http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/shield.html
Shield on the Great Seal of the United States
1st committee
2nd committee
3rd committee
Charles Thomson
Original drawings of all four preliminary designs
The first committee's shield designed by
Pierre Du Simitière is bordered with the initials for "each of the thirteen independent States of America." Inside are symbols of the six "Countries from which these States have been peopled": rose for England, thistle for Scotland, harp for Ireland, fleur-de-lis for France, lion for Holland, imperial eagle (two-headed) for Germany.
The first striped shield (red and white diagonal) was suggested by the second committee – the idea of
Francis Hopkinson, who had designed the American flag in 1777.
The consultant on the third committee,
William Barton, wanted a shield of 13
horizontal stripes with a pillar in the center. That bird at the top is a "phoenix in flames."
When Charles Thomson came up with the
final design of the Great Seal, he first suggested a shield with 13
chevrons (top right), introducing the theme of mutual support that led William Barton to suggest the 13
vertical stripes (states) supporting a chief (federal government) we see today. The shape of the shield is not specified.
As stated in the
official description of the Great Seal, the shield has
"
thirteen pieces Argent and Gules: A Chief Azure."
This means the shield has seven white (argent) stripes, six red (gules) stripes, and a blue (azure) top section (Chief). Note: the
American flag has seven red and six white stripes.
In heraldry, the shield and motto complement each other. Charles Thomson thought the first committee's motto "
E pluribus unum" (Out of many, one) best captured the shield's symbolism, so he put it on the scroll held in the beak of the
American bald eagle.
Symbolism of the Shield (paraphrase of
official explanation)
The shield is composed of the blue Chief (top horizontal bar) and the red and white Pales (thirteen vertical stripes) which represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The motto alludes to this union.
The stripes are kept closely united by the Chief, and the Chief depends upon the union and the strength resulting from it for its support to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America and the preservation of their union through Congress.