Happy 250th birthday, America!
How far have we come? There are a lot of answers to this question, but here I’d like to focus on what life used to be like in the 18th century.
Life in 1776 — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress
Step back in time and explore the world of 1776. The features below offer a fascinating journey into the daily lives, culture, and events that shaped this era. Uncover the rich tapestry of life in 1776 and gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of our modern world.
For a (somewhat more recent) perspective on America’s evolution, journalist Derek Thompson takes a look back at what America was like a hundred years ago through the lens of a detailed report trying to capture history for future benefit (with excellent charts and graphs).
What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Government Report Says About Who We Are
The document is almost entirely forgotten. But today, for America’s 250th birthday, I’m blowing the cobwebs off this sucker and taking readers inside its yellowed pages for a look back at what life was like in the U.S. exactly 100 years ago, when the U.S. was celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary.
In many fundamental ways, we’ve come a long way. What will the next 250 years bring, and what will we need to bring to it?
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Here’s to our courageous future.
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