In the United States, courses on civics or government are often marginalized in most states' social studies curricula in favor of courses in United States or world history. The origins of this history-dominated approach have roots in the debates between the American Historical Association and the National Education Association at the turn of the previous century. Even as a model for comprehensive social studies became the norm for American public education during the 20th century, courses in U.S. history remained at the center of the social studies curriculum.
