America wasn't 'really founded' until 1965, MS NOW guest historian argues ahead of 250th birthday
MS NOW Guest Argues America’s True Founding Was in 1965, Sparks Debate About 250th‑Anniversary Celebration
In a segment aired Wednesday on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” presidential historian Jon Meacham said the United States did not truly become a multiracial, multiethnic democracy until the mid‑1960s, a claim that prompted former hosts and civil‑rights activists to caution against a celebratory tone for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Meacham, a frequent contributor to presidential speeches for former President Joe Biden, used the show’s platform to challenge the conventional view that America’s founding is rooted in 1776. “We talk about this as the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress passing the Declaration of Independence, fully beginning the Revolutionary War, which ultimately leads in 1787‑1789 to the framing of the Constitution, the inauguration of George Washington, and the beginning of what we would see as a recognizable experiment in self‑government, except that a lot of people weren’t included in that,” he explained. He added that the phrase “all men are created equal” had a narrow application in the 18th century. “There’s a very good case to be made … that we were really founded in 1965,” Meacham asserted, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as milestones that “made the United States a multiracial, multiethnic democracy.” He noted, “We’re really about 60 years old, and we’re a developing democracy in a lot of ways.”
The historian also emphasized the importance of following the Founding Fathers as a path to improvement. “Let’s remember that we have to honor them by following them. We can’t just preach. We have to practice,” he said.
The segment came amid a broader conversation among MS NOW hosts about how to approach the upcoming 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. Several hosts, including former anchors Joy Reid and Rev. Al Sharpton, expressed reservations that the celebration would ignore the nation’s legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice. “We were slaves then, and they celebrate signing the Declaration of Independence 1776,” Sharpton told a media outlet in April. “We were not even emancipated until 1863. So I don’t know what everybody getting ready for a celebration… It ain’t my party.”
Reid, who has a background in political reporting, echoed Sharpton’s concerns. “Whereas Juneteenth to me is the real thing that Fourth of July is, because we really were not a democracy until we ended slavery,” she said. “And then we were really not a democracy until the people who lost the Civil War were finally forced to affirm and act upon the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which they were not forced to do until the '60s.”
The remarks have fueled debate over how the nation should mark its 250th anniversary. While some observers see the milestone as a moment to celebrate progress and democratic ideals, others argue that it should also serve as a reckoning with past injustices and a reminder that true equality remains unfinished business.
MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” has not yet announced whether it will host a special commemorative program for July 4, 2026. The network’s recent decision to bring in guest experts on the anniversary reflects its intent to frame the discussion in a balanced manner.
As the country approaches the 250th anniversary, the conversation continues to center on the question of what it means to be a democracy and whether the nation’s founding narrative should be re‑examined in light of historical and contemporary realities.