{"id":2120,"date":"2024-03-25T12:07:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T16:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/why-history-matters\/aha-advocacy\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T11:31:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T16:31:59","slug":"aha-advocacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/why-history-matters\/aha-advocacy\/","title":{"rendered":"AHA Advocacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tAdvocacy Actions\t<\/h3>\n

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AHA Topics<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tSupport AHA Advocacy\t<\/h4>\n\t

The American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline, defends academic freedom, and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The AHA, in collaboration with our colleagues at the American Council of Learned Societies and the Modern Language Association, have filed a lawsuit in response to the illegal dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities. We need your support for this and our ongoing advocacy efforts<\/a> at the federal and state levels. Please join join<\/a> or donate<\/a> today.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tSupporting History & the Work of Historians in 2025\t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\tSupporting Historians Under Threat\t<\/h4>\n\t

This guide is intended to provide resources for historians working in a range of different environments to support themselves and colleagues if faced with threats, punitive restrictions, and harassment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"NEH\n

\n\t\t\tACLS, AHA, & MLA File Lawsuit to Restore the NEH\t<\/h5>\n\t

The ACLS, AHA, and MLA have filed a lawsuit in federal district court, seeking to reverse the recent actions to devastate the National Endowment for the Humanities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"zach-camp-o2Hi9tMor7g-unsplash\"\n

\n\t\t\tHistorians Respond to Federal Actions\t<\/h5>\n\t

AHA members are providing important historical context and insight to the public on the recent actions by the federal government.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"US-Senate-Chamber-1024x620\"\n

\n\t\t\tTracking Federal Actions Affecting History\t<\/h5>\n\t

The AHA is tracking information on federal actions and their impact on history and education.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"A\n

\n\t\t\tResources for Federal Historians\t<\/h5>\n\t

The American Historical Association supports historians employed by the federal government.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"allison-saeng-X1rfqK8JDL0-unsplash\"\n

\n\t\t\tResources for Foreign Scholars\t<\/h5>\n\t

Historical work is best done in a context of free exchange across the globe. This document offers resources that might help individuals and departments navigate difficult international situations, especially regarding travel and academic freedom.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"IMG_8181\n

\n\t\t\tCongressional Briefings\t<\/h5>\n\t

The AHA’s Congressional Briefings series seeks to provide Congressional staff members, journalists, and other members of the policy community with the historical context essential to understanding contemporary issues.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t

“Only historians and trained museum professionals are qualified to conduct such a review, which is intended to ensure historical accuracy. To suggest otherwise is an affront to the professional integrity of curators, historians, educators and everyone involved in the creation of solid, evidence-based content.”<\/h4>
~Sarah Weicksel (AHA) in <\/em>The New York Times on the Trump administration’s announcement of a “sweeping review” of the Smithsonian to “ensure alignment” with the administration’s goals, August 2025.\u00a0<\/em><\/h5>\t\t\n\t\t\t

“You cannot censor your way to great schools.”<\/h4>

~Julia Brookins (AHA) before the Texas State Board of Education, 2022<\/em><\/h5>\t\t\n

\n\t\t\tAHA Initiatives\t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\tHistory & Public Policy\t<\/h4>\n\t

The AHA is committed to honest history-in the classroom, in public memory, and through the many programs through which the federal government supports research.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Assignments\n

\n\t\t\tTeaching History with Integrity\t<\/h5>\n\t

Through Teaching History with Integrity, the AHA leads or participates in several initiatives to provide resources and support for history educators facing intensifying controversies about the teaching of the American past.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"alexis-brown-omeaHbEFlN4-unsplash\"\n

\n\t\t\tFreedom to Learn\t<\/h5>\n\t

The AHA’s Freedom to Learn initiative educates historians and others on how to advocate publicly for honest history education, responds directly to the bills themselves, and creates resources to help teachers directly affected by these bills think about how to maintain the integrity of their history courses.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"AHA\n

\n\t\t\tAHA Testimony Before Legislatures & Boards of Education\t<\/h5>\n\t

AHA staff have delivered public testimony highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts” and issues related to teaching history with integrity.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Covers\n

\n\t\t\t AHA State History Standards Support\t<\/h5>\n\t

As part of its mission to promote historical thinking in public life and professional integrity in history education, the American Historical Association monitors and offers guidance on state-level academic frameworks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tAmicus Briefs\t<\/h4>\n\t

The AHA endorses amicus briefs that coincide with the AHA’s\u00a0Guiding Principles for Taking a Public Stance<\/em>, and our members often lend their expertise to crafting amicus briefs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tHistorians Speak Out\t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\tYour Voice Matters\t<\/h4>\n\t

The AHA has developed advocacy guides intended to help AHA members, and the public more broadly, advocate for history, the work of historians, and history education. Individuals can make a difference.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccess the Guides\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Screenshot\n

\n\t\t\tAHA Media Appearances & Publications\t<\/h5>\n\t

AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts” and issues related to teaching history with integrity.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"maxresdefault\"\n

\n\t\t\tTeaching with Integrity: Historians Speak\t<\/h5>\n\t

These videos feature historians describing how exploring America’s past honestly in the classroom benefits the nation’s students, and how the freedom to learn also strengthens our shared democracy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Now\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tFrom the Executive Director’s Desk\t<\/h4>\n\t

AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel offers reflections on current issues before the AHA.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tPolicies & Principles \t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\tAdvocating for the Discipline\t<\/h4>\n\t

The American Historical Association’s mission to enhance the work of historians also encompasses professional standards and ethics, innovative scholarship and teaching, academic freedom, and international collaboration. The AHA provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The Association defends academic freedom, develops professional standards, supports innovative scholarship and teaching, and helps to sustain and enhance the work of historians.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbout the AHA\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\n\t\t\tGuiding Principles on Taking a Public Stance\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h5>\n
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPolicies and Procedures for Considering Amicus Brief Requests\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h5>\n
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tLegislative Advocacy Letters: Behind the Scenes at the AHA\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h5>\n
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tEverything Has a History\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h5>\n

\n\t\t\tCongressional Charter\t<\/h4>\n\t

In 1889, the American Historical Association was incorporated in the District of Columbia by an act of Congress: “for the promotion of historical studies, the collection and preservation of historical manuscripts and for kindred purposes in the interest of American history and of history in America.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\t\tAHA News\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"POH_2024-09_Cover\"\n
\n\t\t\tPerspectives on History<\/i>\t<\/h5>\n\t

Read articles on advocacy issues in Perspectives.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"A\n

\n\t\t\tFor the Press\t<\/h5>\n\t

Access press releases issued by the AHA and other resources for the media.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Advocacy Actions Search News Topics AHA Topics Thematic Geographic Month Year Support AHA Advocacy The American Historical Association provides leadership…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104562,"parent":1817,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"AHA Advocacy | American Historical Association","_seopress_titles_desc":"The American Historical Association is unique among history organizations with the breadth and depth of our advocacy efforts.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2120","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","has-featured-image"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2120"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107728,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2120\/revisions\/107728"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1817"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.historians.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}