The Pledge Of Allegiance Analysis

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower was building what he termed a “spiritual arsenal” for the defense of America against the atheistic communism of the USSR. Eisenhower’s combination of military acumen and sudden spiritual commitment made him a unique defender of home and faith. As the Cold War waged on, Eisenhower, the former General, had one more battle to wage in defense of his country. This was a war of ideology fought in the hearts and minds of the combatants. However, as the USSR embraced an atheistic society, Americans embraced religion with a new enthusiasm. Eisenhower famously said, “Our form of government has no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt religious faith, and I don’t care what it is." Eisenhower had the faith of an undeclared denomination. What does this tell …show more content…

The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, the son of David Bellamy, who “ably preached the gospel in churches across New York” (Ellis 10) and his second wife, Lucy Ann, described as “profoundly religious” (Ellis 10). Bellamy was raised in a devoutly religious home of charity and mutual aid to all. American capitalism was an abomination to him. Bellamy helped to create The Society of Christian Socialists, to “show that the aim of socialism is embraced in the aim of Christianity” and “that the teachings of Jesus Christ lead directly to some specific form or forms of socialism” (Ellis 27-8). Bellamy stated, “Every man shall have the equal right to work and earn bread for his family; that every child shall be taken and given as good a chance as the government can afford” (Ellis 31). In short, Bellamy was a religious socialist. Bellamy 's original Pledge read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” From its creation in 1892 until 1954, the Pledge of Allegiance made no mention of