A deeper understanding of traditional American history will result in a stronger citizenry. In order to help strengthen the student citizenry in our community, the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) and Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Education Foundation (MCIU Education Foundation) proposes to implement The George Washington Valley Forge Freedom Institute. This 36-month institute will include a consortium of American history teachers from 21 Montgomery County districts. The institute will result in increased content knowledge and improved instruction by teachers, as evidenced by measurable improvement in student achievement related to traditional American history. This project is designed to produce success across two goals: 1) improved teacher preparation targeting the teaching of American history; and 2) school/district-wide change in student attitudes towards learning American history. The evaluation process is designed to assess the project success across these goals through surveys and pre and post student assessments. Course content will explore English colonization, the War of 1812, the Treaty of Gent, the Missouri Compromise, John Marshall's Supreme Court, the Spanish-American War, the conquest of Puerto Rico and the Philippines, and Roosevelt's policies, among others.