“I pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.”
These words are most likely familiar to you—so familiar, in fact, that they’re practically seared into your memory. But, for something so well-known, do people actually understand what it means? Or has its frequent repetition reduced it to mere white noise? Perhaps we should take the time to fully explore the pledge in both its original meaning and implications in modern day.
Context of the Pledge
In August of 1892, a Baptist minister by the name of Francis Bellamy wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance for a public school Columbus Day celebration. During that time period, millions of European immigrants arrived in the U.S.—and naturally, the Pledge reflected the underlying desire of introducing new citizens to patriotic sentiments.
The Pledge did not remain the product of a one-off celebration, however. In 1898, during the lead-up to the Spanish-American War, rise in nationalism led states and school districts often required students to salute the American flag and recite the Pledge. This pattern of citizens finding solace in the Pledge repeated multiple times throughout history.
In fact, during the post-WWII Second Red Scare, Congress inserted the phrase “under God” into the Pledge. These two words empowered the anti-communist (and in turn, anti-atheist) frenzy gripping the nation in the 1940s and 1950s. Similarly, around the same time Congress proclaimed “In God We Trust” as the national motto of the United States.
Modern Relevance
Challenges to the Pledge existed as early as 1918. The legal precedent that students cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge was not established by the Supreme Court until 1943; however, it was not unheard of for American citizens to sue local governments for violating their First Amendment rights.
Not unlike protests against racism in the form of abstaining from the national anthem, the history of the Pledge is further evidence of citizens deliberately challenging national symbols to promote change. Furthermore, debate continues on whether reciting the Pledge is beneficial for the nation’s students. And while it is by federal law illegal to compel students into reciting the Pledge, students—such as India Landry of Texas—still face disciplinary action for remaining quiet or sitting. The history Pledge can therefore be interpreted as a balance between patriotism and activism, or in other words, pride for our country and confidence in challenging societal norms.
So, what’s the point? The Pledge of Allegiance holds a rich history that is frequently overlooked (and I just scratched the surface—if this brief history intrigues you, I encourage you to check out the links down below). Moreover, students across the nation, the very ones reciting this pledge, are often never taught in-depth the context behind its development. They especially should pay careful attention to the history behind the pledge, as it builds awareness of what our country is built upon.
Words also hold incredible power, but mindless repetition without conscious thought greatly devalues such power. Perhaps we should regularly practice stopping to pause, think, and research the things we normally gloss over—who knows what you might find!
Sources
- https://www.sos.wa.gov/pledge-allegiance
- https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title4-section4&num=0&edition=prelim
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/pledge-of-allegiance-america-history
- https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/jack-david-eller-pledge-allegiance/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/09/04/5-facts-about-the-pledge-of-allegiance/
- https://www.britannica.com/procon/national-anthem-protest-debate
- https://thehill.com/opinion/education/431719-can-schools-require-students-to-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance/
Thank you to Ruoxi L for editing this article!