History
History of The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty, was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. In it, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration came from the ideas expressed by John Locke and other Continental philosophers during the Enlightenment period. Jefferson summarized this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and created a list of grievances against the King of England in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and England.
The Declaration of Independence is made up of five distinct parts: the introduction; the preamble; the body, which can be divided into two sections; and a conclusion. The introduction states that this document will "declare" the "causes" that made it necessary for the American colonies to leave the British Empire. The preamble set out principles that were already recognized to be "self-evident" by most 18th century Englishmen. The first section of the body gives evidence of the "long train of abuses and usurpations" amassed upon the colonists by King George III. The second section of the body states that the colonists had appealed to their "British brethren" to stop these abuses, but to no avail, making independence necessary. The Declaration concludes that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."
History of Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights
During the debates on the ratification of the Constitution, both Federalists and Anti-Federalists had concerns. Anti-Federalists repeatedly charged that a strong central government would not preserve the essential rights of citizens, and that included in the Constitution should be a basic bill of rights. Federalists, on the other hand, including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin argued that a bill of rights was not necessary because all basic rights were protected by the Federal Constitution or the state constitutions.
Several states, in their formal ratification of the Constitution, asked for a bill of rights, and others approved the Constitution with the understanding that a bill of rights would be added. Therefore, on September 25, 1789 the First Congress of the United States designed 12 amendments to the Constitution and presented it to the state legislatures. These amendments met arguments that were most frequently put forth. The first two amendments concerned the number of constituents for each Representative and the compensation of Congressmen. Neither amendment was ratified. Amendments 3-12 were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, and make up the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, know as the Bill of Rights.
History of United States Motto
"E Pluribus Unum," a Latin phrase meaning "One from many," was the motto proposed on July 4, 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin for the first Great Seal of the United States. It refers to the assembling of a single federal state from a group of individual political units.
During the War of 1812, the motto was changed after the Battle of Fort McHenry. The defense of the fort inspired the American lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would eventually contribute to the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner," America's national anthem. The final stanza reads:
"And this be our motto: in God is our trust."
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home o the brave."
In 1864 the words were shortened to "In God We Trust" and added to a newly created two-cent coin. Since that time, there has been legislation passed in Congress to allow for the placing of the motto on U.S. coins and currency.
Finally, on July 30, 1956 a law was passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84 - 140) and approved by the President. "--he President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States."
History of In God We Trust
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST may have its origin in the final stanza of The Star Spangled Banner. At the Battle of Fort McHenry, during the War of 1812, the defense of the fort inspired the American lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would eventually contribute to the lyrics for America's national anthem. The final stanza read:
"And this be our motto: in God is our trust."
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home o the brave."
When used on United States coins and currency, IN GOD WE TRUST appears to be inspired by the religious fervor that was generated in the United States during the Civil War. At this time Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, received many requests from people throughout the country beseeching the United States' government to recognize the Deity on its coins. Because of these requests Chase instructed the Director of the Mint in Philadelphia, James Pollock, to prepare a motto. In the letter to Pollock, Chase stated,
"No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins." (November 20, 1861)
In December, 1863, the Director of the Mint submitted designs for new one-cent, two-cent, and three-cent coins to Secretary Chase for approval. He suggested that one of the following be placed on the coins: OUR GOD; OUR COUNTRY; or GOD, OUR TRUST. In a letter to the Mint Director, Secretary Chase replied,
"I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. And on that with the shield. it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST."
In 1864 "In God We Trust" was added to newly created two-cent coins. Since that time, there has been legislation passed in Congress to allow for the placing of the motto on all U.S. coins.
Finally, on July 30, 1956 a law was passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84 - 140) and approved by the President. "--the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States." IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper currency and one-dollar silver certificates in 1957.