By John Meko, President of Founding Forward
In December 1862, the existence of the Union was in doubt; the nation was in crisis. Twenty months of war had killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. General Lee and his Army were threatening Pennsylvania, and Lincoln’s political situation was tenuous. Public support for the Civil War was fraying. A growing number of northerners looked to end the war and let the southern states create their own nation, an anti-democratic aristocracy built on an economic system that relied on human slavery.
Like the nation, Philadelphia was divided over the war. The influences of the southern economy and slavery ran deep, and many Philadelphians openly supported the Confederacy. In this dire moment, a group of patriotic Philadelphians “pledged, by all means, both public and private to suppress the rebellion.” They formed The Union League of Philadelphia, which became the most important civic institution in the North during the American Civil War. Throughout the next 162 years, the League lived its motto, Love of Country Leads, through patriotic, civic service to its city and country.
In 1949, just four years after the end of WWII, the United States faced a new crisis. An iron curtain had been drawn across Europe. Communism was making a seemingly unstoppable march through much of the world. Berlin was blockaded; the Communists were victorious in China, and the Soviets exploded their first nuclear bomb.
During this crisis, a group of leaders, led by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the American General who led the most powerful military in world history, came together to create a new weapon in the fight against totalitarianism and Communism. This new weapon was not a military one but rather an enlightened and educational one, for Eisenhower and others believed that defeating Communism required a strong military and informed, responsible citizens.
Thus, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge was created, an organization whose mission was to recognize the work of citizen leaders and teach a new generation about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Today, in 2024, America faces a new crisis. One that calls into question the American experiment.
Civil dialogue is in decline. Trust in our institutions, both governmental and private, is fading. Trust in the media is at an all-time low. Many of the fundamental rights associated with America are no longer considered important. In fact, less than a third of Gen Z believe that patriotism is very important, while 36% of Americans have a positive impression of socialism.
So, what can we do? How will we confront this new crisis as our predecessors have? How can we ensure the future of the United States and encourage responsible, informed leadership?
“We saw a troubling trend of growing ignorance, or even hostility, towards the principles upon which our country was founded,” said Jim Dunigan, Chair of Founding Forward. “We believe this trend has created a crisis in our nation, and we have to do something big to help solve this problem.”
The solution to our country’s crisis is to invest in and expand civic education on a national scale.
Earlier this year, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and The Union League Legacy Foundation (the Union League’s official non-profit charity) merged to create Founding Forward. At the core of this merged organization is a mission and belief rooted in the principles and values of the American founding.
The mission of Founding Forward is more than just teaching history; it is about equipping the current and next generation with the knowledge and tools to ensure our government remains responsive and evolves to meet the people’s needs. By fostering a deep understanding of our founding and integrating comprehensive civic education, we are committed to shaping well-informed, actively engaged leaders who are ready to contribute to a more perfect union.
A troubling trend in civic education is the rise of “action civics” – teaching citizens how to change policy or law, absent an understanding of the principles upon which America was founded. Founding Forward believes that citizens must be taught American values before identifying the solution to a problem. The underlying principles of liberty and equality expressed in the Declaration, and made possible through the Constitution, must be understood and appreciated by citizen leaders. These principles are steeped in the moral philosophy of the Western tradition and are the foundation of the American political tradition. Founding Forward believes that America needs active citizens – citizens that are educated and virtuous.
Founding Forward will leverage its greatest assets and strengths to become the leading voice and the nation’s premier civic education institution, promoting civic responsibility and the principles of freedom and liberty preserved in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The newly combined organization educates and inspires students, educators, and Americans through an array of in-person programs, historic resources and collections, scholarships, awards, speaker programs, and other unique learning opportunities.
What makes Founding Forward unique is how it immerses its participants in the place where history happened. Adjacent to Valley Forge National Historical Park sits Founding Forward’s 75-acre Valley Forge campus, complete with dormitories, classrooms, and a living Medal of Honor Grove, honoring all 3,500+ Medal of Honor recipients. Students from across the country visit the Valley Forge campus to participate in transformative residential programs that allow them to experience historic sites, learn and practice civil dialogue with their peers, understand their responsibilities, and appreciate the sacrifices made by generations of patriots. Additional programs occur in the historic League House. Students and teachers travel to Gettysburg, Washington’s Crossing, Independence Hall, Valley Forge, and many other important sites in American history.
Over twenty volunteer chapters from across the county raise funds, recruit, and send students and teachers to these programs. The chapters are the backbone of Founding Forward’s national reach, which will be expanded in the years ahead.
Built in the 1960s, the Valley Forge campus and buildings need significant investment and upgrades in technology. Preliminary estimates show at least $25 million is needed for capital improvements in the next 5-10 years. Plans are already being developed for items such as new roofs and windows, a new entrance, and landscaping upgrades. Campus improvements will begin as early as April 2024 while a long-range capital and strategic plan is developed. The upgrades and investment in the campus and facilities will allow for more innovative and effective programs that create a learning environment that is both meaningful and enjoyable.
Teacher programs have been permanently relocated from the Valley Forge campus to the League’s Liberty Hill property this summer. This transition will take advantage of the amenities available for adult participants at Liberty Hill. It will allow for the Valley Forge campus to be used in the summer months for student programs as early as 2025.
Additionally, Founding Forward’s Philadelphia location, housed in the historic League House, will continue to grow and expand all existing programs, including Good Citizen Day, scholarship programs, lecture programs, care and use of the historic collections, and more. The deep connections of the League and its members to the Philadelphia region will enable Founding Forward to continue attracting a large and diverse group of teachers and students to its programs, including the children, grandchildren, and friends of Union League members. Expanding these immersive programs and marketing them to underserved populations, especially in the Philadelphia region, is a priority.
Directed by a newly formed Board of Trustees, which includes members from both the former Legacy Foundation and Freedoms Foundation boards, Founding Forward establishes itself as a powerful force in promoting the values of liberty, self-governance, and civic responsibility that the founders of the Union League and Eisenhower believed were so indispensable.
Now is the time to act. The success of Founding Forward depends on our continued leadership, our excellent programming and educational resources, and your support and generosity. We need individuals like you who share in Lincoln’s belief that America was, and still is, the “last, best hope of Earth,” but in larger part, believe that the preservation of the fundamental truths enshrined in America’s founding will depend on revitalized civic education.
We ask you to join us in our endeavor to become the leading civic education institution in the country and support Founding Forward’s mission and its work. Together, we can understand our history, educate our rising leaders, and ensure a future rooted in liberty.
John Meko is the President of Founding Forward.