America’s 250th Birthday: What’s the Big Deal?

America’s about to turn 250, and it’s time to ask: what does it mean to be an American, anyway? We sent Judy Woodruff to Vermont, where the motto is ‘Freedom and Unity’, to get some answers.

Founders’ Failures

Historian Joseph Ellis is weighing in on the founders’ promise and their failures. It’s not all fireworks and flag-waving – we’re talking about the people they left out, the issues they didn’t resolve, and what that means for us today.
Woodruff’s series, America at a Crossroads, is tackling the tough stuff. It won’t be pretty, but it’s about time someone did.
Let’s face it, America’s got its fair share of problems, and it’s not getting any younger. It’s time to take a hard look at what we’ve built, what we’ve broken, and what we can fix.
So, what’s it mean to be an American? Don’t expect any easy answers, but it’s a question we should all be asking ourselves.