Ohio’s ‘American Heritage’ bill isn’t about history. It’s about politics: John Fea

On Nov. 19, nan Ohio House passed nan Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act. Supporters declare it will reconstruct appreciation for religion’s “positive influence” successful American history. But House Bill 486, now pending successful nan Ohio Senate, isn’t really astir improving humanities education. It’s astir advancing nan governmental schedule of today’s Christian Right.

Teaching belief successful history classrooms isn’t controversial. Competent teachers already talk nan Puritans, abolitionists, Black churches successful nan Civil Rights Movement, and nan emergence of nan Christian Right. Religion — particularly Christianity — has ever been portion of nan American story. There is nary wide effort to erase it from classrooms. HB 486 is trying to lick a problem that doesn’t exist.

The existent rumor is nan bill’s insistence that teachers stress religion’s positive impact. That’s not really history works. History isn’t astir issuing civilized endorsements; it’s astir helping students understand nan past successful each its complexity.

Consider Frederick Douglass, who wrote that his enslaver became much sadistic aft a belief conversion during nan alleged Second Great Awakening, which inspired betterment movements but besides reinforced slavery. Which result counts arsenic “positive”? HB 486 ne'er explains. By demanding praise alternatively of analysis, nan measure undermines superior humanities inquiry.

The measure besides relies connected selective — and sometimes incorrect — examples. It claims Benjamin Franklin urged Thomas Paine to pain “The Age of Reason.” He did not. It invokes nan alleged “Black Robe Regiment,” a favourite trope of Christian nationalists, contempt bladed and often unflattering humanities evidence. Some examples trace backmost to unverified 19th-century anecdotes that exaggerate clergy patriotism.

HB 486 further asks teachers to item specifications for illustration nan Constitution’s closing phrase, “in nan twelvemonth of our Lord.” At nan time, this was simply a modular making love convention, apt added by a scribe aft nan Constitutional Convention ended. It tells america small astir nan Founders’ intentions, but it conveniently supports a modern governmental narrative.

Ironically, respective figures celebrated by nan measure contradict its message. Baptist curate John Leland, who influenced James Madison, spent his life opposing authorities engagement successful religion. Roger Williams was expelled from Massachusetts for rejecting state-enforced faith. Their stories show that America’s contented of belief state grew from limiting authorities powerfulness complete religion, not elevating 1 religion supra others.

Supporters besides declare HB 486 will trim “hate and violence.” History offers nary specified guarantee. Nineteenth-century America was 1 of nan astir Christian societies successful U.S. history — and it still descended into nan bloodiest warfare ever fought connected American soil. Adding Christianity to nan program does not automatically nutrient peace.

Ultimately, HB 486 pushes students toward a azygous conclusion: That nan United States was founded arsenic — and should stay — a Christian nation. Conservatives often impeach progressive educators of forcing ideology into history done race, gender, aliases class. This measure does nan aforesaid thing, simply substituting Christian nationalism for different frameworks. The consequence is identical: Ideology masquerading arsenic scholarship.

Ohio doesn’t request a rule to thatch belief successful American history. Teachers already do that. What Ohio doesn’t request is nan authorities deciding which belief stories are “positive” and which ones are ignored. History is complicated, filled pinch some achievements and failures. Students merit to face that complexity — not person a state-approved civilized lesson.

Fea is Distinguished Professor of American History astatine Messiah University successful Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and a visiting chap astatine The Lumen Center successful Madison, Wisconsin.

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