Getting Started

Introduction & Overview

American Heritage is about understanding the ideas, people, symbols, and stories that shaped the United States. It is more than memorizing dates — it is discovering why those dates matter and how the past connects to your life right now.

This merit badge invites you to explore the founding documents that launched a nation, the leaders and everyday citizens who changed its course, and the symbols that unite Americans across generations. You will also dig into local history and your own family’s story — because American heritage is not just something in a textbook. It is something you carry with you.

Then and Now

Then — Building a New Nation

In 1776, a group of colonists did something radical: they wrote down exactly why they believed they had the right to govern themselves. The Declaration of Independence was not just a letter to a king — it was a promise to the world that ordinary people could build a nation based on liberty and equality. From that moment forward, each generation of Americans has wrestled with what those ideals actually mean in practice.

Key moments: The Revolutionary War, the writing of the Constitution, westward expansion, the Civil War, the civil rights movement
Big idea: Every generation inherited the promise — and the responsibility — of making those founding ideals real for more people

Now — Heritage in a Connected World

Today, Americans engage with their heritage in ways the founders never imagined. You can browse the original Declaration of Independence online at the National Archives, take a virtual tour of a Civil War battlefield, or record your grandparents’ stories on your phone. Heritage preservation is now a recognized profession, and communities across the country work to protect the places and traditions that tell America’s story.

Key moments: National Register of Historic Places, digital archives, ongoing debates about monuments and memory
Big idea: Heritage is not frozen in the past — it is a living conversation about who we are and who we want to be

Get Ready! You are about to explore some of the most powerful ideas in human history — and discover how they connect to your hometown, your family, and your future. Let’s dig in.

A close-up of a quill pen resting on aged parchment with handwritten text, evoking the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Kinds of American Heritage

American heritage is not one thing — it is a rich tapestry woven from many threads. Here are the major categories you will explore in this merit badge.

Documents & Ideas

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are more than old papers under glass. They are the operating instructions for a democracy. The ideas in these documents — liberty, equality, self-governance — have inspired movements around the world and continue to shape American law and life.

People & Movements

From presidents and generals to writers, activists, and ordinary citizens, American heritage is shaped by people who stood up for what they believed. Some are famous — like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. Others are people whose names you may never learn, but whose courage changed the country.

Symbols & Traditions

The American flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Great Seal, the national anthem, the bald eagle — these symbols carry deep meaning. They unite a diverse nation under shared ideals. Understanding where they came from and how they have changed over time helps you appreciate what they represent.

A collage of American symbols including the American flag waving, the Great Seal of the United States, and the bald eagle, set against a blue sky

Places & Landmarks

Every community has places where history happened. Battlefields, courthouses, trails, homes, and monuments tell stories that textbooks cannot capture. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes more than 95,000 properties across the country — and there is almost certainly one near you.

Stories & Culture

Music, film, literature, and family stories are powerful ways to experience heritage. A folk song from the Civil War era can make you feel what soldiers felt. A family immigration story can connect you to a chapter of American history that is uniquely yours.

A Scout sitting with a grandparent, looking through an old family photo album together at a kitchen table

Now that you know what American Heritage is all about, it is time to start with the document that launched a nation.