The Decline of Civic Education

How America is Losing its Constitutional Knowledge

As a teen, my family and I lived overseas in Thailand. We arduously learned the culture, language, and all aspects of life in the Thai culture as we adapted to the drastically different way of life than what we were accustomed to in the States. One of my favorite memories is when we had people visiting us, especially those who didn’t have genuine international experience (Cancun or guided mission trips definitely didn’t prepare them in the same way). We would give them a taste of the adaptation process when their flight landed by taking them straight to a local open-air market. Armed with a shopping list and what appeared to be Monopoly money, we would set them loose and watch them experience what can only be described as trying to tread water in high tide with a weighted vest. They had no concept of how to find their objectives, or how to communicate or participate in the system to obtain their necessary items. Our friends who owned stalls at the market, as well as myself, had a great laugh at the foreigners who couldn’t figure out how to achieve such a basic task. I wish this analogy were not applicable to anything in our modern system, but, quite sadly, it is indeed. There are millions of voting-age Americans who are navigating their own political system with the same comfort, ease, and efficiency as our friends navigated their experience at the Thai market. For our nation to experience any growth and resilience, this serious condition must be remedied.

A Nation Forgetting Its Own Foundation

The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania conducts an annual Constitution Day Civics Survey. Their most recent findings revealed that 23% of American adults could name between zero and one branch of government. If that were applied to the Federal Register’s count of 262 million Americans over the age of 18, that would correlate to over 60,000,000 Americans. I will stop and let that figure sink in, as it took me a minute to comprehend that value. I know the mind has extreme difficulty rationalizing numbers so large, so for reference, the populations of California AND Texas combined are about 68 million people. Below are their poll results where the respondents were asked to identify which rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment. Equally shocking to me as the dramatic drop-off in knowledge of the First Amendment was the staggeringly high number of respondents incorrectly including Second Amendment protections, such as the right to bear arms. This is not a trivial issue!

The less people know about their government, the easier they are to manipulate, whether by political propaganda, historical revisionism, or just straight-up lies told by influential-appearing people on their screens.

In 2022, only 22% of American eighth-grade students scored at or above the ‘proficient’ level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Exam.

A survey by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) highlights the institutional rot not only in lower schools, but also its prevalence at the highest levels, finding that fewer than one-third of the nation’s leading colleges and universities require history majors to take a single course in American history. A 2024 survey of current college students showed that more students could identify the owner of Amazon (89%) or Jay-Z’s wife (75%) than could identify the year of the Constitution was written (32%), who the current Speaker of the House is (35%), which branch of government has the power to declare war (32%), or the term lengths of members of Congress (40%). These statistics highlight a disturbing trend: Americans lack basic knowledge of their own system of government. Another survey by this organization found the following results:

18% - Colleges that require students to take foundational courses in U.S. government or history

12% - College students who knew that the 13^th Amendment freed the slaves in the United States

30% - College students who thought the Equal Rights Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote

60% - College students who could not identify the term lengths for members of Congress

“Historical illiteracy is the inevitable consequence of lax college requirements, and that ignorance leads to civic disempowerment…A democratic republic cannot thrive without well-informed citizens and leaders.”

- Michael Poliakoff - ACTA’s president-elect

How Schools Abandoned Civics Education

Civics education was once a cornerstone of American schooling, ensuring students understood the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and structure of government. The 2018 Brown Center Report on American Education examined the state of civic education and found that while reading and math scores have improved in recent years, eighth-grade civics knowledge has not seen a commensurate increase. Additionally, the study also found that high school social studies teachers are among the least supported teachers in schools, and these teachers also take on additional responsibilities, such as coaching school sports, significantly more often than their colleagues. Likely due to these teachers splitting their time and efforts, seventy percent of twelfth graders say they have never written a letter to express an opinion or solve a problem, and thirty percent say they have never participated in a debate.

“It may be an easy thing to make a Republic; but it is a very laborious thing to make Republicans; and woe to the republic that rests upon no better foundations than ignorance, selfishness, and passion.”

- Horace Mann “the father of American education” (1848)

According to the Center for Civic Education, until the 1960s, it was common for American high schools to offer three courses in civics and government, and two of them (“civics” and “problems of democracy”) explored the role of citizens and encouraged students to discuss current issues. Today, such courses are very rare, as only 7 states requiring a full-year civics course for high school graduation. What remains is a course on “American government” that usually spends little time on how people can – and why they should – participate as citizens.

In 1957, the Sputnik launch by the Soviet Union sparked a wave of reforms in American education, as it became evident that the US was lagging behind in STEM fields, sparking a reinvigorated emphasis on those subjects. President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act and President Obama’s Educate to Innovate initiative further emphasized STEM education focus for the next generation. Ironically, Title 1 of the No Child Left Behind Act did not include civics education as a priority, indicating that civics education was being replaced by the more trendy subjects. Our nation is heading towards a Sputnik-level crisis in civics education, and for the good of every American, we should use every method at our disposal to avoid such a disruption.

The consequences are clear:

Less understanding of constitutional rights leads to more government overreach
Less knowledge of checks and balances leads to increased political polarization
Less focus on critical thinking leads to more susceptibility to propaganda

💡 Test Yourself: Would You Pass a 1950s Civics Exam?
Curious about how much civics knowledge has declined? Try taking this 1954 civics exam used for high school graduation here. Share this post and exam with your friends.

Did your school teach you about the Constitution, or did you have to learn it yourself? Drop your answer in the comments!

How Propaganda is Filling the Knowledge Gap

The decline in civic education has created a vacuum - one that is being filled with propaganda, political bias, and historical distortions. Historically, it took decades to see the effects of significant changes, exemplified by the phrase “history is written by the victors.” However, with technological advances, this cycle is shortening exponentially. With social media replacing textbooks and cable news soundbites replacing critical thought, history is being rewritten in real time at a pace never before seen. Here are just a few examples of misleading or false claims that have gained traction. How many did you believe?

🚨 False History That’s Gone Viral 🚨

❌ "The Constitution was written to protect slavery."
✅ Reality: The Constitution was crafted to establish a federal government and balance power among states. While it did include compromises like the Three-Fifths Clause and the Fugitive Slave Clause to appease slaveholding states, it also avoided endorsing slavery explicitly, leaving room for its eventual abolition. The framers’ debates show many opposed slavery, and provisions like the 1808 slave trade ban reflect a tension between moral unease and political necessity, not a unified intent to safeguard the institution.

❌ "The U.S. is a democracy."
✅ Reality: The U.S. is a constitutional republic—a critical distinction that affects how laws and policies are created. As such, power rests with the people but is exercised through elected representatives under a framework of laws, not direct majority rule. The Founding Fathers rejected pure democracy—where citizens vote on everything directly—fearing mob rule, as seen in the Electoral College and Senate design.

❌ "The Second Amendment only applies to militias."
✅ Reality: The Supreme Court, in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), ruled that this protects an individual right to bear arms, not just militia service. Historical context—widespread gun ownership and distrust of standing armies—supports this, showing the amendment secures a personal right while acknowledging militias are comprised of the people, and regulation referred to a level of training, not legal restrictions.

❌ "Rosa Parks was just a tired seamstress who spontaneously refused to give up her seat."
✅ Reality: Parks was a trained civil rights activist (local NAACP secretary) who had planned her act of defiance to challenge segregation laws. Her arrest was a calculated moment in the Civil Rights Movement. In fact, before Rosa Parks, there were several other instances where Black individuals refused to give up their seats on Montgomery buses, including Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, and Mary Louise Smith.

❌ "Paul Revere shouted “The British are coming!”"
✅ Reality: The midnight ride did occur, but this phrase was never uttered. As the inhabitants still self identified as British, so this phrase would be as preposterous as uttering “The Americans are coming” prior to a police raid today. Likely, he said something more along the lines of “the regulars are coming” indicating the arrival of the trained British army forces approaching.

Why does inaccurate information spread so quickly today? The lack of education and the rise of soundbite politics have created an environment for people to cling to clips that confirm their preexisting views without the knowledge to critically evaluate them. The lack of substance, and more importantly the lack of a desire for substance, has cultivated an emotional polarization void of logic, facts, or even a common goal at times. These trends will only intensify with the rise of AI-generated photos, videos and audio further complicating the information landscape and exacerbating confirmation bias.

What’s the worst historical inaccuracy you’ve ever seen on social media? Drop it in the comments!

A public that doesn’t know its rights cannot defend them.

How America is Already Suffering

The University of Florida Election Lab calculated voter turnout for the 2024 presidential election to be 63.9%. This is for a high-profile election when people are generally more aware of the need or ability to vote, and still more than 1 in 3 Americans decline to participate. This issue is exacerbated when considering the vote total for the elections forgotten due to decades of civics illiteracy. Midterm turnout hasn’t eclipsed 50% since nearly the turn of the century…the previous century (1914). Primary turnout is even worse. In 2024, over 156,000,000 people voted for president, but fewer than 39,000,000 Americans determined the candidates who those 156 million Americans could even choose from. A mere 16.6 million Democrats chose the nominee of their party, while 22.2 million Republicans did the same during the primary elections for president. While some believe the general election is the most critical, the primary election, where each vote has greater impact and party directions are set mater infinitely more. It is at this crucial level that the civics education proves essential.

Moreover, the erosion of historical and constitutional knowledge makes the populace susceptible to being swayed by emotional arguments rather than logical ones. When was the last time you heard a historical comparison to a modern event that predated 1910? Months? Years? This historical infancy leads to widespread recency bias and an inability to learn from the errors of our fathers.

Have you noticed political discussions becoming more extreme? What do you think is causing it? Let’s discuss!

The Solution: Bringing Civics Back to the People

So, how do we fix this? The answer isn’t just in schools—it’s in everyday engagement with history, government, and the Constitution. To combat the civics crisis, we must take a multi-faceted approach that engages citizens at every level. Here are actionable steps to bring civics back to the forefront of American life:

• Reform School Curriculum: States should mandate a full-year civics course for high school graduation, focusing not just on government structure but on citizen participation. Schools must prioritize critical thinking over rote memorization, encouraging students to debate, write, and engage with current issues.

• Leverage Technology for Good: While social media often spreads misinformation, it can also be a tool for education. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram can host bite-sized civics lessons, historical explainers, and constitutional breakdowns. Influencers and educators should collaborate to Make Civics Cool Again.

• Community-Based Learning: Local governments and organizations can host civics workshops, mock elections, and town halls. These events should be accessible, engaging, and designed to teach citizens how to navigate the political system—from voting in primaries to understanding local ordinances.

• Incentivize Civic Engagement: Employers and schools can offer incentives for civic participation, such as paid time off for voting or extra credit for attending council meetings. Gamification—through apps that track civic actions and reward users—can also boost engagement.

• Media Literacy Campaigns: Teach Americans how to spot propaganda and misinformation. Schools, libraries, and community centers should offer workshops on evaluating sources, understanding bias, and recognizing AI-generated content.

• Revive Historical Context: Encourage the use of historical analogies in public discourse. Media outlets, podcasters, and educators should draw parallels between past and present, fostering a deeper understanding of how history informs today’s challenges.

Conclusion: A Call to Civic Action

America stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of civic ignorance, where propaganda fills the void left by forgotten history, or we can reclaim our heritage as informed citizens. The stakes are high: a populace that doesn’t understand its rights cannot defend them. But the solution is within reach. By revitalizing civics education, leveraging technology, and fostering community engagement, we can build a nation that not only remembers its foundation but actively shapes its future. Let’s make civics not just a subject, but a way of life.

📌 Final Question: If you could change one thing about civics education in America, what would it be? Let us know in the comments!

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