Benjamin Franklin Wanted The Turkey As National Symbol — Thought Bald Eagles ‘Had No Morals’
Franklin thought turkeys represented America more than the iconic bald eagle.
Following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, along with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, was tasked with creating a seal to represent the newly formed nation. Despite having the opportunity to choose a national symbol, the History Channel’s website reports that Franklin did not suggest using a turkey.
Instead, he proposed an image of “Moses standing on the shore, extending his hand over the sea, causing it to overwhelm the pharaoh sitting in an open chariot,” accompanied by the motto “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God.”
However, this concept was not well-received by the Continental Congress and was ultimately put on hold. It wasn’t until 1782 that the Great Seal of the United States, featuring a bald eagle as its centerpiece, was finally approved.
