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Flag of the State of Georgia
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The Firm Foundation of the State of Georgia

On this day in 1788, Georgia ratifies the U.S. Constitution to become the fourth state in the Union.

First, here is the Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Georgia:

“To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”

Strong Supports

Second, this is the Georgia Law description of the State Seal, featured on the State Flag, pictured below:

“[T]hree pillars supporting an arch, with the word ‘Constitution’ engraved within the same, emblematic of the Constitution, supported by the three departments of government, namely the legislative, judicial, and executive. The first pillar has engraved upon a scroll ‘Wisdom,’ the second, ‘Justice,’ the third, ‘Moderation’; between the second and third pillars a man stands with a drawn sword, representing the aid of the military in the defense of the Constitution…”

The Georgia State Mott is, appropriately, “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.”

Finally, all of this is supported by the firmest of foundations, and Our National Motto: “In God We Trust.” 

Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation — In God We Trust; these make a great basis for resolutions heading in to a new year.

Flag of the State of Georgia

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The State of Iowa : Grateful and Dependent

On this day in 1846, Iowa becomes the 29th state in the Union.

First, here is the Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Iowa:

“WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the State of Iowa…”

Liberty and Rights

The State Motto, on the flag and State Seal, is “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain.”

 

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Coat of Arms of Alabama
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Alabama, Audemus, and Andrew the Apostle

On this day in 1819, Alabama becomes the 22nd state of the United States of America.

First, the beginning of its Constitution:

“We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama:”

ARTICLE I.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

That the great, general, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare:

1. That all men are equally free and independent; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Audemus

Appropriately, then, the state motto of Alabama is “Audemus jura nostra defendere,” which means “We dare defend our rights.” This motto is found in the coat of arms of the state, depicted below. This image illustrates the complex colonial and confederate history of the state, and also, our country.

Andrew the Apostle

Finally, the flag of the State of Alabama is a crimson Saint Andrew’s Cross on a field of white. Andrew the Apostle is, of course, the brother of Simon Peter. He was crucified on a diagonal cross, or saltire, now commonly known as a “Saint Andrew’s Cross.”

 

Coat of Arms of Alabama

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Flag of Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania : Liberty and Convincing Proofs

On this day in 1787, Pennsylvania becomes the second state when it ratifies the U.S. Constitution, which, of course, was drafted in Philadelphia.

In fact, that ratifying convention also occurred at the Pennsylvania State House, which we now know as Independence Hall.

Liberty

Indeed, those delegates were inclined to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” as stated in the U.S. Constitution.
The text of the Preamble of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes that abundantly clear.

“PREAMBLE
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”

“Convincing Proofs”

Though born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was among those Pennsylvania delegates to the the Constitutional Convention. There, he urged the Assembly toward morning “prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on [their] deliberations.”
In so doing, he made the famous quote below, which inspired one of Our shirts.

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

See it in Our shop:

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs”

 

Flag of Pennsylvania

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Flag of Indiana
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Indiana : Crossroads and the Creator

On this day in 1816, Indiana, the Hoosier state, becomes the nineteenth state in the Union.

First, here is the Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Indiana:

“TO THE END, that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated; WE, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to ALMIGHTY GOD for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution.”

Then, we see that the first part of the Constitution of the “Crossroads of America,” the Indiana state motto, contains a considerable amount of crossover with the Declaration of Independence:

“ARTICLE 1. Bill of Rights
Section 1. Inherent rights
Section 1. WE DECLARE, That all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”

Lastly, here is the nearly identical text from the Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Flag of Indiana

 

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Seal of Maryland
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State of Maryland: “As with a shield”

On this day in 1788, Maryland, one of the original 13 colonies and also known as “The Old Line State,” become the seventh state in the Union.

First, here is the opening of the “Declaration of Rights” from the Constitution of Maryland:

“We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare… .”

The Shield and the Psalm

Latin text encircles the seal.
“Scuto bonæ voluntatis tuæ coronasti nos” translates to: “With favor Wilt Thou Compass Us as with a Shield.” 

Psalm 5:12 inspired that text. It reads, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

Seal of Maryland

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Seal of North Carolina

North Carolina becomes the 12th State

On this day in 1789, North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution, thereby becoming the twelfth state in the Union.

First, the date of May 20, 1775 on the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina refers to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. This debated document was allegedly the first ‘declaration of independence’ adopted during the American Revolution.

So, this is the third resolution from that document:
“Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self–governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.”

Next, the representation of the figure of Liberty, standing, holds a scroll with the word “Constitution” in her right hand.

Appropriately, then, here is the Preamble of the North Carolina State Constitution:

Preamble

We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.

 

Seal of North Carolina

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Nevada State Seal

The State of Nevada : Battle Born, All for Our Country

On this day in 1864, the United States Congress admits “Battle Born” Nevada as the 36th state in the Union.

Notice the timing toward the end of the Civil War: statehood was indeed ‘battle born.’ Additionally, “Battle Born” is one of the state’s mottos, and it appears on the state flag.

By strategically appointing territorial officials, President Abraham Lincoln had put in place the support he needed for reelection. This also helped secure votes for his proposed 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States.

“All for Our Country,” indeed.

Here is the Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Nevada:

PREAMBLE.

We the people of the State of Nevada Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect Government, do establish this Constitution.

 Nevada State Seal

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