Where Do American Ideals Stand Today?

In 1857, just before the Civil War, eight minds met to discuss a publication that they hoped would exist to serve the "American idea" of equality, equal rights and equal opportunity in a democracy.

That publication became The Atlantic. And though the American idea once flourished, Yoni Appelbaum writes that today, that may no longer be the case.

Yoni Appelbaum, senior editor at The Atlantic where he oversees the Politics section. He tweets @yappelbaum.