America's Money and God - Could There Be a Connection?

Some Americans don't know that "In God We Trust" is actually the United States national motto, not just a phrase on our money. How did it become the motto, and how did it get on the currency?

Faith-based inscriptions have existed on coins in America since the 1690's colonies. The particular phrase "In God We Trust" first formally appeared on United States coins in 1864 when strong sentiments of faith emerged among soldiers and citizens on both sides during the Civil War.

But it wasn't until nearly a hundred years later that "In God We Trust" became the official U.S. national motto, with an Act of Congress in 1956 (U.S. Code 36 U.S. 302). With this as federal law, it was first placed on paper money around the same time. One of Congress' justifications was so that people would rely on God, not money, because the mid 1950's was a very wealthy, thriving time for America compared to the depression and World War II.

In 1963, the Murray v. Curlett case petitioned the government to remove scheduled prayer from public school (the case named after atheist activist Madeline Murray O'Hair - sometimes spelled O'Hare). This was consolidated with the case Abingdon v. Schempp, and in 1963 prayer was removed.

Why does this landmark Supreme Court case relate to "In God We Trust"?
After this case, more individuals and organizations had the courage to openly object to public declarations of biblical faith that appeared to be federally endorsed.

In the most well-known recent case to remove "In God We Trust" from our money (2006), Michael Newdow sued to remove the phrase. Newdow is the man best known for wanting "Under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. A federal court decided that the phrase could remain as a secular national slogan which is a history lesson in the country's founding, not to dictate the citizens' beliefs.

But some people continued their objections to "In God We Trust" while others didn't want it removed. What was the government to do? They arrived at a compromise.

Announcement of new coin minting after the November 2006 election:
After the November 2006 election, Congress announced that beginning in February 2007, "In God We Trust" would be moved to the rim of new Presidential coins instead of printed clearly on one side. The rim was also changed from ridged to smooth. The excuse: To allow space for larger portraits of the Presidents. But with a little wear and tear, the print on the rim will rub off. It was yet to be decided whether to move the phrase on other coins.

What has occurred since the 2006 decision to de-emphasize "In God We Trust" on coins?
- Prior to the 2006 election and the coin decision, the average gas price was $1.50-2.00. Afterward it began a slow but steady escalation.
- By summer of 2008, gas had reached over $4.00 a gallon.
-In February 2006, the unemployment rate was at a 5-year low of 4.7%. The Dow Jones hit a record high and Americans were buying cars and houses.
-By September of 2008, according to the Dept. of Labor, unemployment was at 6.1%. The Dow Jones had begun a sliding downward spiral and we were in the midst of the economic crisis starting with AIG. The housing market had crashed and foreclosures were at an all-time high.

It is assumed by many that the decision to remove "In God We Trust" from those coins was the first step to eliminating all faith-based wording from American public life, institutions and buildings. This will be very hard to do. It's carved all over the federal buildings in Washington, D.C. from the Supreme Court to the Presidential monuments.

All of the United States have some sort of acknowledgment of God and/or Divine Providence in the Preamble to their State Constitution. See Associated Content writer Linda Louise Johnson's article, What's In The Preamble To Your State Constitution, giving examples of godly statements from these preambles.

A vast majority of the American population is against removing "In God We Trust":
A Feb-March 2009 NBC POLL asked: Should the motto "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency? NBC had 12,153,698 responses - over 12 million people. The results:
86% - No, do not remove. Only 14% said Yes. So why are we being told nobody wants to hear about faith? Who is this powerful lobby telling everyone that those who have faith in God are a minority and should be silent?

Remember one of the reasons for "In God We Trust" as the U.S. motto? For Americans to depend on God, not money? My state, Florida, which also has "In God We Trust" as its motto, has just expanded gambling to bring in more money for education, while still cutting school budgets. Other states are repealing "blue laws" which kept liquor from being sold on Sunday, because they need the liquor revenue. Could there be a connection between efforts to remove "In God We Trust" and the downturn in our economy?

(This writer is not receiving any remuneration or compensation from any source mentioned in the text or below).
Sources:
History of In God We Trust on money:http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml and http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3244/is_4_44/ai_n28968860/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22.
U.S. Code 36 U.S. 302, Establishment of National motto: http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/36C3.txt.
2006 case upholding In God We Trust on Money: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3944/is_200607/ai_n17178227/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust.
Murray v. Curlett consolidated with AbingtonTownshipSchool District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963). http://supreme.justia.com/us/374/203/case.html.
Feb-March 2009 NBC POLL:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521.
2006 Compared with 2008:
Consumer confidence: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/CreativeConsumer/story?id=2603149&page=1.
Dow Jones: http://www.nyse.tv/dow-jones-industrial-average-history-djia.htm.
Gas prices: http://zfacts.com/p/35.html.
Unemployment: http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/03/news/economy/jobs_january/index.htm.