Pledge of Allegiance

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This article is about the U.S. oath of allegiance. For the general topic of oaths of allegiance, see Oath of allegiance. For other uses, see Pledge of Allegiance (disambiguation).

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America. Such a pledge was first composed, with a text different from the one used at present, by Captain George Thatcher Balch, a Union Army Officer during the Civil War and later a teacher of patriotism in New York City schools.[5][6] The form of the pledge used today was largely devised by Francis Bellamy in 1892, and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942.[7] The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The most recent alteration of its wording came on Flag Day in 1954, when the words "under God" were added.[8]

Pledge of Allegiance

(Bellamy versions)

(changes are bolded and underlined)1892

(first version)[1]"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."1892 to 1923

(early revision by Bellamy)[2]"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."1923 to 1924[3]"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."1924 to 1954[3]"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."1954

(current version, per 4 U.S.C. §4)[4]"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

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Last edited 14 days ago by an anonymous user



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