NPR: (Americans) Don't Know Much About History

(Americans) Don't Know Much About History

For years, I used to joke to my family back in Canada about the number of times I had to tell American friends about their own country's history, or which senator was from what state or where such-and-such country was.

Now, a new survey by Newsweek shows my friends weren't an isolated group: when it comes to history, current events or culture, the U.S. is a "Dunce-Cap Nation."

There were some pretty amazing results. More Americans could identify the most recent winner of "American Idol" than could name the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Forty percent didn't even to try to identify the first Republican president (Abraham Lincoln). A staggering 41 percent still believe that Saddam Hussein's Iraq was directly involved in the Sept. 11 attacks, despite all evidence to the contrary. Only 23 percent could identify Indonesia as the country with the world's largest Muslim population -- Iran and India were more often mentioned.

However, a majority could identify Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House. And in a result that surprised me, a plurality of 36 percent knew that Andrew Jackson and Al Gore both lost presidential elections despite winning the popular vote. I don't think I would have gotten that one.

(By the way, Americans shouldn't feel too bad. A recent survey of my native land shows that Canadians don't know much about their history either.)

11:10 AM ET | 07- 6-2007 | permalink

Comments

Use it or lose it. The body of information that Americans have at their disposal is largely a function of what they come into contact with and feel they have influence over. Is it any wonder that American Idol, which is designed specifically to engage as many people as possible, is more readily remembered than the supreme court, whose appointment is shielded from the popular vote and whose actions are cloaked in obscure precedents?

Sent by David | 11:36 AM ET | 07-06-2007

Interesting poll, but I'm puzzled by question 5: "From what you know about the situation, do you think the United States is losing the fight against al-Qaeda or radical Islamic terrorism?"

Isn't this a subjective question? Then why is "no" deemed to be the correct answer? And here I thought Newsweek was the liberal news weekly!

Sent by Michelle | 12:27 PM ET | 07-06-2007

Well what can anyone expect when our education system is completely F.U.B.A.R.

I grew up in the ghetto where my only history education was about the civil rights movement. I don't even recall having any science classes.

And as for current events what can you expect when the national media considers "paris hilton" news (I include you NPR, for shame).

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:24 PM ET | 07-06-2007

In my own opinion I feel that Americans are losing this knowledge simply because it's not taught with intensity as it used to be. From elementary to end of high school, children are drilled with skills concentrating on Math & English. Primarily because these are the skills that will enable them to "do well" on the SAT's. And then they leave it all to the individual to find interest in US History on their own. It's a shame..because without knowing how we got here how can one appreciate what we have now?

Sent by Redz | 1:55 PM ET | 07-06-2007

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for.

Sam Cooke: singer-songwriter, social commentator, prophet.

Sent by John R. Otten | 5:50 PM ET | 07-06-2007

The problem is that we have a very nation/ethno centric educational system. There is this implied attitude that we are better than everyone else so why should we care about world history although it has a great impact on our current life. One striking example is nowadays the Taliban are considered enemies of the US but how many people know or even remember that throughout the 80's President Reagan referred to then the Mujahideen of Afghanistan (now Taliban) as freedom fighters. How ironic?

Sent by AK | 2:08 PM ET | 07-07-2007

I don't disagree with you, AK, but this is hardly a U.S.-only problem. How many other countries emphasize world history over their own history?

Sent by Mark | 10:14 AM ET | 07-10-2007

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