Origins and Proposal: The phrase "In God We Trust" was first suggested for use on U.S. currency by Reverend M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, in a letter dated November 13, 1861, to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Watkinson argued that removing all references to God from currency would be "unwise" and "inconsistent with the Christian character of our country."
Treasury Department's Action: Chase was intrigued by the idea and passed it on to the Director of the Mint, James Pollock. Chase instructed Pollock to prepare a motto expressing the national reliance upon divine providence, which led to the initial use of "In God We Trust" on coins.
First Use on Coins: The motto first appeared on the 1864 two-cent piece, followed by its inclusion on various other coins over the following years.
Legislation: The use of the motto was not formalized until much later. In 1955, due to the Cold War and McCarthyism's influence, Congress passed a joint resolution to recognize "In God We Trust" as the national motto. This was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The following year, in 1956, legislation was passed mandating that the phrase be included on all currency and coins.
Expansion to Paper Currency: Although it had been on coins since 1864, "In God We Trust" did not appear on paper currency until 1957, when it was added to one-dollar silver certificates. By law, it was then gradually introduced to all denominations.
Cultural and Legal Context: The adoption of the motto was part of a broader cultural and political push towards religious symbolism in government, particularly during times of national or global stress. This has led to various legal challenges over the years concerning the separation of church and state, though courts have generally upheld the use of the motto as ceremonial or patriotic rather than religious.
Reverend Watkinson's Legacy: While Watkinson's direct role was as an initiator, his letter sparked a chain of events that led to the motto's adoption. His influence is often cited in historical discussions about the motto's origin, although he himself did not live to see the full implementation on currency.