U.S. Pledge of Allegiance Phrase, “Under God”

The addition of “under God” to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance has an interesting history:

The original Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, an ordained Baptist minister and Christian socialist. It read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands—one Nation indivisible—with liberty and justice for all.” Bellamy created it as part of a marketing campaign for the Columbian Exposition, celebrating Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.

During the Cold War, the U.S. faced the threat of communism, particularly from the Soviet Union. Many conservatives considered communism “godless” and wanted to assert the moral superiority of U.S. capitalism. In response, President Dwight Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add “under God” to the pledge in 1954.

 Court cases about whether students should recite the pledge had already reached the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1940s, before “under God” was added.The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s organization, played a role in advocating for this change nationally.

So, the phrase “under God” was introduced during a time of ideological tension and reflects the historical context of the Cold War era.