Eleanor Finch
The phrase one nation under God is not in the US Constitution. The US Motto, In God We Trust, was ascribed into law in the 1950s and was not part of the US Constitution. The USA was deliberately not established as a Christian nation. However, the US Constitution does mention God in phrases such as in the year of our Lord. The Pledge of Allegiance, on the other hand, does include the phrase one nation under God. In 1954, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words under God, creating the 31-word pledge we say today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Pledge of Allegiance | "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." |
| The National Motto | "In God We Trust" |
| The Court's Opening Supplication | "God save the United States and this Honorable Court." |
| The National Day of Thanksgiving | A day of "public thanksgiving and prayer" to Almighty God |
| The National Anthem | "The Star-Spangled Banner", which includes the line "Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'" |
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What You'll Learn
The Pledge of Allegiance
> "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The Pledge is typically delivered while standing at attention and facing the US flag, with the right hand placed over the heart. When not in uniform, men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, while still keeping their hand over their heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the same manner as those in uniform.
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The National Motto
The United States' national motto is "In God We Trust". On July 20, 1956, Congress affirmed this, and the motto is inscribed above the main door of the Senate, behind the Chair of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and on US currency. The motto is a reference to the country's religious heritage and is considered consistent with the text and intent of the US Constitution.
The phrase "One Nation Under God" is also a part of American civil religion and is included in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge was amended in 1954 when Congress passed a statute, signed into law by President Eisenhower, to include the words "under God". The full pledge now reads: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".
The inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been challenged in court several times, with some arguing that it violates the equal protection clause of certain state constitutions. However, federal appeals courts have upheld the phrase's constitutionality, stating that the Pledge is voluntary and that Congress' intention was to inspire patriotism.
The Founding Fathers of the United States viewed the country as "a nation under God", and religion has historically played a significant role in American life. Government buildings were lent for religious services during the construction of Washington, DC, and many legal, political, and personal values are derived from religious teachings.
While the US Constitution does not include the phrase "One Nation Under God", it does mention God in phrases such as "in the year of our Lord". The Establishment Clause concerning religion was approved by the First Congress of the United States on July 21, 1789, the same day they passed the Northwest Ordinance, which stated: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged".
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The role of religion in the US
The United States was deliberately not established as a Christian nation, and the US Constitution does not include the phrase "one nation under God". However, the US Motto, "In God We Trust", is inscribed above the main door of the Senate, behind the Chair of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and on US currency. The phrase "one nation under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by President Eisenhower, who encouraged Congress to add the words "under God" in response to the Communist threat of the times. The full pledge is as follows:
> "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been the subject of legal challenges, with some arguing that it violates the equal protection clause of the state's constitution. However, federal appeals courts have ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance does not violate the Establishment Clause because its purpose is to inspire patriotism, and the choice to recite the Pledge is entirely voluntary.
> "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
Additionally, the Founding Fathers viewed the US as "a nation under God", and government buildings were lent for religious services during the construction of Washington, DC. While the US Constitution does not include specific references to God, it does mention "in the year of our Lord".
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The US Founding Fathers' beliefs
The concept of "one nation under God" has been a part of the American political and cultural landscape since its founding. While the phrase "one nation under God" is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, the beliefs and values of the Founding Fathers, who were deeply influenced by religious and philosophical ideals, shaped the foundation of the nation.
Many of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, were Deists. Deism is a religious stance that believes in the existence of a God based on reason and observation of the natural world, rather than traditional religious doctrine or revelation. Deists hold that God created the universe but then stepped back, allowing it to operate according to its own natural laws.
The Founding Fathers' beliefs were also heavily influenced by Enlightenment philosophy, which emphasized reason, individual rights, and a rejection of religious authority. They saw religion as a moral foundation for society, but they were cautious about the potential for religious institutions to abuse power. This influenced their decision to establish a secular government, ensuring that no single religious group would have control over the state.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or preventing the free exercise of religion, reflects the Founding Fathers' desire to protect religious liberty. They wanted to ensure that citizens had the freedom to practice their faith without interference from the state, and vice versa.
While the Founding Fathers may not have intended for the US to be a "Christian nation" in the sense of having an official state-sanctioned religion, they did recognize the importance of religion in society. They believed that religious values could help promote morality, virtue, and good governance. For example, Washington once said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."
In conclusion, while the phrase "one nation under God" may not be in the Constitution, the beliefs of the Founding Fathers, influenced by Deism and Enlightenment philosophy, shaped a nation that valued religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Their vision was for a country where religion could flourish without state interference, and where citizens could freely practice their faith while also being governed by secular laws.
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The separation of church and state
The concept of the "separation of church and state" is derived from the term "'wall of separation between Church & State," coined by Thomas Jefferson in an 1802 letter to members of the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. This idea built upon the work of Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Roger Williams, a Baptist minister and founder of Rhode Island, who first called for a "wall or hedge of separation" between the "wilderness of the world" and the "garden of the church" in 1644.
Historically, the issue of the separation of church and state centred on monarchs who ruled in the secular sphere but encroached on the Church's domain, leading to power struggles. The Investiture Controversy, resolved by the Concordat of Worms in 1122, addressed this contradiction by guaranteeing the election of ecclesiastics by cathedral or abbey canons. During the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms further advanced the modern concept of separation.
In the United States, the Supreme Court has affirmed that government acknowledgment of the nation's religious heritage is consistent with the Establishment Clause. However, the Establishment Clause also protects against the government imposing a specific religion on its citizens. This was demonstrated in Abington School District v. Schempp, where the Supreme Court banned bible reading and the recitation of The Lord's Prayer in public schools, ensuring that citizens were not compelled to support a religion they did not follow.
While the exact phrase "one nation under God" is not in the US Constitution, it was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 and became the national motto in 1956. The inclusion of this phrase reflects the religious heritage of the United States and the significance of religion in American life, with many legal, political, and personal values deriving from religious teachings.
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Frequently asked questions
No, "one nation under God" is not in the US Constitution. The phrase was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by President Eisenhower.
President Eisenhower added the phrase to the Pledge of Allegiance in response to the Communist threat of the times.
The addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance has been controversial. There have been several legal challenges, with some arguing that it violates the equal protection clause. However, federal appeals courts have upheld the phrase as constitutional, ruling that the Pledge is voluntary and intended to inspire patriotism.
The US government has historically acknowledged the significance of religion in American life and the country's religious heritage. The national motto, "In God We Trust", reflects this. However, the US was deliberately not established as a Christian nation, and the First Amendment ensures that citizens cannot be forced to confess a particular religious belief.
