As the United States grew from a series of small colonies into a global superpower, it took bold, transformative steps on the world stage, but it has also stumbled. On this 250th anniversary, guest moderator William Brangham, Esther Brimmer, Michael Mandelbaum and Robert Zoellick examine America’s global legacy and what history will teach us about President Trump’s foreign policy.

America 250: Explore Vox’s coverage of US history, national identity, politics, and the biggest questions shaping the country’s future.

The country’s extraordinary history suggests it still holds the unique capacity to anchor the democratic world and recommit itself to responsible global leadership.