The motto was first placed on coins by the U.S. Treasury in 1864. The post-civil war religious fanaticism saw the ascendance of President Lincoln's hand picked appointee James Pollock who became Director of the US Mint. Pollock believed that the United States must become an official theocracy, and was crucial in the attempt to christianize American coins. In God We Trust was first used on the bronze two-cent piece which was issued from 1864 to 1873.In 1908, under Theodore Roosevelt, Congress passed a Bill which ensured that the motto In God We Trust was now present on all Gold and Silver coins.
In 1955, during the height of the McCarthy Era Congress passed a bill to have the motto placed on paper currency, and it first appeared on bills two years later. In 1956, Congress passed a resolution declaring "In God We Trust" the national motto.
In 1955, Congress passed a law requiring that "In God We Trust" appear on all U.S. coins and currency. The first paper currency with the motto appeared in 1957. This was right after the McCarthy era, during the early Cold War, when no congressperson would dare be seen voting against "God." "In God We Trust" did appear occasionally on a few coins, starting with a 2-cent piece in the 1860s, in an attempt (it is surmised) to put "God" on the side of the north during the Civil War. In 1956, an Act of Congress adopted "In God We Trust" as a national motto. The original motto, "E Pluribus Unum" ("out of many, [come] one,") celebrating plurality, still appears on the Presidential Seal and on some paper currency.
With Lyndon B. Johnson's 1955 Bill which became law without much discussion, the motto was used on paper currency as well. And in the midst of the McCarthy era in 1956, a law was passed by Congress which made In God We Trust the National Motto as well.
The Bill: P.L. 84-140, "In God We Trust" bill, by the 84th Congress in 1957.
"For well over a century after our founding, the nation's motto was 'E Pluribus Unum' -- One from many or One from Many Parts."
It wasn't until 1956, during the height of the cold war -- in the McCarthy era -- when public profession of religious belief was seen as a litmus test of the ideological war against 'godless' communism that the 'God' motto replaced 'E Pluribus Unum,' " Wait added. "In fact, it was during the same time frame that 'under God' was added to the secular Pledge of Allegiance and 'so help me God' was mandated to end all oaths for federal justices and judges.
Other facts of note:
- Our nation was founded as a secular government, based on the authority of "We, the People," not a god, king, or dictator.
- The U.S. Constitution does not contain a single reference to a "God".
- The First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting free exercise thereof..."
- U.S. treaty with Tripoli, signed by President Adams: "As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity [sic] of Musselmen . . . it is declared . . . that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
- The U.S. Constitution clearly states there shall be no religious test for public office. Article VI: " . . . but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
- Thomas Jefferson: "No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship." (Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom)
- The original Pledge of Allegiance, which was crafted by a Baptist minister, was completely secular and contained no reference to a “God.”
References:
1 Answers to "What Do You Know About The Separation of State and Church?" Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc., http://www.ffrf.org/sanswers.html
2 "Debate Rages Over "In God We Trust", Associated Press, February 27, 2002, ACLU archives, http://archive.aclu.org/news/2002/w022702c.html
3 "Giving God Currency: The American Story", International Humanist and Ethical Union, http://www.iheu.org/IHN/current/Giving.html
4 "Pledge of Allegiance", Humanist Society of Gainesville, http://www.lipsio.com/gainesvillehumanists/pledge.htm
- Ethical Atheist
[Created: 01/15/2003]
[Last Update: 1/10/2004]