Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 7-12 Subject: History/Law

The Pledge of Allegiance

On Wednesday, June 26, a federal appeals court ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is an unconstitutional "endorsement of religion" because of the addition of the phrase "under God" by Congress in 1954.

The case was brought by Michael A. Newdow, a Sacramento atheist who objected because his second-grade daughter was required to recite the pledge at the Elk Grove school district. A federal judge dismissed his lawsuit, but the 9th Circuit Court ordered that the case proceed to trial.

Reaction to the June 26 ruling was immediate and overwhelming. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers blasted the ruling as "outrageous," "nuts," and "stupid." The U.S. Senate was so outraged by the decision that it passed a resolution "expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance." A nearly full House gathered for an enthusiastic recitation of the pledge, and also passed a near unanimous a resolution protesting the ruling. President Bush denounced the ruling as "out of step with the traditions and history of America."

The day after the decision was handed down, Circuit Judge Alfred T. Goodwin issued a stay of the ruling until the case could be reheard. Most legal experts believe the decision will be reversed.

This week's online lesson explores the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as the First Amendment separation of church and state.

History of the Pledge

You may be surprised to learn that the Pledge of Allegiance is just over a hundred years old, much younger than other treasured American documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and even Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. It started as an activity for the 1892 Columbus Day celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. 12 million school children recited it on that day, and before long it had become a popular daily routine.

To learn more about its history, turn to The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag at the Home of Heroes site. Read the page and follow the evolution of the now 31-word pledge. Who may have written the original Pledge of Allegiance (two men)? Why aren't we sure who actually wrote it? How was the original pledge different than the pledge recited today? In what year were the words "my flag" replaced and why? What changed the following year? When was the pledge included in the United States Flag Code? What did the U.S. Supreme Court rule about the pledge in 1945? In the most recent change to the pledge, what two words were added? Why did President Eisenhower authorize this change?

Comedian Red Skelton once commented on the meaning of each of the words or phrases in the Pledge of Allegiance. Visit I Pledge Allegiance to read and listen to Red Skelton's as he relates a lesson he learned from an admired teacher, Mr. Laslow. At the end of the story he comments on the addition of the words "under God." How does his comment relate to the 9th Circuit Court decision?

How do you feel about the ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional?

Church and State Issues

The Pledge of Allegiance controversy reflects the ongoing national debate over the issue of separation of Church and State, or the First Amendment clause prohibiting Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." For an overview of the issue, read Tom Peters' essay Overview of the church and state separation debate at the Big Issue Ground site. How do the separationists interpret the First Amendment? How do the accomodationists interpret it? What is the stand of the non-preferentialists?

Which group or classification best represents your views?

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