The Story Behind Kentucky’s “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
The phrase “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” might sound like it was forged in the crucible of the Civil War or etched into the Constitution itself—but its roots are older, and its adoption by Kentucky is a story of both intention and historical coincidence. Officially added to the state seal on December 20, 1792, just months after Kentucky became the 15th state in the Union, the motto was meant to reflect the precarious nature of unity on the American frontier. At the time, the young republic was still experimenting with federalism, and Kentucky—carved from Virginia’s western lands—was a literal and symbolic bridge between East and West, North and South.
The origin of the phrase, however, predates Kentucky’s statehood. It first appeared in 1768 in “The Liberty Song,” a pre-Revolutionary War anthem penned by Founding Father John Dickinson. The lyrics—“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”—carried a clear message of colonial solidarity against British rule. That sentiment, steeped in Enlightenment ideals and revolutionary fervor, made the phrase ripe for adoption by a state that would soon find itself straddling sectional tensions in the decades to come.
But there’s a deeper layer. The phrase also echoes an ancient moral from Aesop’s fables, in which a father teaches his sons the power of unity by showing how a bundle of sticks is unbreakable, while each stick alone snaps easily. By the late 18th century, this moral had been absorbed into the American political lexicon, and Kentucky’s founders saw it as more than a slogan—it was a survival strategy. On the state seal, two men—one in buckskin fringe, the other in formal dress—shake hands beneath the motto, embodying the alliance between frontier settlers and the political establishment. It was a visual pledge: unity wasn’t just idealistic, it was essential.
That Kentucky chose this phrase so early in its statehood speaks volumes. It wasn’t just poetic—it was prophetic. As the only state admitted to the Union in 1792, Kentucky would later sit uncomfortably on the border between Union and Confederacy during the Civil War. The motto, once aspirational, became a haunting reminder of what division could cost. And yet, it endured—etched into the state’s identity and later echoed across the nation in times of crisis, from World War II to 9/11. What began as a lyric in a colonial protest song became one of the most enduring calls for unity in American political culture.
How a Printer’s Error Cemented the Phrase in History
In the early days of Kentucky statehood, precision in printing wasn’t exactly a guarantee—and that may have been just the stroke of luck needed to immortalize one of America’s most iconic mottos. When the Kentucky General Assembly adopted the state’s official seal on December 20, 1792, they intended to reflect unity and resilience. The phrase “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” drawn from John Dickinson’s 1768 “Liberty Song,” had already become a rallying cry in revolutionary circles. But here’s where things get murky—and fascinating. According to some historical accounts, what was meant to be a temporary inscription or even a placeholder phrase may have been cemented into permanence due to a simple printer’s error during the seal’s initial production.
At the time, reprinting official documents wasn’t a casual fix—it was an expensive, labor-intensive process. So when the phrase appeared on the state seal, possibly through miscommunication or typographical oversight, it was easier to leave it than to reprint entire batches of official material. As Claude.ai notes, once the phrase began appearing on government seals and public documents, it quickly gained traction and symbolic weight. The people of Kentucky embraced it—not as a mistake, but as a powerful statement of unity in a new republic still defining itself. Over time, what may have been an accidental inclusion became a deliberate emblem of collective strength, proving that sometimes, history doesn’t just repeat itself—it misprints itself into legend.
The Original Intent vs. the Accidental Final Version
Kentucky’s state motto—“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”—sounds like it was forged in the fire of revolution, and in a way, it was. But the version we know today may not have been what the commonwealth’s founders originally had in mind. According to historical records from the early 1790s, when Kentucky was carving out its post-frontier identity, the design committee charged with creating the state seal and motto initially proposed a slightly different phrase: “United We Stand Strong, Divided We Falter.” This version emphasized resilience and gradual decline rather than catastrophic collapse—a sentiment perhaps more in line with the pragmatic spirit of a young, agrarian state.
But then came the twist. During the typesetting of official state documents, a printer allegedly omitted the word “Strong” and replaced “Falter” with the more forceful “Fall.” Whether by accident or expediency, the new version—shorter, bolder, and undeniably punchier—stuck. And by the time the error was noticed, it had already been stamped onto government seals and printed across official correspondence. Reprinting everything would’ve been expensive, so state officials let it ride. Ironically, this so-called mistake gave Kentucky a motto that was not only easier to remember but also more evocative—a slogan that echoed the revolutionary rhetoric of the era and resonated deeply with its frontier population.
That said, some sources challenge the idea of a typo altogether. The phrase “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” dates back to John Dickinson’s 1768 anthem “The Liberty Song,” one of the first patriotic hymns of the American Revolution. So it’s entirely possible Kentucky’s founders intentionally pulled from that cultural wellspring when choosing the motto in 1792. Regardless of whether it was born of error or design, the phrase captured the essence of a new state seeking cohesion in a young republic still defining itself. And perhaps that’s the real story here—not just how a typo may have shaped history, but how meaning sometimes emerges more clearly when stripped of embellishment.
Why No One Corrected the Mistake—And How It Gained Popularity
You’d think a state motto born from a typo would be quickly scrubbed from official use—especially one etched into seals, flags, and public consciousness. But Kentucky’s “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” didn’t just survive what many believe was a printer’s slip; it thrived. The phrase first appeared in John Dickinson’s 1768 “Liberty Song,” where the original line read, “By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.” Somewhere between Dickinson’s pen and Kentucky’s 1792 state seal, the wording shifted. Whether this was a deliberate editorial choice or a typesetter’s error remains debated—but what’s clear is that no one rushed to fix it.
Why? For one, official documentation in the 18th century didn’t undergo the rigorous proofreading we expect today. Changing a phrase already in circulation would have required re-engraving seals, recalling documents, and possibly inviting political scrutiny. But more crucially, the phrase resonated. Amid the volatile frontier environment and the post-Revolutionary push for unity, Kentuckians embraced the motto’s blunt clarity. It captured the ethos of survival through solidarity—something deeply felt in a state straddling North and South, especially during the Civil War era.
Over time, repetition bred reverence. The phrase appeared on public buildings, in speeches, and eventually on the Kentucky state flag. What may have started as a mistake became a moral compass—proof that sometimes, history doesn’t need perfection to be powerful.
How the Motto Embodied Kentucky’s Frontier Spirit
Kentucky’s motto, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” wasn’t just a slogan—it was a survival strategy. In the late 18th century, when the state was still a rugged outpost beyond the Appalachian frontier, unity wasn’t optional. It was the only way settlers could hold their ground. The phrase, formally adopted in December 1792 by Kentucky’s first General Assembly, captured the cooperative ethos that defined life in early settlements like Boonesborough and Harrodsburg. These were not just towns—they were fortified lifelines, where families banded together against isolation, wilderness, and frequent conflict with Native tribes resisting encroachment on their lands.
The motto’s roots trace back to “The Liberty Song,” a Revolutionary War-era ballad that echoed themes of collective resolve. That patriotic origin wasn’t lost on Kentucky’s founding leaders, who saw the phrase as a cultural adhesive in a state defined by both fierce independence and mutual reliance. Figures like Daniel Boone and Henry Clay—frontiersman and statesman—symbolized this duality. Boone blazed trails; Clay built institutions. Together, they embodied the frontier spirit of self-reliance tempered by communal responsibility. Even the state seal, depicting two men clasping hands, reinforces the message: no single Kentuckian could stand alone for long. In a land of dense forests and political uncertainty, unity wasn’t just noble—it was necessary.
The Spread of the Phrase Beyond State Borders
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” may have originated as Kentucky’s state motto, but it didn’t stay home for long. Like a catchy chorus that transcends its original tune, the phrase quickly found its way into the national lexicon—especially when the stakes were high and unity felt like a fragile, necessary ideal. During the Civil War, the motto became more than just a slogan etched in state documents; it became a rallying cry for the Union, symbolizing the existential need for national cohesion in the face of secession and fragmentation. Kentucky, a border state with divided loyalties, used the phrase as both a declaration and a plea—etched in marble on a stone contributed to the Washington Monument in 1850, as a literal and symbolic offering to the Union’s cause.
But the motto didn’t stop there. It reemerged in the American conscience during both World Wars, printed on posters, sewn into flags, and spoken in speeches that emphasized collective sacrifice. Even earlier, the phrase appeared in “The Liberty Song” of 1768, predating Kentucky’s statehood, showing how deeply embedded the idea of unity already was in American revolutionary rhetoric. Over time, it became a favorite among educators, activists, and politicians alike—gracing school walls, public monuments, and even university seals, like that of the University of Kentucky.
Today, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” is more than a state motto—it’s practically a national mantra. Whether invoked after national tragedies like 9/11 or during political inaugurations, the phrase continues to serve as a reminder that the American experiment, for all its tensions and contradictions, is held together by the idea that unity is strength. And to think—it may never have reached this level of prominence if not for a simple typesetting error that froze it in time.
How a Simple Typo Became a National Symbol of Unity
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” sounds like the kind of phrase you’d expect to see stitched into a Revolutionary War banner or carved into the marble of a neoclassical monument. And in a way, you wouldn’t be far off. But here’s the twist: despite persistent lore about a printer’s typo giving rise to Kentucky’s now-iconic motto, historical records tell a different—and arguably more fascinating—story. The phrase didn’t emerge from a typesetting blunder, but from the pen of Founding Father John Dickinson, who wrote it into his 1768 “Liberty Song,” a rallying cry for colonial unity against British tyranny. It was catchy, bold, and easy to remember—exactly what a young republic needed.
Kentucky officially adopted the phrase in 1792 when it became the 15th state of the Union. Engraved on its Great Seal, the motto paired beautifully with the image of two men—often interpreted as a frontiersman and a statesman—shaking hands, symbolizing alliance across differences. Over time, especially during periods of national crisis like the Civil War and World Wars, the phrase transcended state lines. It popped up in military slogans, political speeches, and even wartime posters, morphing into a broader American credo. So while no typo birthed it, the phrase’s accidental rise to national prominence speaks volumes about the power of simple words to unite a complicated country.
