US History Practice Exam 2026 - Free US History Practice Questions and Study Guide

Horace Mann is recognized as a pivotal figure in the development of public education in the United States. In the 19th century, he championed the idea that education should be accessible to all children and that it was the responsibility of the state to provide this education. He believed that a well-educated citizenry was essential for a functioning democracy and that public schooling would help to level social inequalities. Mann's advocacy led to the establishment of state-sponsored education systems and set the foundation for the public school system in America. His efforts were instrumental in creating the common school movement, which aimed to provide free, non-sectarian education to children, thereby making education a fundamental right rather than a privilege.