Unity makes strength facts for kids
Unity makes strength is a famous saying. It means that when people work together, they are stronger. This idea is so important that it became the national motto for countries like Belgium, Bulgaria, and Haiti. It is also known in other languages, like "Eendracht maakt macht" in Dutch and "L'union fait la force" in French.
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History of the Motto
The Netherlands
The saying "Unity makes strength" was first used in 1550. It came from a Latin phrase, "concordia res parvae crescunt," which means "small states grow strong by working together." The new Dutch Republic chose this phrase as its motto. You could see it on their coins and coats of arms.
Later, from 1795 to 1813, the French were in the Netherlands. During this time, the motto changed for a while. But from 1802 to 1810, "Unity makes strength" was used again. In 1816, the country switched to the motto of the House of Orange, which is "Je maintiendrai" (I will maintain).
Haiti
The country of Haiti chose this motto after a very important event. In 1803, slaves in the French colony of Saint-Domingue fought for their freedom. They won their revolution! Haiti became an independent country on January 1, 1804. This happened after the French troops gave up at the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803.
Haiti's coat of arms uses the French version of the motto: "L'Union fait la force." Haiti is often called the world's First Black Republic because it was the first country created by former slaves.
Belgium
Belgium started using this motto after its Revolution in 1830. At first, they only used the French version, "L'union fait la force."
United States of America
The city of Brooklyn, which is a borough in New York City, still uses "Eendraght maeckt maght" as its motto. Dutch settlers founded Brooklyn a long time ago. The motto Eendragt maakt magt also appears on the badge of the police in Holland, Michigan.
Bulgaria
When Ferdinand became the ruler of the Principality of Bulgaria, the country began to use Belgium's motto, L'union fait la force. In Bulgarian, this is Съединението прави силата. Even though "Unity makes strength" appeared in many designs for Bulgaria's coat of arms after they gained freedom, it officially became part of it only in 1927.
After 1948, the motto was removed from the new constitution. However, it stayed on the front of the National Assembly building. After big changes in 1989 and a new constitution in 1991, the motto was put back.
South African Republic
On January 17, 1852, the United Kingdom allowed the South African Republic to become free. "Eendragt maakt magt" was chosen as the motto on the new country's shield. In 1888, the republic decided that Dutch would be its official language.
Malaysia
An early design of the coat of arms used between 1948 and 1963 had a similar motto: "Unity is Strength." It was written in both English and Jawi. In 1963, three more states joined Malaysia. After this, the English motto was changed to a Malay phrase, Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu. This means "Unity Improves Quality." The Jawi motto stayed the same.
Images for kids
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Netherlands, gold ducat (1729) with the motto concordia res parvae crescent on the front side, found in the Dutch East India Company (VOC) shipwreck 't Vliegend Hert
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'Eendragt maakt magt' as the motto on the coat of arms of the South African Republic.
See also
In Spanish: La unión hace la fuerza para niños
