Today, July 4th 2026, is the semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Two hundred and fifty years is certainly an anniversary worth celebrating. Sadly, in our exuberance to celebrate, many have also shown their ignorance both of the document and our history. Today, in honor of the semiquincentennial, I want to look at both the history and the document that was such a turning point in our history.