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Tuccille: A glorious, 250-year-old republic of freedomAmericans have lots worth celebrating this Independence Day, even with polarized politicsLast updated 39 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Fireworks explode over the Statue of Liberty in celebration of the anniversary of its dedication on October 28, 2011 in New York City. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesCOTTONWOOD, Arizona — For Americans, this year’s Independence Day is special. It’s the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Though internally divided and beset by political violence, America remains the only country based on the primacy of individual liberty. Despite its flaws, the U.S. is overall freer than other nations and prospers from that freedom. Americans may not be able to attend the same celebrations without grumbling and glaring at one another, but we all have something in common worth celebrating.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorTwo hundred and fifty years ago, in the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againDecades later, after serving as the third president of the United States, Jefferson expanded on a founding principle of the nation in an 1819 letter: “rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will, within the limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’; because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.”The U.S. continues as a nation founded in liberty and forever on guard for government intrusions.In his textbook, American Society, which has gone through multiple editions, the late sociologist Robin M. Williams, Jr., wrote that “American ‘individualism,’ taken in broadest terms, has consisted mainly of a rejection of the state and impatience with restraints upon economic activity.”Rejection of the state and wariness of the tyrant’s will remain part of the American character. Pew Research found that only 17 per cent of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing almost always or most of the time in its fall 2025 survey. That’s not quite an all-time low — that would be the 15 per cent trust reported in 2011 — but it’s pretty close.Emphasizing individual liberty, free markets and hostility to the state works well for us. Americans are not just more prosperous than the citizens of most nations; we’re pulling even further ahead. The Economist reported earlier in June that Europeans visiting the U.S. to attend World Cup games are astonished by “the mass affluence of America’s suburbs.” The piece added, “the American wealth enticing holidaymakers troubles European elites. America, once a peer, seems to be racing ahead.”Drawing on World Bank data, EconoFact points out that “accounting for population, EU GDP per capita as a percentage of U.S. GDP per capita fell from 76.5 per cent in 2008 to 50 per cent in 2023.”Americans are also pulling further ahead of Canadians and Britons in terms of affluence. The World Bank puts per capita GDP at US$54,340 (C$77,204) for Canada compared to US$53,246 for the U.K.; U.S. per capita GDP is US$84,534 (C$120,102) with Americans gaining year by year.Unfortunately, our founding principle of liberty has taken a beating everywhere. Freedom House’s latest annual report notes that global freedom “declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025.” But while American freedom erodes, too, our institutions are better than those elsewhere at holding the line.In a 2025 column criticizing the Trump administration’s attacks on its critics, Denmark-born Jacob Mchangama, the director of Vanderbilt University’s Future of Free Speech think tank, noted that “Trump is not improvising a uniquely American abuse of power; he is copying elements of the European playbook” but has repeatedly been thwarted by America’s robust First Amendment protections for free speech. “Free speech has repeatedly offered the powerless a peaceful way to challenge the powerful — a legacy illuminated by key episodes in U.S. history,” he observed.By and large, Americans appreciate their history of thwarted politicians and liberated people. For the country’s 250th anniversary, AP-NORC pollsters asked Americans how important several freedoms are to the country’s identity. Majorities named the right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms as “extremely” or “very” important. Likewise, Gallup found the most popular definition of “American Dream” is “freedoms or individual rights.”Sadly, the U.S. has not been a consistent haven for liberty. Jefferson owned slaves, despite decrying the institution. The continuation of slavery in a nation founded on liberty was “hideous and revolting,” in the words of Frederick Douglass, who escaped bondage to become an orator and reformer. But he added, “interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a glorious liberty document.”It took time to live up to that promise. Slavery persisted for decades, requiring a civil war to bring it to an end and constitutional amendments to guarantee equal liberty for all — especially Black Americans. Most nations throughout history have engaged in slavery or worse. But it was a particular flaw for a nation founded on liberty, even though we eventually spilled blood to end the practice.Undoubtedly, disappointment in the country’s inconsistent adherence to its principles erodes some people’s faith — with encouragement from those who have ideological objections to the country’s principles. Fifty-six per cent of respondents recently told NBC News/Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies pollsters that they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be Americans. That’s down from 58 per cent a year ago, 70 per cent in 2019, 82 per cent in 2009, and 87 per cent in 2001. That helps explain why this year’s celebration is muted compared to the 1976 bicentennial.But every country has its flaws. Each generation has an opportunity to live up to its potential. If America isn’t as free as it ought to be, or as dedicated as it should be to respecting equal liberty for all, that’s a goal for the future. What’s to come can be freer and even more prosperous than the present or the past.So, this Independence Day, I’ll don my T-shirt with an image of George Washington crossing the Delaware and text reading: “Americans. Willing to cross a frozen river to kill you. In your sleep. On Christmas. Not kidding, we’ve done it.” I’ll light a stogie, grab a beer and smoke a hunk of pork for a crowd of people with a variety of conflicting political views.There will be interesting discussions before it gets dark enough for the fireworks. But we should all celebrate living in a country that gives us the liberty to disagree and to (mostly) guide our own lives.National Post Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.