The 250th anniversary of United States independence has happened during a time of strong political division. This has led to conflicting stories about how the nation was founded.

美國獨立250週年適逢政治分歧嚴重的時期，這導致了關於國家如何建立的衝突論述。

Currently, there is a tension between traditional national myths and a more critical look at history. For example, critics argue that the administration of President Donald Trump has focused more on entertainment—such as hosting a fighting event at the White House—than on deep historical study. In contrast, historians like Richard Bell and Maya Jasanoff emphasize that the Revolution was not a unanimous movement. Instead, they describe it as a violent civil war where only a minority of people supported the break from Britain, while many others remained neutral or loyal to the Crown.

目前，傳統的國家神話與更具批判性的歷史審視之間存在緊張關係。例如，批評者認為川普總統的政府更關注娛樂——例如在白宮舉辦格鬥賽事——而非深入的歷史研究。相反，像 Richard Bell 和 Maya Jasanoff 等歷史學家則強調，美國革命並非一場全民一致的運動。相反，他們將其描述為一場暴力的內戰，當時僅有少數人支持脫離英國，而許多其他人則保持中立或效忠王室。

There is also a deep disagreement about what it means to be American. One perspective, supported by historian Gordon Wood, suggests that American identity is based on a commitment to equal rights and shared political values rather than ethnic background. Wood argued that the Revolution unexpectedly created a democratic society, even though the Founders originally had more aristocratic goals. However, this view is challenged by ethno-nationalists, such as JD Vance, who emphasize ancestral ties to the land, and by social justice movements that see the nation's origins as being based on systemic oppression.

關於什麼定義才是美國人，也存在深層的分歧。由歷史學家 Gordon Wood 支持的一種觀點認為，美國人的身份是基於對平等權利和共同政治價值觀的承諾，而非種族背景。Wood 主張，儘管建國之父最初有較多貴族主義目標，但革命意外地創造了一個民主社會。然而，這種觀點受到如 JD Vance 等強調與土地有祖先聯繫的種族民族主義者，以及將國家起源視為基於系統性壓迫的社會正義運動的挑戰。

Furthermore, historical facts show that the Revolution contained many contradictions. For instance, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence while owning many enslaved people. The war also involved complex alliances with France and Spain, as well as Indigenous peoples and enslaved populations who fought to gain their own freedom. Consequently, the original vision of the Founders quickly became outdated as the country moved toward a mass democratic system within just a few decades.

此外，歷史事實顯示美國革命包含許多矛盾。例如，湯瑪斯·傑佛遜在撰寫《獨立宣言》的同時，擁有許多奴隸。戰爭還涉及與法國和西班牙的複雜同盟，以及為了爭取自身自由而戰的原住民和奴隸群體。因此，隨著國家在短短幾十年內向大眾民主制度轉型，建國之父最初的願景很快地變得過時。

The 250th anniversary highlights a lasting national divide. Some people see the founding as a flawed but improving project based on universal ideals, while others see it as a history of ethnic or systemic conflict.

美國獨立250週年凸顯了持久的國家分歧。有些人將建國視為一個雖有瑕疵但不斷改良、基於普世理想的計畫；而有些人則將其視為一段種族或系統性衝突的歷史。