Why the United States officially adopted a religious motto during the Cold War

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For decades, the United States functioned without an official motto, relying on the unofficial Latin phrase E pluribus unum. That changed in 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation establishing In God We Trust as the national motto, a move designed to distinguish the country from the officially atheist Soviet Union.

The origins of the phrase date back to the American Civil War. In 1861, a minister named Mark R. Watkinson wrote to the Treasury Department, suggesting that an invocation of God on currency would help the Union avoid the ignominy of heathenism. By 1864, the phrase appeared on the two-cent coin, though its usage remained inconsistent for decades. It was not until the height of the Cold War that the motto gained its official status. Eisenhower, who had previously championed adding under God to the Pledge of Allegiance, viewed spiritual faith as a vital weapon in the global struggle against communism.

The transition to paper currency followed shortly after the 1956 legislation. On October 1, 1957, the motto appeared on the dollar bill for the first time, eventually spreading to all denominations. While the motto is now ubiquitous—appearing on public buildings and the license plates of roughly 20 states—it has never been without detractors. Theodore Roosevelt, for instance, famously opposed the practice in 1907, arguing that placing religious mottos on money was irreverent and bordered on sacrilege.

Legal challenges have frequently targeted the motto, with critics arguing it violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by favoring monotheism over atheism and other religious traditions. Despite these objections, the judiciary has consistently upheld the practice. Courts have largely categorized the phrase as ceremonial deism or patriotic expression rather than government-sponsored religious exercise. This legal interpretation has effectively shielded the motto from constitutional invalidation, ensuring its place in American public life remains secure despite ongoing debates regarding the separation of church and state.

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