The Great Seal of the United States is the official emblem of the federal government of the United States. It consists of an eagle, which is a national symbol of the United States, and a shield, which represents the government’s protection of the nation. The Great Seal is used on official documents, such as treaties and proclamations, and is also depicted on the back of the one-dollar bill. The design of the Great Seal was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1782, and it has undergone several minor changes since then. The eagle is depicted with a shield on its chest and holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons. The olive branch represents peace, and the arrows represent the country’s willingness to defend itself. The eagle’s head is turned towards the olive branch, indicating a preference for peace. The shield on the eagle’s chest has 13 vertical stripes, representing the 13 original colonies, and a blue chief, or top portion, with white stars on it. The stars represent the 50 states of the United States.
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