The “American Experiment” refers to the bold, ongoing attempt to build a nation founded on principles that were radical at the time—and still revolutionary in many parts of the world today. It’s not a finished product. It’s a living, evolving test of whether a free people can govern themselves justly, equitably, and sustainably. Here’s what it means at its core:
Foundational Ideas
• Self-Government: The belief that power should come from the people—not monarchs, elites, or distant rulers.
• Unalienable Rights: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—rights given by God, not granted by government.
• Equality Under Law: A radical claim in 1776, asserting that all men are created equal, regardless of class or birth.
Why “Experiment”?
• Because democracy had rarely worked at scale. The Founders were testing whether a republic could survive without collapsing into tyranny or chaos.
• Benjamin Franklin famously said: “A republic, madam—if you can keep it.” That’s the experiment: Can we keep it?
Still Unfolding
• The American Experiment has endured civil war, slavery, segregation, economic collapse, and cultural upheaval.
• It’s expanded from a system that once only included white male property owners to one that—at least in theory—includes all adult citizens.
Each generation must wrestle with the same questions: Who gets to vote? What does justice look like? How do we balance freedom and security?