Why did the United States of America declare its independence from England in 1776?
If you know the answer to this question, you are — tragically — in the minority. A recent civics quiz conducted by the Cato Institute yielded some alarming results: More than half of test-takers — ages 18 and older — couldn’t correctly explain why the 13 original colonies issued the Declaration of Independence.
This startling ignorance is demonstrative of an existential educational crisis taking place across the United States. Increasingly, Americans are unable to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of “the basics” of our nation’s history — everything from the Constitutional Convention to the freedoms our Founding Fathers secured and codified.
The Founding Fathers shared a bold vision of liberty that shaped our great nation through their courage and sacrifice. As Americans, it is our responsibility to understand and appreciate the cost at which our freedom was secured, so that every generation will want to continue to fight to preserve it.
Sadly, the adage that “freedom is not free” is lost on far too many Americans.
Understanding our history and how our government works serves … as the bedrock upon which patriotism and love of America stand.
Understanding our history and how our government works serves not only as the foundation of informed citizenship but also as the bedrock upon which patriotism and love of America stand. Without a shared grounding in our founding principles, how can Americans appreciate the sacrifices made to create and sustain our nation? How can we debate policies, defend liberties, or hold leaders accountable?
Civic education is essential to preserving our great republic — and it’s time to take action to ensure that every American understands our history, honors our past, and appreciates our freedoms.
This is the perfect moment to make revitalizing civic education a national priority.
Next year, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial — or its 250th anniversary. This milestone is the impetus behind projects like America250, a nationwide civics education initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Education and dozens of allied organizations. America250 seeks to inspire Americans to reflect on our shared past, strengthen their love of country, and renew their commitment to democratic ideals.
America250 plans to meet citizens where they are: fairs, campuses, and community events. In fact, the coalition recently held an event in Harrisburg to kick off its “History Rocks!” tour. The organization’s mobile unit and scholarship programs aim to translate our nation’s history more effectively than traditional lectures. With hands-on learning, such moments can transform abstract constitutional principles into tangible lessons for younger generations.
But one exhibit day per year won’t turn the tide. Instead, restoring civic education also demands that we fundamentally rethink how we educate future generations of Americans.
Since 2013, per-student spending on public schools has grown by 56 percent. Despite years of increased funding in public education, nationwide academic underachievement has become the norm. The latest round of the National Assessment of Educational Progress — also known as the Nation’s Report Card—showed sizable dips in math and reading scores.
For civic learning to stick, families and communities need diverse schools and programs that emphasize civic literacy. With a wide array of educational settings — traditional public schools alongside cyber charters, homeschooling, private schools, and other alternative educational models — civic knowledge will become an ecosystem rather than an afterthought.
And to achieve this educational ecosystem, we must fund students, not broken systems.
One by one, states continue to embrace tax-credit scholarships, educational savings accounts, and a multitude of choice-based programs that provide direct funding to kids and families — especially those in low-income communities plagued with failing schools — to afford the education of their choice. And with the advent of a new federal scholarship program, the momentum for increased educational options has never been stronger.
When parents and kids can choose schools, curricula, and extracurricular programs that align with their values and priorities, they are more likely to opt for robust civics instruction.
This freedom also instills greater civic engagement and trust in public institutions. A recent research review shows positive links between educational choice and a range of civic outcomes, such as increased political tolerance, volunteerism, political knowledge, political participation, social capital, civic skills, and patriotism. Other research confirms these findings.
July 4, 2026, marks a historic milestone in the Great American Experiment. I am excited to celebrate the birth of our great nation — both with a deep and heartfelt sense of national pride and with beloved American traditions, such as hot dogs and fireworks.
I love America, and I want you to love it, too. Our founding ideals are only as strong as our collective understanding of them. Our precious constitutional republic can only survive when our fellow citizens understand their vital role in protecting and preserving it.
By empowering Americans with the civic education they need to preserve our country, we will ensure that future generations inherit not just the memory of 1776 but also the knowledge, gratitude, and resolve to keep its promise alive for another 250 years and longer.
Megan Martin, a former state Senate parliamentarian, is the chief operating officer and general counsel for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank, and represents the foundation as a member of the A250 Civics Education Coalition.
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