Little Known Facts in the Pledge of Allegiance / "Under God" Debate
The US Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Socialist and a Baptist minister. It read: "I Pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and Justice for all."
The Pledge was officially endorsed by the US government in 1942.
The words "under God" were added to the Pledge on June 14, 1954.
Before December 1942 reciters saluted the flag in a straight arm salute. This arm motion was eliminated by Congress in its revised Flag Code during WWII because of the similarity to the Nazi salute.
Seven of seven national polls from 2002 to 2005 have shown over 65% support for keeping "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.
From 2001 to 2006 zero US senators publicly supported changing the Pledge of Allegiance.
"In God We Trust" became the official national motto on July 30, 1956 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed Joint Resolution P.L. 84-140 which had been passed without a recorded vote by the House and Senate Judiciary committees. The phrase "In God We Trust" had previously appeared on United States coins starting in 1864, and it was added to paper currency on Oct. 1, 1957.
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