In God We Trust—Still

Thomas Sanford / August 01, 2011

Fifty-five years ago this weekend, at the height of the Cold War, President Dwight Eisenhower designated “In God We Trust” as the national motto of the United States. Even before then, the motto had long been part of the American tradition.

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln placed it on the nation’s coins to help guide the country through that great scourge of war. This practice continues today, except the motto is now on all of the nation’s currency, not just the coins. In 1814, Francis Scott Key also employed the phrase in the last stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner”: “And this be our motto: In God is our Trust.” Even the Declaration of Independence appealed to “the Supreme Judge of the world.” (more…)