The Boy Scouts were conceived in Britain by Robert Baden-Powell in
1908 as a way to overcome the perceived dangers of moral decline. Characterized
by a focus on outdoor activities, swearing to an oath of loyalty to God and
country, and wearing a uniform, the movement spread to the US in 1910. The US effort was led by William Boyce who
perceived a weakness in American boys due to a changing culture and the decline
of patriotism.
