Was the choice of the bald eagle as a national U.S. emblem inspired by medieval examples such as Charlemagne's imperial eagle?

Zbeckabee

The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent. The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond. http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle9.html It is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries. "They are shrieking for Freedom," said the patriots. Thus the eagle, full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, has become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and thought and an opportunity for a full and free expansion into the boundless space of the future. --Maude M. Grant Nov 18 10, 7:42 AM

flem-ish

Rumours have it that the founders of the U.S.A. Republic were making a link with an antique "Republic" rather than with a medieval or post-medieval "Empire". Just wondering if those rumours can be confirmed. Nov 18 10, 9:00 AM