It is historically factual and undeniable that "America" our great nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles as written in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The founders understood that our rights came from God and not from the government as illustrated through their numerous writings, speehes, and laws passed. As President Thomas Jefferson said,"The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time" and wrote in his manuscript, Notes on the State of Virginia, ‘can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever.’
During the civil war there was an increase in religious sentiment and the Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons from all across the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on the United States coins. The will of the people was honored and Congress passed legislation in 1864 and In God We Trust first appeared on the two-cent coin that same year, and by 1909 it was on most other coins. On July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress passed a law signed by President Eisenhower declaring In God We Trust the national motto of the United States. The following year, In God We Trust appeared on paper currency for the first time.
Source: www.treasury.gov; www.allabouthistory.org
IN GOD WE TRUST is still our national motto. Let these words remind all of us free Americans that it is God who gave us our basic human rights and freedom we love and not the government. The Bill of Rights outlines these very rights and freedoms that no government should be allowed to infringe upon or take away. It is God who we must trust, worship and serve individually and as a nation, so that we can continue to receive God's blessings, abundance, peace, joy, and grace.