A Historical Review of Social Studies Education: The Push for Nationalism to the Era of Standardization and Accountability

Abstract The marginalization of social studies as a core subject can be heard through the voices that speak out through educational reform and policy. While the voices of the Founding Fathers was heard in early writing, as a fledgling nation sought stability through feelings of nationalism, social studies as a formal curriculum did not take form until the turn of the century. The drivers in this movement were historians initially, and other social science experts, who pushed for the need for citizenship and eventually a broadening of the social studies curriculum to prepare citizens to be active members of a federal republic. Over time, policies began to push subjects like math and science in response to societal events that threatened the US presence on a global stage. What resulted was an increase in standardization of the curriculum with the social studies curriculum feeling the impact as its relevance as a course of study diminished. This historical review outlines key policies and the impact it has had on social studies in the American educational system.