In 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; its semiquincentennial. As the first modern nation, the United States established the tradition of the national day as we now know it. Today, American Independence Day is a mix of pugnacious pageantry, high drama, militaristic precision, casual frivolity, displays of deeply felt patriotism and lots and lots of fireworks! We will explore the traditions of Independence Day and review Trump’s Task Force 250 and its plans for the semiquincentennial in 2026.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, President Trump’s Executive Order issued 29 January, 2005. Available online at: whitehouse.gov

COURSE OUTLINE

• Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia 1776
• Independence Day and American patriotism and nationalism
• Independence Day in the 21st century and the semiquincentennial celebrations planned for Independence Day 2026

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the role of Independence Day in American history and American national identity