Posted on Thursday, February 6, 2025
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by Outside Contributor
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Every year, nearly 1 million new citizens are welcomed to the United States through naturalization ceremonies. To earn this privilege, they must pass the U.S. citizenship exam by correctly answering six out of ten randomly selected questions on topics like the Constitution, U.S. history, and democracy.
While 90% of legal immigrants pass this test, the same cannot be said for most Americans. Only 36% of U.S. adults—and a mere 3% of public high school students—can pass the exam.
Think you can pass the U.S. citizenship test? Try for free now.
In fact, according to a 2018 survey by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, over half of Americans can’t name the three branches of government, and 37% didn’t know the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Meanwhile, a Fraser Institute poll revealed that 45% of Americans aged 18-24 believe socialism is the ideal economic system, revealing a profound disconnect from America’s founding principles of liberty, self-reliance, and free enterprise.
Among younger generations, the situation is even more dire. High school students, who should be learning the basics of American history and civics, are failing at staggering rates. According to The Daily Signal, the majority of high schoolers couldn’t identify what the Constitution does, the reasons behind the Revolutionary War, or the functions of government institutions. If these trends persist, future generations may lack the knowledge necessary to engage meaningfully in the democratic process.
How Did We Get Here?
For too long our education system has deprioritized teaching the fundamentals of civics and history. Rather than equipping students with knowledge about the Constitution and our nation’s founding, American schools have been implementing divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These programs often frame students as either “oppressors” or “victims,” fostering division rather than unity.
For a democracy to thrive, its citizens must understand and cherish the values of liberty and equality. Rather than emphasizing identity politics, we should revive the teaching of E Pluribus Unum—From Many, One. This foundational ideal unites us as one nation under God, built on shared freedoms and responsibilities.
Civics education—teaching students how our government works and why it matters—is essential for inspiring the next generation to appreciate, protect, and defend America’s unique freedoms.
If we fail to teach young Americans what makes our nation exceptional, why would they care to preserve it?
How PragerU Is Helping
To address this growing problem, innovative solutions are needed to rekindle interest in American history and civics. One of the most promising initiatives to spark curiosity in the next generation is PragerU! The nonprofit has produced content for everyone from ages 4 to 104 in the form of FREE videos, lesson plans, and even a game show on civics and American history. PragerU also offers a fast, fun, and free citizenship quiz that makes learning about civics engaging and accessible for people of all ages.
PragerU’s approach is unique. Their FREE resources don’t only test knowledge but also provide educational and entertaining content to fill in the gaps. By leveraging concise, well-produced videos and interactive quizzes, PragerU ensures that learning about American history is both informative and (dare we say) fun.
PragerU has been so successful that they are now an approved supplemental educational resource in 9 U.S. states (FL, TX, OK, MT, NH, AZ, LA, SC, and ID), with many more state partnerships in the works. Millions of families, teachers, and students are benefiting from their free videos, lesson plans, and worksheets—online, at home, and in classrooms across the country.
Securing America’s Bright Future
The fact that 97% of high school students can’t pass the U.S. citizenship test is a wake-up call. Restoring civic literacy is not just a challenge for educators—it’s a shared responsibility for all Americans. Parents, teachers, and concerned citizens must advocate for meaningful changes in education while also championing alternative solutions like PragerU.
With thousands of free videos that empower students and adults to discover what makes America extraordinary, PragerU is helping to secure the future of the great American experiment.
The work is far from over, but with accessible and engaging educational tools, American families and organizations like PragerU can work together to reverse the decline in civic knowledge, ensuring that the next generation understands—and cherishes—the freedoms that make our nation great.
PragerU promotes American values through short educational videos for people of all ages. People come to PragerU for a variety of reasons, but they all have one thing in common: They want to grow—intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, PragerU is here to serve you with free content that helps people of all ages think and live better.
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