Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance is a formally recited patriotic expression in the United States, declaring loyalty to the national flag and to the political ideals of the republic. Originating in the late nineteenth century, the pledge has evolved through various versions, shaped by social change, educational reform, and national identity debates. Its history reflects broader themes in American civic culture, including immigration, wartime patriotism, religious influence, and constitutional rights.

Historical Background and Early Development

The origins of the pledge lie in a period marked by post–Civil War tensions and rising immigration. After the American Civil War, concerns about political loyalty and national unity encouraged the creation of new patriotic rituals. The 1880s and 1890s in particular saw renewed interest in public demonstrations of civic commitment, especially among schoolchildren. This environment fostered the emergence of early pledges to the American flag, designed to inculcate shared national values among a rapidly diversifying population.
Captain George Thatcher Balch, a Civil War veteran and later auditor for the New York Board of Education, created one of the earliest known pledges in 1885. His version emphasised unity through language and national belonging, and was widely adopted in schools affiliated with patriotic groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Grand Army of the Republic. Balch’s work extended beyond the pledge itself; he authored a book promoting systematic instruction in patriotism, particularly among immigrant children, and collaborated with public institutions to supply flags to classrooms across the country.
Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, Christian socialist, and writer for the children’s magazine The Youths Companion, produced a revised version of the pledge in 1892. His work was closely tied to national celebrations planned for the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. Bellamy and James B. Upham, a marketing figure for the magazine, organised a major campaign to promote patriotism in schools through flag ceremonies and national observances. To support these events, The Youths Companion distributed leaflets containing Bellamy’s pledge and encouraged large-scale participation. On 21 October 1892, more than ten thousand schoolchildren recited the pledge simultaneously as part of Columbus Day celebrations endorsed by President Benjamin Harrison.

The Bellamy Pledge and Its Adoption

Bellamy’s pledge was introduced to the public in the 8 September 1892 issue of The Youths Companion. Intended to be brief and dignified, it was designed to be recited in approximately fifteen seconds. His initial wording used the phrase “my Flag”, later amended in October 1892 with the insertion of the word “to” before “the Republic”. Bellamy considered a range of possible terms, including “country” and “nation”, but selected “Republic” to emphasise the form of government established after the American Revolution. Although he had contemplated the inclusion of the words “equality” and “fraternity”, these were ultimately omitted due to their perceived political implications.
Bellamy’s account of the pledge’s creation emphasised the need for a clear articulation of civic loyalty. He found Balch’s earlier version overly juvenile and lacking the formal dignity needed for a national ritual. The 1892 Columbus Day ceremony at which the pledge was first widely used was meticulously planned, featuring an ode by Edna Dean Proctor, an oration for students, and the dramatic raising of the flag accompanied by a unison recitation of the new pledge.
By the early twentieth century, Bellamy’s pledge had come to overshadow Balch’s version. The National Flag Conference of 1923 formally ended the use of Balch’s pledge, standardising Bellamy’s as the preferred national form. In 1942, fifty years after its publication, the United States Congress formally adopted Bellamy’s text as the official Pledge of Allegiance. Three years later, in 1945, it was officially designated by its current name.

Later Amendments and the Addition of “Under God”

The most significant alteration to the pledge occurred on 14 June 1954—Flag Day—when Congress approved the insertion of the words “under God”. This change was influenced by Cold War rhetoric, which aimed to contrast American civic ideals with the officially atheistic ideology of the Soviet Union. The amended version strengthened the religious dimension of the pledge, sparking ongoing debate about the relationship between national identity and religious expression.
Although Bellamy had long been credited as the pledge’s author, later research cast doubt on aspects of his account. Some historical evidence has contradicted his authorship claims, prompting renewed examination of Upham’s possible role. In 1957, Congressman Kenneth Keating commissioned a report by the Library of Congress Legislative Research Service reaffirming Bellamy’s authorship, though scholarly debate has continued.

Recitation in Government, Schools, and Public Life

The Pledge of Allegiance is recited widely across the United States. Sessions of Congress typically open with its recital, as do numerous state and local government meetings. Many private organisations also incorporate the pledge into their proceedings, particularly those with patriotic or civic missions.
Public schools in most states include the pledge in regular daily activities, although Nebraska, Hawaii, Vermont, and Wyoming do not mandate recitation. Some states require additional pledges, such as those dedicated to state flags, to be recited immediately after the national pledge. Variations in state legislation allow for differing levels of enforcement. In states like California, a patriotic exercise is required each day, but no strict enforcement mechanism mandates that the pledge be used.
Constitutional considerations have played a critical role in shaping the pledge’s place in American education. In the landmark 1943 case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that students cannot be compelled to recite the pledge or punished for refusing to do so. This decision underscored the principle that patriotic expression must remain voluntary to align with constitutional protections of freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.
The United States Flag Code provides guidelines on the appropriate conduct during the pledge. Members of the Armed Forces in uniform render the military salute, while veterans and members of the Armed Forces not in uniform may also use the military salute as authorised by later amendments to the code.

Significance, Interpretation, and Debate

The pledge has long been viewed as a symbolic affirmation of American values, encapsulating ideals of unity, liberty, and civic responsibility. It has been particularly influential in schools, where it has served as a tool for social cohesion and civic education across generations.
Nonetheless, the pledge remains a subject of debate. Discussions often centre on constitutional rights, the place of religion in public life, and the balance between national unity and individual liberties. The inclusion of “under God” continues to prompt legal and philosophical scrutiny, with arguments ranging from its role as a historical expression of national heritage to concerns about its compatibility with secular governance.
Historical disputes over authorship and interpretation reflect the pledge’s wider cultural importance. Its evolution from multiple nineteenth-century versions to the modern form illustrates the dynamic relationship between national identity and public ritual in the United States.
The development of the Pledge of Allegiance, from Balch’s early version to Bellamy’s widely adopted text and its subsequent amendment, demonstrates the enduring effort to define and reinforce American civic values. Its continued use in government, education, and public events underlines its significance as a national symbol shaped by history, tradition, and ongoing public discourse.