Astonishing as it may seem, most American's don't know the most basic information about our government. In July 2011, Marist Poll tried to see how many people know July 4th history. According to their findings, only 58% of residents know that the United States declared its independence from Britain in 1776. Younger people are less informed than older. Only 31% of those people under 30 knew this basic piece of information. http://maristpoll.marist.edu/71-independence-day-dummy-seventeen-seventy-when/
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has been keeping an eye on citizens' level of knowledge. They also came up with disappointing results. In 2006 and 2007, they gave a multiple-choice examination to college freshman and seniors in over 80 schools. Both years, the average student failed. In 2008, they tested a diverse set of adults and found that both high school graduates and college graduates were likely to fail, 71% of participants failed the exam.
In the past two years, the group has been focused on determining how much a college education helps in promotic civic engagement. They found that the most important thing was whether or not the citizens were knowledgeable. "Greater civic knowledge is the leading factor in promoting the kind of active civic engagement that has proven to be emblematic of effective citizenship." http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2011/major_findings_finding1.html
High school students are also lacking in their knowledge. According to the 2010 Nation's Report Card, high school seniors' knowledge has decreased since 2006. http://nationsreportcard.gov/civics_2010/ When 97% of students surveyed indicate that they've recieved instruction in civics and government, something isn't sticking.
We need to consider giving more instruction, or determining better ways to instruct students in civic responsibility.
