Why Study Government?
Thomas Jefferson stated, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." A pervasive public understanding of the workings of the American government is essential to its survival. The citizen plays a vital role in the ability of any republican democracy to last. Whether through voting, petitioning, or publicly speaking, an active citizenry is the lifeblood of American democracy. By educating students about their role in our government, we better enable them to participate and bring about change when necessary while protecting the basic principles upon which our government was founded.

Why Study U.S. History?
History Helps Us Understand People and Societies
History Helps Us Understand Change and How the Society We Live in Came to Be
History Contributes to Moral Understanding
History Provides Identity
Studying History Is Essential for Good Citizenship
Studying History Develops Skills Such As The Ability to Assess Evidence, The Ability to Assess Conflicting Interpretations, Experience in Assessing Past Examples of Change
History Is Useful in the World of Work

For Further Reading, Go To:
American Historical Association