On This Day

Congress approves Great Seal of the United States of America with the bald eagle as its symbol

The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America. The phrase is used both for the impression device itself, which is kept by the United States secretary of state, and...

The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America. The phrase is used both for the impression device itself, which is kept by the United States secretary of state, and more generally for the impression it produces. The obverse of the Great Seal depicts the national coat of arms of the United States while the reverse features a truncated pyramid topped by an Eye of Providence. The year of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776, is noted in Roman numerals at the base of the pyramid.

Historical Significance

The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America.

Events Before

  1. British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia

    The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army.

  2. William Herschel sees what he thinks is a "comet" but actually discovers the planet Uranus

    Frederick William Herschel was a German-British astronomer and composer. He frequently collaborated with his younger sister and fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel.

  3. Los Angeles is founded by 44 Spanish-speaking mestizos in the Bahía de las Fumas (Bay of Smokes)

    Los Angeles is founded by 44 Spanish-speaking mestizos in the Bahía de las Fumas (Bay of Smokes)

  4. A French fleet of 24 ships under Comte de Grasse defeats British forces under Admiral Thomas Graves and Samuel Hood at t

    A French fleet of 24 ships under Comte de Grasse defeats British forces under Admiral Thomas Graves and Samuel Hood at the Battle of the Chesapeake (Battle of the Virginia Capes) and traps General Lord Charles Cornwallis during the American Revolutionary War

  5. 9,000 American and 7,000 French troops begin the Siege of Yorktown

    The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender at Yorktown, was the final major land engagement of the American Revolutionary War.

Events After

  1. Future US Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall (27) weds Mary Willis Ambler (16) at his cousin's home in Han

    Future US Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall (27) weds Mary Willis Ambler (16) at his cousin's home in Hanover County, Virginia, until her death in 1831

  2. USS Alliance, under Captain Barry, fights and wins the final naval battle of the American Revolutionary War off Cape Can

    USS Alliance, under Captain Barry, fights and wins the final naval battle of the American Revolutionary War off Cape Canaveral

  3. In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy

    In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy, preventing the threatened coup d'état

  4. Hostilities formally cease in the American Revolutionary War after the Continental Congress proclaims the "Cessation of

    Hostilities formally cease in the American Revolutionary War after the Continental Congress proclaims the "Cessation of Arms" against His Britannic Majesty [1]

  5. George Washington issues General Orders announcing the end of hostilities with Britain in the American Revolutionary War

    George Washington issues General Orders announcing the end of hostilities with Britain in the American Revolutionary War, giving thanks to the Almighty, offering congratulations, and authorizing an extra ration of alcohol to the troops to celebrate [1]

More from the 1780s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 20, 1782?
The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America. The phrase is used both for the impression device itself, which is kept by the United States secretary of state, and more generally for the impression it produces. The obverse of the Great Seal depicts the national coat of arms of the United States while the reverse features a truncated pyramid topped by an Eye of Providence.
Why is Congress approves Great Seal of the United States of America with the bald ea... significant?
The Great Seal of the United States is the seal of the United States of America.

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