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The Great Seal of the United States
The bald eagle has long been one of the most recognized symbols of the United States. The majestic bird appears on our money, the president’s flag, and countless government buildings. But it wasn’t officially made the national bird until a few months ago.
With its powerful wings and snow-white head, the bald eagle represents strength and independence. It has been an emblem of the U.S. since 1782. The country’s founders had started talking about creating an official seal for the new nation six years earlier. But they couldn’t agree on a design. Benjamin Franklin later wrote that he wasn’t a fan of the bald eagle. Still, the mighty bird was eventually chosen as the centerpiece of the Great Seal of the United States. Today the seal appears on official government documents and on the back of the $1 bill.
Bald eagles are found only in North America. But by the mid-1900s, they were endangered in much of the U.S. Hunting and chemicals used to kill insects had caused the eagles to nearly disappear. Thanks to conservation efforts, the eagle population has soared in the past few decades.