President Joe Biden has revoked the controversial "1776 Report" put forth during the final days of the Trump administration. The "1776 Report" was intended to promote "patriotic education" within American schools, but many scholars and educators rejected it as a whitewashing of United States history.
Initially, Donald Trump put together the 1776 Commission in response to the New York Times' widely respected 1619 Project. However, Trump railed against the critically acclaimed report and called it toxic.
"By viewing every issue through the lens of race, they want to impose a new segregation, and we must not allow that to happen," Trump told Judy Woodruff of PBS.
"Critical race theory, the 1619 Project and the crusade against American history is toxic propaganda, ideological poison, that, if not removed, will dissolve the civic bonds that tie us together, will destroy our country."
After more than a year of work, the 1776 Commission put together the "1776 Report" and was immediately met with criticism. The report claims that “false and fashionable ideologies” put forth about America create a nation of “oppression and victimhood.” Instead, the commission wants to foster "a brave and honest love for our country.” Later, the report attempts to justify the three-fifths compromise and slavery. Not to mention, the commission blames "identity politics" for political division within the country.
“Identity politics makes it less likely that racial reconciliation and healing can be attained by pursuing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream," the report states.
Moreover, the report featured no footnotes, endnotes, or historical citations to back up its arguments. This, in particular, frustrated many scholars who immediately shot down the report as historically inaccurate and offensive.
“It’s an insult to the whole enterprise of education. Education is supposed to help young people learn to think critically,” David Blight of Yale University said.
Ultimately, the "1776 Report" fell incredibly short of its stated goal and will be struck down by historians and American citizens.
Photo Credit: Getty Images