THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Recited today in classrooms, at the daily opening of Congress, at naturalization ceremonies, and at countless civic gatherings — here's its official wording, how it's changed since 1892, and the law behind it, per the U.S. Flag Code (Title 4, U.S. Code, Chapter 1, §4).

Pledge of Allegiance in a classroom with child students and their teacher

The Pledge Today

“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.” It's rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, with the right hand over the heart. Non-uniformed men remove any non-religious headwear with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, keeping the hand over the heart. Those in uniform remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute; members of the Armed Forces not in uniform, along with veterans, may salute in the same manner.
Placeholder — Francis Bellamy and the original Pledge

How It's Evolved

Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote the Pledge in August 1892 for The Youth's Companion magazine. It was first recited nationally on October 12, 1892, during Columbus Day school celebrations, and originally read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In 1923 and 1924, the National Flag Conference — the same gatherings behind the original Flag Code — changed “my Flag” to “the Flag of the United States of America,” partly out of concern that immigrant schoolchildren might picture their homeland's flag instead. Congress formally recognized the Pledge in 1942 and adopted its official name in 1945.

In 1954, on Flag Day, Congress added the words “under God” — pushed by the Knights of Columbus and endorsed by President Eisenhower to distinguish the United States from “godless Communism” during the Cold War. That's the version recited today.

One more change came earlier: the original hand gesture was a straight-arm salute, dropped in 1942 once it became uncomfortably similar to the Nazi salute, and replaced with today's hand over the heart.

Placeholder — West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

You Can't Be Forced to Say It

In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), the Supreme Court ruled that public schools cannot compel students to recite the Pledge or salute the flag — doing so violates the First Amendment's protection against compelled speech.* The case grew out of Jehovah's Witness schoolchildren expelled for refusing on religious grounds. Writing for the majority, Justice Robert Jackson put it memorably: no official can prescribe “what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.”

Quick Reference

  • Right hand over the heart, facing the flag.
  • Uniformed persons render the military salute instead.
  • "Under God" was added in 1954 — not part of the 1892 original.
  • Originally read "my Flag," changed to "the Flag of the United States of America" in 1923–24.
  • Public schools can't compel students to recite it (Barnette, 1943).
  • Heard today in classrooms, Congress, and naturalization ceremonies.
* Barnette overturned an earlier ruling, Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940), in which the Court had upheld mandatory flag salutes in public schools — a reversal that came just three years later. ↩