Education is a critical national security issue, especially as America approaches its 250th anniversary. Recent studies reveal alarming gaps in historical knowledge among Americans: 22% of millennials were unaware of the Holocaust, while 67% had never heard of Auschwitz—the Nazi death camp where over one million Jews and others perished. Additionally, only one in three U.S. citizens could pass a basic citizenship test according to the Woodrow Wilson Institute.
South Carolina State Superintendent Ellen Weaver has launched a groundbreaking initiative to address these challenges. In collaboration with the American Battlefield Trust, the state will provide free, standards-aligned curriculum resources for K-12 students focusing on the American Revolution. The program was unveiled at Edgewood Middle School in Ninety Six, South Carolina—just one mile from where the South’s first land battle of the Revolutionary War occurred.
“I want you to remember that you are the legacy of these amazing American patriots,” Weaver told students. “They bled and fought for our freedom right here on the soil of South Carolina, winning the American Revolution and setting us on a trajectory of freedom and continuous improvement.”
The curriculum includes interactive virtual tours, maps, and educational materials designed to engage students through modern technology. It is part of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America 250 Task Force,” which has mobilized federal, state, local governments, private sector partners, and non-profits to strengthen historical education.
South Carolina’s initiative builds on the state’s pivotal role in securing American independence, where victories at Cowpens and Kings Mountain led directly to British surrender at Yorktown. As former President Ronald Reagan warned: “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” The nation’s future depends on ensuring its youth understand the foundations of liberty.
By Van Hipp
December 9, 2025
