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The Pledge of Allegiance
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.
The Pledge of Allegiance was first published in 1892 in
“The Youth’s Companion”
magazine in Boston, Massachusetts to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the discovery of America. The Pledge was first used in public schools to celebrate
Columbus Day
on October 12, 1892. The Pledge received official recognition by Congress as an Act approved on June 22, 1942.
The authorship of the Pledge of 1892 is uncertain. Claims were made on behalf of both James B. Upham, one of the editors of
“The Youth's Companion”,
and
Francis Bellamy,
an assistant editor. The U.S. Flag Association committee ruled in favor of Bellamy in 1939, and a detailed report issued by the U.S. Library of Congress in 1957 supported the committee's ruling.
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