Poll Reveals American Perspectives Ahead of 250th Anniversary

It seems a consensus has emerged among Americans: the nation has significantly illuminated the world during its relatively brief existence.

A recent poll shows that many people believe democracy stands out as America’s most valuable contribution globally, especially with the country’s 250th anniversary approaching.

Interestingly, when it came to identifying the quintessential American food, respondents turned away from the usual expectations—like hot dogs, apple pie, and pizza—instead focusing on the classic hamburger. This finding originated from an investigation by CBS News.

When participants were asked about America’s greatest invention, democracy or freedom topped the list, garnering 16% of the votes.

Light bulbs followed closely, receiving 14% of the responses.

It’s worth noting that Thomas Edison is credited with creating the first commercially successful light bulb in 1879.

According to the results, the Internet came in third (10%), with cars (6%), telephones (5%), and airplanes (4%) also recognized for their impact.

Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry with the Model T in 1908, while Karl Benz is acknowledged for developing the first true modern car back in 1886.

On the topic of communication, Alexander Graham Bell made history in 1876 with the first telephone call from his lab in Boston, and the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 1903 in North Carolina.

Turning back to the food discussion, the survey unveiled some unexpected favorites.

The hamburger was clearly the champion, chosen by 33% of respondents, despite its contested origins.

Although named after Hamburg, Germany, the Library of Congress attributes the invention of the hamburger sandwich to Danish immigrant Louis Lassen, who created it in his diner in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1900.

Barbecue came in second with 25%, and apple pie—often hailed as the ultimate American dish—ranked third at 19%.

Interestingly, the oldest known apple pie recipe dates back to medieval England, specifically a cookbook from 1381 that detailed how to make what were called “app tarties.”

English, Dutch, and Swedish colonists introduced apple pie recipes to North America, with American soldiers during World War II famously declaring they were fighting for “mama and apple pie.”

In the survey, hot dogs were marked as the fourth most popular American food, with 14% of those surveyed selecting them, while pizza came in at 6%.

Noteworthy is that nearly half of the participants (47%) indicated they aren’t particularly enthusiastic about the upcoming 250th anniversary, and just over half (52%) plan to avoid displaying the American flag at their homes on July 4th.