IN GOD WE TRUST AND E PLURIBUS UNUM

Q: When did the words "In God We Trust" first appear on American money?

A: During the Civil War. In 1864 Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase put the words on some bronze two-cent pieces. In 1866 the words appeared on all American coins, but disappeared from some coins between 1883 and 1938. The choice for using the words was the responsibility of the Secretary of the Treasury. The so-called motto had no other official standing.

In 1956 Congress passed legislation, signed without comment by President Eisenhower, which required the motto on all American currency, both metal and paper. It was not the Founding Fathers of 1787 who demanded the words "In God We Trust" on American money; it was the politicians of 1956. (See Barzun, Jacques, The Modern Researcher, 4th ed., 1985, pp. 127-128.)

The original money motto of the United States is "e pluribus unum" which means one out of many or of many, one. The motto initially referred "to the creation of one nation, the United States, out of 13 colonies. It is equally appropriate to today's federal system. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson ... suggested the motto in 1776. ... Since 1873, the law requires that this motto appear on one side of every United States coin that is minted" (The World Book Encyclopedia, Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, Chicago,1967, 6:2). Look at the back side of any U.S. coin which you have in your pocket.

E Pluribus Unum is the motto created by America's forefathers and is the motto which accurately reflects about what America is. As well as being a nation composed of many states, America is a nation wherein citizens of all religions and of none are welcome to participate in all of America's social and political functions. The first religion commandment in the Constitution, the basis and foundation of the government of the United States of America, the supreme law of the land, as written by the Founding Fathers in 1787, commands "no religious test shall ever be required" (Art. 6., Sec. 3.). The second religion commandment, as written by the First Congress in 1789, commands "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" (First Amendment).

It is dishonest to assert "God" has nothing to do with religion. Therefore, the 1956 law, by which Congress established "God" on all American currency, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, is in obvious violation of the Constitution. Just because Congress passes a law does not make it constitutional. The word "God" should not be on the currency of the United States of America. The 1956 law should be repealed by Congress or ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States.