History Matters

A society that neglects its past cannot navigate its present.

Americans should embrace how fortunate they are to live in a republic with the rule of law, nearly 2,000 public libraries, and a promising – if often floundering – public school system. The United States benefits from its diversity, which enables readers to acknowledge that every other person knows some things they don’t know. Americans can enrich their lives by listening to others with the intent to learn.

A shared knowledge of history provides the bedrock for a unified society and nation. Historical awareness underpins democratic participation, civic judgment, and cultural continuity. People who lack memory and a sense of history become vulnerable to manipulation, lose their sense of identity, and repeat the mistakes of the past.

If you don’t know history, you have no context beyond your lifetime. You can’t judge public policy because you don’t know what preceded it. Civic life requires a shared memory. To understand national identity, you must understand national history. National pride is shallow without roots in the past.

The story of the United States reflects its many flaws, as well as...