Sadly, I'd bet over half of the adult population of the U.S. couldn't summarize what the declaration of independence says and what it means.

Very true. They stopped requiring civics in high school. Our daughter took an equivalent class (that included a field trip to DC), but it wasn't required.

1poorlady probably knows more than most citizens because, as part of her naturalization, she had to study and take a test.**

I saw a survey/study a while back (which I can't find now) that indicated that a large portion of the population thinks they have rights that they really don't. In searching for the study, I came across some examples (e.g. people think they have right to counsel in civil matters...for free). I know they think they have a right to drive (which they do not...hence the requirement of a license). I wish I could have found that study, because it illustrates very well why we need civics classes in school.





**We had a friend at work whom we ate lunch with almost daily. He was very knowledgeable, and we would discuss history, the Constitution, the DOI, Thomas Paine, and some basic history to prepare her for the test. Which she aced.