We believe American citizens and future generations must understand our nation's heritage in order to advance our country and compete in a global economy.
For 62 years, it has been the mission of American Heritage to connect Americans to their heritage. It has always told our nation’s story in a trustworthy, non-partisan manner. The new American Heritage Society will leverage its brand and assets to help millions of Americans – especially the next generation – discover the events, principles, and values that make our nation great.
According to its Articles of Incorporation filed with the District of Columbia on September 9, 2011, the Society was been organized “to foster, promote, and encourage interest in and the study of American history and culture, support research, and develop media to connect all Americans to their shared heritage” and “to encourage the teaching of American history and civics in schools and universities, and promote civic literacy.”
Leaders of the Society believe that for American democracy to be effective, its present and future citizens need to understand how our nation came to be, what it stands for, and the sacrifices made by so many for the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy. A Newsweek survey[1] found 38% of Americans couldn’t pass a citizenship test, 65% couldn’t identify what happened at the Constitutional Convention, and 40% couldn’t say whom we fought in World War II.
With civic literacy at shockingly low levels, it is vital that the American Heritage Society achieve its mission of imparting knowledge about our nation’s past and principles.
[1] March 2011 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, in an issue of Newsweek entitled “How Dumb Are We?”