lesson
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Every morning at school, millions of kids stand up, place their right hand over their heart, and look at the American flag. But what are you actually saying when you speak those words?
Why do we make this promise every single day?
Making a Promise
A pledge is a serious promise you make. Allegiance means loyalty, like being a faithful teammate who never lets their team down.
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So when you say the first line, you are promising to be a loyal friend and helper to the United States.
What do the rest of the words in the pledge mean?
The Words We Say
In 1892, a man named Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance to help Americans feel united as one big family. Here are the exact words we recite today:
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Some of those words sound big and tricky, so let's break them down into simple ideas.
Big Words, Simple Meanings
A republic is a country where citizens vote to choose their leaders, instead of being ruled by a king or queen.