In God We Trust

The True Story Behind The Official Motto Of The United States

The phrase “In God we trust” has appeared on all American currency since 1957, but its controversial history goes back much further than that.

The phrase “In God we trust” is all but inescapable in the United States. It is pressed on coins, printed on dollar bills, and, in many states, present in every classroom. But for a country that purportedly separates church and state, why adopt a national motto that harkens back to Christianity?

Even more perplexing is that this motto, officially adopted in 1956, replaced a much more secular one, E Pluribus Unum, or “Out of many, one,” which had served as the de facto phrase prior to the change.

Like many things in America, the switch was the result of a complex set of historical circumstances dating back to the Civil War, with the added paranoia of the Cold War providing a new desire for Americans to separate themselves from the atheist, communist Soviets.

But that’s not all there is to this story. Discover the real history of America’s complicated relationship with the motto “In God we trust.”

When Was “In God We Trust” Added To Money?

The motto “In God we trust” was inspired by the fourth verse of America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The line reads: “Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, and this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’”

This dedication to the Almighty became highly influential for the proud patriots of early America. But according to the Pew Research Center, the first official use of “In God we trust” came 50 years later.

In 1861, a Christian minister named Reverend M. R. Watkinson of Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, penned a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase petitioning for “the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.” In part, Watkinson’s suggestion was intended to improve the morale of Union soldiers, assuming that if they had the blessing of God on their side, they would prevail in the war. What’s more, Union states wanted to display what they truly stood for to the outside world.

Chase found some sense in the reverend’s words, and he put out an order for the U.S. Mint to begin producing coins with a religious reference on them. Initially, the director of the Mint suggested the phrase “God, Our Trust.” Chase then changed it to “In God we trust,” and the motto began appearing on Union currency in 1864, beginning with a two-cent coin.

“In God we trust” was added to coins with room for the phrase one year later. Soon, however, paper money became increasingly popular — but it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that “In God we trust” was added to bills.

“In God We Trust” Becomes The Official Motto Of The United States

After the Civil War, the United States saw a rise in secularism. As a result, many Americans started to believe that using religious language in a governmental context was inconsistent with the values of the country.

By Austin Harvey | Edited By John Kuroski
Published January 20, 2024