PLEDGE HISTORY in TIMELINES
Francis Bellamy, the author of the
pledge, was a strong, colorful, and charismatic man, and a Baptist minister but he was
also a Christian socialist, heavily influenced by the social and historical forces around
him. The 1880s and 1890s, the time of this story, were a pivotal point in our
country’s social and economic history. Labor conditions were terrible, the unions had
not gained strength, and monopolies were still legal. Some called for radical solutions to
the economic ills of labor, such as socialism; almost all called for some type of reform.
Meanwhile, immigrants were pouring into
the country and anti-Catholicism was strong. Reformers were fighting for universal public
education, while heated debates were raging over the funding for parochial and public
schooling. The country and Congress were still healing from the Civil War, women were
demanding the vote, prohibitionists were on the march, and African-Americans were testing
their political and social freedoms.
As explained in Shelley’s talk, each
one of these forces was a key element in the creation of the Pledge. Below is a schematic of the historic background,
followed by five timelines: Flag Patriotism and Changes in the
Pledge, The Youth’s Companion
(the magazine that created and sponsored the Pledge), James Upham (first promoter of the
Pledge), Francis Bellamy (author of the
Pledge) and Historical
Background and Events.
To see the current
version of The Pledge of Allegiance in the U.S. Codes,
click here.
To read "A Brief
History of the Hand Salute to the Flag While Reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance" click here.
Flag Patriotism and Changes in the Pledge
|
June 14, 1885 |
Bernard Cigrand, a teacher, begins observance of "Flag Day"
|
|
1888 |
James Upham's Premium Department The
Youth's Companion launches School
Flag Movement, a four-year campaign to introduce U.S. flags
in school classrooms in order to sell flags and promote
patriotism and "Americanism" |
|
June 14, 1889 |
Colonel Balch introduces an American Flag Salute at his NY
kindergarten: “We give our heads and our hearts to God and
or country; one country, one language, one Flag” |
|
Summer 1892 |
Francis Bellamy writes the Pledge of Allegiance as Part
3--Salute to the Flag by the Pupils--of the official "Programme"
for the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
September 8, 1892 |
Pledge of Allegiance first appears in print in
The Youth's Companion |
|
October 12, 1892 |
Pledge of Allegiance first recited in unison in public
during the first day of the New York City Columbus Day
holiday attended mostly by immigrant families |
|
October 21, 1892 |
Public school children across the country celebrate
four-hundredth anniversaryof Columbus Day by saluting the
flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for first time |
|
April 25, 1893 |
At instigation of William McDowell, a leader of patriotic
organizations, he, James Upham, and Francis Bellamy lead the
first adult recitation of the Pledge at the National Liberty
Pole and Flag Raising Ceremony at Navesink, NJ |
|
1894 |
At its 12th Convention, the Women's Relief Corp, an
Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, recommends that
a flag salute be used in public schools |
|
1895 |
Women's Relief Corp uses salute and Pledge in its patriotic
ritual |
|
1898 |
New York state legislature first in nation to pass statute
requiring a flag salute; passed on the day war was declared
with Spain |
|
1905 |
As many as 19 States have passed school flag laws |
|
June 14, 1923 |
At first National Flag Conference the American Legion is
instrumental in changing wording of Pledge from "my flag" to
"the flag of the United States" |
|
1924 |
National Flag Conference adds words "of
America" |
|
1939 |
Sons of American Revolution urge Congress to make the Pledge
part of the nation's flag ceremony etiquette |
|
1940 |
In Minersville School District v.
Gobitis, the U.S. Supreme Court
upholdsPennsylvania law with opinion that local autonomy in
educational policy and nationalunity take precedence over
religious beliefs of children, thus requiring two students
who were Jehovah's Witnesses, to recite Pledge in school |
|
1942 |
Flag Code adopted by joint resolution of Congress; salute
modified from raised stiff right arm to right hand over the
heart |
|
1943 |
In West Virginia State Board of
Education v Barnette, the U.S.
Supreme Court essentially reverses
Gobitis and
declares unconstitutional state laws compelling public
school children to recite Pledge |
|
1954 |
After a three-year campaign by the Knights of Columbus,
President Eisenhowersigns Congressional resolution on June
14, adding wording "under God"
to Pledge |
|
1978 |
In Lipp v Morris,the
3rd Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, declares
unconstitutional a New Jersey law requiring students to
stand during the recitationof the Pledge |
|
June 26, 2002 |
Ninth U.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rules in
Newdow v the U.S Congress
that words "under God"
violate first amendment principle of separation of church
and state and endorse religion |
|
June 27, 2002 |
Justice Goodwin “stays” his ruling about the words “under
God” in the Pledge, placing the ruling on hold, pending
appeals |
|
June 1, 2002 |
Houses of Congress and state legislatures pass resolutions
condemning the ruling |
|
The Youth's Companion
Magazine that sponsored the Pledge of Allegiance
|
1827 |
The Youth's Companion magazine founded
by Nathaniel Willis |
|
1857 |
Ford, Omstead & Company buy The Youth's
Companion; firm splits up shortly
afterwards; Ford departs with ownership of
The Youth's Companion;
circulation is 7,000 |
|
by 1876 |
Ford names his publishing company the Perry Mason Company |
|
1887 |
Circulation of The Youth’s Companion
reaches 400,000 |
|
1888 |
James Upham's Premium Department launches School Flag
Movement, a four-year campaign to introduce U.S. flags in
school classrooms in order to sell flags and promote
"American patriotism" and "Americanism" |
|
April 1890 |
Congress passes resolution for World's Columbia Fair to be
held in Chicago in summer of 1893 |
|
1891 |
James Upham starts Lyceum League of America through
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1891 |
Francis Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance, hired
as special assistant to Daniel Ford |
|
1891 |
The Youth's Companion Premium Department
sells 25,000 flags to schools |
|
January 1892 |
World's Youth Congress Auxiliary, in preparation for World's
Columbian Fair, officially makes The
Youth’s Companion the manager for
the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day on
October 11, 1892 |
|
February 1892 |
At annual meeting of the Superintendents of Education of the
National EducationAssociation, William Harris, U.S.
Commissioner of Education and the National Chairman for all
school projects and exhibits at the Fair, supports National
PublicSchool Celebration of Columbus Day and a program of
exercises for the Celebrationto be prepared by
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1892 |
Ford and Upham arrange for Bellamy to be chair of committee
in charge of official"Programme" for National Public School
Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
1892 |
During Presidental campaign, Candidate Grover Cleveland
endorses the National Public School Celebration of Columbus
Day |
|
1892 |
Francis Bellamy visits Washington, D.C., to lobby for a
presidential proclamationendorsing a national holiday to
honor Columbus' discovery of America |
|
July 1892 |
In a proclamation President Benjamin Harrison enjoins people
to honor ColumbusDay, October 21 1892, with "public
demonstrations and suitable exercises in their schools . .
." |
|
September 8, 1892 |
Pledge of Allegiance first appears in print in
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1892 |
Circulation of The Youth’s Companion
reaches 475,000 |
|
May 4, 1893 |
World's Fair edition of The Youth’s
Companion has highest circulation
ever—650,000 |
|
1898 |
Circulation of The Youth’s Companion
reaches 500,000 |
|
1899 |
The Youth’s Companion first magazine to
bring Jack London to public notice |
|
1915 |
The Youth’s Companion begins financial
decline |
|
1925 |
The Atlantic Monthly Company takes over
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1929 |
The Youth’s Companion becomes part of
"American Boy" and ceases to exist |
|
James Upham (1845-1905)
Promoter of the Pledge
|
1845 |
Upham born in New Hampshire |
|
1872 |
Joins his Daniel Sharp, his uncle by marriage, at
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1886 |
Appointed head of Premium Department of
The Youth's Companion |
|
1888 |
His Premium Department launches School Flag Movement, a
four-year campaign to introduce U.S. flags in school
classrooms in order to sell flags and promote patriotism |
|
1891 |
Starts Lyceum League of America through
The Youth’s Companion |
|
1891 |
Conceives and develops campaign for using celebration of
four-hundredth anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America
as a day to promote public schools and their use of the flag
|
|
1891 |
Begins lobbying Columbia Exposition's Governing Board for a
National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
Spring 1892 |
Arranges for Francis Bellamy to be chairman of the National
Education Association's executive committee in charge of
National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
April 25, 1893 |
At instigation of William McDowell, a leader of patriotic
organizations, he, Upham, and Francis Bellamy lead the first
adult recitation of the Pledge at the National Liberty Pole
and Flag Raising Ceremony at Navesink, NJ |
|
1905 |
James Upham dies |
|
Francis Bellamy (1855-1931)
Author of the Pledge of Allegiance
(For photo of Bellamy and draft of the Pledge
click)
|
1855 |
Bellamy born, Mount Morris, NY |
|
1880 |
Graduates from Rochester Theological Seminary & begins
ministry at the Baptist Church of Little Falls, NY |
|
1885 |
Becomes minister at the Dearborn Street Church in Boston |
|
1888 |
Edward Bellamy, cousin of Francis, publishes
socialist/utopian novel Looking Backward;
it sells 100,000 copies in first year and spawns socialist
movements |
|
December 1888 |
First Nationalist Club formed in Boston to discuss and
implement principles in Looking Backward.
Francis Bellamy a charter member |
|
February 18, 1889 |
Society of Christian Socialists formed in Boston. Francis
Bellamy is Vice President in charge of Education |
|
1890 |
His Dearborn Street Church moves and becomes the Bethany
Baptist Church; Daniel Ford attends and befriends Bellamy |
|
April 1891 |
Ford hires Bellamy to work at "The Youth's Companion"
following Bellamy's resignation from Bethany Baptist Church
after Baptist Social Union of Boston reduces appropriations
because of Bellamy's activities with the causes of the
Society of Christian Socialists |
|
Spring 1892 |
Ford and Upham arrange for Bellamy to be chairman of the
National Education Association's executive committee in
charge of National Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
1892 |
Visits Washington, D.C., to lobby for a presidential
proclamation endorsing a national holiday to honor Columbus'
discovery of America |
|
Summer 1892 |
Writes the Pledge of Allegiance as Part 3--Salute to the
Flag by the Pupils—of the official "Programme" for the
National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day |
|
April 25, 1893 |
At instigation of William McDowell, a leader of patriotic
organizations, he, James Upham, and Francis Bellamy lead the
first adult recitation of the Pledge at the National Liberty
Pole and Flag Raising Ceremony at Navesink, NJ |
|
1895 |
Leaves YC and begins career as magazine editor and
advertising copywriter |
|
1931 |
Bellamy dies |
|
1939 |
United States Flag Association confirms Bellamy's claim to
authorship of Pledge |
|
1957 |
Library of Congress confirms Bellamy's claim to authorship
of Pledge |
|
1975 |
At urging of Malden Historical Society (formerly Upham
Family Society, in Massachusetts) and Senator Pell of R.I.,
the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service
again investigates claims of Pledge authorship, and
concludes that Francis Bellamy is the author |
|
Historical Background and
Events
|
1865 |
Civil War ends |
|
1880-1895 |
"Gilded Age"--Mark Twain's term for period of political
ascendancy of businessman, glorification of capitalism, free
markets and high finance, and ostentatious celebration of
wealth |
|
1880 - 1900 |
Catholic population of the Unites States increases from 6
million to 12 million |
|
late 1880s - 1900 |
State and local governments in South pass "Jim Crow" laws |
|
1886 |
Haymarket Square riot in Chicago |
|
1887 |
American Protective Association (APA) founded in
Iowa--anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization |
|
1888 |
Edward Bellamy, cousin of Francis, publishes
socialist/utopian novel Looking Backward;
it sells 100,000 copies in first year and spawns socialist
movements |
|
December 1888 |
First Nationalist Club formed in Boston to discuss and
implement principles in Looking Backward;
Francis Bellamy a charter member |
|
February 18, 1889 |
Society of Christian Socialists formed in Boston. Francis
Bellamy is Vice President in charge of Education |
|
1890 |
Wyoming first state to give vote to women |
|
1891 |
First Conference of Patriotic Orders of the United States,
an anti-Catholic organization |
|
1891 |
Congress creates the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) |
|
1891 |
Lyceum League of America, a patriotic society and debating
club for social and political debates, started by James
Upham through The Youth's Companion |
|
1892 |
INS opens immigrant screening station on Ellis Island |
|
1892 |
Homestead Strike at Carnegie steel mills near Pittsburgh |
|
1892 |
National Suffrage organization repeats its annual request to
Congress for the vote |
|
1892 |
Sierra Club forms |
|
1898 |
American Patriotic League organized to restrict immigration
and to prohibit use of public funds for sectarian
educational institutions |
|
|
Shelley Lapkoff, Ph.D. 
