History Alive! America's Past Essays - 5 views
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Francis Bellamy had an idea. The year 1892 was the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America.
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l3east on 24 Oct 13An idea was created for Columbus discovery
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he pledge was also printed up and sent to schools all across the country. Bellamy’s idea was a great success. On October 12, 1892, more than 12 million schoolchildren celebrated Columbus Day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge became so popular that Americans have been reciting it ever since
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a single country,
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Think about these words the next time you pledge allegiance to the flag. Remember that you are promising to be loyal to the ideas that make America a special place. And that means helping your country to be its very best.
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people get to elect those who make the laws. Bellamy believed that being loyal to America meant being loyal to this idea.
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e" had special meaning for Bellamy, too. Only 30 years before, the United States had fought a terrible civil war. Back then, the nation had nearly broken in two.
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people still remembered slavery. And too many people were still not treated fairly, especially women and African Americans.
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Bellamy included the words "with liberty and justice for all." He wanted Americans to help their country live up to its promises.
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Bellamy sat down and wrote some words for children to recite while they saluted the flag. He called his words "The Pledge of Allegiance."
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Bellamy’s idea was a great success. On October 12, 1892, more than 12 million schoolchildren celebrated Columbus Day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
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In the Pledge, Bellamy is saying, "We can never let such a thing happen again. We are one country, forever."
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That’s why Bellamy included the words "with liberty and justice for all." He wanted Americans to help their country live up to its promises.
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he put in the Pledge of Allegiance. Since then, a few of the words have been changed. In particular, the words "Under God" were added by Congress in 1954. But most of the Pledge is exactly the way Bellamy wrote it.