Two Birthdays, One Question America turns 250 this year. At its birth, the nation declared "all men are created equal" while one-fifth of its population was enslaved . The nation promised "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" while enforcing indentured servitude contracts. The nation protected property rights extensively and labor rights not at all. These contradictions have sparked questions for two-and-a-half centuries We're also celebrating a birthday this year: In