Is America Actually 250?
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
— Thomas Jefferson, United States Declaration of Independence (1776)
Today, the 4th of July, is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States. However, this year is particularly special, as it is being celebrated as the 250th anniversary of the country. Now, it is obvious that it is the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There is no doubt about that. The question I am posing here is about what truly defines the birth of a nation. Since the American Revolution ended in 1783, is that the true anniversary and birth of the country? Or is it the day where the Founding Fathers declared independence? Is the birth of a nation defined as its official recognition, or is it the day the revolution was initiated? Let’s explore that idea.
The argument for 1776 is remarkably straightforward. It displays the idea that a nation is not defined by the recognition of others, but by the recognition of itself. On July 4, 1776, the people of the thirteen colonies no longer saw themselves as British subjects. They recognized themselves as free and independent, without needing official recognition. In this sense, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t just a document, but the true birth of a nation. Maybe the revolution that was sparked that day didn’t just begin a war, but gave birth to a nation, and an ideology. That would prove that today truly is America’s 250th anniversary.
However, there is another argument that is equally reasonable. A declaration alone does not necessarily create a valid nation. Until true independence and sovereignty were recognized internationally, Britain still saw the United States as part of its empire. After the declaration, the country’s independence was still not yet decided. Had the war gone the other direction, the United States may never have become an internationally recognized nation. It was not until September 3, 1783 that the Revolutionary War had officially ended. When the Treaty of Paris was signed on that date, the United States was formally acknowledged as its own independent nation. That truly validated the United States as its own country, but does that make America not 250?
The short answer is: no. 250 years ago, America was not internationally recognized as its own sovereign nation, and that is that. However, that doesn’t change what happened on July 4, 1776. On that day, the dream and idea of the United States was sparked, no matter the lack of recognition. You see, the real question here is not about the age of America, it is about what truly defines a nation. Is a nation defined by the claim of the people, or international recognition? Maybe it’s defined by both. Recognition validates the country, but the claim of the people births its ideals. The Declaration of Independence gave America its identity. The Treaty of Paris gave that identity recognition. And in reality, both were just as necessary as the other. Happy 4th of July to all celebrating it, and thanks for stopping by to everyone else. Thank you for reading Social Science 43, and have an enjoyable day.
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