As activities and celebrations continue to mark the AM250/CO150 anniversaries, it has become clear that many Americans did not fully carry forward the history lessons of how we arrived at this moment. This week serves as a refresher on where we came from — and where we are.
Strikingly, many of the challenges that shaped the nation’s founding and Colorado’s statehood remain with us today. Many rights and privileges now extended to minorities were not included in the original vision of the nation and were achieved only through later struggle — some of which continues.
In 1776, thirteen British colonies took an unprecedented step by declaring themselves an independent nation. Though often remembered through images of fireworks and signatures, independence was not forged in a single day. It was the result of more than a century of settlement, conflict, compromise and evolving ideas about liberty, power and self-rule.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that the nation’s founding was not inevitable. It was shaped by people making difficult decisions in uncertain times, and its ideals continued to evolve as the country expanded westward and new states, including Colorado, joined the Union.
English settlement began along the Atlantic coast in the early 1600s, driven by trade, land ownership, religious freedom and opportunity. Over time, the colonies developed distinct identities but shared a growing sense of independence, aided by the distance from Britain and the practice of local self-governance.
That balance shifted after the French and Indian War left Britain deeply in debt. New taxes and regulations — including the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts and Tea Act — fueled colonial resistance under the rallying cry of taxation without representation. Protests intensified, pamphlets circulated, and events such as the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party hardened positions on both sides.
Enlightenment ideas further shaped colonial thinking. Philosophers such as John Locke argued that governments existed to protect natural rights and could be altered or overthrown if they failed to do so. These ideas found expression in newspapers, sermons and tavern debates. In early 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense argued plainly for independence.
Armed conflict erupted in 1775 at Lexington and Concord. Though reconciliation was initially sought, continued fighting and Britain’s refusal to compromise pushed the colonies toward independence. A committee including Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted July 4, 1776, articulating principles of equality, natural rights and government by consent.
The declaration did not end the war or resolve the contradictions of a nation that allowed slavery and excluded women and Indigenous peoples. Independence marked a beginning, not a conclusion.
As the nation expanded westward, those founding ideals traveled with settlers, soldiers and families. Long before statehood, the land that became Colorado was home to Indigenous nations, including the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho and Apache. Their deep ties to the land and the disruptions they endured are central to Colorado’s story.
Colorado’s path to statehood accelerated after gold was discovered near present-day Denver in 1858. Congress created the Colorado Territory in 1861, but residents pressed for greater self-governance. After several failed attempts, Colorado was admitted as the 38th state on Aug. 1, 1876, earning the nickname “The Centennial State.”
Colorado’s constitution echoed the principles of 1776, and the state later helped expand democratic participation. In 1893, Colorado became one of the first states to grant women the right to vote.
From revolution to statehood, the American story is one of expanding ideals and unfinished promises. Throughout this year, exhibits and programs will highlight founding documents and the many people who shaped this place. This is a moment for reflection — and for considering how each generation will contribute to democracy’s ongoing experiment. What role will you choose?
By TERESIA REED