America is getting ready to celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but a new survey suggests Americans feel the country’s founding fathers would not approve of our progress. The poll shows a wide range of beliefs about everything from who the greatest president was to the future of the nation.

America 250

According to the Elon University Poll, a neutral, independent research operation, 48% of respondents said the semiquincentennial anniversary is more likely to “have little effect" on them, 37% said they felt it would bring people together, and 15% said it would deepen the divisions in the nation. When it comes to being “proud,” Republicans took the lead with 68%, whereas only 18% of Democrats and 32% of independents said the same.

The Elon University Poll surveyed 1,000 US adults between April 30 and May 4. Respondents answered a multitude of questions, and the majority (79%) agreed that the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. Sixty-eight percent said they are proud to be American; however, 69% said they believed the founding fathers would feel more disappointment than pride about our modern democracy.

Part of the problem is that more than half of the respondents (52%) feel America is not living up to its founding ideals, and 73% rate the overall health of the country’s democracy as only “fair” or “poor.” According to the survey, “Only 36% are confident that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions on major issues facing democracy, regardless of who holds office, over the next 50 years. Americans under age 30 tend to be the most confident in good future decisions.”

Both sides of the aisle have changed in recent years, with more members falling to the fringes. It’s no wonder that 40% of those surveyed “always/often” felt that there was no major political party or political movement that represents their views, and that another 40% felt that way “sometimes.”

Anxiety over the state of affairs has also gripped a lot of Americans. Respondents were asked: “In the past five years, how often have you felt the U.S. is on the brink of a major crisis?” A quarter of poll takers (25%) said they felt that way daily, 15% weekly, 24% monthly, 26% once a year or less, and just 9% replied “never.”

Looking at the Past

Barely a quarter of respondents said they believe the nation’s democracy is healthy today. So which periods in American history did participants view as best embodying the country’s goals and achievements? According to the poll, the Civil Rights movement ranked the highest with 16%, and World War II came second with 11%.

The respondents were asked to say whether they agreed or disagreed with a particular quote from a president. The kicker was, they weren’t told who said the quote. It’s interesting to compare who said the quotes with how the presidents ranked. For instance, Obama received the lowest percentage of people agreeing with his quote, and George Washington, by far, had the highest:

Presidential Quotes

“Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.” - George Washington (78% agreed).

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” - Abraham Lincoln (75% agreed)

“This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history.” - Donald Trump (56% agreed)

“Let each of us ask not what government will do for me, but what can I do for myself.” - Richard M. Nixon (61% agreed)

“Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” - Ronald Reagan (57% agreed)

“We don’t think government can solve all our problems. But we don’t think that government is the source of all our problems.” - Barack Obama (51% agreed)

So, after all of this, is the American Dream still alive? Do people today feel that if they work hard, they will generally succeed, regardless of the circumstances they were born into? Just 37% of respondents agreed, saying that sentiment was very and somewhat true. What does this mean for the future expectations of America? Participants were asked what they expected the country to look like in 2076: Sixty-eight percent felt the nation would be more politically divided, 51% felt America would be less influential globally, 55% expect a worse average standard of living, and 59% said there would be less freedom for citizens.

As America prepares to mark 250 years of independence, the survey paints a picture of a nation caught between pride in its past and uncertainty about its future. Many Americans still believe the United States plays a unique role in the world and continue to admire the leaders and ideals that helped shape the country. At the same time, concerns about political division, declining trust in institutions, and the future of freedom and opportunity weigh heavily on people's minds.

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