As the United States heads toward its 250th anniversary on July 4, Americans are looking forward to enjoying the parades, fireworks, and patriotic ceremonies.
But amid deep political division and renewed debate over the limits of executive power, voting rights, and the role of the courts, a reflective way to honor America’s 250th is to revisit the nation’s founding framework itself: the U.S. Constitution.
Boston Global Forum co-founder Tom Patterson created a way to do that. It’s a free, nonpartisan online Harvard University course that aims to make constitutional understanding accessible to everyday Americans. Created for a broad audience, the course breaks the subject into six short modules—about 30 minutes each—covering the Constitution’s origins and core design, including separation of powers, federalism, and the Bill of Rights. Participants can take the course at no cost by choosing the “audit” option.
The Anniversary is not only a celebration of the nation’s past, but also a reminder that the American experiment depends on shared civic knowledge. Reflecting on constitutional principles can offer common ground—helping Americans disagree more constructively by anchoring public debate in an understanding of their governing system.
Anyone interested in a meaningful July 4 observance can access the course here: https://bit.ly/FreeCourseHarvard (click “audit” for the free version).
We also encourage you to share the link widely—posting it to social media, including it in newsletters, or sending it directly to friends and family. A ready-to-use post reads: “Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate July 4? Take a free, short, nonpartisan Harvard online course on the U.S. Constitution: https://bit.ly/FreeCourseHarvard (click ‘audit’ for free version).”
