In early America, homeschooling was taught in the home by an educated parent or tutor. Public schools did not exist in America until the mid-1800s, leaving families to educate children at home. When public schools were established, they were primarily church-based and focused on doctrine more than academics. It was not until the 1870s that public schools became more government-supported academic institutions. Public schools became increasingly popular. However, some parents continue to homeschool their children for various reasons. Many American presidents were homeschooled, such as Washington, Adams, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Thomas Edison and Mark Twain were also homeschooled. By the 1960s, homeschooling was becoming increasingly popular among groups of New Age philosophers, former hippies, and homeowners. It wasn't until 1993 that homeschooling became legal in all fifty states. Before then, many families suffered hardship due to states mandating public school attendance (Wilhelm and Firmin