Founding Fathers & American History
Essays and features on the Founding Fathers, constitutional principles, and how America’s heritage informs today’s political and cultural debates.
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opinion
The Smithsonian’s Patriotism Problem
“Warning: The exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don’t want you to love your country.” That’s a disclaimer every entrance to the National Museum of American History ought to display, according to a new report by the White House excoriating the Smithsonian Institution and its flagship museum. But it doesn’t take a… -
opinion
Happy 250: Trump Says Communism Is America’s Next Enemy
President Donald Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore last week identified what makes America great—and that communism is the rising ideology threatening American greatness. On the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, the president known for his love of “American exceptionalism” delivered a speech with familiar sentiments about the beauty of our nation. But he included a… -
opinion
What the Media Missed About the Great American State Fair
Media outlets such as The Guardian and Forbes described the Great American State Fair as a disappointment because of extreme heat, weather delays, and lower-than-expected crowds. But as a volunteer during the event’s opening days, I saw firsthand that the event was much more than the negative headlines suggested. Presented by Freedom 250, the free… -
opinion
Restoring Obscenity Regulation: Lessons From America’s Founding Era
Americans born after the mid-1990s have lived their entire lives in a world awash with hardcore pornography. Never has so much pornography been so available to so many at so little cost. Our laws leave much pornography effectively unregulated. Our technology, especially smartphones, brings portable, private porn shops to everyone’s phone. Like today, there were… -
news
Inspiring the Next Generation of Patriots: Constituting America Brings the Constitution to the Classroom
“Something so beautifully crafted deserves our respect and attention.” So said Carson Quinn when accepting his award for winning Constituting America’s “We the Future” competition, part of the organization’s effort to bring the U.S. Constitution into the classroom. Constituting America offers a variety of awards to grade school, middle school, high school, and college students. The worthy winners exemplify… -
Mamdani’s Sour Independence Day Address Shows How Little He Understands America
This Independence Day, countless Americans celebrated our country’s 250th anniversary in countless jubilatory ways, from grilling in the backyard to going to fireworks shows and even traveling to Mt. Vernon to pay respects to the Father of Our Country. But a certain socialist mayor of New York City took the occasion to deliver a speech… -
news
Smithsonian’s Museum of American History Erases American Greatness, New Report Finds
On Saturday, Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. Shockingly, according to a detailed new report from the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) did not. The report, titled “Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases… -
news
Trump Marshals Americans, Historic Spirit of Defiance in Speech Celebrating US’s 250th Birthday
THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION— In a late-night speech capping the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump invoked familiar themes of patriotism, bravery, and sacrifice to declare that the story of the United States of America is worth cherishing while being far from over. Though the threat of… -
news
Teaching America’s Founding Through Film: MPI’s Gen Alpha Project ‘Son of 1776’
“Son of 1776” is a film in development that will tell the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of a teenage orphan who joins Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army. It’s a project of the Moving Picture Institute (MPI)—a New York-based nonprofit film production organization that develops, produces, and distributes high-impact visual storytelling about… -
opinion
America at 250: Restoring America’s Greatness
The pages of tomorrow’s history are written by today’s decisions. History is littered with failed republics and democracies. The Roman Republic became the Roman Empire. Democracy in ancient Greece turned into an aristocracy. This didn’t just happen in ancient history. In 1961, a new constitution in Venezuela divided the government into three branches. But in… -
opinion
Pamphlets to Posts: The Founders Would Have Been Keyboard Warriors
RealClearWire—If America’s Founding Fathers were still with us today, they wouldn’t avoid social media—they’d master it. Popular platforms like X, Facebook, Truth Social, and Instagram can reduce our ability to build trusting relationships and cross political boundaries. But they are also incredibly powerful tools to spread news and perspectives—and are not inherently incompatible with thoughtful… -
opinion
How A Father’s Musical Legacy Echoes America’s 250 Journey
On this Independence Day, by invitation of the White House Task Force 250, I will stand on the main stage of the Great American State Fair to lead a National Mall crowd in a one-hour program of music and prayers for our nation. This exciting moment marking 250 years of American independence was unimaginable for… -
opinion
Our Favorite Patriotic Tunes, Part 3: Calling on God
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the skies will be filled with not only fireworks but song. Those great patriotic tunes we all know by heart, even when we can’t hit all the notes. Though the songs may be as familiar as the red, white, and blue, the stories behind them often are not. In Part… -
opinion
‘Unvexed to the Waters’: How a July Fourth Victory Turned the Tide at the Nation’s Darkest Hour
“Four score and seven years” after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the survival of the American experiment was very much in doubt. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln oversaw a divided country mired in a civil war with no end in sight. Without decisive Union victories, a protracted conflict could only further dampen Northern… -
opinion
Abraham Lincoln and America’s Electric Cord
The debates between Abraham Lincoln and Sen. Stephen Douglas not only rank amongst America’s landmark speeches but could be a primer for political philosophy students. In campaigning against one another, the rising statesman and elder politician tackled some of the most essential questions of morality and politics. What does it mean to be human? To… -
opinion
On America 250, Remember That True Freedom Is Built on Faith
Freedom is a word that is too easily thrown around. America was built on freedom. The colonists’ freedoms were being infringed upon, so they rose against Britain to get them back. They won the freedom to govern themselves—and to do so in a way that was more aligned with their inalienable rights. Unfortunately, freedom has… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: Why the American Republic Survived for 250 Years
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to Victor Davis Hanson’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. Sami Winc: So Victor, I guess the first question maybe we could discuss is how have we made it in 250 years,… -
news
Bringing Revolutionary Heroes to Life: Wedgwood Circle Wins America 250 Innovation Prize
Before Gen. George Washington crossed the Delaware, a band of hardened fishermen rewrote the rules of the American military—and history nearly forgot them. But Wedgwood Circle, a collective of investors, patrons, and creative talent in the entertainment industry, did not. With the help of a $50,000 Heritage Foundation America’s 250th Innovation Prize grant, Wedgwood Circle is producing… -
opinion
This Summer, the Kids Are ‘Nixon Maxxing’
History is written by the victors, and more than 30 years after his death, Richard Nixon is finally being vindicated. During an interview earlier this month at the Nixon Presidential Library, Vice President JD Vance observed that “Nixon’s historical legacy is enjoying a bit of a cultural renaissance, and deservedly so.” Vance has clearly noticed… -
opinion
Patriotism Is in Peril. Here’s How to Fix That.
The World Cup has led to many displays of patriotism from European visitors to the United States. The Scottish “Tartan Army” marched into Florida behind a wall of bagpipes. Norwegians have carried their “Viking row” chant through stadium concourses, airport escalators, and Times Square. A strong country must produce those willing to sacrifice for its…