Celebrations of 250th Anniversary of U.S. Independence
On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, we at J. William Fulbright Commission Czech Republic dedicate the year 2026 to the theme of Independence. The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is a historic event that has inspired many generations, from the university professor of philosophy Tomáš Garrique Masaryk, the founder of independent Czechoslovakia, the intellectual movement of the Prague Spring 1968, to the students and academics who, in 1989, led the Velvet Revolution.
One of the Founding Fathers and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, continues to inspire us today, as he considered education and freedom of scientific inquiry to be fundamental to the functioning of a democratic society. It is in this spirit that Jefferson founded and became the first president of the University of Virginia – an act so important to him that he insisted that this important act was immortalized on his tombstone, where it says “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia on religious freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia”. Jefferson’s vision for the University included the aspiration that “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error, so long as reason is left free to combat it.”
Thomas Jefferson viewed education as a vital tool for empowering citizens and ensuring the success of a democratic society. The third American president believed that the strength of a government lies in the enlightenment of its people, and that education is essential for democratic self-government. He stated: “I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”
In celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we aspire to uphold the ideals of Thomas Jefferson: freedom, self-determination, and inspiring exchange across the Atlantic, as Jefferson was also a diplomat. For us, the meaning of Independence extends far beyond simply political autonomy. It is a guiding principle in academia and society:
- We promote academic freedom and aspiration to excellence as the foundation of scholarly exploration.
- We strengthen personal independence as a learning process that often begins with entering a new cultural environment.
- We enable economic independence, for example, through Fulbright scholarships that make international education accessible without financial barriers.
- We support institutional independence, encouraging educational institutions to operate freely and be active in international networks.
- We promote democratic participation by supporting programs and dialogue formats that encourage students, researchers, and professionals to take responsibility in open, pluralistic societies, in line with the ideals of the first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
- We advance independence of thought and critical thinking by creating spaces where various perspectives are reflected upon, questioned, and connected in constructive ways.
- We encourage individuals to develop agency, speak up, and participate actively in shaping our shared academic and democratic spaces.
- We foster alumni knowledge exchange – members of our Fulbright network sharing experiences, learning from one another, and offering new perspectives is an active expression of intellectual autonomy.
Our annual theme will accompany us throughout 2026 in programs and events, as well as in conversations with grantees, partner organizations, and alumni.
Together, we shape an independent transatlantic future in dialogue with our One Fulbright Community.
