E pluribus unum — Latin motto of the United States

Origins and development

The phrase was recommended during the creation of the Great Seal. A committee formed in 1776 considered symbols and mottos, and the consultant and artist Pierre Du Simitière is credited with selecting the Latin wording. The phrase had already been familiar to many English-reading Americans through printed sources in the 18th century; it appeared in periodicals such as the Gentleman's Magazine, whose international circulation brought the expression to colonial readers.

When the final design of the Great Seal was produced in 1782, Secretary Charles Thomson incorporated the motto on a scroll held in the beak of the bald eagle (the eagle). The seal's shield, composed of vertical stripes, was intended to symbolize the several states joined together under a unifying chief or head. The motto explicitly alludes to this union.

Meaning, symbolism, and interpretation

At its most literal, E pluribus unum refers to the coming together of the original Thirteen Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) into a single nation (the nation). Over time the phrase has been read more broadly as an expression of unity from diversity — a compact phrase that can describe political union, cultural pluralism, and the integration of immigrants and states into a common whole. It therefore functions as both a historical reference and a general civic ideal.

Uses and notable appearances

The motto appears in many official and ceremonial contexts. It is central to the imagery of the Great Seal, reproduced on government documents, medals, coins, and paper money. It has been used in speeches, monuments, and civic contexts to evoke national unity. While widely recognized and commonly regarded as a de facto national motto, it is distinct from the phrase that was later adopted officially as the national motto.

• Translation: "Out of many, one." (motto)
• Early source: familiar in print to colonial readers via publications such as Gentleman's Magazine.
• Artistic placement: shown on a scroll in the eagle's beak in the 1782 seal design (eagle emblem).
• Reference: originally directed at the union of states (colonies) into one nation.

Distinctions and later developments

Although E pluribus unum has been the enduring, widely recognized expression of national unity, the United States later adopted another phrase, "In God We Trust," as its official motto in the 20th century. Nevertheless, E pluribus unum remains a potent historical and cultural symbol, appearing on seals, currency, and in public discourse as an emblem of the country's origins and its ongoing ideal of unity.

For further authoritative information about the seal, motto, and historical references, consult primary and institutional sources related to the Great Seal and early American iconography (historical context).