According to History.com, on this day in history, July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution declaring “IN GOD WE TRUST” to be the national motto of the United States of America.
The resolution was passed unanimously and without debate by both houses of Congress, the source said, replacing the previously existing “E pluribus unum” as the de facto official motto.
Just two years earlier, on June 14, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill inserting the phrase “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance, according to History.com.
On this day in history, July 29, 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married in a lavish ceremony.
Prior to this legislation, the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, originally written in 1892, contained no reference to religion.
According to the National Museum of American History, the phrase “In God We Trust” appears in the 1814 poem “The Defense of Fort McHenry” by Francis Scott Key.
In 1865, Congress authorized the Mint to print the motto “In God We Trust” on all silver and gold coins that had space for the phrase. (iStock)
According to the source, the poem was written as a response to the British invasion of 1812.
In the poem’s final stanza, Key wrote, “And this is our motto — ‘In God We Trust.'”
On this day in history, September 14, 1984, the American “flag” was still there after the attack on Fort McHenry.
According to the National Museum of American History, the poem served as the basis for the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The phrase is woven into other aspects of American history as well.
According to a Pew Research Center report, the official use of “In God We Trust” dates back to the Civil War.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) signed a bill inserting the phrase “Under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. Two years later, on July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution declaring “In God We Trust” the national motto of the United States. (Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
According to the same source, in 1861, the Reverend M.R. Watkinson, a Christian minister from Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, wrote a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase requesting that “the name of Almighty God be in some form engraved on the coins of our nation.”
Secretary Chase agreed and instructed the Mint Director to prepare the motto for use on the coins.
According to the Pew Research Center, the phrase “In God We Trust” first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864.
According to the Pew Research Center, the director suggested the phrase “In God We Trust,” but Chase changed it to “In God We Trust,” which first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864.
On this day in history, March 23, 1775, patriot Patrick Henry demanded, “Liberty or Death!”
According to the same source, the following year Congress authorized the Mint to place the motto on all silver and gold coins that had space to do so.
For more lifestyle stories, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
According to Politico, the first bill to feature the slogan was released on October 1, 1957, on a silver dollar bill.
“In God We Trust” appears on every bill in the United States, here on the back of the $100 bill. (Fox News Digital)
“Gradually, a new indigo printing process was perfected and the motto began to appear on all banknotes.
On November 2, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a nonbinding resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the state motto.
“The original idea to add the motto to paper money came from Treasury Secretary George Humphrey during the Eisenhower administration,” the same source said.
On November 2, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a nonbinding resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the state motto.
Click here to sign up for our lifestyle newsletter
According to PBS, the bill was approved with 396 votes in favor and nine against, with two abstentions.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), the source said.
Click here to get the FOX News app
The phrase “In God We Trust” continues to appear today on every U.S. currency and on government buildings across the country.
“The term is no longer religious, but rather a historical artifact, a public recognition of the role of religion in national life, and an expression of patriotism,” said the Center for Free Speech at Middle Tennessee State University.
