250 years of the American Declaration of Independence: between the anniversary fireworks and the existential question On July 4, 2026, the United States celebrates its 250th birthday — the bicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In Philadelphia, where the Second Continental Congress adopted the document that declared the break with the British crown 250 years ago, patriotic speeches are being delivered. A grand show "Salute to America" is taking place on the National Mall in Washington with a record 850,000 fireworks. For the first time in history, the famous ball at Times Square descends over Manhattan in honor of Independence Day. But behind this splendor lies a troubling reality: American society has approached its anniversary deeply divided, and the main question on the 250th anniversary is whether this country can survive for another 250 years at all. The Declaration that changed the world On July 4, 1776, representatives of the thirteen British colonies in Philadelphia approved a document authored by Thomas Jefferson. It proclaimed ideas that now seem self-evident, but in that era were a daring challenge: all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration established the right of the people to alter or abolish government if it violates these rights. As German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted in a congratulatory message, the revolutionaries signed a document that was to change history. These principles became the foundation of American identity. For 250 years, the country has tried to build a "more perfect Union," as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution. But this path has never been straight: the Declaration proclaimed universal equality, but the republic that followed it fought slavery, segregation, and inequality for centuries. As historians note, the Constitution itself became a history of incomplete redemption — each amendment was an ackno ... Read more