Happy 250th, America!
News
Dear JMU faculty and staff,
On July 4, 2026, fireworks will boom a little louder this year. As our nation marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we find ourselves at a milestone that comes only once and belongs to all of us. America’s Semiquincentennial is both a commemoration and an invitation to reflect on all this country has become. It asks what each of us will contribute moving forward to realize the gift and honor of a true democracy.
The American story has always been rooted in ideas and principles: liberty, self-governance, and opportunity. Those ideas were born here, in Virginia, where the founding documents were written, and where the first experiment in representative government took root. As a university named for one of democracy’s principal architects and as a pillar of higher education in this Commonwealth, we carry that history with us every day.
James Madison understood that founding documents alone could not sustain a republic. At JMU, we are not simply observing this anniversary from the sidelines; we are carrying the light forward to educate all about the fragility and privilege of democracy. This year, our James Madison Center for Civic Engagement launched Virginia 250: What’s Next, America? - a deliberation-based initiative that brings students and community members together to set aside their differences and decide, together, what kind of country they want to build next. Through our Better Conversations Together program, now expanding to campuses in all 50 states thanks to nearly $5 million in competitive federal grants, JMU is helping an entire generation of Americans rediscover the practices democracy requires: listening, compromise, and the courage to seek common ground. That is JMU’s mission in action.
As our spring issue of The Madison magazine explored, the 250th anniversary is an opportunity to examine our shared past with honesty and depth, and to chart, together, our next 250 years.
As you celebrate this spectacular Fourth of July holiday, I invite you to ask that fundamental question that has defined every generation of Americans before us: What does a thriving democracy really mean to me and how can I strive to ensure it endures?
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” - James Madison, Advice to My Country, University of Virginia Press, 1997
Happy 250th, America! And happy Independence Day to each of you. Enjoy the fireworks, family, the festivities, and the rare gift of this truly American moment. It belongs to all of us.
With pride and gratitude,
President Jim
