We should all be able to pass the Citizenship Test
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
If you have not heard someone lament about required history courses or argue that they should all be electives, you may be an outlier. As someone with an ardent love of and interest in history and government, I might be biased. I truly believe, however, that in learning how history has shaped the present and how your government operates, you can better involve yourself in modern-day issues meaningfully; you begin to understand your position in the world and what you can do to improve it.
Only 36 percent of respondents in a 2018 survey were able to pass the United States (US) Citizenship Test. According to the survey, more than half of the respondents “did not know which countries the U.S. fought against in World War II;” they had trouble identifying how many Supreme Court Justices there were when the Constitution was written and what Benjamin Franklin is known for. Younger people scored, on average, significantly lower than older people, with 74 percent of those 65 years or older passing and only 19 percent of those under 45.
Arthur Levine, President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, who conducted the survey, commented, “…an informed and engaged citizenry is essential,” and added that the results were an “embarrassment.” This information was gathered before the November 2018 elections but remains relevant as we consider our candidates and submit our ballots this November.
We might assign some level of culpability to the education system and a lack of funding or emphasis on government and history in schools. As young adults now, however, we are responsible for educating ourselves, doing our own research, and abandoning our ignorance in favor of political awareness and civic engagement. It might not be critically important to know that Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod; however, it may be essential to understand how historical events, movements, injustices, and inequities have shaped our modern world.
Perhaps the Citizenship Test is not the best measure of true historical knowledge and government education. Nevertheless, it points to a larger issue—particularly as young adults become politically active in an increasingly connected online world. Misinformation is rampant online, and if you do not know it is necessary to immediately identify it, you may be more vulnerable to misleading arguments. A UN report analyzed the presence of Holocaust denial and distortion online. For example, out of the 1,208 pieces of content “identified as relating to the Holocaust,” 16.4 percent “either denied or distorted the history of the Holocaust.” The internet did not create the issue of misinformation; there has long been disagreement over what constitutes the “truth,” and propaganda has always played a significant role in the media. The internet has, however, resulted in a constant inundation with this messaging and a greater amount of information as a whole, which can be more difficult to sift through.
Even while watching the presidential debates this season, one must be ready to fact-check. Accusations and arguments are based on faulty information about the workings of our government—what exactly a Vice President can do, for example, or what different judicial rulings mean. If we, the audience, are not adequately educated on these topics, we may be unable to spot when a candidate manipulates or misleads using incomplete or inaccurate information.
It is important to become involved and engaged. Do not let a lack of knowledge of the Civil War or Benjamin Franklin deter you from doing so. Put forth a concerted effort to understand our government and history—and, with that understanding, go vote!