2026 – The Year to Make American History Great Again

In early 2022 Philanthropy Roundtable published “What Ever Happened to U.S. History 101?,” a discussion of the abysmal failure of U.S. colleges and universities to ensure students’ course schedules include at least a basic survey course on our nation’s history or government.  

That failure continues today, with the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) reporting its What Will They Learn? project reveals only 19.4% of those institutions require such a course. This is a slight increase from the 18.9% total in the previous survey, but, as ACTA notes, “not nearly good enough.”   

The celebration of the 250^th anniversary of the United States has offered an opportunity to share a great deal of the nation’s early history, focusing heavily on the years from 1754 (the outbreak of the French and Indian War) to 1797 (George Washington’s voluntary retirement from the presidency).  

It was not surprising to see so much attention paid to Washington, described by historian James Flexner as “the indispensable man,” and of course to Thomas Jefferson, whose legacy is typically described as “nuanced” and “complicated.” But the Founding did not exist in a vacuum, and there is much to learn about the “before” and “after” times which shaped the nation we know today.  

Since it was founded in 1995, ACTA has sought to restore the traditional requirement that all college and university undergraduates complete at least a one-semester course on American history and government. The organization increased its attention to this cause over time and elected to release two significant studies in this 250^th anniversary year: “A Broadside for the Nation” and “The Story of Our Nation: How Well Do College Students Know America?”  

“A Broadside for the Nation,” released in April, is a report from ACTA’s National Commission for American History and Civic Education, a panel of historians, political scientists and educational leaders. In its opening passages, the document noted several recent survey findings to emphasize the importance of a required history or government course: 

• 60% of college students cannot identify term lengths for senators and U.S. representatives. 
• 48% believe the president, and not Congress, holds the power to declare war. 
• 27% are willing to condone violence to stop a speech on campus.  

The report calls on donors and trustees to take action developing and funding excellent courses on the nation’s campuses, recommends the essential primary sources to be incorporated in a course syllabus and applauds the 14 states whose legislatures have already mandated such courses.  

“The Story of Our Nation,” released in June, provides more detailed information about the spring 2026 ACTA survey of 3,000 college and university students. The report leaves no doubt that knowledge of the nation’s core documents – particularly the Constitution – is weak.  

Also concerning is the response to the question: “If the United States were invaded by Russia as Ukraine has been, what would you do?” The survey reports 57% percent of students claim they would flee the United States in that circumstance. Apparently, there is no longer any fear of shame in displaying a lack of patriotism.     

In response, ACTA President Michael Poliakoff says, “This survey once again serves as a clarion call. American students have told us loud and clear that they cannot and will not uphold and defend what they do not comprehend. Yet, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great republic, American colleges and universities continue to graduate students shockingly unprepared for the demands of citizenship.” 

For donors interested in supporting the return of mandatory courses in American history and government in our colleges and universities, the work of the dozens of campus civics centers founded over the past five years can be helpful. One example is a recent LinkedIn post from Jed Atkins, dean of the School of Civic Life and Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

Atkins confirmed the value of having students at the school’s Summer Civics Institute read foundational texts of our nation’s history, noting, “By engaging directly with thinkers and leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln and Abigail Adams, students wrestled with competing ideas, reflected on enduring principles and practiced the habits of thoughtful deliberation.”  

Donors can learn more about such civics centers on ACTA’s website or the websites of the Jack Miller Center and Heterodox Academy. Donors who are more inclined to support quality civics education in K-12 schools can find a number of high-impact organizations in Philanthropy Roundtable’s Civics Playbook.  

As we celebrate this milestone year of the American Republic, we have been reminded again of Benjamin Franklin’s warning that work would be required to “keep it.” Increasing the knowledge of our nation’s history and government among our future leaders is certainly worthy of our attention and resources. 

This piece was originally published by Philanthropy Roundtable on August 4, 2026.