What If All Americans Took the Citizenship Test?

The U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently introduced a tougher civics test for immigrants seeking citizenship. This test now includes more challenging questions, such as naming five of America's original states and explaining the significance of the Federalist Papers. While this might seem like a way to make it harder for immigrants to become citizens, it also raises an important question: Why don't we expect current citizens to know this information? Research shows that many American students struggle with basic history and civics knowledge. In 2022, only 14% of eighth graders scored proficiently on a national history test, and 40% fell below basic. This isn't a new problem. Even in 1986, many 17-year-olds didn't understand key historical events like the Civil War or the reasons behind Jim Crow laws. Some people believe that education was better in the past, but historical records show that students have always struggled with history. For example, during World War II, historian Allan Nevins noted that students could identify the Stamp Act but not the Molasses Act. This suggests that our expectations for historical knowledge have always been low. Knowing history is important for understanding current events and issues. For example, understanding Jim Crow laws is crucial for grasping why race is such a central issue in American life today. As one history teacher pointed out, knowing about the Abbasid caliphate can help foster tolerance for Muslims. While knowing facts is important, education for democratic citizenship also involves learning to debate respectfully, accept different opinions, and participate in democracy. Many schools offer civic exercises like Model Congress, which is a positive development. However, many schools also fail to teach students the basic facts they need to understand American history and government. Some schools focus on teaching generalizable cognitive skills rather than specific historical facts. For example, Illinois's high school history and civics standards are very brief and lack specific details. This approach can make it difficult for students to analyze historical events from different perspectives. There are some schools that do a good job of teaching history and civics. For example, some "classical" schools expect students to read and memorize serious works of history, literature, and philosophy. These schools believe that memory leads to knowledge, which in turn leads to thinking and creativity. The 1795 Naturalization Act required prospective citizens to demonstrate their attachment to the principles of the Constitution. This led to the development of the civics test that is still used today. The test captures an essential feature of citizenship in the United States: citizens have the power to shape their country based on their understanding of its principles and history. If we believe that is true, we cannot expect more knowledge from newcomers and less from our current citizens.