What Year was God put on our money and in our pledge of allegiance, and why?

Question

Agnostic here, just wondering about some information, I have heard that the word God was put in the Pledge of Allegiance after World War 2. I don't know about the In God we Trust on money.

Did we have a pledge when the country was formed in the late 1700s?

Also, and I'm not entirely certain cause I'm just some guy in payroll I'm not some legal expert, wasn't there an Amendment to the US Constitution that was ratified by the neccessary number of state legislatures, that prohibits Congress from establishing a state religion?

I'm really curious cause you know, I wouldn't want to disgrace the founding fathers or Jesus or anything by being an American citizen and not going to church every sunday.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The intellectuals will know that our money and pledge were changed in the 1950's. They are not 'part of our history' as some fools would have us believe.

Answer 2

Francis Bellamy a Baptist Minister wrote the Pledge in August 1892. so no there was no pledge in the 1700's. In 1954, after being petitioned by the Knights of Columbus, Under God was added to the pledge of allegiance. In colonial era you had "Freemen" who basically took the oath to protect their town and the nation of England (as we were British then) and if you look into old colonial historical records you can usually find men who took the Freeman's Oath.

In God We Trust was added to currency during the Civil War when Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many petitions asking that it be added to the currency of the United States. Congress passed the Act putting the term on currency on April 22, 1864 and the first coin it appeared on was the 1864 issue 2 cent coin (first ever printing of that value coin).

**First Amendment of the US Constition:

Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Answer 3

You are obviously aware of the answers to all of this, but for those who may not be aware....

It was in the 1950s during the McCarthy era that the "under God" and the "in God we trust" was added to the pledge and paper money, respectively. This was to distinguish the US from the "godless communists" and to ensure that God was on our side in the Cold War ("In god we trust" had been placed on some coins during the Civil War for similar purpose, but the phrase was not made official until the 1950s). The pledge has been altered a fair deal, including the way we salute the flag. Initially, one was suppose to hold out their arm toward the flag, but this was also changed as the gesture was deemed too similar to the Nazi salute.

Answer 4

I will answer one of your questions because I am not sure about the specific dates of the others. By putting In God we trust on our money we are not violating the constitution. Citizens still have freedom of religion. Yes money does say in God we trust, and the pledge of the allegiance does say one nation under God, but they do not say which God. God is a general name. When you say God you could be referring to any God.

Answer 5

I dont know about the money

but the pledge of allegiance was changed in 1954, with support from the knights of columbus

it was originally written in 1892

and i definately think it should be removed. seperation of church and state.

Answer 6

"Under god" was put into the pledge during the Eisenhower administration, at the height of the McCarthy communist witch hunt, to show that we weren't a "godless nation".

"In god we trust" has been in continuous use on the one-cent coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916. It also has appeared on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar coins struck since 1908. It started appearing on paper money in 1957.

Fun facts:
We are one of three nations in the world that have religious mottos on their money.
During the 50s, "So help me god" was added as a suffix to the oaths of office for federal justices and judges.

Answer 7

I just did a blog about the dollar bill and the meaning of the symbols etc. I went back and re-read it looking for the date when In God we Trust was put on. Didn't really say, Just said in 1776 Benjamin Franklin wanted it put on.

Answer 8

At the time, it was necessary to give the world a stable base for rebuilding. The world was shattered. The Iron Curtain was not erected accross well groomed lawns, but through the rubble of Europe. Dollars did that, with the support of many Christians. It was called the Marshall Plan, and because of it, and that cryptic statement, Europe has enjoyed a peace that it has never experienced in human history. If you don't believe in God, look at Europe. United. Peacefully.

The motto doesn't say 'Trust God', or 'Believe in God', or even 'God exists'. I'd like to translate it for the illiterate; For those of you who need money to rebuild your nations, join in our faith of forgiveness. Please accept this token of value, as legal tender for all debts, and trust the dollar, and us to deal fairly, and honestly in all business matters.'

Their was another currency invading Europe at the time, and it turned out to be worthless. They had no such sense of forgiveness, trust, or God...where are those rubles?

Answer 9

1954
The hope was to "acknowledge the dependence of our people and our Government upon ... the Creator ... [and] deny the atheistic and materialistic concept of communism." In signing the bill on June 14, 1954, Flag Day, Eisenhower delighted in the fact that from then on, "millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town ... the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty."

Answer 10

I don't know when it happened, but I a glad that it did and I hope it stays. This was a better place before people started kicking God out and putting the liberals in charge.