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Reclaiming knowledge of our founding principles through civic education and a shared sense of our unique national character is the only way to preserve the freedoms and unity that have made America strong and exceptional.
America is adrift — ideologically lost, no longer sure of who we are. We used to be one nation, bound together by a shared understanding of what it meant to be American. No longer.
What’s the root of this crisis? The collapse of civic education has led to widespread ignorance of the Constitution. The document designed to safeguard our freedom and guide our nation is increasingly misunderstood, forgotten, or even scorned. Most Americans don’t even know what it says anymore. And the consequences are severe.
When Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he was asked what kind of government had been created. His reply was a challenge: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Today, that challenge is more relevant than ever. Our republic’s grip is slipping.
Figures like Charlie Kirk have exposed just how far we’ve drifted. As he travels the country visiting college campuses, it’s become alarmingly clear that our youth are largely unaware of the Constitution, ignorant of the freedoms they’ve inherited, and blind to their responsibilities.
If we don’t understand the Constitution, we can’t protect the rights it guarantees. The collapse of civic education has left us vulnerable. Fewer schools even bother to teach the principles that shaped our country. Franklin’s warning is ringing louder than ever: Our republic’s future is at risk unless we reclaim the knowledge and responsibility that once defined us. The time to act is now, before it’s too late.
The Constitution wasn’t written for a bygone era — it was built to last, providing a governance framework that could endure shifting political landscapes. The Founding Fathers, having experienced the dangers of concentrated power under British rule, intentionally designed a system of checks and balances to protect individual liberty. They knew firsthand that decentralizing power was essential to prevent tyranny.
Yet today, too many Americans don’t know these protections exist. A Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation survey found that only 36 percent of Americans could pass a basic U.S. citizenship test. Basic questions leave most people stumped, among them, Why did the Americans fight the British? or When was the Constitution was ratified? This isn’t just a knowledge gap — it’s a symptom of how deeply civic education has eroded, leaving generations disconnected from the principles that govern their freedom.
But schools alone aren’t to blame. Modern media and its obsession with entertainment have played a huge part. Young people today spend hours on social media, where political discourse has been reduced to soundbites, memes, and clickbait. According to Common Sense Media, teens spend an average of 8.33 hours a day consuming entertainment, none of which includes meaningful civic education. When politics is reduced to quick takes, the deeper understanding of constitutional issues fades.
Our public discourse has shifted. Culture wars and identity politics are currently dominating the conversation instead of the guiding principles of democracy. This shift isn’t just a cultural trend; it’s creating a public ill-prepared to engage in the civic responsibilities necessary to sustain democracy and freedom. One of the Founding Fathers, John Adams, is often quoted as saying, “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.”
Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, has directly observed this crisis. Through his interactions with college students across the nation, he has discovered a profound lack of understanding regarding America’s founding principles. This isn’t just a problem among a few — it’s widespread. Surveys from the Annenberg Public Policy Center show that only 56 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government, and 20 percent can’t name a single one. The very system of checks and balances, designed to protect us from government overreach, is now a mystery to those who need it most.
This ignorance isn’t just about education. It’s also a reflection of a cultural shift. In the past, being an informed citizen was a key part of the American identity. People took pride in knowing their rights, understanding their government, and participating in the political process. But today, the focus has shifted toward individualism and identity politics and away from a shared sense of national identity. Discussions about race, gender, and social issues, while important, have contributed to the breakdown of the shared civic framework the Constitution once provided.
This cultural drift has led to growing indifference toward the principles that used to bind our nation together. The Constitution, designed to protect freedom, foster unity, and hold government accountable, is being forgotten. Only 27 percent of Americans can identify all the freedoms the First Amendment guarantees. The civic fabric that once held our country together is unraveling.
To reclaim what it means to be American, we must start by rediscovering the Constitution. Civic education needs to return to its rightful place in our schools and universities. Teaching the Constitution isn’t just about informing students about government; it’s about instilling a shared national identity rooted in freedom, justice, and personal responsibility.
One of the Constitution’s greatest strengths is its adaptability. Through amendments, it has evolved to reflect America’s shifting moral and social landscape. The 10th Amendment reminds us that the Constitution was built to protect rights inherent to all individuals — rights not granted by the government but by God Himself.
Failing to understand these protections allows the government to infringe on the liberties the Founders sought to protect.
The Constitution’s impact goes far beyond America’s borders. It has inspired democratic movements for freedom worldwide, challenging authoritarian regimes and advancing human rights. Yet many Americans are unaware of its global significance and how it has shaped our nation and others.
We are at a critical juncture. The lack of knowledge about the Constitution isn’t just an educational failure — it’s a threat to the survival of our country and way of life.
To reclaim our American identity, we must return to the principles that guided our founding. Reviving civic duty and restoring a shared understanding of national identity is essential for rebuilding unity in our fractured society. That doesn’t require merely understanding and memorizing facts, though that’s important too. Rather it’s about restoring the collective responsibility that was once central to being an American.
The Founders knew that human nature tends toward the abuse of power; that’s why they created a system where the people, not the government, hold the ultimate authority. But that authority only works if the people understand how to use it. Reclaiming our knowledge of these founding principles is the only way to preserve the freedoms and unity that have made America strong.
By addressing the root causes of civic ignorance — the decline of education, the influence of modern media, and the fragmentation of our culture — we can start to solve this crisis. Only through a renewed commitment to understanding the Constitution and engaging in civic life can we reverse this dangerous trend and secure the future of the American experiment.
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