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Title: The Curious Dawn of American Public Schools

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2007

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Abstract: How did a frontier nation filled with agricultural and mineral potential become a leader in education? How did a nation born of aversion to taxes and government become a pioneer in using property taxes to pay for much, and eventually most, of its primary schooling? The puzzle is best explained by a combination of relatively little initial poverty, local autonomy, and especially political voice. We present two kinds of evidence: broad contrasts with Europe, and statistical investigation of the differences among U.S. counties in the mid-nineteenth century. Two political voice variables stand out as determinants of schooling among U.S. counties: The extent of local suffrage and the ability of Southern elites to dominate the electorate. Other standard explanations of the demand for primary education need to be revised. Past writers have overemphasized the passage of national and state laws. Contrary to another common view, cities lagged in school attendance, while the Northern countryside led the way, because political voice was more widespread in the small Northern towns.

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Authors: Lindert, Peter H.; Go, Sun

Conference Name: All-UC Group in Economic History conference

Publisher Location: UC Davis, Davis, CA

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education

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