The Original (1892)
Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. It was first shared widely through the official program for the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day. The text was printed in The Youth’s Companion on September 8, 1892, and mailed to schools across the country as leaflets. The first version was:
Modifications to the Pledge of Allegiance
Early Updates (1923–1924)
- 1923: “My Flag” was changed to “the Flag of the United States.” The reason was that some foreign-born people might think of their birth country’s flag instead of the U.S. flag.
- 1924: The words “of America” were added, so it became “the Flag of the United States of America.”
Official Federal Recognition (1942–1945)
- June 22, 1942: Congress officially recognized the Pledge for the first time by including it in the U.S. Flag Code. At that same time, Congress set the current rule that people should recite it with their right hand over their heart.
- 1945: The text was officially named “The Pledge of Allegiance.”
The “Under God” Change (1954)
- June 14, 1954: On Flag Day, Congress passed a law adding “under God” after “one nation.”
A Proposed Future Change (250th Anniversary)
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of Independence (in 2026), some groups—specifically the American Patriot Pledge Allegiance Association—have proposed a revised version they call the “American Oath of Citizenship.” This is not yet official law, but the proposed wording is:
How Official Changes Work
The current text is protected by the U.S. Flag Code (a federal law). Because it is written into law, any future official changes must be approved by Congress and signed by the President—meaning presidential consent is required as part of the process.