250 Years of U.S. Independence: The Constitution Tested by Time and Division

Americans are commemorating 250 years of independence, a quarter-millennium since the Declaration of Independence, which remains one of modern history's most influential political events. The birth of the United States signified not only a break from the British Crown but also the commencement of a political experiment that has become a key reference point for modern constitutional democracy.

However, the nation's image today is complex. Celebrations, parades, and symbols of national unity stand in contrast to profound political and cultural divisions permeating society. Historians note that current polarization is the most significant since the 1960s, during the Vietnam War era and other major social upheavals. Yet, it has not reached the scale of the Civil War schism, differing in that the conflict now occurs within the same political space, often within communities and families.

American society has entered an era where political differences intertwine with cultural identities, economic disparities, and divergent value systems. What once served as a common political and value framework for national identity is fragmenting into separate, sometimes parallel, political worlds with diminishing communication. Central to this system is the U.S. Constitution, a document holding an almost mythological status in the United States, serving as a foundation for political identity and a subject of oaths, court decisions, and speeches.

Paradoxically, as society becomes more divided, all political sides increasingly invoke the same Constitution, yet interpret it in fundamentally different ways. The Constitution is thus becoming an arena of dispute rather than a unifying framework. This is evident in contemporary conflicts over issues ranging from birthright citizenship to presidential term limits. Even seemingly clear constitutional provisions are subject to opposing interpretations, deepening the sense that American society is losing a shared legal and political language. Historian Jill Lepore suggests that this situation is not an inevitable historical outcome, noting a greater willingness for change at the Constitution's inception compared to today.

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The Constitution is not only a legal act but the foundation of political identity, the subject of oaths, court decisions, and political speeches.