Is America exceptional? Civics education can answer that

By Richard Graber and
Hanna Skandera
Real Clear Wire

The nation’s 250th birthday is an invitation to consider what made the American experiment unique in the first place. At a time when Americans increasingly disagree about our nation’s history, identity, and founding principles, that question lies at the heart of today’s debate over American exceptionalism.

Too often, the conversation begins with a misunderstanding of the meaning of “exceptional.” Many believe it implies that America is inherently superior. Others reject the idea of exceptionalism altogether, arguing that the United States is simply another nation. According to the American Enterprise Institute’s America at 250 survey, 32% of Americans believe the United States is “just another country whose political system is not better or worse than other countries.”

Yet America is exceptional in the literal sense of the word.

Prior to 1776, nations were unified by ethnicity, religion, geography, or hereditary rule. Political authority flowed from kings or ruling elites, and rights were often viewed as privileges granted by government rather than inherent to every person. Opportunities for economic growth and social advancement were limited, leaving little room for people to chart their own futures.

The American Revolution provided a new way forward. The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaimed that “all men are created equal” and are endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration marked a profound break from centuries of political tradition. Never had a nation deliberately grounded its founding in universal natural rights and government by consent. Government would exist to protect individual rights rather than grant them. Citizens would be free to pursue their aspirations and improve their circumstances through initiative and hard work.

Understanding this heritage makes it clear that civics education is deeply important. When students understand America’s founding, the debate over whether the United States is exceptional largely answers itself. They discover that America’s uniqueness has never rested on claims of perfection, but on an unprecedented commitment to liberty, equality under the law, limited government, and the belief that our rights exist independent of government.

Unfortunately, too many young Americans are not learning these lessons. According to the Nation’s Report Card, only 22% of eighth graders are proficient in civics, and in 2022, average civics scores declined for the first time since the assessment began in 1998.

The encouraging news is that civics education remains one of the few issues that unites Americans. An NBC News poll sponsored by the Daniels Fund and More Perfect found that 80% of Americans believe the country doesn’t place enough emphasis on civics education.

Americans may disagree on today’s political debates, but they overwhelmingly agree that the next generation should understand how our republic works and why it matters.

That agreement reflects the convictions of the philanthropists whose legacies we are privileged to steward. Lynde and Harry Bradley and Bill Daniels believed deeply that freedom depends on an informed citizenry. They understood that the principles that distinguish America must be intentionally taught, understood, and renewed by every generation.

That belief has inspired our investments in organizations that are strengthening civic education across the country.

Four years ago, The Daniels Fund partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to launch the National Civics Bee, a first-of-its-kind competition for middle school students. Today, more than 20,000 students from all 50 states participate by demonstrating their knowledge of American government while developing practical solutions to challenges facing their own communities. The competition reminds students what it means to be a citizen.

Similarly, among the many civic-minded organizations supported by The Bradley Foundation are the Jack Miller Center, The Bill of Rights Institute, and the Ashbrook Center, which equip teachers with high-quality resources on American history and government while inspiring students to develop both civic knowledge and character. Through classroom materials, professional development, scholarship programs, and student competitions, these institutions help young Americans appreciate the roots of their freedom.

These efforts matter. If future generations no longer understand why America was established or what distinguishes it from every nation that came before, the ideas that made the American experiment possible will gradually fade from our civic life.

As our nation celebrates its 250th, we have an opportunity and an obligation to pass the founding principles that made the United States exceptional on to the next generation.

Richard W. Graber is Chairman of The Philanthropy Roundtable and President and CEO of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Hanna Skandera Grady is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund.