Freedom and Unity

Freedom and Unity
The Great Seal of Vermont, designed by Ira Allen, prominently features Vermont's motto "Freedom & Unity".
The motto Freedom and Unity in a stained glass window depicting the Vermont coat-of-arms.

"Freedom and Unity" is the official motto of the U.S. state of Vermont. The motto was first adopted in 1788 for use on the Great Seal of the Vermont Republic. Ira Allen designed the Vermont seal and is often credited as its author. Allen's 1798 book The Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont cites many contributions by him to Vermont's founding but does not claim credit for the motto. Following Vermont's admission to the federal union in 1791, the legislature once more approved the use of the motto for the new state seal. Vermont's first governor, Thomas Chittenden, cited the state motto in his epitaph: "Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state, the home of freedom and unity."

Contents

Meaning

There is general agreement that Vermont's motto is about the idea of balancing two seemingly opposite ideals: the personal freedom and independence of the individual citizen, with the common good of the larger community. Writer and Vermont resident Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958) wrote the following about her adopted state: "the Vermont idea grapples energetically with the basic problem of human conduct – how to reconcile the needs of the group, of which every man or woman is a member, with the craving for individual freedom to be what he really is."

A homeostasis of these two forces has mostly endured in Vermont's history, both freedom, and unity, expressing distinct parts of the Vermont identity. Vermont's motto is believed to have been the inspiration for Daniel Webster's famous Liberty and Union speech before the United State Senate. Use of the exact motto is found in two quite different political groups. The left-center Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) used the motto Freedom and Unity before WWII. In the United Kingdom, a right-center party, the English Democratic Party (not to be confused with the similarly named English Democrats Party) which seeks protection of English culture and opposing European unity, also uses the exact motto. The current national motto of Germany, adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1952, is also quite similar Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit translating as Unity and Justice and Freedom.

Uses and applications

By Vermont statute the motto Freedom and Unity is applied to the Great Seal of Vermont, the Coat of arms of Vermont, and the Flag of Vermont. The motto can be found above the central doors of the Vermont Supreme Court, and above the rostrum in Representatives Hall at the Vermont State House.

References

  • Crampton, William G. Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms. Crescent Books: 1985. ISBN 0-517-49951-7.
  • Duffy, John J., et al. Vermont: An Illustrated History. American Historical Press: 2000. ISBN 1-892724-08-1.
  • Duffy, John J., et al. The Vermont Encyclopedia. University Press of New England: 2003. ISBN 1-58465-086-9.
  • Potash, P. Jeffrey, et al. Freedom and Unity: A History of Vermont. Vermont Historical Society: 2004. ISBN 0-934720-49-5.
  • Zieber, Eugene, Heraldry in America: The Civic Armorial Bearings of American States. Greenwich House: 1974.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Monument to Freedom and Unity — The Monument to Freedom and Unity (Freiheits und Einheitsdenkmal) is a planned national German monument in Berlin commemorating the country s peaceful reunification in 1990 and earlier 18th, 19th and 20th century unification movements. It was… …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom and Reform Party — Özgürlük ve Reform Partisi Leader Turgay Avcı Founded 2006 Headquarters …   Wikipedia

  • Brotherhood and unity — ( sh. Bratstvo i jedinstvo /Братство и јединство, mk. Братство и единство, sl. Bratstvo in enotnost, sq. Bashkim dhe Vëllazërim) was a popular slogan of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia that was coined during the Yugoslav People s Liberation War …   Wikipedia

  • Nuanced voices on the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill (Fiji) — Fiji This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Fiji Government …   Wikipedia

  • Reconciliation and Unity Commission — The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on May 4 2005, is passed. The legislation proposes to empower the …   Wikipedia

  • Party for Justice, Integration and Unity — Partia Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet Leader Shpëtim Idrizi Founded 17 February 201 …   Wikipedia

  • Alliance for Freedom and Democracy — The Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD) is an Ethiopian political party formed 22 May 2006 from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), Ethiopian Peoples Patriotic Front (EPPF, also known as Arbegnoch… …   Wikipedia

  • Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence — The Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence, also referred to as the Southeast Asian Youth Conference, was an international youth and students event held in Calcutta, India on February 19–23,… …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia — Freedom of religion Concepts …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in the Palestinian territories — refers to the freedom given individuals in Palestine to observe and practice the religion of their choice. The Palestinian territories include a population of approximately 4.2 million people, with representation of a number of religious groups… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”