Florida's State Motto: "In God We Trust" — From Territorial Seal to National Standard

Florida's official motto, "In God We Trust," was adopted by the legislature in 1979—but its roots run through the state's entire post-Civil War history and connect directly to the national motto adopted by Congress in 1956.

The Evolution

Why the 1979 Change?

The shift from "In God Is Our Trust" to "In God We Trust" wasn't theological—it was political and symbolic. By 1979:

• The national motto ("In God We Trust," 1956) had appeared on all U.S. currency since 1957
• Florida's variant was increasingly seen as an anachronism
• Legislators wanted consistency with federal identity during a period of renewed emphasis on national symbols (post-Bicentennial, Cold War context)

Historical Context

• 1861–1865: "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. coins (2¢ piece, 1864) amid Civil War religiosity
• 1956: Congress made it the official national motto (P.L. 84-851), replacing the de facto "E Pluribus Unum"
• 1957: First appeared on paper currency ($1 silver certificate)
• 2002: Florida re-codified the motto in §15.0301 after a failed legal challenge (establishment clause)

On the State Seal

The motto appears on Florida's Great Seal (redesigned 1985), encircling a Seminole woman scattering hibiscus flowers, a steamboat, a sabal palm, and the sun—with "In God We Trust" arched above and "Great Seal of the State of Florida" below.

Legal Status

Florida Statute §15.0301 designates "In God We Trust" as the state motto. Courts have upheld it against Establishment Clause challenges, citing its "ceremonial deism" character—historical, cultural, and patriotic rather than narrowly sectarian.

Florida joins 27 other states with mottos referencing God; it's one of the few whose motto exactly matches the national motto—a deliberate alignment nearly 130 years in the making.