Your Voice Matters

Individuals can make a difference.

Federal, state, and local representatives rely on input from constituents to inform their decisionmaking. In many instances, they want to hear from you as they navigate the competing interests of different stakeholders. A clear, personal appeal from a constituent can call attention to the consequences of policy changes and even help tip the balance.

These guides are intended to help AHA members, and the public more broadly, advocate for history, the work of historians, and history education. More guides will be added soon.

Take Action for History

Preparing Your Message

While any communication with policymakers can be helpful, a personalized statement is often more effective than a form letter.

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Supporting History at the Federal Level

Suggestions and tips for contacting your Congressional representatives.

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Responding to Federal Regulations

When a federal agency proposes or announces a new regulation, it is published in the Federal Register. Learn how to submit comments responding to federal proposals.

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Other Helpful Tips

Connect with partners. If you work at a higher education institution, contact its government relations office and/or president. Urge them to seek their Congressional representatives’ support for programs impacting your work. Government relations offices may or may not be tracking issues that matter to you. Either way, you can serve as a resource to the people who advocate on behalf of your university.

Stay informed. Sign up for newsletters from your federal, state, and local representatives, including school districts and boards of education.

Regularly review your state’s House and Senate websites for proposed legislation that would affect history and social studies education, higher education, and the work of historians.
Follow your local media outlets to stay informed about political issues in your area.
Follow your representatives on social media for breaking-news updates.

Contact the AHA. The AHA constantly monitors developments affecting the work of history at the federal and state levels. But we need your help. The AHA relies on our members to alert us to pending legislation.

Advocacy Guides

Advocacy Guide for International Education

For decades, federal educational and cultural exchange (ECE) programs—including the Fulbright, Title VI, and Fulbright-Hays—have provided invaluable opportunities for students, scholars, and educators in history and other disciplines.

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AHA Resources

Resources for Foreign Scholars

Historical work is best done in a context of free exchange across the globe. Current conditions affecting foreign scholars and international travel can inhibit that free exchange. This document offers resources that might help individuals and departments navigate these difficult international situations, especially regarding travel and academic freedom.

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Resources for Federal Historians

The American Historical Association supports historians employed by the federal government. We appreciate the important work they do every day to preserve, chronicle, and interpret American history. The AHA recognizes that our colleagues in the federal government are facing unprecedented workforce reductions and has compiled resources in support.

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American Lesson Plan: Teaching US History in Secondary Schools

The AHA’s 2024 report shares findings from the most comprehensive study of secondary US history education undertaken in the 21st century. The report provides empirical evidence and rigorous analysis to inform current debates over how history is taught in our schools.

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History, the Past, and Public Culture: Results from a National Survey

This project aspired to take America’s historical pulse by assessing public perceptions of, and engagement with, the discipline of history and the past.

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