



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 T he 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 ph: 510-540-6424, fax: 510-540-6425

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