Pledge of Allegiance Words

The Pledge of Allegiance is the official oath of loyalty of the United States of America. The Pledge of Allegiance words have undergone 4 changes since it was first written in 1892. Along with a brief discussion of the Pledge of Allegiance history, this article deals with the changes that the Pledge of Allegiance words underwent and as it stands today.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States which is the official national pledge, is an oath of loyalty to the nation. Although composed as early as in the year 1892, the Pledge received its official status only on June 22, 1942, as a result of the official recognition conferred to it by the US congress. Since then, the Pledge of Allegiance is sworn by politicians during congressional sessions. All government meetings at locals level and sporting events start with the Pledge of Allegiance words being recited. State laws also require students of public schools to swear the Pledge of Allegiance. It is expected of every citizen of the United States to know the Pledge of Allegiance words, in order to be able to express his solidarity with the nation.

Pledge of Allegiance History

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy who was a Baptist member and a Christian socialist. This was the year of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America and celebrations for this day were being planned for years. Two individuals who were interested in making celebrations on this day grand were Francis Bellamy and James Upham. James Upham was associated with the Boston publishing firm that published "The Youth's Companion", which was a popular magazine of children in those time. He had conceived the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day, which was an event to mark the 400th anniversary of the Columbus Day.

The Pledge of Allegiance was first published in the September 8th issue of the magazine under the title "The Pledge to the Flag", as a part of the event planned by Upham. After proclamation by President Harrison, the Pledge was used for the first time in public schools in America of 12th October, 1892. This set off the tradition of the Pledge of Allegiance being recited in Public Schools on a daily basis. Read more on history of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge of Allegiance Words - Changes

The Pledge of Allegiance underwent 4 changes. Each time some new words were included in the original form. In the following lines, the changes in the Pledge of Allegiance words, and as it stood after the changes, have been discussed.

Pledge of Allegiance Words - October 12, 1892
Francis Bellamy wanted the Pledge of Allegiance to be short and crisp, with the words conveying the message of loyalty to the nation unambiguously. The original Pledge of Allegiance words were:

I pledge allegiance
to my Flag,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

Pledge of Allegiance Words - As in 1923
After being set off as a daily routine in public schools since 1892, concern over the usage of the words My Flag in the original Pledge of Allegiance words was expressed in the First National Flag Conference in Washington, D.C, held on 1923. The concern was with regard to the fact that by that time migrant population in the United States had climbed to considerable proportions and use of the words My Flag might mean the flag of the native countries of the migrants. Hence, to remove the disparity, the words the Flag of the United States was introduced in place of My Flag. Hence, the Pledge of Allegiance words as it stood in 1923 were:

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.

Pledge of Allegiance Words - As in 1924
The next year Pledge of Allegiance words witnessed another change when the word of America was added to the Pledge. The Pledge of Allegiance words now read as:

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.

Pledge of Allegiance Words - As in 1954
The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance words was made in 1954. This change occurred on June 14, with the inclusion of the words 'under god' in the Pledge of Allegiance as approved by President Eisenhower. The Pledge of Allegiance as it reads TODAY is:

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.

However, inclusion of the word 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance has led to controversy of Pledge of Allegiance in Schools.

Pledge of Allegiance Word - Meaning

We Americans are taught to learn the Pledge of Allegiance words by rote without being able to concentrate on the emotion that the words want to convey. Here is the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance wording:

I pledge allegiance - I promise my loyalty
to the flag - to the symbol that stands to represent
of the United States of America - each and every of the 50 states that form the united nation of America
and to the republic - a country where people choose their representative to form the government and represent them
for which it stands, one nation - the flag that stands for one country
under God - there is one Supreme entity for every citizen
indivisible - a country that cannot be divided
with Liberty - complete freedom of life and living being given to the citizens
and Justice - fair treatment being promised by the law of the land
for all - for each and every citizen of the country.

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