In God We Trust

1337 Words6 Pages
In God We Trust “In God We Trust”, the phrase originated in the fourth stanza of the “Star Spangled Banner” (written during the war of 1812). The song says and I accurately quote “And this be our motto: 'In God is our Trust. “IN GOD WE TRUST” first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin. It was also placed on the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter-dollar coin, and on the nickel three-cent coin beginning in 1866. According of to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, the motto or phrase “In God We Trust” was placed on United States money mainly because of the increased religious passion that existed during the Civil War. In 1883 for the first time in history the phrase “In God We Trust” disappeared from the nickel and wasn’t restored until 1938. The phrase was found missing from the new design of the double-eagle gold coin in 1907. In response to a demand from the people, Congress ordered it restored. The Act of May 18, 1908, made it mandatory on all coins except on the one cent coin and five cent coin. In 1955, Congress ordered the motto “In God We Trust”, which had appeared on U.S. coins, to be added to all of the paper currency designs as well. The new motto was first used on paper money in 1957 .Even with all the new laws about placing in god we trust on u.s currency “E Pluribus Unum” remained the U.S. motto. “E Pluribus Unum” was a secular phrase meaning “One from many” or “One from many parts.” In 1956, the nation was suffering through the cold war. In reaction to this factor, the 84th Congress passed a resolution to replace the existing motto with "In God we Trust."President Dwight David Eisenhower signed the resolution into law on 1956-JUL-30. In addition the phrase "under God" was added to the secular Pledge of Allegiance. "So help me God" was added to the oaths of office for federal justices and judges. Every president since George
Open Document