The Civil War was the inspiration for “In God We Trust” to be included on U.S. coins. The war did an excellent job of increasing religious sentiment. At the time, the secretary of the treasury had received many letters from devoted Christians throughout the country that expressed an overwhelming plea to have the government recognize God on U.S. currency.
The people were impassioned by their unshakable faith in God and Country. In God, We Trust first appeared on the 1864 two cent coins, and this was the first time that national recognition of God became commonplace in a civilized society.