The Atlantic Dedicates July Issue to America's 250th Anniversary

The Atlantic's July issue centers on the 250th anniversary of the United States, with contributions from a range of staff writers and editors examining American identity from multiple angles. Editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg frames the issue as a continuation of the magazine's founding mission to serve as a forum for arguments about the American idea, acknowledging both the nation's achievements and its shortcomings. The cover features Julia Ward Howe's 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' which was originally written for and published in The Atlantic in February 1862; staff writer Jake Lundberg argues the song functions as an unofficial national anthem with enduring relevance. Deputy executive editor Yoni Appelbaum contributes a feature on the contested debate over how to narrate American history in a polarized era, while Clint Smith reports on the experiences of Black military members who say the current administration has erased or diminished their history. Additional pieces cover topics ranging from the origins of American sports culture and the appeal of heraldry to Britain's economic decline, thrift culture, and the Boeing 747 as a symbol of American engineering.