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Requirements January 1995 until January 2006

1. Do ONE of the following:

(a)  Make a map of your area. Mark the points of historical interest. Show your map in your classroom or troop meeting place. Tell about the points of historical interest.
(b) Research an event of historical importance that took place in or near your area. If possible, visit the place where the event took place. Tell your class or troop about the event and its impact on local history. Describe what it looked like then on now.
(c) Find out when, why, and how your town or neighborhood started. What ethnic, national, or racial groups played a part? Find out how it has changed over the past 50 years. Try to explain why.

2. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Explain what is meant by the National Register of Historical Places. Tell about any National Register properties in your area. Describe how a property becomes eligible for listing.
(b) Find something in your area that seems to qualify for National Register listing. Bring it to the attention of the Historic Preservation Officer for your state. Assist him or her, in any way possible, to nominate it for inclusion in the National Register.

3. Choose ONE of the following: describe its adoption; tell about any changes since its adoption.

(a) The flag
(b) The Pledge of Allegiance
(c) The seal
(d) The motto
(e) The national anthem

4. Choose an event, a period, or a person from United States history that you would like to know more about. Do FOUR of the following for the subject chosen:

(a) Read a biography, approved by your counselor, of the person chosen. Tell some things you admire about the person. Tell some things you do not admire. Explain why you think this person has made a good or bad contribution to America’s heritage.
(b) Read about the subject in three sources. List the major points upon which all agree. List areas of disagreement. Decide what source you think is mostly true. Tell how you decided.
(c) Read a historical novel or see a television show, a play, or a movie about your subject. Tell how true you think it was. Tell how it added to your understanding of the subject.
(d) Select an important speech related to your subject and tell when and why it was made. Read the speech to your class or troop. Then lead a discussion about the effect it had at the time.
(e) Gather records of four songs that are related to your subject or be able to sing or play them yourself. Play the records, or play or sing the songs yourself, for your class or troop. Tell about each song.
(f) Collect copies of four cartoons about your subject or draw two in the style of the period. Tell about the meaning of the cartoons.
(g) Collect copies of paintings about your subject. Show them to your class or troop. Tell about them. Discuss their accuracy or symbolism.
(h) Collect copies of photographs about your subject. Show them to your class or troop. Tell how they reflect the photographer’s point of view.
(I) Build a model to show something about your subject. Show the model to your class or troop. Tell about what it shows.
(j) Visit a historic site related to your subject. Tell your class or troop about your visit. Tell how it has enlarged your view of the subject.
(k) Make a time line for your subject. Tell how the main events on your chart have affected life in America today.

5. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Take an active part in a program about a historic event or person. Report to your class or your troop about the program, the part you took, and the subject.
(b) Pick an organization that is directly concerned with the preservation or perpetuation of local, state, or national history. Talk with an officer of the organization about its goals. Find out how you can help meet these goals. Carry out a project that will help meet the goals.
(c) Set up a historic trail or walk in your area. Prepare a guidebook. Include maps and related local history. Develop and carry out a plan to bring your trail to the attention of your community.

Requirements January 2006 until January 2014

1. Read the Declaration of Independence. Pay close attention to the section that begins with “We hold these truths to be self-evident” and ends with “to provide new Guards for their future security.” Rewrite that section in your own words, amking it as easy to understand as possible. Then, share your writing with your merit badge counselor and discuss the importance of the Declaration to all Americans.

2. Do TWO of the following:

(a) Select two individuals from American history, one a political leader (a president, senator, etc.) and the other a private citizen (a writer, religious leader, etc.). Find out about each person’s accomplishments and compare the contributions each has made to American heritage.
(b) With your counselor’s approval, choose an organization that has promoted some type of positive change in American society. Find out why the organization believed this change was necessary and how it helped to accomplish the change. Discuss (c) With your counselor’s approval, interview two veterans of the U.S. military. Find out what their expectations were like. Ask the veterans what they believe they accomplished.
(d) With your counselor’s approval, interview three people in your community of different ages and occupations. Ask these people what America means to them, what they think is special about this country, and what American traditions they feel are important to preserve.

3. Do the following:

(a)  Select a topic that is currently in the news. Describe to your counselor what is happening. Explain how today’s events are related to or affected by the events and values of America’s past.
(b) For each of the following, describe its adoption, tell about any changes since its adoption, and explain how each one continues to influence Americans today; the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the seal, the motto, and the national anthem.
(c) Research your family’s history. Find out how various events and situations in American history affected your family. Share what you find with you counselor. Tell why your family came to America.

4. Do TWO of the following:

(a) Explain what is meant by the National Register of Historical Places. Describe how a property becomes eligible for listing. Make a map of your local area, marking the points of historical interest. Tell about any National Register properties in your area. Share the map with your counselor, and describe the historical points you have indicated.
(b) Research an event of historical importance that took place near your area. If possible, visit the place. Tell your counselor about the event and how it affected local history. Describe how the area looked then and what it now looks like.
(c) Find out when, why, and how your town or neighborhood started, and ethnic, national, or racial groups played a part. Find out how the area has changed over the past 50 years and try to explain why.
(d) Take an active part in a program about an event or person in American history. Report to your counselor about the program, the part you took, and the subject.
(e) Visit a historical trail or walk in your area. After you visit, share with your counselor what you have learned. Discuss the importance of this location and explain why you think it might qualify for National Register listing.

5. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Watch two motion pictures (with the approval and permission of your counselor and parent) that are set in some period of American history. Describe to your counselor how accurate each film is with regard to the historical events depicted and also with regard to the way the characters are portrayed.
(b) Read a biography (with your counselor’s approval) of someone who has made a contribution to American’s heritage. Tell some things you admire about this individual and some things you do not admire. Explain why you think this person has made a positive or a negative contribution to America’s heritage.
(c) Listen to recordings of popular songs from various periods of American history. Share five of these songs with your counselor, and describe how each song reflects the way people felt about the period in which it was popular. If a recording is not available, have a copy of the lyrics available.

6. Discuss with your counselor the career opportunities in American heritage. Pick one that interst you and explain how to prepare for this career. Discuss what education and training are required for this career.