United States national motto
Encyclopedia
The modern motto of the United States of America, as established in a 1956 law signed by President
Dwight D Eisenhower, is In God We Trust
. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST as a motto for currency (but not as a National motto) first appeared on United States coins in 1864.
The 1956 law was the first establishment of an official motto for the country, although E Pluribus Unum
("from many, one") had been adopted by Act of Congress
in 1782 and had been used on coins and paper money since 1795. Due to these acts and uses, it had thus been unofficially considered to be the country's motto. The change from "E Pluribus Unum" to "In God We Trust" was generally considered uncontroversial at the time, given the pressures of the Cold War
era.
The constitutionality of the modern national motto has been questioned with relationship to the separation of church and state
outlined in the First Amendment
. In 1970, in Aronow v. United States
, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
ruled that the motto does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. The United States Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue.
A similar phrase appears in the final stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner
. Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key
(and later adopted as the U.S. national anthem), the song contains an early reference to a variation of the phrase: "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'"
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D Eisenhower, is In God We Trust
In God We Trust
"In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956. It is also the motto of the U.S. state of Florida. The Legality of this motto has been questioned because of the United States Constitution forbidding the government to make any law respecting the establishment of a...
. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST as a motto for currency (but not as a National motto) first appeared on United States coins in 1864.
The 1956 law was the first establishment of an official motto for the country, although E Pluribus Unum
E pluribus unum
E pluribus unum , Latin for "Out of many, one", is a phrase on the Seal of the United States, along with Annuit cœptis and Novus ordo seclorum, and adopted by an Act of Congress in 1782...
("from many, one") had been adopted by Act of Congress
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
in 1782 and had been used on coins and paper money since 1795. Due to these acts and uses, it had thus been unofficially considered to be the country's motto. The change from "E Pluribus Unum" to "In God We Trust" was generally considered uncontroversial at the time, given the pressures of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era.
The constitutionality of the modern national motto has been questioned with relationship to the separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
outlined in the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
. In 1970, in Aronow v. United States
Aronow v. United States
Aronow v. United States was the first case to challenge the inclusion of "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency.In that case, Stefan Ray Aronow challenged the constitutionality of the motto and its placement on U.S. currency and coinage...
, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
ruled that the motto does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. The United States Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue.
A similar phrase appears in the final stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
. Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
(and later adopted as the U.S. national anthem), the song contains an early reference to a variation of the phrase: "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'"