Designing the Great Seal of the United States: 1776 to 1782 On July 4, 1776, the same day America's thirteen separate states united to declare themselves an independent nation, the Continental Congress took the next step necessary to demonstrate this Independence. They began to create their national emblem, the Great Seal of the United States. Like other nations, America needed an official symbol of sovereignty to seal and authenticate her international treaties and transactions. The new nation needed a symbolic signature others would recognize and honor. Many people today know what a challenge it can be to come up with a good logo and slogan for their team, business, or organization. Imagine having to design a symbol that would represent an entire nation to the whole world – and to future generations. This is what America's founders had to do back in 1776. Using only a few images and words, they had to illustrate the principles that inspired them to revolutionize their world and create a new nation. IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." During the next six years of the Revolution, three different committees submitted ideas for this graphic image of America, but none were acceptable. In June 1782, Congress turned the task over to Charles Thomson, one of their most visionary men. Using symbolic elements from all three committees, plus imagery and mottoes of his own, Thomson created a bold and elegant design. A week later, he presented it to Congress. That same day, Congress approved the two-sided design. The Great Seal of the United States was officially adopted on June 20, 1782 (six years before the Constitution). Its design has remained unchanged since then. In September 1782, the first Great Seal die was cut and used to begin sealing the peace with England. For more than 225 years now, the Great Seal has ratified international agreements of peace, cooperation, and trade. Representing the people of America, it seals their promise to other nations. The designs suggested by the three committees are wonderful windows into the revolutionary minds of the founders. They reflect America's struggle for Independence and help us better understand the thinking that went into the Great Seal of the United States. First Committee (July 1776)   Ben Franklin's idea for the reverse side. Second Committee (March 1780) Third Committee (May 1782)   Heraldic description of a complex design. Final Design (June 1782)   Charles Thomson – America's essential founder.   Description of Thomson's design. Other Pages in the History Section How the Great Seal is used to seal documents... Pendant Seals: Why the Great Seal has two sides. Dies of the Great Seal (1782-1986) First Realizations (1786) First Painting (1786) Indian Peace Medals (1790s) Centennial Medal (1882) Great Seal is put on the dollar (1935) See also Great Seal's official description and explanation of its symbols Historical content is based on the Great Seal's official history. Other Sections of GreatSeal.com Myth and Misinformation about the Great Seal The Power of Peace and the Great Seal Sightings of the Seal in the news Symbols on the Seal's two sides Mottoes of the Great Seal Front page overview Click design to see it on different colors and styles of shirts: Another full-color version includes the motto above the eye. GreatSeal.com is created and ©2008 by John D. MacArthur.