We often say “Happy Fourth” with fireworks and cookouts. But to understand what it means to be American in 2025, we must look back with clear eyes at both the triumphs that lifted us up, and the fractures that nearly tore us apart.
There was a time - especially in the 1970s and 1980s - when you didn’t need to stamp “Made in America” on something to know it had value. The strength of this country was in our resolve, our unity, and our belief in a shared future. But through each decade, forces from within and beyond challenged that belief, and we’ve had to fight to hold the fabric of America together.
Part 1: The Nation
1970s – Distrust and Decline Amid Grit and Glory
What Moved Us Forward:
• The Bicentennial celebration (1976)
• The space race and moon missions
• American rock and cultural expression
• Muscle cars and booming main streets
What Pulled Us Apart:
• Watergate scandal: Public trust in government collapsed
• Vietnam War fallout: Divided generations
• Energy crisis: Long gas lines and inflation
• Rise of domestic terrorism (Weather Underground)
1980s – Revival and Reinvention Shadowed by Rising Greed
What Moved Us Forward:
• Reagan-era optimism and economic recovery
• Miracle on Ice
• MTV and pop culture explosion
• Rise of Apple and Microsoft
What Pulled Us Apart:
• AIDS crisis mishandled
• War on Drugs: Over-policing and racial disparities
• Iran-Contra scandal
• Wall Street excess
1990s – Technological Hope, Cultural Shifts, and Global Overreach
What Moved Us Forward:
• Internet and tech boom
• Victory parades post-Gulf War
• Iconic TV & shared entertainment
• Strong economic expansion
What Pulled Us Apart:
• NAFTA & globalization: Factories closed, towns hollowed out
• Rise in school shootings (Columbine)
• Waco & Oklahoma City
• Clinton impeachment: The start of hyper-polarization
2000s – Unity in Crisis, Division in Recovery
What Moved Us Forward:
• National unity post-9/11
• Tech innovation (iPhones, broadband)
• Military service pride
• Country music’s patriotic revival
What Pulled Us Apart:
• 9/11 and the forever wars
• Iraq War under false pretense
• 2008 financial collapse
• Katrina response failure
2010s – Empowerment and Exposure in the Digital Age
What Moved Us Forward:
• Social media connectivity
• Return of local goods and crafts
• Private space innovation
• Community-driven food and events
What Pulled Us Apart:
• Social media tribalism
• Occupy Wall Street / Tea Party division
• Police violence and protests
• Culture wars in education and identity
2020s (Up to July 4, 2025) – Hard Truths and Fractured Foundations
What Moved Us Forward:
• Rebuilding after COVID
• Remote work revolution
• Space tech, AI, and innovation
• Renewed conversations about patriotism
What Pulled Us Apart:
• COVID mandates and vaccine wars
• Jan 6 and loss of trust in institutions
• Border chaos and immigration blame
• Weaponized justice from both sides