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The '''Boy Scouts of America''' was founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1910 by W. D. Boyce.<ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/Founders.aspx Founders], scouting.org.</ref> He patterned it after [[Boy Scouts|the British organization]] founded two years earlier by Sir Robert Baden-Powell.

The '''Boy Scouts of America''' was founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1910 by W. D. Boyce.<ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/Founders.aspx Founders], scouting.org.</ref> He patterned it after [[Boy Scouts|the British organization]] founded two years earlier by Sir Robert Baden-Powell.

A similar but entirely separate group is the Girl Scouts, founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Lowe.

A similar but entirely separate group is the [[Girl Scouts]], founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Lowe.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. It promotes fun, educational skills and activities identified with manliness.  <ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About.aspx About the BSA]</ref> The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the [[#The Scout Oath & Law|Scout Oath and Law]].<ref name=overview>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/OverviewofBSA.aspx Overview of Boy Scouts of America]</ref> National headquarters is in Irving, Texas.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based [[youth]] development organizations. It promotes fun, educational skills and activities identified with [[manliness]].  <ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About.aspx About the BSA]</ref> The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make [[ethical]] and [[moral]] choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the [[values]] of the [[#The Scout Oath & Law|Scout Oath and Law]].<ref name=overview>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/OverviewofBSA.aspx Overview of Boy Scouts of America]</ref> National headquarters is in Irving, Texas.

==History==

==History==

[[File:Scouts1911.jpg|right|250px]]

[[File:Scouts1911.jpg|right|250px]]

The first Boy Scout troop in the United States was founded in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in May 1909, by Anglican priest John Forbes Mitchell while on assignment for the [[Church of England]].  It was the first international charter of the British [[Boy Scouts]]. William Dickson Boyce (1859-1929) incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.<ref>http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/BSA_History.aspx</ref>

The first Boy Scout troop in the United States was founded in Pawhuska, [[Oklahoma]], in May 1909, by Anglican priest John Forbes Mitchell while on assignment for the [[Church of England]].  It was the first international charter of the British [[Boy Scouts]]. William Dickson Boyce (1859-1929) incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.<ref>http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/BSA_History.aspx</ref>

The programs were largely copied from the British models set out by [[Sir Robert Baden-Powell]], who began both the non-competitive merit badge system to encourage development in diverse skills, and the rank advancement system to encourage core skills. Even more important was the [[Social Gospel]] influence of "muscular Christianity" promulgated by the [[YMCA]] in the Era of the [[Third Great Awakening]], 1910-30.<ref>Clifford Putney, ''Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920'' (2001) </ref>  

The programs were largely copied from the British models set out by [[Sir Robert Baden-Powell]], who began both the non-competitive merit badge system to encourage development in diverse skills, and the rank advancement system to encourage core skills. Even more important was the [[Social Gospel]] influence of "muscular Christianity" promulgated by the [[YMCA]] in the Era of the [[Third Great Awakening]], 1910-30.<ref>Clifford Putney, ''Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920'' (2001) </ref>  

Beginning in 1913, the National Office organized troops into local councils, to coordinate activities, administration, and growth.  Growth was rapid. By 1921 there were 400,000 boy scouts and 17,000 scoutmasters.

Beginning in 1913, the National Office organized troops into local councils, to coordinate activities, administration, and growth.  Growth was rapid. By 1921 there were 400,000 boy scouts and 17,000 scoutmasters.

The Boy Scouts of America helped the country significantly during both world wars, by selling war bonds and aiding in conservation projects.

The Boy Scouts of America helped the country significantly during both [[world war]]s, by selling war [[bonds]] and aiding in [[conservation]] projects.

===Masculinity===

===Masculinity===

Scouting is not just for the benefit of the boys. It is also an opportunity for adult men to mentor youth and themselves practice outdoor skills. The success of the Scouts resulted in part from increased concern over the maintenance of masculinity in a world of cities and office buildings.  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] often sounded the tocsin. Adult men in the 1900-1930 era believed that the opportunities for the development and expression of masculinity were being restricted. Scouting was a means to counteract perceived forces of feminization in the world of adolescents. The Scouting movement provided adult men, denied by their occupations, an opportunity to validate the traditional image of masculinity.  

Scouting is not just for the benefit of the boys. It is also an opportunity for adult men to mentor youth and themselves practice [[outdoor skills]]. The success of the Scouts resulted in part from increased concern over the maintenance of masculinity in a world of cities and office buildings.  [[Theodore Roosevelt]] often sounded the [[tocsin]]. Adult men in the 1900-1930 era believed that the opportunities for the development and expression of [[masculinity]] were being restricted. Scouting was a means to counteract perceived forces of [[feminization]] in the world of adolescents. The Scouting movement provided adult men, denied by their occupations, an opportunity to validate the traditional image of masculinity.  

==Programs==

==Programs==

Starting in the late 1990s this led to several high profile lawsuits, such as the one brought by the [[ACLU]] of San Diego<ref>http://www.aclusandiego.org/boy_scouts/boy_scouts_082800.html</ref>, which proposes that the discriminatory practices of the organization should make them ineligible for the use of public funds or public lands.

Starting in the late 1990s this led to several high profile lawsuits, such as the one brought by the [[ACLU]] of San Diego<ref>http://www.aclusandiego.org/boy_scouts/boy_scouts_082800.html</ref>, which proposes that the discriminatory practices of the organization should make them ineligible for the use of public funds or public lands.

The homosexual cases culminated in the Supreme Court's Dale decision in 2000, which ruled that as a private organization, the Scouts were entitled to choose their own members. The ACLU lost, but as noted by Robert Bork Jr., spokesman for the BSA and son of the former Supreme Court nominee, the ACLUS "has been trying ever since to have the Scouts expelled from the public square." Gay-rights advocates in dozens of cities have persuaded United Way to stop supporting the Scouts.  

The homosexual cases culminated in the [[Supreme Court]]'s Dale decision in 2000, which ruled that as a private organization, the Scouts were entitled to choose their own members. The ACLU lost, but as noted by Robert Bork Jr., spokesman for the BSA and son of the former Supreme Court nominee [[Robert Bork]], the ACLU "has been trying ever since to have the Scouts expelled from the public square." [[Gay rights activist]]s in dozens of cities have persuaded [[United Way]] to stop supporting the Scouts.  

Prohibition of homosexual scout leaders is not universal within the BSA, however. The Massachusetts Minuteman Council, for example, adopted a bylaw in 2001 barring exclusion of anyone on the basis of race, religion, or [[sexual orientation]]. The bylaw, which resembles the U. S. Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, permits homosexuals to lead troops so long as they do not discuss their sexual orientation. A few other councils have similar policies.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20010802/ai_n13920546 Mass. Scouts permit gay leaders], Chicago Sun-Times,  Aug 2, 2001</ref>

Prohibition of homosexual scout leaders is not universal within the BSA, however. The Massachusetts Minuteman Council, for example, adopted a bylaw in 2001 barring exclusion of anyone on the basis of race, religion, or [[sexual orientation]]. The bylaw, which resembles the U. S. Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, permits homosexuals to lead troops so long as they do not discuss their sexual orientation. A few other councils have similar policies.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20010802/ai_n13920546 Mass. Scouts permit gay leaders], Chicago Sun-Times,  Aug 2, 2001</ref>

Atheist Scouts have also been removed from the organization on the basis of the twelfth point of the Scout Law being "reverent". <ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/116/story_11619_1.html</ref>

[[Atheist]] Scouts have also been removed from the organization on the basis of the twelfth point of the Scout Law being "reverent". <ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/116/story_11619_1.html</ref>

 

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Boy Scouts]], for international perspective

* [[Boy Scouts]], for international perspective

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Dean, John Isaac. ''Scouting in America, 1910-1990,'' PhD dissertation U. of South Carolina. '' Dissertation Abstracts International''  1993 53(8): 2713-A. DA9239032, 448p.  

* Dean, John Isaac. ''Scouting in America, 1910-1990,'' PhD dissertation U. of South Carolina. '' Dissertation Abstracts International''  1993 53(8): 2713-A. DA9239032, 448p.  

* Tucker, William. "Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Persecuted: Across the Country, the Boy Scouts Are under Attack," ''National Review'' Volume: 60. Issue: 17. September 15, 2008. pp 32+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5029028796?title=Thrifty%2c%20Brave%2c%20Clean%2c%20and%20Persecuted%3a%20Across%20the%20Country%2c%20the%20Boy%20Scouts%20Are%20under%20Attack online edition]

* Tucker, William. "Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Persecuted: Across the Country, the Boy Scouts Are under Attack," ''National Review'' Volume: 60. Issue: 17. September 15, 2008. pp 32+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5029028796?title=Thrifty%2c%20Brave%2c%20Clean%2c%20and%20Persecuted%3a%20Across%20the%20Country%2c%20the%20Boy%20Scouts%20Are%20under%20Attack online edition]

* Wills, Chuck. ''Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History'' (2009), popular

* Wills, Chuck. ''Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History'' (2009), popular

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

*  Boy Scouts of America. ''Handbook for scout masters'' (1914)  352 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=pEcqAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle:boy+intitle:scouts&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3 online edition]

*  Boy Scouts of America. ''Handbook for scout masters'' (1914)  352 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=pEcqAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle:boy+intitle:scouts&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3 online edition]