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1892- The pledge was written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy a Christian socialist and extreme Nationalist. It was published in “The Youth’s Companion” a national magazine. They say it was written to acknowledge the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage to America. But technically, it was created as a marketing ploy to sell flags to public schools.
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The pledge to the flag was included in the “The Official Programme for the National Columbian Public School Celebration of October 21, 1892.” It reads; I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
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The words "of the United States" were added to the pledge, changing "my flag" to "the flag of the United States." This change, made by the National Flag Conference, was added so there would be no risk of immigrants secretly pledging to a different flag. The pledge now read: I pledge alligiance 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.
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On June 14, 1924 the words "of America" were added to the Pledge. Now the pledge reads; "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all."
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The arm-extended flag salute was the norm in American schools until 1942, when the similarity with the fascist salute became uncomfortable.
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The United States Congress included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code.
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The words, "under God" do not appear in the original Pledge. They were added during the Eisenhower administration in 1954 at the height of anti-communist hysteria. The pledge now reads: "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." This is the version we recite today.
