National Survey Finds Just 1 in 3 Americans Would Pass Citizenship Test

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Only one in three Americans (36 percent) can actually pass a multiple choice test consisting of items taken from the U.S. Citizenship Test, which has a passing score of 60, according to a national survey released today by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.

Only 13 percent of those surveyed knew when the U.S. Constitution was ratified, even on a multiple-choice exam similar to the citizenship exam, with most incorrectly thinking it occurred in 1776. More than half of respondents (60 percent) didn't know which countries the United States fought in World War II. And despite the recent media spotlight on the U.S. Supreme Court, 57 percent of those surveyed did not know how many Justices actually serve on the nation's highest court.

"With voters heading to the polls next month, an informed and engaged citizenry is essential," Woodrow Wilson Foundation President Arthur Levine said. "Unfortunately this study found the average American to be woefully uninformed regarding America's history and incapable of passing the U.S. Citizenship Test.  It would be an error to view these findings as merely an embarrassment. Knowledge of the history of our country is fundamental to maintaining a democratic society, which is imperiled today."

Most Americans Don't Know the Facts About Country's Founding

The poll, conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies has a margin of error of ±3 percent with a random sample of 1,000 American citizens. The survey also found that:

• Seventy-two percent of respondents either incorrectly identified or were unsure of which states were part of the 13 original states;
• Only 24 percent could correctly identify one thing Benjamin Franklin was famous for, with 37 percent believing he invented the lightbulb; and
• Only 24 percent knew the correct answer as to why the colonists fought the British.

Age Gaps Exist

Surprisingly, the poll found stark gaps in knowledge depending on age. Those 65 years and older scored the best, with 74 percent answering at least six in 10 questions correctly. For those under the age of 45, only 19 percent passed with the exam, with 81 percent scoring a 59 percent or lower.

American History Initiative

The teaching of American history has traditionally focused on memorization, dates, names and events. This poll shows that these methods of learning history have not been effective. In early 2019, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation will announce a new program designed to change the way in which history is taught and learned.

About the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Founded in 1945, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (www.woodrow.org) identifies and develops the nation's best minds to meet its most critical challenges. The Foundation supports its Fellows as the next generation of leaders shaping American society.

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SOURCE Woodrow Wilson Foundation

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