Why the Bald Eagle Wasn’t Supposed to Be the National Bird

3/7

Franklin Actually Proposed the Rattlesnake

In 1775 Franklin proposed the country use a rattlesnake as the national symbol in a letter later attributed to him that was published in the Pennsylvania Journal. Franklin after all is the one who came up with the snake divided into eight sections with the words, “Join or Die” underneath. Franklin explained that part of his thinking in choosing the rattlesnake was because it wasn’t found outside of America. Find out how to drive snakes away from your home.

5/7

The Competition Was Fierce

Among the other birds under consideration were a two-headed eagle, a rooster, a dove and a phoenix in flames, which really isn’t a bird. The debate of the Great Seal goes back to 1776 and Congress didn’t adopted a seal until 1782. The bald eagle wasn’t officially chosen as the national bird until 1789.