Born in 1855, Francis Bellamy left his footprints  in the foundations of American culture.  Bellamy was educated in New York and once attempted to run for governor.  He graduated from seminary and his heart's desire was to be a Baptist minister.  Francis was also good at writing and editing and was often solicited as an author.   As a young student he was influenced by the French Revolution and its quest for individual liberty.  
     At one of the churches Bellamy served, Catholic immigrants moved into the neighborhood and displaced his congregation.  He lost his congregation because of depleted offerings from the change in population.  Francis had a rich history of working with poor people and his churches often had an ongoing benevolent ministry.  This had a profound impact on his economics and he became an active socialist.  He wrote for and organized socialists in his region.  In 1891, this would lead to his being forced out of his church when business men in the congregation feared his socialist leanings and wanted him to vacate the pulpit.
     Francis often wrote for youth Christian periodicals.  He was asked to write a piece for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus.  This piece was published in the youth magazine and drew a great deal of attention.  Being a product of the North during the Civil War and facing an influx of immigrants in his region, Francis sought to write some prose that could help unite the nation as one.  He was asked to write a pledge to the American flag for public school children to recite daily.  He wrote the words, "I pledge allegiance to my flag the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, and with liberty and justice for all."   This was published in 1885.
     Later on the Daughters of the American Revolution added "of the United States of America."  In 1954 Dwight Eisenhower added the words "under God" to take a shot at the Communists during the cold war.  Bellamy worked with the National Education Association to come up with the pledge of allegiance.  The pledge was designed to be used in public schools.  Catholic schools were the private version and Bellamy used his writing to attack the idea of private schools that did not unify the country.  
     Patriotism and public schools are thus joined at the hip.  The schools were to unify the country and educate the populace.  This concept was organized around the pledge which all comes from a socialist Baptist minister.  
     Bellamy loved public education.  He did allow Bible reading in schools according to some sources.  Francis was to prove to have some racist views as well as suffering from xenophobia by some of his publications.  He was at one time against prohibition, then later on in old age changed his mind.  His ideas on public schools and patriotism as well as separation of church and state are noteworthy.  He wanted the school and church to be kept separate.  He is a stark contrast to many Baptist ministers of today who dare to embrace government support of Christian schools under the euphemism of "school choice."