Education Department shares post about American history—with British photo

The U.S. Department of Education is facing questions after sharing a photograph identified by Encyclopaedia Britannica as showing British suffragettes in a social media post about “American history.”

The department shared the black-and-white image in a Facebook post on July 8 alongside the message: “American history is worth learning.” The graphic also included the phrase “Celebrate America’s 250th.” As of publication, the post remains visible on the department’s Facebook page and had not been corrected or removed.

However, the photograph appears to be a well-known image of British suffragettes campaigning in London in the early 20th century, rather than a scene from American history.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Education for comment.

Why the Post Is Facing Questions

The image used in the department’s post matches a photograph published by Encyclopaedia Britannica as part of its entry on women’s suffrage.

Encyclopaedia Britannica identifies the image as depicting “Suffragettes holding signs in London, c. 1912.” One of the signs visible in the image reads “Votes for Women,” while another advertises a meeting.

Among those highlighting the issue was Wendy Rouse, a historian and author whose work focuses on the women’s suffrage movement. After the Department of Education shared the image on Facebook, Rouse responded on Bluesky: “They say: ‘American History is Worth Learning’ [Posts picture from British history].”

The graphic includes the text: “Celebrate America’s 250th,” a reference to the yearlong America250 commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Federal agencies across the government have incorporated America250 branding into public events, educational initiatives and social media campaigns throughout 2026 as part of efforts to highlight significant people, events and movements in U.S. history. The Department of Education has been among the agencies promoting the anniversary and encouraging Americans to engage with the nation’s history and civic institutions.

Women’s Suffrage in Britain and America

Although Britain and the United States both experienced major campaigns for women’s voting rights during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the movements developed separately and under different political systems.

Britannica notes that the struggle for women’s suffrage was particularly significant in both Great Britain and the United States, though each country had its own organizations, leaders and milestones.

In Britain, activists including the Women’s Social and Political Union became known for high-profile demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience as they pushed for voting rights. Women over the age of 30 first gained the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1918, with voting rights placed on equal terms with men a decade later in 1928.

In the United States, the campaign culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which prohibited denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. Although the British and American movements shared the goal of securing voting rights for women, they developed independently and achieved key milestones at different points in the early 20th century.

The Department of Education had not publicly addressed questions about the image’s origins as of publication.

The apparent mismatch is notable because the photograph was shared as part of America250, the government-wide effort marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The campaign has encouraged federal agencies to spotlight key moments and figures from the nation’s past.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang