. When his father died, the promise of a higher education was reduced to the equivalent of an elementary school education via a handful of tutors.
Lincoln was born in relative poverty, so he had no such promise of an education. Like Washington, other than what he was able to glean on his own from voracious reading, he achieved only an elementary level education by any formal standards. Also like Washington, Lincoln's education came by way of itinerant tutelage.
It is well known that Washington was a successful businessman. Liquor distribution was counted among his many pursuits, as Washington produced rye whiskey, apple brandy, and peach brandy in his Mount Vernon distillery.
Slightly less well-known is that Lincoln also dabbled in business. In fact, Lincoln was a licensed bartender, co-owning the Berry and Lincoln saloon in Springfield, Illinois.
Of course, Washington's Revolutionary War reputation is legendary, but it is easy to say he was a heroic general and forget some of the atrocities he suffered along the way. To name a few, he survived a bout each of malaria, smallpox, pleurisy, and dysentery. Additionally, in one wartime instance, four bullets punctured his coat as his horse was shot down from underneath him. Naturally, he went on to win the war.
As with his history as a bartender, many people are also unaware of Lincoln's propensity for wrestling. He was so good that it is estimated he was defeated only once in nearly 300 matches. He was entered into the Wrestling Hall of Fame, honored as an "Outstanding American."
Washington and Lincoln both delivered speeches that have achieved some level of immortality. Washington was known for his ability to boost morale and launch soldiers and the country forward into positive progress. Lincoln was known for his ability to reason, as demonstrated throughout the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and for his ability to use that reason to touch the hearts of all U.S. citizens.
The most pertinent speech to Presidents Day, however, is President George Washington's 1796 Farewell Address. The speech (which Washington did not deliver orally) is traditionally read in the U.S. Senate each year on Washington's birthday. This practice started in 1862, in an effort, fittingly, to boost morale during the Civil War.
As a bonus to your for reading this far, the text of Washington's Farewell Address is available below.
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Presented here as found on the United States Government Information website (govinfo.gov), where declared changes include modern spellings, capitalization, and punctuation.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:
The period for a new election of a citizen, to administer the executive government of the United States, being not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when your thoughts must be employed designating the person, who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.
I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country; and that in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both.
The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to which your suffrages have twice called me, have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped, that it would have been much earlier in my power, consistently with motives, which I was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retirement, from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the last election, had even led to the preparation of an address to declare it to you; but mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical posture of our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my confidence impelled me to abandon the idea.
I rejoice, that the state of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty, or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that, in the present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination to retire.
The impressions, with which I first undertook the arduous trust, were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, I will only say, that I have, with good intentions, contributed towards the organization and administration of the government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of others, has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself; and every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied, that, if any circumstances have given peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I have the consolation to believe, that, while choice and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.
In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude, which I owe to my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and persevering, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits have resulted to our country from these services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an instructive example in our annals, that under circumstances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to mislead, amidst appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, in situations in which not infrequently want of success has countenanced the spirit of criticism, the constancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; than, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing, as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation, which is yet a stranger to it.
Here, perhaps I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your welfare which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger, natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all-important to the permanency of your felicity as a people. These will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can possibly have no personal motive to bias his counsel. Nor can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimilar occasion.
Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.
The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.
For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.
But these considerations, however powerfully they address themselves to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those, which apply more immediately to your interest. Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the Union of the whole.
The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with the South, protected by the equal laws of a common government, finds, in the productions of the latter, great additional resources of maritime and commercial enterprise and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The South, in the same intercourse, benefiting by the agency of the North, sees its agriculture grow and its commerce expand. Turning partly into its own channels the seamen of the North, it finds its particular navigation invigorated; and, while it contributes, in different ways, to nourish and increase the general mass of the national navigation, it looks forward to the protection of a maritime strength, to which itself is unequally adapted. The East, in a like intercourse with the West, already finds, and in the progressive improvement of interior communications by land and water, will more and more find, a valuable vent for the commodities which it brings from abroad, or manufactures at home. The West derives from the East supplies requisite to its growth and comfort, and, what is perhaps of still greater consequence, it must of necessity owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable outlets for its own productions to the weight, influence, and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union, directed by an indissoluble community of interest as one nation. Any other tenure by which the West can hold this essential advantage, whether derived from its own separate strength, or from an apostate and unnatural connection with any foreign power, must be intrinsically precarious.
While, then, every part of our country thus feels an immediate and particular interest in Union, all the parts combined cannot fail to find in the united mass of means and efforts greater strength, greater resource, proportionally greater security from external danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations; and, what is of inestimable value, they must derive from Union an exemption from those broils and wars between themselves, which so frequently afflict neighboring countries not tied together by the same governments, which their own rivalships alone would be sufficient to produce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty. In this sense it is, that your Union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.
These considerations speak a persuasive language to every reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the union as a primary object of Patriotic desire. Is there a doubt, whether a common government can embrace so large a sphere? Let experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case were criminal. We are authorized to hope, that a proper organization of the whole, with the auxiliary agency of governments for the respective subdivisions, will afford a happy issue to the experiment. It is well worth a fair and full experiment. With such powerful and obvious motives to Union, affecting all parts of our country, while experience shall not have demonstrated its impracticability, there will always be reason to distrust the patriotism of those, who in any quarter may endeavor to weaken its bands.
In contemplating the causes, which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern, that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by Geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief, that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heart-burnings, which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those, who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our western country have lately had a useful lesson on this head; they have seen, in the negotiation by the Executive, and in the unanimous ratification by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and in the universal satisfaction at that event, throughout the United States, a decisive proof how unfounded were the suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the General Government and in the Atlantic States unfriendly to their interests in regard to the Mississippi; they have been witnesses to the formation of two treaties, that with Great Britain, and that with Spain, which secure to them every thing they could desire, in respect to our foreign relations, towards confirming their prosperity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the preservation of these advantages on the union by which they were procured? Will they not henceforth be deaf to those advisers, if such there are, who would sever them from their brethren, and connect them with aliens?
To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions, which all alliances in all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of a Constitution of Government better calculated than your former for an intimate Union, and for the efficacious management of your common concerns. This Government, the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true Liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government.
All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the constitution, alterations, which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of governments, as of other human institutions; that experience is the surest standard, by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, especially, that, for the efficient management of our common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty is indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a government, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, indeed, little else than a name, where the government is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each member of the society within the limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property.
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution, in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the Guardian of the Public Weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way, which the constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for, though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.
Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric ?
Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.
As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden, which we ourselves ought to bear. The execution of these maxims belongs to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should cooperate. To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it is essential that you should practically bear in mind, that towards the payment of debts there must be Revenue; that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment, inseparable from the selection of the proper objects (which is always a choice of difficulties), ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time dictate.
Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and Morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt, that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages, which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices ?
In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The Nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of Nations has been the victim.
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite Nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite Nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the Nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained; and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens, (who devote themselves to the favorite nation,) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.
As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the Public Councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great and powerful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove, that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.
Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing, with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view, that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that, by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course, which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.
How far in the discharge of my official duties, I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the public records and other evidences of my conduct must witness to you and to the world. To myself, the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them.
In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my Proclamation of the 22d of April 1793, is the index to my Plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of your Representatives in both Houses of Congress, the spirit of that measure has continually governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it.
After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, under all the circumstances of the case, had a right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and firmness.
The considerations, which respect the right to hold this conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will only observe, that, according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of the Belligerent Powers, has been virtually admitted by all.
The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations.
The inducements of interest for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own reflections and experience. With me, a predominant motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to that degree of strength and consistency, which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.
Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope, that my Country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.
Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a man, who views it in the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.
George Washington
United States - September 19, 1796
]]>NASA Created — July 29, 1958
NASA's First — The Mercury Seven
Mariner 4 — The Mars Flyby
Gemini IV — The First American Spacewalk
Apollo 7 — A Pioneering Triumph
1969 Apollo 11 Moon Landing, The First Man on the Moon
Apollo 12 — November 1969
Challenger 1984 — The First Untethered Space Walk
Viking 1 — The First Mars Landing
In 1922, Clyde Tombaugh was a Midwestern American kid looking for a way to get himself to college. When a hailstorm scuttled his family's farm, a wave of ingenuity set him on the path to prominence in the field of planetary science...
In 1926, Clyde Tombaugh sent a series of drawings (of Jupiter and Mars) that were based upon his personal observations to the Lowell Observatory in Arizona — an offshoot of the Boston-based observatory that had previously begun the search for Pluto in 1906. Tombaugh was invited to join the team in Arizona and discovered Pluto on February 15, 1930.
Since its discovery 1930, Pluto's classification has changed a few times. First considered a planet, then... not, then a planet again, and finally a dwarf planet. However, somewhat interestingly, Pluto has only come about 1/3 of the way through a single orbit of the Sun in that time — it is estimated to take about 248 years for Pluto to orbit the Sun once.
While there is no evidence to confirm it, many believe that Pluto was Walt Disney's inspiration in naming Mickey's lovable canine sidekick. On the other hand, we can say with absolute certainty that the same naming convention that brought us uranium (Uranus) and neptunium (Neptune) was used to name plutonium.
For more on the mystery and awe surrounding Pluto, here's a 58-minute special from NASA.
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]]>Yes!
Flying two flags on the same flagpole is no problem. In fact, flying two flags on an Outdoor Flagpole is a fairly common practice. The primary flag (top flag) size stays the same. The secondary flag (lower flag) will be equal to or one size smaller than the primary flag. We recommend following the suggestion to go one size smaller.
The primary flag should always be whichever flag is first in order of precedence. For example, an American flag should always be the larger primary flag flown above a U.S. State flag, which should be a smaller-sized secondary flag.
If you purchased your flagpole from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave® it was delivered with an appropriately sized primary flag. The size of that flag will be your reference to selecting the correctly sized secondary flag for your flagpole.
Adding a second flag will generally be a matter of repeating the process you followed to attach the first one. The real question is how much space to allow between the two flags, which is mostly a question of aesthetics and relative size...
If your flags are smaller in size, you might allow 4 to 6 inches of space between them. If your flags are larger, though, consider consulting the flagpole manufacturer for recommendations of size and spacing. If you purchased your flagpole from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®, we can help as well.
Of course, for Ambassador, Embassy, Skyscape, Landmark, and Pioneer flagpole models, a second flag will require a second set of snap hooks.
Empire flagpoles will require a second set of snap hooks, plus a quick link, a cable swivel, and a correctly-sized flag arrangement.
Send us your pictures of American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>Abraham Lincoln was born on January 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky. With limited formal education and reliant upon self-directed learning, Lincoln emerged as a self-taught lawyer, a champion of social justice and, eventually, the 16th President of the United States.
His public and presidential achievements are widely known and taught, so in honor of his birthday, here are seven lesser known facts about the person, Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln was one of the tallest presidents in U.S. history, standing at 6 feet 4 inches. His height, strength, and endurance made him an impressive and somewhat imposing figure.
His physical prowess was not just for show; Lincoln was known for his wrestling skills and reportedly participated in about 300 wrestling matches, earning a reputation as a formidable opponent in his youth.
Abraham Lincoln had a curious and inventive mind. As such, he once received a patent (the only U.S. President to ever do so) for a device intended to lift boats over shoals and obstructions in rivers (an early version of what is now known as the adjustable watercraft lift).
Although the invention was never manufactured, it is one of many ideas that highlighted Lincoln's practical mindset and interest in finding innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Abraham Lincoln had various nicknames throughout his life. One of the most widely-known was "Honest Abe," which he earned during his early years as a store clerk in New Salem, Illinois. His integrity and fairness in business dealings left a lasting impression on the community.
Another pseudonym he used was "The Rail Splitter," referencing his humble beginnings as a rail-splitter in his youth, an image that resonated with voters during his presidential campaign, symbolizing hard work and perseverance.
Abraham Lincoln had a deep love for literature, particularly the works of William Shakespeare. He found solace in and drew wisdom from Shakespeare's plays. His own speeches often contained references or phrases inspired by the Bard.
Lincoln's appreciation for Shakespeare's eloquence and insight is evident in the rhythmic, poetic, and rhetorical elements of his own writing — perhaps contributing to the timeless quality of his recorded thoughts.
Abraham Lincoln is the first U.S. president to have sported a full beard while in office. Before his election, Lincoln was often clean-shaven. However, a young girl named Grace Bedell wrote to him during his 1860 presidential campaign, suggesting that growing a beard would make him more electable.
Taking the advice to heart, Lincoln allowed his facial hair to grow, and the beard has become an iconic part of his historic image.
Abraham Lincoln had a soft spot for all animals, but he had a particular fondness for cats. His wife reportedly brought a stray kitten into the White House, and Lincoln was often seen playing with it during important meetings.
According to contemporary lore, Lincoln's affection for cats was so well-known that he once halted a Cabinet meeting to ensure the safety of three kittens that had wandered into his office.
In 1858, Lincoln engaged in a series of famous debates with Stephen A. Douglas during their Illinois Senate campaign. These debates showcased Lincoln's eloquence, deep understanding of the issues, and moral opposition to the spread of slavery. While he lost the Senate race, these debates raised Lincoln's national profile and set the stage for his later political successes.
Is there something you've found that should possibly be included here? Let us know! Plus, send us your pictures of your American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>NASA Created — July 29, 1958
NASA's First — The Mercury Seven
Mariner 4 — The Mars Flyby
Gemini IV — The First American Spacewalk
Apollo 7 — A Pioneering Triumph
1969 Apollo 11 Moon Landing, The First Man on the Moon
Apollo 12 — November 1969
Locating Planet-X (Pluto)
Viking 1 — The First Mars Landing
As of this writing, the United States is the only country to have crew members walk on the Moon — in fact, the U.S. did so six times between 1969 and 1972.
It would have been enough if all we did was walk on the Moon. But, on February 7, 1984, Navy Captain Bruce McCandless II added another feather to our proverbial American cap by performing the first untethered space walk.
In a modified space suit, the design of which he collaborated on, Captain Bruce McCandless II made the first untethered space walk during a Challenger mission to deploy two communications satellites.
This mission marked the first test of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). McCandless orbited Earth in tangent with the shuttle at speeds greater than 17,500 miles per hour. At one point, he was about 320 feet — more than the length of a football field — away from the shuttle.
After the mission, McCandless remarked:
"I was grossly over-trained. I was just anxious to get out there and fly. I felt very comfortable ... It got so cold my teeth were chattering and I was shivering, but that was a very minor thing. ... I'd been told of the quiet vacuum you experience in space, but with three radio links saying, 'How's your oxygen holding out?', 'Stay away from the engines!' and 'When's my turn?', it wasn't that peaceful... It was a wonderful feeling, a mix of personal elation and professional pride: it had taken many years to get to that point."
For more on the Bruce McCandless' space walk and those that followed, here's a 32-minute special from NASA.
Send us your pictures of your own American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>Super Bowl 58, or “LVIII” is just around the corner, and if you are like most Americans, you’ve already chosen which team you want to see win. But that’s not all you’ll be doing. Americans have a long history of engagement with the Super Bowl — football in general — as it has grown to become the most watched sporting event every year. It is fitting that so many Americans attend or tune in since no Super Bowl is complete without a tremendous display of thankful patriotism — our favorite part.
We thought it would be fun to share some of the history and patriotism that surrounds Super Bowl history with you. Enjoy!
The NFL was founded in 1920 and consisted of 14 teams — two of which (the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals) survive as modern franchises. The legendary Jim Thorpe was the league’s first president. From this time forward, the NFL would always be the foremost football league in the United States, but…
In 1960, a new league began play. The AFL quickly began to challenge the NFL in terms of quality of play and in attracting new, better players. By 1966, the NFL and AFL had arranged a merger, and Super Bowl I was played early in 1967. NFL teams won the first two Super Bowls, but the AFL won the third, a sign that the NFL had made the right decision…
Now the NFL is split into two conferences, the NFC and AFC, with a total of 32 teams and the 57th Super Bowl is just days away!
The Super Bowl is not a holiday, but so many Americans participate in activities directly related to the game, that the whole country and economy move in step with the event.
In fact, commercials aired during the television broadcast of the Super Bowl have become just as popular as the event itself.
As for the game, it is always at the center of an epic celebration. Every moment that is not game-play bears some historic and patriotic significance. It all starts at the pregame coin toss, which usually features a prominent celebrity or NFL Hall of Fame player, and continues through to the singing of the National Anthem and the presentation of the American flag, to the half-time show, and finally to the post-game award and trophy presentations.
Demi Lovato's performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIV in 2020 in Miami, FL.
The performance of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl is one of the most highly anticipated and cherished moments of the year — one that lives on in the memories of fans far beyond the big games themselves.
We can't play them all, but here are those that we figure are among the most beloved performances of our National Anthem at the Super Bowl, presented in no particular order.
The Dixie Chicks' performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 in San Diego, CA
Whitney Houston's famous performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 in Tampa, FL.
Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to play all of the renditions that made our list, but here are links to more notable performances on YouTube.
Thanks for reading this far — here's a bonus for you...
Send us your pictures of the Super Bowl, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>The NFL Playoffs are upon us and Super Bowl Sunday is drawing near! On February 11, 2024, two teams will play to determine the best team in the NFL for the 58th time in history. And for the 58th time in history, someone will precede the game with a performance of the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem — always an appropriate constant.
During the national anthem, it is customary for people to stand at attention and, according to United States Code, 36 U.S.C. § 301 - National Anthem (most recently updated in 2008), this is the suggested procedure.
The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
During a rendition of the national anthem
Individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
All present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
You can watch the most famous rendition of the National Anthem and review Super Bowl history here...
The other consistent feature of every playoff game and Super Bowl is the multitude of flags. Of course, the American flag is the prominent banner, but state flags, custom team flags, and custom performance flags will always be a part of the stadium display and the pre-game, halftime, and post-game presentations.
See an American, state flag, or military flag you want? Shop our store full of American-made products always in stock!
Inspired to create a custom flag for your business? Visit our custom flag creation center.
Enjoy this year's Super Bowl, and may the best team win.
Send us the details of your Super Bowl Experiences, along with photos of your American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your stories and photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>In the picturesque town of Hyde Park, New York, nestled along the scenic Hudson River, stands the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. This historical site, dedicated to the life and legacy of one of America's most influential leaders, offers visitors a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum was officially dedicated on June 30, 1941. This event marked a significant milestone in American history, as it was the first-ever presidential library in the United States.
President Roosevelt played a pivotal role in the establishment of this groundbreaking institution, and set a precedent that would be followed by at least thirteen presidents after him.
Franklin D. Roosevelt envisioned his presidential library as more than just a repository for documents and artifacts. More than that, he aimed to create a living institution that would serve as a center for research, education, and public engagement. FDR, recognizing the historical importance of his presidency and the need for a comprehensive record, donated his personal and presidential papers to the American people. This act set a guiding example for the modern concept of presidential libraries.
FDR's vision was to make his presidential records accessible to scholars, researchers, and the general public, fostering a greater understanding of the events that shaped the nation during his four terms in office.
The design of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum speaks to the president's commitment to preserving history. Designed by architect Henry Toombs, the library's neoclassical style harmonizes with the nearby Springwood estate, Roosevelt's lifelong home.
The setting is meant to inspire a contemplative atmosphere, inviting visitors to step back in time and immerse themselves in the rich history of the Roosevelt era.
The museum within the complex offers a journey through the life and times of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Visitors can explore exhibits highlighting key moments of his presidency, including the New Deal, World War II, and the Great Depression.
Today there are multimedia presentations, interactive displays, and a vast collection of artifacts to provide a dynamic and engaging experience for people of all ages.
Over the years, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum has continued to evolve. Renovations and expansions have enhanced its capabilities, ensuring that it remains a vibrant institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of FDR and educating future generations.
The library's ongoing commitment to public access and education underscores the enduring impact of Roosevelt's vision for a presidential library that transcends a mere repository of documents.
Have you visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum or another historic American site? Send us your pictures of historic memorabilia, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>Despite what the song says, Oklahoma isn't the only place on the map where heavy bursts of wind are commonplace. Every location in the United States is subject to high winds, and windspeed is one of the most important factors to consider for anyone selecting the outdoor American flag, residential flagpole, or commercial flagpole that best suits their needs.
Windspeed refers to the movement of air in an outside environment. Movement can be affected by many factors; geographic location, weather, pressure gradient, and jet streams. In the flag and flagpole industry, when we talk about windspeed ratings, it's nearly always in reference to a flagpole with a flag on it.
Windspeed is important to understand because high winds can cause unpleasant side effects for flag flyers. For example, a low-quality flag or a flag made of unsuitable material may not hold up to heavy winds, causing the flag to prematurely come apart at the seams or fray on the ends.
More importantly, however, a flagpole's windspeed rating is calculated according to the size of flag that the pole is engineered to fly. This is because wind can also wreak tremendous havoc on flagpoles.
Flag size and wind force are used to calculate the maximum wind-load on a flagpole. As a general rule, one quarter to one third of a flagpole's height is equivalent to the maximum length flag that should be flown on it. Display of an oversized flag could result in a flagpole that fails.
Furthermore, an oversized flag increases the amount strain on all of the other parts (snap hooks, weights, ropes, etc...), and can result in failures that lead to flag or flagpole damage.
If a second flag is flown from the same flagpole, the sizing equation changes and it is best to discuss optimal flag sizes with your flag professional.
Download the windspeed map below (click the image) to help you select the flagpole best suited to your location.
Bear in mind that this map is useful for ground-set flagpoles only. Poles affixed above ground or on the side of buildings are subject to different windspeeds.
Of course, if you would like some personalized advice, tailored to your specific location, please give us a call and we will be glad to help.
Click to download the Wind Speed Ratings Map. The map is based on a 50-year period of recurrence at an elevation of 30 feet.
Send us your pictures of American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>At LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®, we help many first time flag buyers with the task of selecting the American flag that is most suited to their flag flying circumstance. Understandably, the most common question that arises is, “How long will my American flag last?” The second most common question is, “Why?”
We understand why people need to know this. Many times, our customers are buying for their companies, but need to make informed, accurate choices because they often must meet budget requirements for a predefined fiscal period.
Alternatively, a residential flag flyer may have an inaccurate perception of the longevity of a flag due to experiencing wide-ranging flag flying habits, maybe from their parents, neighbors or other people in their lives. Without a full understanding of the influential factors, they might be disappointed with the lifespan of their flag.
The truth is, there is no way that anyone can predict the exact lifespan of any given flag. However, we do know the factors that influence the lifespan of a flag and we can use that knowledge to inform our purchasing choices. They are flag quality, flying frequency and weather conditions.
The first influencing factor is the quality of the flag. It goes without saying that American-made American flags exceed foreign-made flags in durability. The materials are better sourced and the craftsmanship is unparalleled. On top of that, the colors and dimensions are more accurate.
Second, flying frequency plays an important part in the equation. When we are young, we often don’t realize that our parents only flew the flag on special holidays, bringing it inside and putting it away most of the time. This enables the flag to last many years.
Conversely, a flag that is flown every day of the year will need to be repaired, retired and replaced with greater frequency. In this aspect, flags are no different than clothing . . . items worn more routinely will need to be replaced sooner.
Lastly, weather conditions play an enormous role in how much whipping, snapping, expanding and contracting a flag might endure over the span of its use. A flag flying in an area with low wind, moderate temperatures and mild weather will invariably last longer than an identical flag flying in an area with heavy winds, extreme temperatures and harsh weather.
To help you get started, here is an overview of available American flag fabrics and a map of U.S. wind speed ratings.
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Please send all of your suggestions or questions to service@LibertyFlags.com. We want to hear from you!
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]]>For a quick read, here are some common flagpole heights and appropriate flag sizes. More detailed reasoning can be found below...
So, you’ve just installed your brand-new Outdoor Flagpole in front of your building or home. The excitement and anticipation build as you unpack your Outdoor American Flag and get ready to attach it to the flag snap hooks and hoist it up the pole. But wait – is your flag the right size for the pole?
If you purchased your flagpole from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®, it was delivered with an appropriately sized flag, but if not... here is a quick guide to selecting the correct size flag for your flagpole.
Whether you are displaying your American Flag from your house-mount flagpole or your ground-mount residential flagpole that is 20' or shorter, it’s advised to fly a 3’x5’ flag at the largest. This is the perfect size to show your patriotic pride in front of your home. If your permanent residential flagpole is taller than 20' please keep reading for Commercial Flagpole guidelines.
Commercial Flagpoles are designed for long-term or permanent use. They are also designed to fly larger flags, depending on the type, height, and wind rating of the flagpole. The basic rule here is that the horizontal length of the flag should be roughly 1/4 the height of the flagpole. This guideline applies to commercially-manufactured flagpoles 20’ to about 80', but it is always advisable to consult the manufacturer's recommendation.
Flying two flags is no problem. The primary flag size stays the same. The secondary flag will be one size smaller than the primary flag.
Of course, for Ambassador, Embassy, Skyscape, Landmark, and Pioneer flagpole models, a second flag will require a second set of snap hooks.
Empire flagpoles will require a second set of snap hooks, plus a quick link, a cable swivel, and a correctly-sized flag arrangement.
One of the most important things to consider in terms of safety and flagpole longevity is windspeed. Depending on the season and the region in which you live, windspeed will obviously vary. Download our handy windspeed map to get a better understanding of possible wind speeds in your area.
Send us your pictures of American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
Do you have suggestions for information you'd like to see here? If so, please send them our way!
Please send all of your suggestions or questions to service@LibertyFlags.com. We want to hear from you!
Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
]]>Send your flag flying questions to service@LibertyFlags.com– we would love to help!
Have a great day from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
]]>Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sometimes referred to as MLK Day, is an American Federal holiday, marking his birthday. Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday is on January 15th, we commemorate it each year on the third Monday of January, due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Dr. King was the most visible and prominent spokesperson for nonviolent activism during the Civil Rights Movement, from 1954 until his death in 1968. In 1964, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. Posthumously, Dr. King was further awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Shortly after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, the campaign for recognizing Dr. King with a national Holiday began. The holiday was signed into law in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. By 2000, it was officially observed in all 50 states across the US.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is among many flag flying holidays. The United States flag can and should be flown every day the weather permits, from sunrise until sunset. There are several special holidays and events on which the flag should be displayed in celebration or remembrance. Check here for your free guide to this and other flag flying holidays.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in freedom and justice for all. He encouraged activism and change through nonviolence and uplifting others. Americans are encouraged to observe M.L.K. Day as a day of service — a "day on, not a day off" — and to honor his life and work by giving to communities through actions that contribute to solutions for social problems.
Send us the details of your M.L.K. Day Observations, along with photos of your American flags, flagpoles, and accessories! We would be honored to feature your stories and photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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]]>What sets this one apart from the others is that it officially and directly asserts American independence and signaled the end of the American Revolutionary War with King George III’s Great Britain.
]]>Ratification Day in the United States commemorates a single one of the more than four dozen Treaties of Paris since the 13th century.
What sets this one apart from the others is that it officially and directly asserted American independence and signaled the end of the American Revolutionary War with King George III’s Great Britain.
The treaty was debated and composed over a six-month period prior to being signed by delegates in September of 1783. On January 14, 1784, the treaty was ratified by the United States Congress of the Confederation (at that time) in Annapolis, Maryland.
The overall negotiation and execution of the treaty turned out to be a bit of a colonialist soap opera involving delegates from five impacted nations: Britain, the U.S., France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
When the peace talks commenced, everyone wanted peace except for Spain, who lobbied for the war to carry on just long enough to wear out the red-coats and enable the Spanish to capture Gibraltar from the British.
On the other hand, France was tired of fighting and ready for the war to end, so their delegation crafted a proposal that heavily favored Spanish interests in order to wrap up the peace talks quickly. This proposal, however, was of no interest to the United States who subsequently decided to leave talks with France and Spain to deal with Britain directly.
In London, “The Definitive Treaty of Peace” was composed between British and American delegates, and sent to Paris for all to sign and disseminate. The final treaty was drafted heavily in favor, first, of the United States and, second, of Great Britain’s interests — with a focus on long term trade benefits. France, Spain, and the Netherlands received the bare minimum of satisfactory terms (the preamble of the treaty actually antagonistically names King George III as France’s king) and were left to create separate treatises with Great Britain on their own.
Of the ten articles that comprise the treaty, only one remains in effect today - primarily due to the growth of the United States. It is the first and most important article, which declares the United States to be “free sovereign and Independent [sic]…”
Here is the full transcript of the Treaty of Paris, 1783, as provided by the United States’ National Archives:
The Definitive Treaty of Peace 1783
In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.
It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the Hearts of the most Serene and most Potent Prince George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, Arch- Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc.. and of the United States of America, to forget all past Misunderstandings and Differences that have unhappily interrupted the good Correspondence and Friendship which they mutually wish to restore; and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory Intercourse between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal Advantages and mutual Convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual Peace and Harmony; and having for this desirable End already laid the Foundation of Peace & Reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the Commissioners empowered on each Part, which Articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which Treaty was not to be concluded until Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain & France, and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such Treaty accordingly: and the treaty between Great Britain & France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty & the United States of America, in Order to carry into full Effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the Tenor thereof, have constituted & appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his Part, David Hartley, Esqr., Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their Part, - stop point - John Adams, Esqr., late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, and Chief Justice of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the said United States to their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; - stop point - Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late Delegate in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, President of the Convention of the said State, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the state of New York, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the said United States at the Court of Madrid; to be Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the Present Definitive Treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full Powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following Articles.
Article 1st:
His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States; that he treats with them as such, and for himself his Heirs & Successors, relinquishes all claims to the Government, Propriety, and Territorial Rights of the same and every Part thereof.
Article 2d:
And that all Disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the Boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their Boundaries, viz.; from the Northwest Angle of Nova Scotia, viz., that Angle which is formed by a Line drawn due North from the Source of St. Croix River to the Highlands; along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost Head of Connecticut River; Thence down along the middle of that River to the forty-fifth Degree of North Latitude; From thence by a Line due West on said Latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy; Thence along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario; through the Middle of said Lake until it strikes the Communication by Water between that Lake & Lake Erie; Thence along the middle of said Communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said Lake until it arrives at the Water Communication between that lake & Lake Huron; Thence along the middle of said Water Communication into the Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said Lake to the Water Communication between that Lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior Northward of the Isles Royal & Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; Thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the Water Communication between it & the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; Thence through the said Lake to the most Northwestern Point thereof, and from thence on a due West Course to the river Mississippi; Thence by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the Northernmost Part of the thirty-first Degree of North Latitude, South, by a Line to be drawn due East from the Determination of the Line last mentioned in the Latitude of thirty-one Degrees of the Equator to the middle of the River Apalachicola or Catahouche; Thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; Thence straight to the Head of Saint Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean. East, by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the river Saint Croix, from its Mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its Source, and from its Source directly North to the aforesaid Highlands, which divide the Rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all Islands within twenty Leagues of any Part of the Shores of the United States, and lying between Lines to be drawn due East from the Points where the aforesaid Boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one Part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said Province of Nova Scotia.
Article 3d:
It is agreed that the People of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the Right to take Fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and at all other Places in the Sea, where the Inhabitants of both Countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the Inhabitants of the United States shall have Liberty to take Fish of every Kind on such Part of the Coast of Newfoundland as British Fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that Island) And also on the Coasts, Bays & Creeks of all other of his Brittanic Majesty's Dominions in America; and that the American Fishermen shall have Liberty to dry and cure Fish in any of the unsettled Bays, Harbors, and Creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said Fishermen to dry or cure Fish at such Settlement without a previous Agreement for that purpose with the Inhabitants, Proprietors, or Possessors of the Ground.
Article 4th:
It is agreed that Creditors on either Side shall meet with no lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value in Sterling Money of all bona fide Debts heretofore contracted.
Article 5th:
It is agreed that Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the Legislatures of the respective States to provide for the Restitution of all Estates, Rights, and Properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British Subjects; and also of the Estates, Rights, and Properties of Persons resident in Districts in the Possession on his Majesty's Arms and who have not borne Arms against the said United States. And that Persons of any other Description shall have free Liberty to go to any Part or Parts of any of the thirteen United States and therein to remain twelve Months unmolested in their Endeavors to obtain the Restitution of such of their Estates – Rights & Properties as may have been confiscated. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States a Reconsideration and Revision of all Acts or Laws regarding the Premises, so as to render the said Laws or Acts perfectly consistent not only with Justice and Equity but with that Spirit of Conciliation which on the Return of the Blessings of Peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several States that the Estates, Rights, and Properties of such last mentioned Persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any Persons who may be now in Possession the Bona fide Price (where any has been given) which such Persons may have paid on purchasing any of the said Lands, Rights, or Properties since the Confiscation.
And it is agreed that all Persons who have any Interest in confiscated Lands, either by Debts, Marriage Settlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful Impediment in the Prosecution of their just Rights.
Article 6th:
That there shall be no future Confiscations made nor any Prosecutions commenced against any Person or Persons for, or by Reason of the Part, which he or they may have taken in the present War, and that no Person shall on that Account suffer any future Loss or Damage, either in his Person, Liberty, or Property; and that those who may be in Confinement on such Charges at the Time of the Ratification of the Treaty in America shall be immediately set at Liberty, and the Prosecutions so commenced be discontinued.
Article 7th:
There shall be a firm and perpetual Peace between his Britanic Majesty and the said States, and between the Subjects of the one and the Citizens of the other, wherefore all Hostilities both by Sea and Land shall from henceforth cease: All prisoners on both Sides shall be set at Liberty, and his Britanic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other Property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons & Fleets from the said United States, and from every Post, Place and Harbour within the same; leaving in all Fortifications, the American Artillery that may be therein: And shall also Order & cause all Archives, Records, Deeds & Papers belonging to any of the said States, or their Citizens, which in the Course of the War may have fallen into the hands of his Officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper States and Persons to whom they belong.
Article 8th:
The Navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the Ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the Subjects of Great Britain and the Citizens of the United States.
Article 9th:
In case it should so happen that any Place or Territory belonging to great Britain or to the United States should have been conquered by the Arms of either from the other before the Arrival of the said Provisional Articles in America, it is agreed that the same shall be restored without Difficulty and without requiring any Compensation.
Article 10th:
The solemn Ratifications of the present Treaty expedited in good & due Form shall be exchanged between the contracting Parties in the Space of Six Months or sooner if possible to be computed from the Day of the Signature of the present Treaty. In witness whereof we the undersigned their Ministers Plenipotentiary have in their Name and in Virtue of our Full Powers, signed with our Hands the present Definitive Treaty, and caused the Seals of our Arms to be affixed thereto.
Done at Paris, this third day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
D HARTLEY (SEAL)
JOHN ADAMS (SEAL)
B FRANKLIN (SEAL)
JOHN JAY (SEAL)
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]]>On January 6, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt presented the Four Freedoms to Congress in his State of the Union address. He did so against the backdrop of a world engulfed in the horrors of World War II. At that time nearly 70 nations were embroiled in a conflict on five continents, Nazi Germany had overrun much of Europe, and the United States was frantically trying to negotiate peace with allies and trade partners globally while teetering on the brink of entering the conflict itself.
Roosevelt was deeply concerned about the spread of fascism, totalitarianism, and the erosion of fundamental human rights across the globe. He recognized the urgent need for the United States to define its core values and clarify its stance in the face of threats to democracy and freedom.
He used this speech to galvanize public opinion and rally support for aid to nations under siege by fascist powers. The speech also served to prepare the American public for potential involvement in the war. By articulating and elevating these Four Freedoms, Roosevelt sought to clarify the moral objectives for which the United States would continue to seek peace or fight if it were to join the conflict.
Moreover, Roosevelt's address set forth a vision for the post-war world, providing paradigms for a future where these fundamental freedoms would be upheld universally. By presenting these freedoms as fundamental principles, he aimed to garner both domestic and international support for a world order founded on liberty, equality, and justice.
This first freedom emphasized the right to express oneself without fear of censorship or repression. In an era where totalitarian regimes stifled dissent, the presentation of this idea stood as a beacon of hope, championing the individuals' freedom to voice their opinions and ideas.
This second freedom recognized the importance of religious tolerance and the freedom to worship as one pleases. Roosevelt underscored the significance of embracing diverse faiths, advocating for a world where individuals could practice their beliefs without persecution. This principle served as a bulwark against religious discrimination, promoting harmony among different religious communities.
Addressing economic insecurity and poverty, this third freedom highlighted the right of every person to a basic standard of living. Roosevelt envisioned a world where individuals wouldn't suffer from the scourge of hunger, homelessness, or lack of essential resources. This freedom underscored the imperative of economic policies aimed at eradicating poverty and ensuring fair opportunities for all.
This fourth freedom confronted the specter of tyranny and aggression, emphasizing the necessity of global security and peace. Roosevelt underscored that true freedom could not exist in a world overshadowed by the fear of invasion or conflict. This freedom called for collective efforts to foster a secure international order, free from the threats of violence and aggression.
Ultimately, the Four Freedoms speech served as a catalyst, shaping the discourse on human rights and influencing subsequent international agreements and declarations. It clarified Roosevelt's commitment to defending these principles when the United States eventually took action in WWII, and later laid the groundwork for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.
The entire speech can be heard via the video included here.
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]]>November through February is a tumultuous time of year for moving weather fronts and periods of inclement precipitation or wind. Many people face important decisions about flying and caring for their flags this time of year.
Here are four tips that may help —
Bring your flags inside during heavy wind, ice, or snow.
This one is pretty easy. Know what the weatherman is predicting for your area. If they say things like, "there's a front moving in," or any kind of weather "advisory," these are key terms that indicate there may be high winds or bad weather coming that can tear your flag up (even an all-weather flag) within a matter of hours.
As parts of the flag are weighed down by moisture and/or frozen together by ice, other parts of the flag are whipped and snapped by the wind. The result is exponentially more force and pressure on the flag than it is designed to withstand, which makes shredding and tearing very likely to occur.
So when high wind or bad weather is headed your way, bring Old Glory inside and let it enjoy some coziness with you.
Like every tip in this article will be, this is a cinch.
Flag snap hooks are the most quickly worn item on your flagpole, so set some dates throughout the year to look at them for possible replacement. It's a good idea to have extra snap hooks on hand, too.
Flag snap hooks are in more contact and under more relative duress than any other part of your flag pole assembly. They endure wear from the grommet of the flag, from the rope, and from contact with the flagpole. If a flag snap hook breaks, it can mean irreparable damage to the flag.
That is why it is a good idea to check the condition of your flag snaps with regularity. Checking about every 90 days is a reasonable interval to begin with, but more often won't hurt!
Need to know how to replace your snap hooks? Detailed instructions are a click away!
Find other helpful videos here!
First, what is a flagpole halyard?
Well, the word "halyard" is an old sailing term referring to the ropes used to manipulate the sails on a ship. It stems from the phrase, "to haul yards." For our purposes, the rope or line used to hoist and lower a flag is referred to as the halyard.
Flagpole halyards can be damaged in a variety of ways. Check on the halyard in use at regular intervals, and it's always a good idea to have a replacement halyard on hand. Checking your halyard each time you check your snap hooks would be ideal, but at least check it every time you replace your flag.
Once you develop the habit, you'll know its wear-rate better than anyone else. It's best to replace the halyard as soon as there are visible signs of wear.
Like flags, halyard damage occurs in many ways. From getting caught on nearby obstructions in high wind, to being snagged by debris in windy weather, to general wear and tear from raising and lowering the flag, or contact abrasion with snap hooks or the flagpole.
The sun's ultraviolet rays will also weaken any halyard over time, as will the constant tugging and overload of your flag snapping in the wind - the larger the flag, the greater the pressure applied to the halyard. Extreme heat and cold are also contributors to halyard wear. So check your halyard regularly, avoid the cost and inconvenience of a breakage!
We all want our American flags to last as long as possible — that's a given. The desire for long-lasting flags is one reason why Liberty Flags offers only American-made American flags. The quality and durability of American-made flags is unrivaled.
In addition to the craftsmanship, the lifespan of a flag is also affected by its surrounding circumstances. Outdoor flags take a healthy beating from wind and precipitation. The last factor in the longevity of a flag is the care it is given. So fly the flag as often as possible, but help it to last longer by bringing it in during harsh weather.
One final note: no matter how well they are taken care of, flags ultimately reach a point when they must be retired. When that time comes, it is important that retiring your flag is done respectfully. Instructions for flag retirement can be found here.
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]]>It was just after the new year of 1933 when the first shovel ceremoniously began to move the tons of dirt that would make way for the Golden Gate Bridge.
However, the colossal bridge required more than earth be moved in order for its construction to take place. The 1.7-mile suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait in California is a product of American determination, innovation, and tenacity.
By all accounts, the Golden Gate Bridge represents a historic upturn in engineering history — a success model engineers have referred to in the time since its design and construction.
But the process for getting the project underway was pockmarked by more than a decade of obstructions. From design and execution problems, to military and business challenges, to affordability and economic strain; the Golden Gate Bridge seemed to always be just out of reach.
The bridge's principal designer was a man named Joseph Strauss. He was chosen because he had previously designed bridges in the San Francisco area and, though they lacked aesthetic appeal, proved to be structurally superior.
Predictably, Strauss' initial design for the Golden Gate Bridge, for all of its careful calculations and emphasis on safety, seemed awkward, overbearing, and devoid of visual appeal; it was rejected at first sight.
Undeterred, Strauss called upon additional support from other engineers and architects. Leon Moisseiff, the engineer behind the Manhattan Bridge in New York, ultimately conceived the suspension concept. Irving Morrow, a residential designer, composed the visual concepts of tower shape, art deco features, lighting, color, and more.
Next, the engineers had to face the challenge of actually constructing the bridge over a fast-moving waterway that is 400 feet deep. In the 1930s, construction technology - particularly in deep, moving water - was not very advanced by modern standards. Innovative techniques were conceived and tested on location, and many of the efforts were hampered by storms, fog, ship traffic, and the tides.
The Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County, across a channel called Golden Gate Strait.
Since its modern discovery, the Golden Gate Strait has been a busy thoroughfare for shipping traffic. The waterway connects the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. For both tactical and practical reasons, the Department of War (at the time), specifically the U.S. Navy, did not want to have a bridge spanning the opening.
In fact, it took years of negotiating philosophy, technical specifications, and even the color of the bridge to finally assuage the Navy.
However, another unlikely naval influence posed more staunch opposition: the Southern Pacific Railroad Company...
With the invention and popularization of the automobile came the demand for an efficient way to travel between San Francisco and Marin County (directly north across the mouth of San Francisco Bay).
For years, the Southern Pacific Railroad had met that demand by maintaining a monopoly on ferries that carried automobiles and passengers back and forth. The company was not keen to lose out on the revenue from that business and rightly saw the Golden Gate Bridge as a major threat.
All told, the railroad filed more than 2300 lawsuits in attempts to stop the construction of the bridge before an area-wide public boycott of the ferry system put an eventual end to their litigious assault on the project.
Aside from the design issues and concerns about execution, the War Department resistance and railroad interference; the Golden Gate Bridge project faced an even bigger obstacle: money.
Initial estimates for the project ranged from 17 million to 35 million dollars — figures equivalent to roughly three quarters of a billion dollars in the modern economy.
But the nation had just plunged into the Great Depression and there was hardly enough money for food, let alone a frivolous bridge project.
In spite of this, Californians in the San Francisco Bay area took a bold step forward, electing to accept a bond proposal for the initial funding that placed much of their individual private properties at risk.
Determined to rise above a tough challenge, the Golden Gate Bridge came to represent the spirit of American determination to Bay Area residents; and in a stroke of economic ingenuity, the construction project was eventually leveraged against the economic downturn.
What's more, the project was completed under budget and with a safety record that far outpaced the standards of the time.
The Golden Gate Bridge opened for transit on May 27, 1937, preceded by a week of pre-opening ceremonies.
The bridge is a suspension-style bridge, meaning that it is supported by a pair of parallel cables that rest atop two support towers and are encased at either end by masses of concrete that each weigh about 120 million pounds. At the time of its opening, the Golden Gate Bridge was the biggest suspension bridge in the world.
To the east of the bridge is famous Alcatraz Island, and below the southern end of the bridge is a Civil War era fort, Fort Point (now the Fort Point National Historic Site), which was restored and preserved as part of the bridge's construction process.
The bridge stands as a modern marvel of engineering, ingenuity, and of the amazing feats that can be achieved through community effort. The total cost of the bridge was paid off in the early 1970s, and the national landmark is one of the world's most well-maintained bridges.
Check out the 3-minute video below from The History Channel.
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]]>Wreaths Across America is an annual event that takes place during December in locations all across the United States. Stemming from a gesture in 1992 by Morrill Worcester, who laid surplus wreaths from his wreath-making company at Arlington National Cemetery, the initiative has grown into a nationwide commemoration.
In 2023, Wreaths Across America will take place on Saturday, December 16.
Now, volunteers place wreaths adorned with red bows (symbolizing valor and sacrifice) on veterans' graves in over 2,500 locations. From our national cemeteries to local burial grounds and memorials, Wreaths Across America is now observed in all 50 states.
This ceremony is an opportunity for volunteers to manifest their gratitude for the sacrifices made by veterans. Since 2008, Wreaths Across America has been scheduled to take place on the second or third Saturday in December each year.
The Wreaths Across America ceremony is usually a solemn affair. For most who participate, the significance of the wreath-laying gesture extends beyond its physical manifestation; it is often a moment of quiet reflection, a tangible expression of gratitude, and an enduring acknowledgment of those who served in the United States Armed Forces.
Send us your pictures of commemorative wreaths, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography and to share your story in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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