The stars and stripes

The history of Old Glory goes back to early colonial days. The first banner used in the colonies was, of course, the Standard English flag, consisting of a red cross on a white field. The flags of the separate colonies followed the same lines except that occasionally a pine tree, or a hemisphere, was figured in the upper left quarter of the cross.

The beginning of the Revolution brought a flood of suggestions as to the design for a new standard. But it was not until June 14, 1777, that official action was taken, when the Continental Congress passed a resolution fixing the design as thirteen alternate red and white stripes, and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Each star and each stripe represented a state. As each new state was admitted to the Union, a star and a stripe were added, but it was soon realized that the addition of many more stripes would make the flag too bulky. Consequently, after having been increased to fifteen, the number of bars was reduced to the original number. But the number of stars steadily increased, until the present number of 50 equals the same number of states. The story goes that Betty Ross sewed the first flag, and it was at her suggestion that five-pointed, instead of six-pointed, stars were used.

While controversy continues as to why Congress selected this design, there is good reason to believe that the coat of arms of the Washington family, which contains both stars and stripes, furnished the inspiration. It is interesting to note that, prior to the adoption of an official flag; a banner frequently used bore the figure of a rattlesnake, coiled to strike, with the motto, «Don’t tread on me».

15. Answer the following questions:

1. What do people often call American flag?

2. What are the colours of the American flag?

3. How many stripes has the flag got?

4. What is the national emblem?

5. Where is the statue of Liberty placed?

6. What country did gift to the USA?

16. Translate into English:

1. Американский флаг часто называют “звезды и полосы”.

2. Государственный гимн Америки – это “Усыпанный звездами флаг”.

3. У каждого штата есть свой собственный флаг.

4. Орел стал национальной эмблемой страны в 1782 году.

5. Орла можно увидеть на обратной стороне доллара.

6. Статуя Свободы – символ американской демократии.

7. В правой руке у Свободы – факел свободы.

8. Статуя Свободы стоит на острове Свободы в Нью-Йорке.

17. Learn the following words by heart:

to be made up from – быть составленным, состоять из

to border – граничить

to divide – делить

to head – возглавлять

to pass – проходить через

to represent – представлять

to symbolize – символизировать

District of Columbia – округ Колумбия

marble – мраморный

empty – пустой, полый

indication – указание

piece of land – участок земли

two storey – двухэтажный

Declaration of Independence – Декларация независимости