This Day in History - May 18, 1908 - Congress mandates use of "In God We Trust"

DesertRat

In a move that seemingly flew in the face of America's founding belief in the separation of church and state, Congress passed legislation on this day in 1908 that made the maxim "In God We Trust" an obligatory element of certain coins. The motto dates back to the early 1860s, when the Civil War stirred religious feelings throughout the nation. America's heightened piety manifested itself in many places, including the treasury department, which received countless letters requesting that the nation's coins pay some form of tribute to God. Concerned citizens and religious leaders found a fast friend in Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, who readily agreed that the "trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins." James Pollock, director of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, was charged with devising a suitable motto. After some key revisions from Chase, Pollock decided upon the now-familiar "In God We Trust."

Cladiator

On May 18th 1910, Earth passed through the tail of Halley's comet.

Baley

What if it was someday proven that there was no God or Gods in the religious sense?

Wouldn't our coins look pretty foolish for Trusting in Him?

topstuf

Baley, our NEW coins look foolish enough already.

PerryHall

Here we go again.

dunerlaw

May 18th 1980.
Mt St Helens blew up.

InYHWHWeTrust

<< <i>... seemingly ..." >>



Don

... edited to give proper quote punctutation (ellipses) ...

frankieboywonder

<< <i>The motto dates back to the early 1860s, when the Civil War stirred religious feelings throughout the nation. America's heightened piety manifested itself in many places, including the treasury department, which received countless letters requesting that the nation's coins pay some form of tribute to God >>



The U.S was a much more religious country at that time and the politicians had much more backbone then they have these days. The populace requested this tribute to God and the government made it so.

Separation of church and state, yes indeed. But, tradition and common sense also count for much, including right here in America. Thus, the motto which has been around on U.S. coins (most coins) for more than a century and a quarter, should be left alone because it means so much to so many in this country (excluding the atheists of course).

xphobe

On May 18, 1896, the Supreme Court ruled separate-but-equal facilities constitutional on intrastate railroads. For fifty years, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision upheld the principle of racial segregation.

I guess our government occasionally screws up and passes bad laws...

Conder101

<< <i>The U.S was a much more religious country at that time and the politicians had much more backbone then they have these days. The populace requested this tribute to God and the government made it so. >>


The populace? Try a single individual whose business was religion got his request into the hands of a couple of high ranking officials who were also strongly religious. That was enough to get the ball rolling and since this is a country in which a majority of the population do identify themselves with the Christian faith, it does not improve your popularity with the voters to be seen as possibly anti-god.

So once the motto was written into the legislation opposition to that part of it was not going to be strong. If anything they had LESS backbone to stand against the motto at that time than they would today when they percentages of the population of other faiths is higher than it was then. Still, that is why there is more action (but not much) against the motto coming from the courts where the Judges don't have to stand for re-election, than from the law makers who have to curry public favor.

Cladiator

Since it's now May 19th.

May 19, 1780 - Never explained complete darkness falls on Eastern Canada and the New England area of the United States at 2 pm.