In a recent survey ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary next month, less than 20% of Democratic voters expressed pride in being American, while over two-thirds of Republican voters felt differently.
When participants were asked about their feelings regarding the upcoming milestone, Democrats had largely negative responses. Only 18% identified as “proud,” and just 17% felt “grateful,” according to findings from Elon University published Tuesday.
The poll revealed that a greater number of Democrats—21%—described their feelings as “ambivalent.” Additionally, 15% said they felt “disappointed,” and 6% expressed “dissatisfaction.” Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) indicated they had “no strong feelings.”
In stark comparison, 68% of Republicans reported feeling “proud,” and 19% indicated they felt “grateful.” A mere 1% of Republicans conveyed feelings of “disappointment,” while another 1% expressed “frustration.” Only 9% mentioned having “no strong feelings” about their country.
Democrats also showed less enthusiasm for participating in festivities surrounding the 250th anniversary on July 4 this year. Just 11% stated they were “very likely” to take part in related events, with less than a quarter (21%) stating they were “somewhat likely” to engage in celebrations.
In contrast, 28% of Republicans reported being “very likely” to attend the celebrations, while 36% said they were “somewhat likely” to do so.
Interestingly, over a quarter of Democrats (28%) mentioned they were “not very likely” to show up at commemorative events, and 34% said they were “not at all likely” to attend, while 6% were uncertain about their plans.
Only 18% of Republicans claimed they were “not very likely” to attend, 11% said they were “not likely at all,” and 8% had no clear answer.
Democrats also exhibited skepticism regarding whether the anniversary could unify the country. When asked whether the event would bring Americans together or exacerbate existing divisions, only 22% believed it would foster unity. Nearly a quarter (24%) felt it would deepen divisions, whereas 54% assumed it would have “little impact.”
In contrast, only 8% of Republicans thought it would deepen divisions, while 35% believed it would have “little effect.”
Yet, there appears to be some commonality in opinion regarding the nature of the celebrations. A significant 77% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans felt that “small, local events” were more “authentic,” compared to only 23% of Democrats and 39% of Republicans who favored “large national events.”
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there are varied feelings among Americans about this milestone,” noted Jason Husser, who directs public opinion polling at Elon University. He mentioned, “While some Americans expressed pride and belief in America’s significant historical role, many voiced serious concerns about the state of American democracy and the country’s future over the next fifty years.”
