Citizens of many countries revere their flag, but only the United States has a Pledge of Allegiance. Why? Contrary to common opinion, it is not because we are especially patriotic. Rather, it is...

Citizens of many countries revere their flag, but only the United States has a Pledge of Allegiance. Why? Contrary to common opinion, it is not because we are especially patriotic. Rather, it is because we are capitalists.

In 1892, the magazine Youth’s Companion was selling American flags to its readers, and it introduced the pledge as part of its advertising campaign. The success of the pledge as a sales tool spurred President Benjamin Harrison to think it would be a good way to promote recognition of the American flag among immigrants. So, he decreed that it be recited daily in the schools. It was not officially recognized as the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States until 1945, and the words “under God” were introduced in 1954.