By Jackson Colo
Editor-in-Chief
The famous “Raising the flag on Iwo Jima” photograph, taken by Joe Rosenthal during World War II, increased American pride.
On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and its founding, a feat defined by various economic, social, and political fortunes. Over the semiquincentennial span, our country emerged as a leading global powerhouse, paving the way and serving as a beacon for democracy, independence, and freedom across the world.
“I think the idea of the ‘American Dream’ has been very popular; anyone can succeed, and anyone can be successful,” United States history teacher John Clevenger said. “The idea of it has been a major export for people. I think the American Dream is definitely still alive. People still love coming here; immigrants still love coming here. It’s even a part of our curriculum that America is the land of opportunity and freedom.”
However, it’s difficult to say that the American Dream has consistently applied to all American people. From Women’s Suffrage to Black Lives Matter, movements separated by nearly a century, marginalized communities have continued to exercise their right to free speech and assembly. This privilege has been protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution—a unique document that remains the heart of all Americans, even now, over two hundred years after its signing.
“I think from right at the beginning [a major accomplishment] was creating a constitution,” Clevenger said. “It’s one of the oldest modern constitutions, and it is somehow still relevant. It still works. It may be becoming less workable as we haven’t passed an amendment since 1992; that’s a real problem. It’s been kept as a centerpiece of our country, and a lot of [other countries] have copied that same principle.”
Despite the continuous impact of the Constitution, American politics have routinely seen shifts throughout history. Following the adoption of political parties, division among American voters emerged. Over the course of our history, such conflicts created by party divisions have been handled in different fashions. In 1861, when darkness materialized in the Civil War, our country experienced its deepest division to date, with deaths reaching over half a million. However, Clevenger is hopeful that our country’s current political divide will be handled peacefully.
“I’m usually pretty optimistic about America,” Clevenger said. “That’s one reason why I like teaching about it. We made a lot of mistakes, and we’ve tried to fix them. I feel like there’s going to be some sort of reckoning to fix our current state, and I hope it’s not violent, but there’s going to be some positive change.”
At the federal level, the Trump Administration has promoted its Freedom 250 initiative to promote national engagement of Americans. The initiative includes a wide range of projects, like informative documentaries, parades, and events. One of which is the Patriot Games, seeking one male and one female high school athlete from each of the United States’ states and territories to compete in a four-day event, instilling national pride across the country.
It’s impossible to know what the future of our country holds. We have seen light, and we have seen darkness. As we look forward, it’s paramount to embrace the ideals embedded in the Constitution, the promise of the American Dream, and the celebration of the United States’ founding that shaped our past and will continue to shape our future.