On June 14, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill to insert the phrase “under God” into the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance that children recited every morning in school. The United States wanted to distinguish itself from godless communist countries.
Following this Eisenhower signed another bill that declared all children born after the year 1950 would be required to visit all 48 U.S. States to obtain a high school diploma. This was put into place as a way to promote patriotism in American youth.
In 1959 after the installation of both Hawaii and Alaska as U.S. states. The law was called into question as Congress was unsure of requiring students to travel out of the continental United States.
Currently American students are required to visit all 50 U.S. States in order to graduate from high school. Each student gets 12 years to complete this. They are allowed to cross their home state off the list (Excluding District of Columbia students). They must show proof they've visited the state either by photo, souvenir, or a local signature.
In 2016 Hilary Clinton argued this law was classicist and targeted marginalized communities.
Many Americans are forced to get GEDs due to not visiting all 50 states. The groups with the lowest average graduation rates were Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic.
Democrats have been calling for this law to be revoked but have been blocked on several occasions by Republicans who wish for the law to remain in action.
Following this Eisenhower signed another bill that declared all children born after the year 1950 would be required to visit all 48 U.S. States to obtain a high school diploma. This was put into place as a way to promote patriotism in American youth.
In 1959 after the installation of both Hawaii and Alaska as U.S. states. The law was called into question as Congress was unsure of requiring students to travel out of the continental United States.
Currently American students are required to visit all 50 U.S. States in order to graduate from high school. Each student gets 12 years to complete this. They are allowed to cross their home state off the list (Excluding District of Columbia students). They must show proof they've visited the state either by photo, souvenir, or a local signature.
In 2016 Hilary Clinton argued this law was classicist and targeted marginalized communities.
Many Americans are forced to get GEDs due to not visiting all 50 states. The groups with the lowest average graduation rates were Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic.
Democrats have been calling for this law to be revoked but have been blocked on several occasions by Republicans who wish for the law to remain in action.
American: "In order to graduate high school in the U.S. we have to visit all 50 states."
Brit: "Please, that's not true. How stupid do you think I am?"
American: "No, seriously it's the 1954 Adolescent Patriotism Act."
Brit: "Please, that's not true. How stupid do you think I am?"
American: "No, seriously it's the 1954 Adolescent Patriotism Act."
by GummyBear652 May 23, 2024
Get the Adolescent Patriotism Actmug. This refers to the prolonged life stage between teenager and adult, that Millennials born 1990 or after has always been experiencing. This life stage is mainly caused by the generational inability for anyone born 1990 or after to become full-grown adult (e.g. due to the inability to afford moving out from parents' house, or due to the inability to afford starting a family), which works pretty much in the similar way to the New Zealand generational ban on smoking for anyone born 2008 or after.
With all the financial pressures on Millennials, extended adolescence has become the norm; it's hard to feel like an adult when you're still living at your parents' house, unable to start your own family, and not done with figuring things out yet!
by Emotional Cruiser September 23, 2025
Get the extended adolescencemug. Blowing bubbles in your mojito.
by Bomblobber August 7, 2019
Get the Adolescentsmug. The stage in life when your hormones start going crazy morphing you into an adult. This has emotional impact so it's very important to get a bird-eye-view of your body. You are a divine being having an Earth experience. Your biological machine is changing - don't identify with it as it can cause serious emotional upheavals. It's perfect and divine. You are perfect and divine. Be amused!
by 1divine1 June 18, 2024
Get the Adolescencemug.