American Identities and Constitutional Values
Starter 2 [How to Use Starters]

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Original Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, 1892

"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."
Current text of the Pledge of Allegiance

Focus Questions

• What does the Pledge of Allegiance mean to you as an American?
  
  
• Francis Bellamy, the author of the original Pledge, considered adding the word "equality," but decided against doing so. What do you think of including "equality" in the text of the Pledge" Where might it be placed? How would including "equality" in the Pledge change its meaning?
  
  
• With its allusion to the language of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the phrase "under God" was added by Congress in 1954. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic Order, were influential in urging this change. How do you think this addition changes the meaning of the Pledge? What is its significance?
  
  
• John Baer has written: "Perhaps the time has come to see that this [American pledge of] allegiance should be to the U.S. Constitution and not to a piece of cloth." What do you think of this statement?

Suggested Resources
Suggested resources are not found within the Dialogue on Freedom site; clicking on the following links will launch a new browser window.

Flag of the United States Website
Includes history of the flag and related matters, images of historic and current flags, writings, and links.

Study Guide to the History of United States Symbols and Mottos

Veterans Affairs Site on the History of the Pledge of Allegiance

Additional Resources
Suggested readings for this topic

Starters: 1 2 3 4

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Note: The views expressed here have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association.