America was founded on Biblical principles. Just look at buildings in Washington. D.C., or read the many documents and historical speeches that have shaped America. In fact, our First Amendment states that America is a free nation and freedom of religion is guaranteed. Indeed, President Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time...Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?" One of the many ways that our forefathers choose to remind the citizens of God's existence, support and many blessing was through the currency.

The first reference to a motto for America was in 1814 when Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. In the last stanza he wrote, "...And this be our motto: In God is our trust. And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

However, after the Civil War the Secretary of the Treasury Department, Salmon P. Chase, received a letter from Reverend M. R. Watkinson suggesting that there had been a serious oversight in the currency of America because God was not recognized. As Rev. Watkinson stated, "This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my heart I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters."

On November 20, 1861, Mr. Chase instructed James Pollock, the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia to prepare a motto. He stated, "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins."

After some research, it was found that an Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837 stated that any mottoes and devices could not be placed on the coins without legislation by Congress. In December of 1863, The Director of the Mint submitted designs for new one-cent, two-cent and three-cent coins. The proposition suggested that either "OUR COUNTRY: OUR GOD" or "GOD, OUR TRUST" be imprinted on the shield that was part of the design for each of the coins. Secretary Chase then suggested that it should read, "IN GOD WE TRUST".

Eventually, on April 22, 1864 Congress passed legislation to change the composition of the one-cent and two-cent coins to include the motto. Then on March 3, 1865, Congress passed approval to place the motto on the gold double-eagle coin, the gold eagle coin, and the gold half-eagle coin. Later on, in 1866, the motto was added to the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter. Ultimately, in February 12, 1873 Secretary Chase declared that "IN GOD WE TRUST" to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto."One by one, the motto was added to the currency, until now all our money includes this statement.