This article explores deliberative forums during the Great Depression, highlighting how Americans have historically turned to civic education in times of national crisis. The 1930s were particularly threatening for democracy, and the forum movement aimed to counter revolutionary rhetoric with a vision of citizenship grounded in informed, objective analysis. The article examines the inherent tensions in forming citizens, such as balancing critical thinking with patriotism and deliberation with zeal, emphasizing the importance of navigating these tensions for the ongoing challenge of democratic choice.