Omar Bennett
The Pledge of Allegiance has been revised several times since its inception in 1892 by Francis Bellamy. The most recent alteration occurred on Flag Day (June 14) in 1954, when President Eisenhower, responding to citizen petitions, encouraged Congress to add the words under God to the pledge, creating the 31-word version we know today. This addition has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with critics arguing that it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which protects against the establishment of religion. The inclusion of under God in the Pledge of Allegiance and its constitutionality continue to be a subject of debate in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 14, 1954 |
| Occasion | Flag Day |
| Who Urged Congress | President Dwight Eisenhower |
| Reason | Responding to citizen petitions and the Communist threat of the times |
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What You'll Learn
The Pledge of Allegiance
The most recent alteration to the pledge occurred on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, when Congress added the words "under God" in response to the Communist threat of the times. This change was encouraged by President Dwight Eisenhower, who was responding to citizen petitions. The addition of "under God" created the 31-word pledge that is recited today.
The inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been the subject of legal challenges and controversies. Some argue that requiring citizens to pledge allegiance to a nation "under God" violates the protections against the establishment of religion guaranteed in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. There have been several lawsuits filed by parents, teachers, and organizations such as the American Humanist Association, seeking to eliminate the use of the words "under God" in the Pledge or to make participation in the Pledge voluntary. These challenges have resulted in mixed rulings, with some courts upholding the constitutionality of the phrase and others recognizing the right of individuals to refrain from participating in the Pledge.
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The First Amendment
The Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, underwent its most recent alteration on Flag Day (June 14) in 1954, when Congress added the words "under God." This change was made in response to the Communist threat of the times, and President Eisenhower encouraged it, responding to citizen petitions. The Pledge of Allegiance is a ritual in which students pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. The pledge has been a subject of controversy, with some objecting to the requirement for citizens to pledge allegiance to a constitutional republic built on freedom of dissent.
The addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance has been legally challenged multiple times. In 2004, the Supreme Court heard Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, an appeal regarding the constitutionality of the phrase in a school-sponsored recitation. The court rejected the claim on the grounds that the parent who brought the case was not the custodial parent and thus lacked standing. In 2005, a new suit was filed in California on behalf of three unnamed families, and District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled in their favor, citing the precedent of a previous ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Establishment Clause, approved by the First Congress of the United States on July 21, 1789, concerns religion and states that "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." The inclusion of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been defended by some as constitutional, citing the Establishment Clause and the importance of inspiring patriotism. However, others have argued that the phrase violates the protections against the establishment of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment.
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Separation of church and state
The concept of "separation of church and state" is derived from the phrase ""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 was not new, as Roger Williams, a Baptist minister and founder of Rhode Island, had first called for a "wall or hedge of separation" between "the wilderness of the world" and "the garden of the church" in 1644. The Enlightenment philosophers, such as John Locke, promoted this concept.
The separation of church and state is a principle that protects everyone's right to live and believe as they choose without harming others. It is a pillar of democracy, ensuring freedom and equality for all. In the United States, the First Amendment's religious establishment clause, known as the "separation of church and state," has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to define the relationship between religion and the state. This interpretation has evolved over time as the country's citizenry has become more diverse.
The inclusion of the phrase "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been a subject of controversy. The Pledge of Allegiance was revised by Francis Bellamy in 1892, and this version was formally adopted by Congress in 1942. However, it was not until 1954 that the words "under God" were added. This addition was made by an act of Congress at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was responding to citizen petitions.
The addition of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been challenged in courts, with some arguing that it violates the protections against the establishment of religion guaranteed in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Despite these objections, the phrase remains a part of the pledge, and efforts to remove it have been unsuccessful.
The degree of separation between church and state varies across different countries. While some nations, like India and Singapore, mandate total separation in their political constitutions, others, like the Maldives, have a state religion. In France, the strict application of the secular principle of laïcité is practised, while countries like Denmark and England constitutionally recognize an official state church.
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The Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims were a group of immigrants whose core members were Separatists, a Puritan sect that had split from the Church of England. The Pilgrims also included some members who had remained part of the Church of England, so not all of them shared the same religion. The Pilgrims obtained permission from the King of England to settle near the mouth of the Hudson River (in present-day New York).
The Pilgrims set sail from England in July 1620 on a ship called the Mayflower, accompanied by another ship called Speedwell. However, Speedwell leaked, and the Mayflower had to turn back twice before deciding to continue the journey alone, finally departing on September 6, 1620. After a challenging journey that included a severe storm, the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod (now Provincetown Harbor) on November 11, 1620.
The Pilgrims had intended to settle near the Hudson River, but due to contrary winds and dangerous shoals, they were forced to anchor at Cape Cod. As they required a new patent (permission) to settle there, the adult male passengers of the Mayflower drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620. The Mayflower Compact was a legal agreement that established a civil body politic, binding the Pilgrims together as they prepared to establish a new government and society in their chosen settlement.
The original Mayflower Compact has been lost, possibly due to looting during the Revolutionary War. However, its text was first published in London in 1622 in a pamphlet called "A Relation or Journal of the Beginning and Proceeding of the English Plantation Settled at Plymouth in New England," also known as Mourt's Relation. The Mayflower Compact was also reprinted by Plymouth's town historian, Nathaniel Morton, in his 1669 book, "New England's Memorial," which included a possible list of the signatories.
The Mayflower Compact holds symbolic importance as it was considered significant enough to be read at government meetings in the Plimoth Colony for many years, even after being legally superseded by a new patent obtained by the Pilgrims in 1621. The Compact reflects the unique circumstances of the Pilgrims, who, due to their distance from the centralized English government, found themselves in leadership positions that would have otherwise been unlikely.
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The Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence
The phrase "one nation under God" is not part of the US Constitution. The phrase was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by an act of Congress, at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in response to the Communist threat of the times.
The Founding Fathers of the United States were the group of statesmen who signed the Declaration of Independence and helped draft and ratify the United States Constitution. The Founding Fathers believed in the importance of religion and morality in governance, as evidenced by their inclusion of references to God in key documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Mayflower Compact.
On July 4, 1776, the Founding Fathers, after appealing to the "Laws of Nature, and of Nature's God," declared their independence from Great Britain. They stated their belief in certain unalienable rights endowed by their Creator, including "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." This appeal to a higher power helped justify their separation from Britain and establish a new nation based on these principles.
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the nation's third President, emphasized the role of God in granting liberty in his work, "Notes on the State of Virginia." He wrote, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?"
The Founding Fathers also recognized the importance of religion in education and governance. On July 21, 1789, the First Congress of the United States passed the Northwest Ordinance, which declared: "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, on September 25, 1789, the First Congress unanimously approved a resolution calling on President George Washington to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving. This day was meant to be observed with "public thanksgiving and prayer, to be acknowledged with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a constitution of government for their safety and happiness."
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.
The addition was made by an act of Congress, at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in response to the Communist threat of the times.
The phrase was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in response to citizen petitions.
Yes, there have been several legal challenges to the inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Some people argue that it violates the protections against the establishment of religion guaranteed in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
One example is the 2004 case Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, where the Supreme Court rejected Newdow's claim on the grounds that he was not the custodial parent and thus lacked standing. Another case is Frazier v. Elk Grove Unified School District from 2006, where the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance does not violate the Establishment Clause and that both the choice to recite or not recite the Pledge are voluntary.
