Competing Visions of American History Clash Around the Nation's 250th Birthday

The Intercept—As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a sharp debate has erupted over how the country's history should be taught, displayed, and commemorated. Conservative commentators accused the Smithsonian Institution of bias against American history and targeted revisionism in how American film history is presented. Left-leaning outlets emphasized the darker legacies embedded in two and a half centuries of national life. The culture war over historical interpretation has made the 250th anniversary a flashpoint for fundamental disagreements about American identity.

• The Intercept — Left-leaning voices catalogued the darker lessons embedded in 250 years of American history
• RealClearPolitics — Conservative critics accused the Smithsonian of distorting American history
• National Review — The revision of American movie history became a new front in the ongoing culture war