As the US turns 250, a forgotten founding influence helps explain its current unease

Montesquieu shaped how Americans understood liberty, and his warning about a ‘tyranny of opinion’ speaks to today’s polarization.

By: Robert A. Ballingall, University of Maine, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 2, 2026

Words: 1,371

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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By Robert A. Ballingall, University of Maine

As the 250th anniversary of American independence approaches, many people in the U.S. are deeply concerned about the country’s future.

A recent poll by Elon University found that 69% of respondents “believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.” Confidence in public institutions is historically low, and the most recent Harvard Youth Poll indicates that …

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