A REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH WAS MADE ON THE TOPIC OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION OF AMERICAN YOUTH. THE AUTHOR POSED THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AS SUBTOPICS TO THE OVERALL RESEARCH REVIEW--(1) WHAT IS POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION, (2) WHAT DO YOUNG AMERICANS BELIEVE ABOUT POLITICS, (3) HOW DO YOUNG AMERICANS ACQUIRE POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND (4) HOW IMPORTANT IS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING IN THE FORMATION OF POLITICAL BELIEFS. EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED SEPARATELY, AND ALL ANSWERS WERE DOCUMENTED. IN ADDITION, SOME IMPLICATIONS OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION RESEARCH FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS WERE DISCUSSED. A PARTICULAR EFFORT WAS MADE TO SHOW THE NEED FOR NEW EFFORTS TO OVERCOME TENDENCIES TO FORM CLOSED-MINDED ATTACHMENTS TO POLITICAL BELIEFS BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO THINK REFLECTIVELY AND TO CRITICALLY EXAMINE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. (JH)