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Nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on July 4, poll finds (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 1 day ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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Many of those polled failed to correctly answer basic questions about American independence and the Constitution

Nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on the Fourth of July, according to a shocking poll.

July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but 46% of Americans and 61% of Gen Zers couldn’t tell you that, the Cato Institute's national survey found.

Celebrations are taking place across the country this holiday weekend, but many Americans failed to correctly answer basic questions about the history of U.S. independence and the Constitution in the poll of 2,253 Americans aged 18 and older.

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[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 5 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Only 61 percent correctly identified Great Britain as the nation from which the 13 colonies declared independence 250 years ago

Was "Britain" and "United Kingdom" options?

Because it's more understandable if everyone who answered "British" or "Britain" or "UK" were marked as "wrong"

[-] jaek@aussie.zone 1 points 11 hours ago

Only 61 percent correctly identified Great Britain as the nation from which the 13 colonies declared independence 250 years ago. Overall, 40 percent answered incorrectly, with 25 percent admitting they were not sure, and others guessing Europe (4 percent), Canada (3 percent), France (4 percent), Spain (2 percent), and Germany (2 percent).

From tfa

[-] eyelevel@lemmy.world 24 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

As others have said, the Cato institute who published this study, is a right-wing think tank and propaganda organization. This study is meant to reinforce conservative circlejerking about the country is going to shit and they are the only True Patriots who can save it.

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 9 points 20 hours ago

Would that be the same right-wingers who have been underfunding and attacking public education for decades?

The ones who elected Mister "I love the poorly educated"?

[-] punkcoder@lemmy.world 45 points 1 day ago

For those of you not aware of the fundamental bias in this statement, the CATO institute is a far right think tank funded by the Koch Brothers. They would rather say that America is dumb than admit that american policies are a failure.

[-] scops@reddthat.com 11 points 1 day ago

It's also published by the Independent, which recently posted a bullshit story where they claimed the average boomer had $42k in student loan debt.

I take any of their headlines with a pile of salt.

[-] Steve@startrek.website 3 points 23 hours ago

Good thing its impossible to actually read the story under the ad bukake

[-] jtrek@startrek.website 60 points 1 day ago

Despite civic ignorance, overwhelming majorities are grateful (86%) and proud (79%) to be Americans. Most also believe America is a land of opportunity (61%), and even more believe the American Dream (74%) is available to them personally.

big lol

[-] tburkhol@slrpnk.net 26 points 1 day ago

The US has a choose-your-own-adventure history.

We're a country that welcomes the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, where the pioneer spirit brings people together to build thriving communities away from the aristocrats and oligarchs, and you can be whatever you strive for. Life may be hard, but I've got my people, and we're doing the best we can.

We're also a country of 'good' Christians, where geographic isolation protects us from threat of invasion or immigration, and allows only the smartest, most ambitious, and wealthiest people to exploit abundant natural resources and desperate labor force for fantastic personal gain.

[-] newton@feddit.online 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩enshittification in progress

[-] M137@lemmy.today 2 points 21 hours ago

The brainwashing machine works, sadly.

[-] binarytobis@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

Without any research whatsoever, I’m pretty sure those numbers are entirely made up. Or they worded the questions differently.

[-] Duckingold@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In case no one has seen the study, the issue is people don't know which part of the revolution is tied to independence day, not they are clueless of what is going on.

In multiple choice responses were:

53% Adoption of Declaration of Independance

23% unsure

8% Ratification of Constitution

6% Victory of the Revolutionary War

5% Election of first President

3% Prilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock

1% Founding of Jamestown

[-] Ava@piefed.blahaj.zone 13 points 23 hours ago

It's worse, they didn't actually ask about the 4th.

"To the best of your knowledge, which of the following best describes what America's 250th anniversary commemorates?"

Yeah the 4th is the day, but plenty of people might reasonably be less certain given the options listed and the fact that the anniversary has been talked about in general terms in the media for weeks.

[-] taiyang@lemmy.world 5 points 23 hours ago

I appreciate the 23% willing to just admit they don't know, and the 8% are kind of close. That 3% who things pilgrims are why can fuck off, though.

[-] halloween_spookster@lemmy.world 5 points 23 hours ago

I guess it depends on how you define "kinda close" since the Constitution didn't start getting drafted until a decade later

[-] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 5 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Except if your read the actual survey questions they don't ask about the 4th. They ask what "America's 250th anniversary celebration" is about. And any of the answers is valid then

[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Well, I guess you can be glad more than half got it right.

[-] uberfreeza@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago

I knew there had to be an issue with the study. I have very little faith in America, but unless they polled 1-year-olds, there's no way so many people wouldn't understand what's it's at least about, even if not what specifically. Especially after so much 250th birthday advertising.

[-] binarytobis@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

I always appreciate it when someone is willing to do the legwork to go to the study and find why the claim is bullshit. It was obvious from some comments in the article that the data was either flawed or made up, and now I don’t have to track down why.

[-] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 12 points 21 hours ago

To be fair, I know what the day marks, but I also don't know what the fuck were celebrating.

This country is in the shitter, we're headed for very dark times even if we can defeat the Republicans this year and retake the house and senate.

[-] Sabata11792@ani.social 1 points 13 hours ago

I use to buy fireworks and get excited, then I got old enough to learn we're the bad guys in the shit hole country just like everyone we're paying to blow up.

[-] MrSelfDestruct@piefed.zip 46 points 1 day ago

The day we fought back the aliens. WELCOME TO EARTH

[-] PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

“Welcome to Earf!”

[-] PrimeErective@startrek.website 4 points 1 day ago

He pronounces it "Earth" quite clearly in the film

[-] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

I’m convinced they fixed it for newer versions. I saw this in theaters and even VHS rentals and I always remember “Earf”. It was an often quoted line in that very respect because that’s what we all heard.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Barfolomew

[-] PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago

That’s a great movie! Looking forward to the sequel!

[-] Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago

Oh man, I thought they meant Americans felt ambivalent as they wrestled with the promise of the american experiment, held up against the reality of our history and the revealed flaws in our society and system of government. And I was like "yeah, I get it".

Turns out we're just dumb, lol

[-] taiyang@lemmy.world 3 points 23 hours ago

Same. We're just projecting into the headline. I'm quite ambivalent today.

[-] radiofreebc@lemmy.world 6 points 20 hours ago

Trust me, the rest of the world is trying to figure that out too.

[-] spacehulk@lemmy.zip 32 points 1 day ago

Dismantling public education is going as planned

[-] makeshift0546@lemmy.today 11 points 23 hours ago

Garbage survey designed to illicit a bad result that they'll toss around to rile the base.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We're going to live on. We're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our independence day.

-- George Washington or something (according to half the country)

[-] aceshigh@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Michael Scott

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[-] Doomsider@lemmy.world 6 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

What to celebrate, you got to be kidding.

Trump making 2 billion dollars grifting the American people!

No? how about

Women can't get proper pregnancy care anymore because of big scary abortions!

Not your style, maybe

Trans people have to submit to genital inspections from bigoted conservative males to use the restroom!

Perhaps this

Our greatest ally Isreal is nearly complete with their genocide!

Maybe something more festive for the holidays

The US has blown up over 60 civilian ships murdering countless innocents in celebration of our 250 anniversary!

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

The 4th of July is obviously the day when Jesus, Columbus and Superman beat Karl Marx and Hitler! Duh!

[-] Klear@piefed.world 3 points 1 day ago

Marx, Hitler and Obama.

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[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

While I have read the Declaration of Independence, it was well before President Pedo's first term, and I don't have it memorized.

I was making breakfast a few days ago and listening to the History That Doesn't Suck podcast. For the lead up to the 4th, they read the Declaration of Independence.

Given the opportunity to listen and think about it just then, it was shocking just how many of the offenses the Founding Fathers listed this administration is engaging in.

[-] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 23 hours ago

Bullshit

[-] Gates9@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

Of course we do it’s when George Washington took over the airports and rammed the ramparts after Hitler invaded Boston Market and teabagged everyone

[-] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Don't forget when dinosaurs attacked the un

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

This year they sem to be celebrating Trump. That's how stupid the majority of the American people are.
So they will either join or stay away on that basis.

[-] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 2 points 21 hours ago

Sorry but I can't see Cato without adding Sicarius to the end.

[-] newton@feddit.online 4 points 1 day ago

release of the Epstein files

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

I thought it was Trump’s birthday, right?

[-] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 3 points 1 day ago

I celebrate that finger I blew off last year while I was celebrating that finger I blew of the year before.

America! Fuck yeah!

[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

To avoid losing fingers, hold the fireworks in your mouth while you light them.

[-] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Celebrating hamburgers!

[-] flandish@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

fight capitalism, and fight oppression- all day. every day. fuck the usa and may it rot away and reset.

also, apropos of nothing other than this burger joint is playing country music, while i wait for my food, fuck country music too. ❤️

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this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2026

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