Most Americans learn the Pledge of Allegiance at ages 5 or 6, before they’re old enough to understand every word.
Kindergarteners and first graders stand beside their desks, face the flag and recite it together, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
The phrase “under God” has been part of the Pledge for more than 70 years. It was added by Congress on June 14, 1954, and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Flag Day.
As the country prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the history behind those three words offers a window into how Americans have spoken about faith, freedom and the source of human rights.
The Pledge did not originally include “under God.”
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and writer for The Youth’s Companion. It was created for a nationwide school observance marking the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.
Bellamy’s original version read, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”
Over the following decades, the wording shifted. “My flag” became “the flag of the United States of America” in the 1920s. Congress formally recognized the Pledge in 1942 during World War II.
The words “under God” came later.
The Knights of Columbus began using the phrase in its own recitation of the Pledge in the early 1950s and helped build support for adding it nationally. Their effort eventually reached Congress.
On June 14, 1954, Eisenhower signed the bill adding the words “under God” after “one nation.”
In a statement released that day, Eisenhower said the change would reaffirm “the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future.”
Flag Day was already part of the country’s civic calendar. It commemorates June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress approved the first official American flag: 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a blue field. The Library of Congress notes that the stars represented “a new constellation.”
The phrase “under God” is often discussed alongside one of the best-known lines in the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration says that people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That language places the source of human rights outside the government. It reflects a belief rooted in Scripture; every person is made in the image of God. Human dignity is inalienable and intrinsic, so they are not to be granted by a ruler, a political party or a court. It comes from the Creator.
That conviction has shaped much of the Christian response to public life in America. Christians have cited it while advocating for religious freedom, fighting slavery, serving the poor and defending the dignity of people who have been ignored or mistreated.
The country has not always lived up to those principles. The history of the United States includes moments when its laws and institutions failed to honor them. However, the words in the Declaration remain a standard against which the nation can be measured.
Two years after “under God” was added to the Pledge, Congress made “In God We Trust” the official national motto.
The words had appeared on some American coins since the Civil War. In 1956, Congress formally adopted them as the national motto, a designation that remains in federal law today. The phrase later appeared on paper currency as well.
The Pledge and the national motto serve different purposes, but both reflect a public acknowledgment that faith has long been part of the country’s civic language.
For Christians, “In God We Trust” begs the question: Where is our trust actually placed?
In Scripture, trust in God is connected to humility, obedience and care for others. It does not condone injustice, and it calls people to live honestly and to remember that earthly authority has limits.
The nation’s 250th anniversary will bring parades, fireworks, concerts and celebrations across the country. Americans will gather around flags, family traditions and local events. Many will also say the Pledge of Allegiance.
For Christians, “one nation under God” is a reminder that patriotism and faith are not necessarily the same thing. Love for the country can coexist with reverence for God, prayer for leaders and a willingness to speak truth if and when the nation falls short of its own ideals.
The Pledge is an expression of loyalty to the United States. The words “under God” place that loyalty in perspective.
Freedom carries responsibility, and every person has God-given worth. No government holds ultimate authority over the human soul.
Feature photo: Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952) photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
