History's Peter Shulman reflects on America’s bicentennial

Historians say America’s 250th birthday mirrors the divided mood of 1976

cleveland.com: Peter Shulman, associate professor and associate provost for curriculum, said America’s 1976 bicentennial was “kind of a mess,” marked by divisions over Vietnam, Watergate, economic turmoil and uncertainty about what was being celebrated. He noted that, much like today, Americans lacked a shared national narrative, prompting many communities to focus on local celebrations instead.