As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, a new national survey from the Cato Institute reveals a striking contradiction: nearly half of Americans cannot identify what the milestone commemorates, yet overwhelming majorities remain proud to be Americans and continue to embrace the nation's founding ideals.

The survey, conducted by the pro-libertarian Cato Institute in partnership with Morning Consult among 2,253 adults nationwide, found that 46% of Americans do not know that the nation's 250th anniversary commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Just 53% correctly identified the historic event.

Despite those gaps in civic knowledge, Americans continue to express deep affection for their country.

The poll found 86% are grateful to be Americans, while 79% say they are proud to be American.

More than three-quarters (76%) have a favorable view of America's founding, and 70% believe the principles established by the Founding Fathers remain relevant today.

The findings suggest that while many Americans may struggle with basic historical facts, they continue to identify strongly with the nation's constitutional system and ideals of liberty.

Support for the Constitution also remains broad.

Nearly 86% say the Constitution is important for protecting Americans' rights and freedoms, while 82% believe it has been essential to America's prosperity.

At the same time, many Americans worry the country has drifted away from those ideals.

The survey found 57% believe the United States has moved away from its founding principles, and 56% fear America could lose its freedom sometime during the next 50 years.

Americans overwhelmingly identified corruption, abuse of power, and politicians ignoring constitutional limits as among the greatest threats facing the republic.

Most also continue to favor constitutional restraints on government, with 58% saying no political party should ever be trusted with too much power, and 72% saying presidents should obey Supreme Court rulings even when they disagree with them.

One of the survey's most significant findings is the continued bipartisan support for America's founding despite today's political polarization.

More than 81% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans hold favorable views of America's founding, while 72% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans believe the nation's founding principles remain relevant today.

Republicans, however, expressed more intense support, with larger percentages saying they were "very favorable" toward the founding and more convinced those principles remain applicable today.

The survey also highlighted notable philosophical differences between Democrats and Republicans on several key issues.

Key partisan differences include:

• Republicans (76%) are considerably more likely than Democrats (53%) to say America remains a "land of opportunity."
• Republicans are more likely to base their personal identity on family, country and religion, while Democrats place greater emphasis on race and gender alongside national identity.
• Democrats (46%) are more likely than Republicans (36%) to believe the 1619 Project's claim that preserving slavery was a primary reason for the American Revolution.
• Democrats (51%) are more supportive than Republicans (37%) of expanding the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices.
• Democrats (61%) are far more likely than Republicans to support candidates identifying as "Democratic Socialists."
• Republicans are substantially more optimistic about America's future, with 54% saying the nation's best days are ahead, while 44% of Democrats believe America's best days are behind it.

Generational differences were equally striking.

Nearly 61% of Generation Z respondents failed to identify what America's 250th anniversary celebrates, and younger Americans were significantly less likely than seniors to view the Founding Fathers as courageous leaders or to believe they have inherited America's founding ideals.

The survey also found growing support for socialism among younger Americans. More than half of Gen Z respondents expressed favorable views of socialism, and nearly four in 10 viewed communism favorably—far higher than older generations.

Despite widespread civic knowledge gaps, Americans remain remarkably unified on what they want future generations to learn from the nation's 250th birthday.

Respondents' top priorities for children included understanding that freedom is rare and must be protected, recognizing that patriotism means loyalty to America's principles rather than any political party or politician, and appreciating that American history includes both extraordinary achievements and serious injustices.

The survey ultimately paints a picture of a nation that remains deeply patriotic despite political divisions and declining civic knowledge.

While many Americans cannot identify the historical significance of the nation's semiquincentennial, most still embrace the Constitution, believe America's founding principles continue to matter, and express optimism that those ideals remain worth preserving for the next 250 years.