/PRNewswire/ -- Who cares about the American Revolution? Should something that happened more than 200 years ago matter today?
These are among the questions raised by a recent national survey, sponsored by The American Revolution Center, which revealed an alarming lack of knowledge of our nation's founding history, despite near universal agreement on the importance of this knowledge.
The report, conducted in the summer of 2009 among a demographically representative random sample of U.S. adults, is the first national survey of adult knowledge of the American Revolution and its ongoing legacy. It reveals that Americans highly value, but vastly overrate, their knowledge of the Revolutionary period and its significance. Asked to grade themselves on their knowledge, 89 percent believed they could pass a basic test on the American Revolution. However, 83 percent failed when tested on the beliefs, freedoms, and liberties established during the Revolution.
"The American Revolution defined what it means to be an American. It forged those principles that unite us as a nation," says Dr. Bruce Cole, president and CEO of The American Revolution Center. "Unfortunately, those principles are fading from memory." This is alarming, Dr. Cole explains, because rights and values undefined and misunderstood cannot be defended or taught to future generations. "Knowledge of the ideas upon which our nation is built is essential, to maintain the relevance and vibrancy of our government," he says. "Many people are unaware that the everyday freedoms and liberties they enjoy - reading newspaper editorials, expressing a dissenting opinion while attending a public meeting, or worshipping at a religious institution of their choice - are the legacy of the American Revolution. For future generations to continue to enjoy these freedoms, we must know and preserve the promise of the American Revolution."
Some noteworthy findings from the report, titled "The American Revolution. Who Cares? Americans are Yearning to Learn, Failing to Know," include the following:
-- Many more Americans remember that Michael Jackson sang "Beat It" than
know that the Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution.
-- 60 percent of Americans can correctly identify the number of children
in reality-TV show couple Jon and Kate Gosselin's household (eight),
but more than one-third do not know the century in which the American
Revolution took place (18th). Half of those surveyed believe the
Civil War (1861-1865), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), or War of
1812 occurred before the American Revolution (1775-1783).
-- More than 50 percent of Americans surveyed wrongly attributed the
quote, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his
needs" to George Washington, Thomas Paine, or President Barack Obama,
when it is in fact a quote from Karl Marx, author of "The Communist
Manifesto."
Fortunately, the survey revealed that more than 90 percent of Americans - across all major demographic groups - think it is important for U.S. citizens to know the history and principles of the American Revolution, and that this knowledge be taught in schools.
The findings are a call-to-action for The American Revolution Center and for its efforts to address this "historical amnesia." The non-partisan, not-for-profit organization plans to construct The Museum of the American Revolution in historic Philadelphia. This will be the first national museum to tell the entire story of the American Revolution and its enduring legacy. The organization already has launched a website with informational resources on the American Revolution, offering lesson plans and other educational materials.
For more information about the survey, or about the mission and activities of The American Revolution Center, visit www.AmericanRevolutionCenter.org.
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Showing posts with label founding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label founding. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mercer Conference to Feature Noted Scholars of the American Founding
Mercer University’s Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations will hold a conference on the American founding on March 31 and April 1 on the University’s Macon campus. The conference, titled “The Triumphs and Travails of the Natural Rights Republic,” will include presentations by several prominent scholars on American political thought, including Dr. Michael Zuckert, noted author and professor of political science at Notre Dame University, and Dr. John W. Danford, professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago. All of conference events are free and open to the public.
The conference will begin on the evening of March 31 with an address by Dr. Danford, who will give a presentation titled “The Intellectual Origins of the American Republic: The Case for the Scots.” His presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Neva Langley Fickling Recital Hall in the McCorkle Music Building. Dr. Danford will explain how the American founders were influenced by the major figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, including David Hume and Adam Smith, in conceiving of and designing institutions for a modern commercial republic.
“Dr. Danford is one of the country’s finest scholars of the development of political and economic liberty in the 18th Century,” said Dr. Will Jordan, associate professor of political science at Mercer. “He will show that the American founders were extremely up-to-date and influenced by the most cutting-edge political thought of their day.”
The conference will reconvene on April 1 with a student panel at 1 p.m. in the Fickling Recital Hall. The discussion will feature original research from Mercer students, focusing on the political theory and history of the early republic. Next, there will be a guest faculty panel at 3 p.m. in the Fickling Recital Hall, featuring research from Dr. Joseph Knippenberg of Oglethorpe University, Dr. Booker T. Ingram of Presbyterian College, and Dr. Eric Sands of Berry College.
“These excellent scholars will cover a variety of interesting topics,” Dr. Jordan said, “from how the founders understood the political importance of liberal education, to how the founders’ ideas were appreciated and applied by Abraham Lincoln.”
The conference’s keynote event will be a lecture on April 1 by Dr. Zuckert, titled “The Politics of Race and Slavery at the Constitutional Convention,” at 6 p.m. in Willingham Auditorium. Dr. Zuckert, author of the books Natural Rights and the New Republicanism, The Natural Rights Republic and Launching Liberalism: On Lockean Political Philosophy, is a leading scholar of the founding period, and his presentation will draw from his current research on the Constitutional Convention and offer a preview of his upcoming book.
“The controversy and debate over slavery at the Constitutional Convention is an under-explored topic,” said Dr. Matthew Oberrieder, assistant professor of philosophy at Mercer. “Dr. Zuckert’s talk promises to be very illuminating regarding the founders’ attitudes on race; for our students to get a sneak peek at a chapter in Dr. Zuckert’s next book is a real treat.”
Mercer’s Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations is hosting the conference to further its mission to help a new generation of citizens acquire knowledge of, and appreciation for, the founding principles, values and history of our nation.
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The conference will begin on the evening of March 31 with an address by Dr. Danford, who will give a presentation titled “The Intellectual Origins of the American Republic: The Case for the Scots.” His presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Neva Langley Fickling Recital Hall in the McCorkle Music Building. Dr. Danford will explain how the American founders were influenced by the major figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, including David Hume and Adam Smith, in conceiving of and designing institutions for a modern commercial republic.
“Dr. Danford is one of the country’s finest scholars of the development of political and economic liberty in the 18th Century,” said Dr. Will Jordan, associate professor of political science at Mercer. “He will show that the American founders were extremely up-to-date and influenced by the most cutting-edge political thought of their day.”
The conference will reconvene on April 1 with a student panel at 1 p.m. in the Fickling Recital Hall. The discussion will feature original research from Mercer students, focusing on the political theory and history of the early republic. Next, there will be a guest faculty panel at 3 p.m. in the Fickling Recital Hall, featuring research from Dr. Joseph Knippenberg of Oglethorpe University, Dr. Booker T. Ingram of Presbyterian College, and Dr. Eric Sands of Berry College.
“These excellent scholars will cover a variety of interesting topics,” Dr. Jordan said, “from how the founders understood the political importance of liberal education, to how the founders’ ideas were appreciated and applied by Abraham Lincoln.”
The conference’s keynote event will be a lecture on April 1 by Dr. Zuckert, titled “The Politics of Race and Slavery at the Constitutional Convention,” at 6 p.m. in Willingham Auditorium. Dr. Zuckert, author of the books Natural Rights and the New Republicanism, The Natural Rights Republic and Launching Liberalism: On Lockean Political Philosophy, is a leading scholar of the founding period, and his presentation will draw from his current research on the Constitutional Convention and offer a preview of his upcoming book.
“The controversy and debate over slavery at the Constitutional Convention is an under-explored topic,” said Dr. Matthew Oberrieder, assistant professor of philosophy at Mercer. “Dr. Zuckert’s talk promises to be very illuminating regarding the founders’ attitudes on race; for our students to get a sneak peek at a chapter in Dr. Zuckert’s next book is a real treat.”
Mercer’s Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations is hosting the conference to further its mission to help a new generation of citizens acquire knowledge of, and appreciation for, the founding principles, values and history of our nation.
-----
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www.georgiafrontpage.com
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