E Pluribus Unum: 1776 Seal Choice and 1956 Motto Shift

The Latin phrase meaning out of many one was selected in 1776 for the Great Seal of the United States and continues to appear on that seal along with many U.S. coins.

Core Meaning and Early Record

Verified records establish that the phrase was chosen in 1776 to represent the union of the original states into one nation. It carries the direct translation out of many one and has remained visible on the Great Seal and coinage without holding the formal status of national motto.

1956 Congressional Action

Congress adopted In God We Trust as the official national motto in 1956. This step replaced E pluribus unum in the formal motto role while leaving the earlier phrase on the seal and coins. The 1956 date marks the point at which the original selection lost its official designation.

Symbolic Function Without Legal Status

Sources confirm that the phrase operates as a symbolic motto rather than a slogan carrying legal status. The interpretive description of it as a choice aligns with the evidence that its presence on the seal and coins reflects historical selection rather than current statutory requirement. No quantitative data on usage frequency or public opinion appears in the available records.

The documented timeline therefore rests on two fixed dates: the 1776 selection for the Great Seal and the 1956 adoption of the replacement motto. These dates provide the measurable markers for the phrase's shift from formal motto to enduring symbol. Further review of primary documents from those years can clarify how the change was implemented across federal materials.