July 30, 1956 - "In God We Trust" Becomes Official U.S. Motto

1957 Series $1 Silver Certificate featuring "In God We Trust." Public-domain U.S. currency design (U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing); example image shown for educational purposes.

Although "In God We Trust" had appeared on some United States coins since the Civil War, it was not officially recognized as the nation's motto until Congress acted on July 30, 1956. Amid the tensions of the Cold War and growing concern over atheistic communism, lawmakers sought to distinguish the United States from the officially atheist Soviet Union by affirming the country's historic belief in God.

On July 30, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a Joint Resolution declaring "In God We Trust" to be the official motto of the United States. The following year, the phrase began appearing on all paper currency, joining the coins on which it had already been printed for decades.

The adoption of the motto reflected more than political rhetoric. For many Americans, it expressed a longstanding conviction that the nation's freedoms and institutions ultimately rested on dependence upon God rather than government. While its meaning and application have been debated in the years since, "In God We Trust" remains the official national motto today and continues to appear on all U.S. coins and paper currency.

Why It Matters

The adoption of "In God We Trust" as the official U.S. motto illustrates how faith has influenced American public life throughout the nation's history. Whether viewed as a declaration of national identity or a reflection of the country's religious heritage, the motto remains one of the most recognizable expressions of America's historical connection between faith and civic life.