American Heritage Merit Badge
Six requirements. Requirement 1 is the Declaration of Independence, one section rewritten in your own words. Requirement 3 is a topic in the news, the national symbols and your family's history. Three are choices: two of four in 2 (people, an organization or interviews), two of five in 4 (local history), one of three in 5 (films, a biography or songs). Several routes need your counselor's approval first.
The plan behind this
Three choices
Requirement 2, TWO of four:
| route | what it asks | approval first |
|---|---|---|
| 2(a) | two people from American history, a political leader and a private citizen, and their contributions compared | |
| 2(b) | an organization that promoted positive change in American society: why, how, and its link to America's past | your counselor |
| 2(c) | interview two veterans of the U.S. military about their experiences and what they accomplished | your counselor |
| 2(d) | interview three people in your community, of different ages and occupations, about what America means to them | your counselor |
Requirement 4, TWO of five, about where you live:
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 4(a) | the National Register of Historic Places and how a property becomes eligible; a map of your local area with its points of historical interest; any National Register properties nearby |
| 4(b) | an event of historical importance in or near your area, visiting the place if possible; how the area looked then and now |
| 4(c) | when, why and how your town or neighborhood started, the groups that played a part, and how it has changed over the past 50 years |
| 4(d) | taking an active part in a program about an event or person in American history, then reporting on it |
| 4(e) | visiting a historic trail or walk in your area, then why it might qualify for National Register listing |
Requirement 5, ONE of three:
| route | what it asks | approval first |
|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | two motion pictures set in a period of American history, and how accurate each is | your counselor and your parent or guardian |
| 5(b) | a biography of someone who contributed to America's heritage: what you admire and do not, and whether the contribution was positive or negative | your counselor |
| 5(c) | popular songs from various periods; five shared with your counselor, with how each reflects its period |
Done in full
1: read the Declaration of Independence, rewrite the section from "We hold these truths to be self-evident" to "to provide new Guards for their future security" in your own words, share it with your counselor and discuss the Declaration's importance to all Americans.
3: a topic in the news and how it relates to America's past; the adoption, changes and influence of the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Great Seal, the motto and the national anthem; and your family's history, including why your family came to America if it immigrated.
6: career opportunities in American heritage, and how to prepare for one.
What this page is
The American Heritage merit badge, drawn so the three choices are drawn as questions, with the routes that need your counselor's approval first marked, and the Declaration, the three parts of requirement 3 and the career drawn as required steps. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- American Heritage Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .