On September 8, 1892, a version of the Pledge of Allegiance, largely written by Francis Bellamy, was first published in a youth magazine associated with a national school celebration. The pledge was intended to promote patriotism and unity among American schoolchildren. Over time, the wording was modified, including the addition of the phrase “under God” in 1954. Recitation of the pledge became a regular feature of classroom routines and public events. The pledge has also been the subject of legal and social debates about freedom of speech and religious language in public schools.
