Lesson 13 · 12 min
This lesson explains the meaning of the American flag, the national anthem, and the motto 'E Pluribus Unum,' and describes the federal holidays.
The flag of the United States has 13 red and white stripes and 50 white stars on a blue background. The 13 stripes stand for the 13 original colonies that became the first states.
The 50 stars stand for the 50 states, with one star for each state. When a new state joins the country, a star is added. The last new star was added in 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.
The flag is a symbol of the nation, which means it stands for the country and its ideas. Many people show respect for the flag by standing and placing their right hand over their heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.
The national anthem is 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814, during the War of 1812. He watched British ships attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, all night, and in the morning he saw the American flag still flying.
Key's poem was later sung to music, and in 1931 it became the official national anthem. People usually stand and face the flag when it is played, for example before sports games.
'E Pluribus Unum' is Latin for 'Out of many, one.' It means that many states, and many people from different places, come together as one nation. It was the nation's first motto, and it appears on the Great Seal of the United States and on coins. In 1956, Congress made 'In God We Trust' the official national motto.
Independence Day is celebrated on July 4. It is the country's birthday, because the Declaration of Independence, which said the colonies were free from Britain, was adopted on July 4, 1776. People celebrate with parades, picnics, and fireworks.
Federal holidays are national holidays set by law. On these days, federal government offices are closed, and many businesses and schools close too. There are 11 federal holidays.
In the first half of the year come New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Washington's Birthday, often called Presidents Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (June 19), and Independence Day (July 4).
Later in the year come Labor Day (first Monday in September), which honors workers, and Columbus Day (second Monday in October), which remembers Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. The year ends with Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).
Juneteenth is on June 19. On that day in 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people there were free. It celebrates the end of slavery and became a federal holiday in 2021.
Memorial Day is on the last Monday in May. It honors soldiers who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many people visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on graves.
Veterans Day is on November 11. It honors all people who have served in the U.S. military, both living and dead. The date marks the end of the fighting in World War I in 1918.
Here is an easy way to remember the difference: Memorial Day remembers those who died in military service, and Veterans Day thanks everyone who served.
The 13 stripes stand for the 13 original colonies that became the first states. There are 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes. The number of stripes stays 13, even when new states join.
The flag has one star for each of the 50 states. A new star is added when a new state joins. The last two states, Alaska and Hawaii, joined in 1959, and the 50-star flag has been used since 1960.
Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814, during the War of 1812, after he saw the U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a battle. The song became the official national anthem in 1931. Its title describes a flag covered in stars.
E Pluribus Unum is Latin. It means that many states, and many people, come together to make one nation. You can see these words on U.S. coins and on the Great Seal of the United States.
Independence Day is on July 4 each year. It celebrates the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Many people celebrate with parades, picnics and fireworks.
National holidays are days set by the federal government, when federal offices close. There are 11 of them. The newest is Juneteenth, added in 2021, which remembers the end of slavery.
Memorial Day is on the last Monday in May. It honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Tip: Memorial Day remembers those who died, and Veterans Day thanks all who served.
Veterans Day is on November 11 every year. It honors all people who have served in the U.S. military. The date comes from the end of the fighting in World War I in 1918.
The flag has 13 red and white stripes. They stand for the 13 original colonies that became the first states. Compare: the stars stand for today's states.
The flag has 50 stars, one for each state. A new star is added when a new state joins. The 50-star flag has been used since 1960, after Hawaii became a state.
The national anthem is "The Star-Spangled Banner." Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814, during the War of 1812, after seeing the flag still flying over Fort McHenry. It became the official national anthem in 1931.
Independence Day is celebrated on July 4. It marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Many people celebrate with parades, picnics, and fireworks.
National (federal) holidays are days set by law when federal offices close. You need to name two; easy ones are Independence Day (July 4) and Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November). Juneteenth (June 19) became a federal holiday in 2021.
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Lesson text is original study material based on the USCIS 2025 Civics Test Study Guide topics. Editorial status: draft, pending expert review.