Sources & Editorial Standards
How we research, write, and review the content on America 250 Atlas — and what we expect of ourselves.
Independence Statement
America 250 Atlas is an independent educational site. We have no affiliation with any political party, government agency, or advocacy organization. We accept no sponsored content. Our only goal is accurate, accessible American history.
Trusted Sources
We rely primarily on official and peer-reviewed sources. Our preferred references include:
- National Archives (archives.gov) — Primary documents, founding texts, government records
- Library of Congress (loc.gov) — Primary source collections, historical records, legislation
- Smithsonian Institution — Historical context, cultural and scientific history
- America250.org — Official 250th anniversary programming and resources
- National Park Service (nps.gov) — Historical sites, preservation, interpretive resources
- Britannica and peer-reviewed references — Secondary source context and fact-checking
Writing Standards
Neutral historical language. All content is written to be factually accurate and free of partisan framing. We do not advocate for political positions, parties, or ideologies.
Historical context, not sensationalism. Difficult topics — slavery, political violence, civil unrest, and contested history — are presented with appropriate historical context. We do not amplify suffering for engagement.
Living and recent figures. Pages covering modern presidents and living public figures use factual, documented information. We do not speculate, editorialize, or repeat unverified claims.
AI-Assisted Content
AI tools may assist in drafting, organizing, and improving content on this site. All AI-assisted content is reviewed by a human editor before publication for accuracy, tone, and neutrality. We do not publish AI output without review.
AI-generated summaries are cross-checked against the primary and secondary sources listed on each page. If a fact cannot be confirmed, it is removed or flagged.
External Links
External links — on our Resources page and throughout the site — are selected for educational value. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Links are reviewed periodically; broken or outdated links are removed. If you find a broken link, please let us know.
Corrections Policy
We take accuracy seriously. If you find a factual error, please contact us with the page URL, the text in question, and a trusted source. We will review and correct confirmed errors promptly.
Substantive corrections may be noted on the relevant page where appropriate.
Questions about our editorial approach? Contact us. For our full privacy practices, see the Privacy Policy.