The Heritage Foundation History Lesson supported by The David and Patricia Caldwell Foundation

Members not only have a love of history, they strongly believe public policies must uphold and advance the principles of the American Founding. After the fall of France to the Nazis, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the destruction of the French fleet so that it could not be seized by the Germans. His speech to Parliament in 1940 marked a turning point in British resolve and sent a message to the United States that Britain would not surrender. Churchill was an example of eloquence and moral courage embodied in a singular political leader at a moment of supreme crisis for the West.

While there is plenty to lament about the past year – from the economic hardship and the ballooning debt to the devastation of many Americans losing loved ones and suffering alone – the pandemic also spurred innovation within education while providing a private sector rallying cry to develop a vaccine. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the lessons learned from 2020.

America is strongest when our policies protect our national interests, preserve our alliances of free peoples, vigorously counter threats to our security, and advance prosperity through economic freedom at home and abroad. While this year put a spotlight on international institutions and certain foreign actors, how do we ensure Americans are both free and protected?

What’s behind the assault on American history, and how do we fight back against 1619 and delegitimize the political curricula implemented both at the K-12 and collegian level to ensure the next generation has a true understanding of what it means to be an American?