America at 250 sparks debate over founding ideals
America’s 250th anniversary is arriving as many Americans grapple with deep political divisions and heightened anxiety about whether representative government can endure, according to visitors to the National Archives in Washington who shared their reflections after viewing the Declaration of Independence along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The AP reported that the Rotunda’s setting—visitors looking down at the Declaration of Independence on light brown parchment under bullet-proof glass—brought a “silent sense of reverence” for some attendees, even as they discussed what they see as the country’s current direction.
The AP said the visitors’ accounts were collected during a period of national reckoning over President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions, which AP reported had led to the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens on the streets of Minneapolis, along with “grave concerns” about attacks on constitutional rights. In that context, the AP reported that many visitors acknowledged ideological divides but were “reluctant to assign blame,” instead expressing hope that the nation can repair itself in ways it has in the past.
The Archives has a special exhibit marking the 250th anniversary, “The American Story,” which AP said highlights both accomplishments and advances and also images of darker moments in U.S. history. Against that backdrop, visitors pointed to the founding documents as a yardstick—either as evidence that the United States can regroup or as proof that its ideals may be under strain.
Ryan O’Neil, visiting from West Bloomfield, Michigan, told AP that while the country is split politically—what he called “very tribal”—he finds hope in the documents he saw at the National Archives because they have guided the country for 250 years. O’Neil said, “We’ve not yet lived up to everything that we had hoped to, but we are continuing to progress and get closer to that,” and he added that the country has faced divisive situations before. He said the political pendulum always swings and pointed to the country’s ability to withstand “challenges, … complaints, … protests” while still evolving.
Kevin Sullivan traveled to Washington from Milwaukee with his wife to visit their children and attend the confirmation of their oldest grandson, according to AP. Sullivan told AP he supported at least some of Trump’s goals, including securing the southern border, but he said he was conflicted about the president’s approach. AP reported that Sullivan opposed Democratic threats to shut off funding for the Department of Homeland Security without drastic reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies, while also saying he “didn’t like the mass deportation policy.” In advice to lawmakers and the president, Sullivan said they should get away from cameras and hold discussions to find solutions, adding that a media environment comparable to today’s would likely not have helped the “decisions and the discussions” surrounding the Declaration’s drafting.
The AP also reported that the views were not limited to U.S. residents. Rev. Michael Stokes, a priest with the Church of England visiting friends in the Washington area, said he first saw the Magna Carta before heading to the Rotunda. Stokes told AP that others see the diversity of people, religions and industry coming together “for this one common purpose of America,” but he said he believes that vision is “waning.” He said, “I think this is the time in history where it’s been challenged the most with the actions of the current administration,” and he described how he thinks the rest of the world is reacting with “some confusion” as it watches how the Constitution and Bill of Rights are displayed alongside what he said appears to disregard them.
Morgan Whitman, an executive assistant in Washington on business from Miami, told AP she was seeing the documents for the first time and said reading them created a mix of emotions. She said the ideals were lofty but described “feelings of hypocrisy,” citing that Thomas Jefferson had argued for a passage opposing slavery that was not included. Whitman said, “So I think we have this document that fought for independence and life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness,” and she told AP her “only wish was that it was for everybody at the time.” She said she felt grateful for rights she said many people around the world do not have, but she also expressed fear those rights may be under threat, citing AP’s report of the killing by federal agents of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. “Take immigration out of it. These are American citizens that are being harmed now,” Whitman said. “That’s unacceptable.”
Other visitors described a need for renewed dialogue across political lines as the country approaches the semiquincentennial milestone. Jerry Curl, visiting from Diamond, Illinois with his wife Bobbi, told AP he is a Trump supporter and said the president’s second term has so far “lived up to my beliefs.” But he said he has stepped away from news coverage because it is too negative, and he urged more discussions in which people can share views respectfully. Curl said, “We owe it to our future generations that we never meet to uphold this,” referring to the founding documents, and he said he wonders whether the spirit that helped create the nation is alive today.