 Do you consider America to be A Christian Nation? Let’s go to the beginning, to the Mayflower. Mayflower Compact, is first colonial agreement that formed a government by the consent of the governed.
The Mayflower Compact was signed in 1620 by Pilgrims, English people hoping to establish a settlement in North America. The agreement was completed on the ship Mayflower, which was anchored off the coast of Massachusetts. The compact gave the settlers the power to frame and enact laws for the
general good of the planned settlement. Most of the Pilgrims were members of the Separatist congregation that had split from the Church of England. However, some were not, and these people sought independence
from the Separatists. To prevent this, Separatist leaders wrote the compact, which was modeled after the covenant that had
established their Separatist faith. Each male adult signed the document. The signers agreed to follow all “just and
equal” laws that the settlers enacted and to be ruled by the will of the majority. Plymouth Colony did not receive an
English royal charter, and so the compact determined governmental authority in the colony until it became part of the Massachusetts
colony in 1691. In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten,
the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement
of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together
into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof
to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as
shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and
obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the
reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620. *The 'dread sovereign' referred to in the document used the archaic
definition of dread; meaning awe and reverence (for the King), not fear. Signatories
 America
was indeed begun by men who honored God and set their founding principles by the words of the Bible. They lived their lives
with honesty, reliability, and fairness toward establishing this country “for the sake of its survival.” A great
many of America’s Founding Fathers have been quoted in regard to living by Biblical values.
Edmund Burke
(1729-1794), outstanding orator, author, and leader in Great Britain, defended the colonies in Parliament. "There is
but one law for all, namely, that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator."
Patrick Henry (1736-1799),
five-time Governor of Virginia, whose "Give me liberty or give me death" speech has made him immortal, said: "It
cannot be emphasized too strongly, nor too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians;
not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. . . ."
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third U.S. President,
chosen to write the Declaration of Independence, said: "I have little doubt that the whole country will soon be rallied
to the unity of our Creator, and, I hope, to the pure doctrines of Jesus also." He proclaimed that it was the God of
the Bible who founded America in his 1805 inaugural address: "I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands
we are, who led our forefathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in this country."
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 When each of our 50 state constitutions were written, God was included in each one:Alabama 1901 Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the
favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the
following Constitution.
Alaska 1956 Preamble: We, the people of Alaska,
grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911 Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874 Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for
the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879 Preamble: We,
the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Colorado 1876 Preamble:
We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.
Connecticut
1818 Preamble: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting
them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897 Preamble: Through Divine Goodness all men have, bynature,
the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the
dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885 Preamble: We, the people of the State of
Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution....
Georgia 1777 Preamble:
We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959 Preamble: We, the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance . Establish this Constitution.
Idaho
1889 Preamble: We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure
its blessings..
Illinois 1870 Preamble: We, the people of the State of Illinois,
grateful to Almighty God for the civil law, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy
and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851 Preamble: We, the People
of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857 Preamble: We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being
for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings establish
this Constitution . . .
Kansas 1859
Preamble: We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891 Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberties...
Louisiana 1921 Preamble: We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful
to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820 Preamble:
We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts
the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us
an opportunity ... And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776 Preamble: We,
the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts
1780 Preamble: We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the
Great Legislator of the Universe . . . In the course
of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction .
Michigan 1908 Preamble:
We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish
this Constitution.
Minnesota 1857 Preamble: We, the people of the State
of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890 Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking
His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845 Preamble: We, the people of Missouri, with
profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . . . Establish this Constitution.
Montana 1889 Preamble: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings
of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875 Preamble: We, the people,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864 Preamble: We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom
establish this Constitution
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V: Every individual
has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New
Jersey 1844 Preamble: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil
and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911 Preamble:
We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty
New York
1846, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in
order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868 Preamble: We the people of
the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging
our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those
North Dakota 1889 Preamble: We, the
people of North Dakota, grateful
to Almighty God
for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852 Preamble: We
the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common
Oklahoma 1907 Preamble:
Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish
this ..
Oregon 1857 Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2: All men shall be secure in the
Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences...
Pennsylvania
1776 Preamble: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking
His guidance
Rhode Island 1842 Preamble: We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty
which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing
South Carolina
1778 Preamble: We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain
and establish this Constitution.
South
Dakota 1889 Preamble: We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties
Tennessee
1796 Art. XI.III: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according
to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas
1845 Preamble: We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of
God.
Utah 1896 Preamble: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777,Preamble:
Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings
which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man
Virginia 1776 Bill of Rights, XVI: Religion,
or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice
Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards
each other
Washington 1889 Preamble: We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872 Preamble:
Since through Divine Providence we enjoy
the blessings of civil,
political and religious liberty, we, the people
of West Virginia, reaffirm
our faith in and constant reliance upon God
Wisconsin 1848 Preamble: We, the
people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility
Wyoming 1890
Preamble: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious
liberties . . . establish this Constitution.
IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.
 Fact Sheets: Currency & Coins From the United States Mint website
History
of 'In God We Trust'
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased
religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many
appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins.
From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written
to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting
the affairs of the national finances.
One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition
of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.
You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered
beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen
nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with
the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing
in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible
citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection
we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present
national disasters. To you first I address a subject that must be agitated. As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of
the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: 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. You
will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible
this national recognition. It was found that the Act of Congress
dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States. This
meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress. In December 1863,
the Director of the Mint submitted designs for new one-cent coin, two-cent coin, and three-cent
coin to Secretary Chase for approval. He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY; OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST
should appear as a motto on the coins. In a letter to the Mint Director on December 9, 1863, Secretary Chase stated:
I approve your mottoes, only suggesting
that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY.
And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST.
The Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition
of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director
was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on
the 1864 two-cent coin. Another Act of Congress passed
on March 3, 1865. It allowed the Mint Director, with the Secretary's approval, to place the motto on all gold and silver
coins that "shall admit the inscription thereon." Under the Act, the motto was placed on the gold double-eagle
coin, the gold eagle coin, and the gold half-eagle coin. It was also placed on
the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter-dollar coin,
and on the nickel three-cent coin beginning in 1866. Later, Congress passed the Coinage Act of February 12,
1873. It also said that the Secretary "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit
of such motto." The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted.
The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson
nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription. Later, the motto was found missing from the
new design of the double-eagle gold coin and the eagle gold coin shortly after they appeared
in 1907. In response to a general demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the Act of May 18, 1908, made it mandatory on
all coins upon which it had previously appeared. IN GOD WE TRUST was not mandatory on the one-cent coin and
five-cent coin. It could be placed on them by the Secretary or the Mint Director with the Secretary's
approval. The motto has been in continuous use on the one-cent
coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916. It also has appeared on all gold coins and
silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar coins struck
since July 1, 1908. A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and
approved by the President on July 30, 1956, 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 money in 1957, when it appeared
on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October
1, 1957. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was converting to the dry intaglio printing process. During this conversion, it gradually included IN GOD WE TRUST
in the back design of all classes and denominations of currency. As
a part of a comprehensive modernization program the BEP successfully developed and installed new high-speed rotary intaglio
printing presses in 1957. These allowed BEP to print currency by the dry intaglio process, 32 notes to the sheet. One-dollar
silver certificates were the first denomination printed on the new high-speed presses. They included IN GOD
WE TRUST as part of the reverse design as BEP adopted new dies according to the law. The motto also appeared on one-dollar
silver certificates of the 1957-A and 1957-B series. BEP
prints United States paper currency by an intaglio process from engraved plates. It was necessary, therefore, to engrave the
motto into the printing plates as a part of the basic engraved design to give it the prominence it deserved. One-dollar silver certificates series 1935, 1935-A, 1935-B, 1935-C, 1935-D, 1935-E,
1935-F, 1935-G, and 1935-H were all printed on the older flat-bed presses by the wet intaglio process. P.L. 84-140 recognized
that an enormous expense would be associated with immediately replacing the costly printing plates. The law allowed BEP to
gradually convert to the inclusion of IN GOD WE TRUST on the currency. Accordingly, the motto is not found on series 1935-E
and 1935-F one-dollar notes. By September 1961, IN GOD WE TRUST had been added to the back design of the Series 1935-G notes.
Some early printings of this series do not bear the motto. IN GOD WE TRUST appears on all series 1935-H one-dollar silver
certificates. Antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason
from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside
the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath
this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars
the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This
would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism.
This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national
shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters. To you first I address a subject
that must be agitated. As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of
the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: 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. You
will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible
this national recognition. It was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes
and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States. This meant that the mint could make no changes without
the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress. In December 1863, the Director of the Mint submitted designs for
new one-cent coin, two-cent coin, and three-cent coin to Secretary Chase
for approval. He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY; OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST should appear as a motto on
the coins. In a letter to the Mint Director on December 9, 1863, Secretary Chase stated: I approve your mottoes, only suggesting
that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY.
And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST. The Congress passed the Act of
April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting
of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval
of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin. Another Act of Congress passed
on March 3, 1865. It allowed the Mint Director, with the Secretary's approval, to place the motto on all gold and silver
coins that "shall admit the inscription thereon." Under the Act, the motto was placed on the gold double-eagle
coin, the gold eagle coin, and the gold half-eagle coin. It was also placed on
the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter-dollar coin,
and on the nickel three-cent coin beginning in 1866. Later, Congress passed the Coinage Act of February 12,
1873. It also said that the Secretary "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit
of such motto." The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted. The motto disappeared from the
five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since
1938, all United States coins bear the inscription. Later, the motto was found missing from the new design of the double-eagle
gold coin and the eagle gold coin shortly after they appeared in 1907. In response to a general
demand, Congress ordered it restored, and the Act of May 18, 1908, made it mandatory on all coins upon which it had previously
appeared. IN GOD WE TRUST was not mandatory on the one-cent coin and five-cent coin. It
could be placed on them by the Secretary or the Mint Director with the Secretary's approval. The motto has been in continuous
use on the one-cent coin since 1909, and on the ten-cent coin since 1916. It also has appeared
on all gold coins and silver dollar coins, half-dollar coins, and quarter-dollar
coins struck since July 1, 1908. A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July
30, 1956, 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 money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver
certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was converting to the dry intaglio printing process. During this conversion, it gradually
included IN GOD WE TRUST in the back design of all classes and denominations of currency. As
a part of a comprehensive modernization program the BEP successfully developed and installed new high-speed rotary intaglio
printing presses in 1957. These allowed BEP to print currency by the dry intaglio process, 32 notes to the sheet. One-dollar
silver certificates were the first denomination printed on the new high-speed presses. They included IN GOD
WE TRUST as part of the reverse design as BEP adopted new dies according to the law. The motto also appeared on one-dollar
silver certificates of the 1957-A and 1957-B series. BEP prints United States paper currency by an intaglio process from engraved plates.
It was necessary, therefore, to engrave the motto into the printing plates as a part of the basic engraved design to give
it the prominence it deserved. One-dollar silver certificates series 1935, 1935-A, 1935-B, 1935-C, 1935-D, 1935-E,
1935-F, 1935-G, and 1935-H were all printed on the older flat-bed presses by the wet intaglio process. P.L. 84-140 recognized
that an enormous expense would be associated with immediately replacing the costly printing plates. The law allowed BEP to
gradually convert to the inclusion of IN GOD WE TRUST on the currency. Accordingly, the motto is not found on series 1935-E
and 1935-F one-dollar notes. By September 1961, IN GOD WE TRUST had been added to the back design of the Series 1935-G notes.
Some early printings of this series do not bear the motto. IN GOD WE TRUST appears on all series 1935-H one-dollar silver
certificates.
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