Doug Brinkley on America at 250: History tells us hoping for unity is not futile

As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, historian Doug Brinkley offers a perspective on the nation's founding ideals and its persistent challenges with internal division. He reminds readers that the Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, was a precarious act, achieved as British forces arrived in New York Harbor, and that the freedom secured was initially limited, excluding women and Black people.

Brinkley points to significant historical fractures, including the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, as evidence of the nation's struggle to live up to its founding principles. He notes that while external threats have tested the country, the most profound challenges have often stemmed from internal conflicts.

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It may seem like cold comfort in our fiercely-polarized times, but take it from me: we have survived worse. Much worse.

Despite the current climate of fierce polarization, Brinkley asserts that hope for national unity is not futile. He draws on historical precedent, suggesting that the U.S. has overcome significant adversity in the past. He encourages a renewed focus on the virtues of tolerance, compromise, and perseverance as essential tools for healing the nation's divisions.

The historian's reflections are timely as CBS News prepares to air "The Great American Block Party 250," a primetime special celebrating the anniversary with performances and a large fireworks display. Brinkley's latest book, "Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening," is also highlighted.

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History tells us it is not.