South Carolina Leads National Initiative to Modernize American History Education for 250th Anniversary

Education is a national security issue. America’s upcoming 250th anniversary is a time to ensure our youth understand what it means to be an American.

In recent years, the nation has not emphasized American history and civics in schools as it did decades ago. A study from several years back found that 22% of millennials were unsure about the Holocaust, while 67% had never heard of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp where more than one million Jews and others were murdered.

Just this year, a Woodrow Wilson Institute report showed that only one in three Americans could pass a basic citizenship test.

This situation underscores an urgent need for educational reform. South Carolina State Superintendent Ellen Weaver recently announced that the state’s Department of Education, partnering with the American Battlefield Trust, will provide customized American Revolutionary War curriculum materials for K-12 students across the state.

The American Battlefield Trust, whose board I am honored to serve on, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public. This collaboration represents the first-in-the-nation initiative to offer free, standards-aligned resources just in time for America’s 250th birthday.

Superintendent Weaver launched the state-wide education program at Edgewood Middle School in Ninety Six, South Carolina — a location one mile from the site of the South’s first land battle in the Revolutionary War.

It is fitting that this initiative begins in South Carolina. The state played a pivotal role in the Revolution, with battles at Cowpens and Kings Mountain turning the tide against British forces and culminating in General Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown.

During her announcement, Superintendent Weaver told students: “I want you to remember that you are the legacy of these amazing American patriots, who bled and fought for our freedom right here on the soil of South Carolina, winning the American Revolution and setting us on a trajectory of freedom and continuous improvement.”

The custom curriculum is free, includes grade-level standards-aligned lesson plans, and features virtual tours, information sheets, and interactive maps. It is designed as a 21st-century, technology-forward approach to history education that uses three-dimensional virtual tours enhanced by virtual reality goggles.

President Donald Trump has led the “Salute to America 250 Task Force,” engaging federal, state, local governments, the private sector, non-profits, and educational institutions in celebrating American history. South Carolina’s initiative fulfills this vision and should be adopted nationwide.

President Reagan reminded us that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” He also noted: “We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

South Carolina’s historical role in the Revolution demonstrates its commitment to liberty. This initiative provides students with modern educational tools to understand America’s history and the value of freedom for future generations.