5 Animals That Are Part Of The American Culture And Deserve Our Appreciation On 4th Of July

• 01

  Bald Eagle

  
  via Vet Street

  Our national bird, the bald eagle, is the only eagle unique to North America. Widely regarded as the symbol of the United States, the bald eagle appears on coins, paper currency, passports and more. It was adopted as the official emblem of the United States in 1782 because of its strength, power, and bravery.

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• 02

  Turkey

  
  via Vet street

  At Thanksgiving, many American families join together to chow down on roasted turkey. But if Benjamin Franklin would have had his way, the gobbling turkey would be the national symbol of the United States. "A much more respectable bird and a true native of America," Franklin called it. The wild turkey was discovered by early immigrants and remains a symbol of our nation today.

• 03

  Donkey

  
  via Vet street

  The Democratic donkey first appeared during the 1828 presidential campaign — when Andrew Jackson's opponents referred to him as a certain colloquialism for donkey. Yet it wasn't until political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the donkey in 1874 that people began to associate the animal with the Democratic Party.

• 04

  Elephant

  
  via vetstreet

  Elephants aren't only recognized for their impressively large ears and long trunks. Opposite the donkey, the elephant has come to represent the Republican Party in American politics.

  
  

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• 05

  Bison

  
  via Vet street

  Not only is the bison the nation's heaviest land animal, but it is also largely integrated into American culture. This oversized mammal is the official animal for three states, appears on two state flags and is the symbol for the Department of the Interior. Some Americans even think the buffalo represents the country so well that they want it to be recognized as our national mammal

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