On This Day in History: "In God We Trust" Declared National Motto

On July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress officially declared "In God We Trust" as the national motto of the United States. This significant resolution followed President Dwight Eisenhower's earlier decision to incorporate the phrase "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance on June 14, 1954. The motto has deep historical roots, tracing back to the 1814 poem "Defence of Fort McHenry" by Francis Scott Key, which was inspired by the British invasion during the War of 1812 and later became the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The phrase "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. currency in 1864, when it was inscribed on a two-cent coin. The original proposal by the director of the U.S. Mint was "God, Our Trust," but it was modified to the now-familiar phrase. Congress subsequently authorized the motto's inclusion on all silver and gold coins that had sufficient space. The motto made its way onto paper currency on October 1, 1957, when it was featured on the $1 silver certificate. In a reaffirmation of its significance, the House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution on November 2, 2001, reiterating "In God We Trust" as the national motto. Today, the phrase remains prominently displayed on all U.S. currency and government buildings, symbolizing a longstanding tradition in American history.