9781422287545

11 “Come and Hear What I’ve Got!”

The National School Celebration in 1892 was held to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s landing in America.

When Bellamy returned to his office that night, he picked up a pencil and got to work. He started with the word “allegiance.” He then decided that “pledge” would be a better word for children than “vow” or “swear.” Next, he opted for the first person—“I”—instead of the “we” used in the earlier salute. And before he knew it, he had the first part finished: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands.” Then, thinking of the Civil War that had divided the country only 30 years earlier, Bellamy scribbled down three words: “one nation, indivisible .” He felt he was almost there. He thought about ending the pledge with a popular slogan from the French Revolution—“liberty, fraternity , equality”—but went one step further. Asking