Known to have begun in earliest prehistory, education has evolved to become an important aspect of society. There was a time when adults trained the young people of their society in the knowledge and skills necessary to master them and, ultimately, pass them on to future generations. In pre-literate societies, education began through oral and imitation, but as knowledge outpaced skills that required more effective teaching methods, formal education expanded. Globally, the perspectives of intellectuals such as Plato and Confucius became the foundation of education, and the establishment of schools became widespread during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In the United States, however, the development of education and schools did not occur until after the American Revolution, particularly during the Cold War. Due to the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States, the Cold War climate fostered not only competition between academic institutions, but also a change in ideas about the education system and its role in society, ultimately leading to the manipulation of education through social engineering as Sputnik sparked fears of a missile breach. In the 17th century, the first American schools opened in the original thirteen colonies. Although education varied greatly, settlers sought to educate with respect to both English values ​​and traditions of family, religion, community, and learning (Cremin 113-114). Becoming the foundation of education, the Puritans valued education for religious study and economic success. Education depends on each person's social status, especially since classes are taught within the family. In fact, it was assumed that parents knew the basics of both... middle of paper ... and wrote books and articles about the role democracy should have in education. Additionally, he believed that schools were not only a place to gain knowledge, but also a place to understand how to live. This then led him to conclude that the purpose of education was not just the acquisition of a set of skills, but rather the ability to use those skills to succeed and realize one's full potential. Dewey insisted that education and schooling play a key role in creating social change and reform. While some critics believed that Dewey's system would prevent students from learning basic academic skills and knowledge, others believed that the order of the classroom and the teacher as an authority figure would disappear. However, Dewey moved beyond the authoritarian learning style and wanted students to invest in what they were learning (Dewey 6-12).