The motto for the state of Missouri is "Salus populi suprema lex esto," which is Latin for "The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law." This motto was adopted in 1822, and can be seen on the official state seal on the Missouri flag. The state seal shows two Grizzly bears holding the seal of the United States as well as the words "united we stand, divided we fall."
The more popular slogan of Missouri is "the show me state." There is no direct reason why this ended up as the state slogan, but it has been embraced by the state and can be seen on everything from T-shirts to license plates. Missourians are proud of their motto, as it portrays people who are dedicated to their values and principals.
There are many different accounts as to why Missouri is known as the "Show Me" state. Some historians believe that it came from a speech given by Williard Vandiver, who said "I'm from Missouri and you have got to show me." Other historians argue that it came from Missourians leaving the state to work in the mines and needing to be giving instructions often. Regardless of the history behind the slogan, it is far more popular than the actual state motto.
However, the actual state motto is unique as it is only one of three state mottoes that mention "the people." Missourians historically are known as stubborn and independent people. The people of Missouri were shown to take care of the welfare of those in their state first, and worry about what's going on outside second. A good example of this is during the Prohibition: Missourians tended to be not as heavy-handed about the laws as perhaps some other states were at the time.
Missouri is a state with a rich heritage and history. The residents are diverse and ranged from southern small towns to modern urban developments. The motto proclaiming that the welfare of the people is above all shows how committed to democracy this state has always been.
