The Declaration of Independence is famous for declaring our rights.
It’s just as remarkable for what it teaches us about using them.
Before declaring independence, the Founders wrote that “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
They had already decided to break with Great Britain. Why did they believe they should explain their reasoning?
Because they understood that freedom isn’t something we possess. It’s something we exercise.
That’s a lesson worth remembering today.
WHAT SELF-GOVERNMENT REQUIRES
The Declaration of Independence marked the beginning of an extraordinary experiment in self-government. America’s future would be shaped by its own citizens — not some faraway monarch.
If the experiment was going to work, it would require citizens willing to learn, think, and act with principle. Self-government asks each of us to play an active role in the future of our communities and our country.
More than 250 years later, that expectation still belongs to us, because freedom isn’t guaranteed.
The Founders left us more than a Declaration of Independence. They left us a model of citizenship that depends on active, engaged citizens who are committed to preserving liberty.
AMERICA’S NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH US
As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we’re faced with an important question: What kind of country do we want to be for the next 250 years?
That debate isn’t new. Americans continue to wrestle with competing visions for our country’s future.
One places greater faith in government and institutions to solve our biggest challenges.
The other begins with a different belief: Free people, working together in their communities, are capable of shaping a better future for themselves and their neighbors.
That’s why Americans for Prosperity launched the One Small Step initiative. We wanted America’s 250th anniversary to be more than a celebration of our past. We wanted it to be a renewal of the American spirit and a renewed commitment to the founding principles that have guided our country for nearly 250 years.
The response has been inspiring. Americans across the country have gathered to read the Declaration of Independence, celebrate our nation’s founding, and recommit themselves to the ideals that have shaped the United States for generations. From community events to social media, we’ve seen thousands of reminders that the American spirit of self-government is still alive, and that people are eager to play a role in writing our nation’s next chapter.
That enthusiasm has come to life in communities across the country. Here are just a few examples of Americans taking their own One Small Step.
By clicking the picture below, you can watch a time-lapse video from June 30, 2026, of visitors to AFP’s booth on the National Mall during the Great American State Fair. Among other things, visitors read and signed the Declaration of Independence during their time at the AFP booth.
By clicking the photo above, you can watch the recap video of Concerned Veterans of America’s event commemorating America’s 250th anniversary in Jacksonville, Florida. The One Small Step theme for that month was “Last Full Measure of Devotion,” and honored those Americans who gave their lives in order that we might live free.
Click on the picture below to watch a replay of AFP’s celebration in honor of America’s 250th anniversary from April 25, 2026, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Click on the picture above to watch a family who joined our May challenge by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and reflecting on the freedoms we share.
July Fourth may be behind us, but the work of preserving freedom isn’t.
America’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to renew our commitment to the principles that have made this country exceptional and to help shape what comes next.
THE NEXT STEP BEGINS WITH THE DECLARATION
When the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they set in motion an extraordinary experiment in self-government that has endured for nearly 250 years.
That experiment has never been guaranteed. Every generation has faced new challenges, new debates, and new questions about America’s future. And every generation has had the opportunity to strengthen the principles that have made our country a beacon of freedom and opportunity.
Now, it’s our turn.
And the Declaration’s lessons are just as relevant today as they were in 1776. If America’s 250th anniversary is going to be more than a celebration of our past, it must also be a renewed commitment to our future.
That’s why we’re inviting Americans to take the Declaration Project challenge. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to join more than 100,000 people in reading the Declaration of Independence with your family, your friends, or your neighbors. Reflect on the principles that gave birth to our nation, discuss what they mean today, and consider how each of us can help preserve them for the generations to come.
Then, visit AFP’s issue and action pages to learn more about the challenges facing our country and discover how you can continue taking One Small Step to advance freedom and opportunity in your own community.
