“A Beleaguered President” and the Exuberant Celebrations: Themes of Disunity in Anniversary Celebrations of the American Revolution

The year 1776 holds profound significance in U.S.-American memory as it marks the symbolic birth of the republic.During the Constitutional Convention in July of that year, leaders established a new government independent of British rule and, perhaps unwittingly, laid the groundwork for a civil religion.Historically, this civil religion has been a decentralized phenomenon with minimal federal involvement, except in commemorating the American Revolution's anniversaries.As the 250th anniversary approaches, this article examines three recurring discursive themes in these celebrations: crisis, contestation, and contradiction.In both centennial commemorations of 1776, political leaders and citizens alike expressed unease about celebrating the event positively.Consequently, official efforts to shape collective memory often reveal contradictory blends of national pride and patriotic dissent.The article concludes that this recurring dynamic reflects a deeper ontological insecurity within U.S.-American national identity.Rather than fostering unity, patriotic displays during these anniversaries frequently highlighted and intensified existing social and political divides, underscoring the fragmented nature of U.S. collective memory.