Illinois State Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union

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Researched by USA Symbol Team

Fact-checked • Updated December 2, 2025

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Illinois State Seal

OFFICIAL STATE SEAL

English • 1819

"State Sovereignty, National Union"

State Sovereignty, National Union

About This Motto

Illinois's state motto is State Sovereignty, National Union. English phrase adopted February 19, 1819 as part of first state seal. Never formally adopted as standalone motto.

What the Motto Means

State Sovereignty, National Union. Four words in English. State Sovereignty refers to individual state power to govern itself. National Union means the federal government binding all states together. Two concepts placed side by side.

Word order matters. State Sovereignty comes first, then National Union. This ordering sparked controversy after Civil War. Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale wanted to reverse the words in 1867. Legislature rejected his proposal. Original sequence stayed.

What do the words express? Balance between state and federal power. Illinois entered Union in 1818 during debates about states' rights. Motto captures tension between local control and national authority. No official interpretation exists in statute.

Current seal shows banner twisted. Word Sovereignty appears upside down. Tyndale designed it this way after legislature refused his word reversal. National Union stays right side up, more visible. Subtle protest against legislative decision.

Historical Background

  1. Illinois Statehood

    Illinois became 21st state December 3, 1818. Entered Union as free state. Mississippi joined before as slave state. Alabama followed after as slave state. States' rights debates ran hot during this period.

  2. First State Seal (1819)

    First Illinois General Assembly met after statehood. Passed law February 19, 1819 requiring permanent state seal. Assembly chose design copying Great Seal of United States. Changed ribbon text from E Pluribus Unum to State Sovereignty, National Union. Gunsmith Philip Creamer engraved seal for $85.

  3. Second Seal (1839)

    First seal wore out from use. Legislature ordered new seal cut in 1839. Design stayed similar to first version. Motto remained unchanged. This became Second Great Seal of Illinois.

  4. Civil War Impact

    War ended April 1865. Nation emphasized federal power over states' rights. Illinois motto suddenly looked problematic. Putting State Sovereignty before National Union seemed wrong to some officials. Calls emerged for change.

  5. Sharon Tyndale's Proposal (1867)

    Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale approached Senator Allen C. Fuller in January 1867. Told Fuller old seal needed replacement. Asked Fuller to sponsor bill for new seal. Tyndale proposed reversing motto to National Union, State Sovereignty. Put federal authority first.

  6. Legislative Rejection

    Senate discovered Tyndale's plan. Legislators disagreed with word reversal. Bill passed March 7, 1867 authorizing new seal. Amended version restored original wording. Legislature kept State Sovereignty first. Tyndale tasked with designing new seal anyway.

  7. Tyndale's Workaround

    Tyndale followed letter of law. Kept words in correct order. But twisted the banner in eagle's beak. State appears at bottom of scroll. Sovereignty shows upside down. National Union stays right side up at top. Made federal phrase more prominent and readable.

  8. Current Seal Adoption

    Third Great Seal designed 1868. Used officially from that year forward. Two dates appear on seal: 1818 for statehood, 1868 for seal redesign. Bald eagle perches on rock. Holds shield with 13 stars and stripes. Banner in beak shows twisted motto. Sunrise over water in background.

Meaning & Significance Today

Motto appears on state seal everywhere. Driver's licenses, official documents, government buildings. Most Illinois residents see it without thinking about Civil War controversy or Tyndale's protest design.

Illinois flag adopted July 1915. Features state seal on white field. Lucy Derwent of Rockford designed winning entry for Daughters of American Revolution contest. Word Illinois added to flag bottom in 1970 after complaint from Vietnam War sailor.

Modern interpretation downplays states' rights angle. Focus shifted to partnership between state and federal government. Both levels matter. Neither dominates completely. Balanced federalism as ideal.

Seal remains Tyndale's 1868 design. Word Sovereignty still upside down. Legislature never corrected the twisted banner. Historical quirk became permanent feature. Reminds viewers of post-war political tensions.

Cultural Context in Illinois

1818 Statehood Context

Illinois Constitution signed August 26, 1818 in Kaskaskia. Congress admitted Illinois December 3, 1818. State entered during Missouri Compromise debates. Balance between free and slave states dominated politics. Every admission mattered for sectional power.

Northwest Territory Heritage

Illinois developed from Northwest Territory created 1787. Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in region. Set precedent for free state status. Territory seal used before statehood. New state needed distinct identity.

States' Rights Philosophy

Early 19th century Americans debated federal power limits. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798) claimed states could nullify federal laws. South Carolina nullification crisis (1832) tested theory. Illinois motto captured these ongoing tensions without taking sides.

Civil War Realignment

War proved federal government supreme over states. Secession failed. Reconstruction imposed federal control on former Confederate states. Northern states like Illinois accepted stronger national authority. Motto seemed outdated but stayed anyway.

Sharon Tyndale's Position

Tyndale served as Secretary of State during Reconstruction era. Wanted seal reflecting Union victory. Legislature disagreed, valuing historical continuity. Tyndale's twisted banner became compromise. Kept traditional wording but emphasized federal supremacy visually.

Symbol Evolution

First seal (1819) copied federal design closely. Second seal (1839) maintained similarities. Third seal (1868) added distinctive Illinois elements. Prairie landscape, rising sun, specific dates. Seal became uniquely Illinois while keeping contested motto.

Current Law

Illinois Compiled Statutes Chapter 5, Section 460/5 establishes state seal. Statute describes eagle holding banner with motto State Sovereignty, National Union. Law allows reproduction of seal emblem in black or national colors on white background. Secretary of State maintains custody of Great Seal.

No separate motto statute exists. Legislature never passed standalone motto law. Words appear only within seal description. Illinois Blue Book lists motto as state symbol but cites seal statute as legal authority.

Interesting Facts About the Motto

Fact 1 of 12

Illinois never formally adopted State Sovereignty, National Union as standalone motto.

Sources & References

This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.

1
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/education/documents/statemottoslogannicknameinfo.pdf

Official Illinois state motto information from state government. • Accessed: December 31, 2025

2
Illinois Blue Book State Symbols
https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/illinois-bluebook/statesymbols.pdf

Comprehensive guide to Illinois state symbols including seal history and Sharon Tyndale controversy. • Accessed: December 31, 2025

3
Wikipedia - Flag and Seal of Illinois
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_and_seal_of_Illinois

Historical context for Illinois seal redesigns and motto controversy. • Accessed: December 31, 2025

Accuracy Commitment: We strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. If you notice any errors or outdated information, please contact us.

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People Also Ask

What is Illinois's state motto?
Illinois's motto is 'State Sovereignty, National Union,' appearing on the state seal since 1819.
When did Illinois adopt this motto?
The motto appeared on the first state seal adopted February 19, 1819. The legislature never passed a separate motto statute.
What does State Sovereignty, National Union mean?
It expresses the balance between individual state power (state sovereignty) and federal authority (national union).
Why is Sovereignty upside down on the seal?
Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale twisted the banner in 1868 after the legislature rejected his proposal to reverse the word order.
Did Illinois try to change the motto after the Civil War?
Yes. Sharon Tyndale proposed reversing it to 'National Union, State Sovereignty' in 1867, but the legislature kept the original order.
How many seals has Illinois had?
Three. The first in 1819, second in 1839, and third in 1868. All kept the same motto.
Is the motto in English or Latin?
English. Unlike many states, Illinois chose plain English words for its motto.
What do the dates on the seal mean?
1818 marks when Illinois became a state. 1868 marks when the current seal design was adopted.
When was Illinois's state flag adopted?
July 1915. Lucy Derwent designed it for a Daughters of American Revolution contest.
Has Illinois ever officially adopted the motto separately from the seal?
No. The motto exists only as part of the state seal description in Illinois law.
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