 |
A new Gallup Poll conducted in the days leading up to Independence Day, shows a wide “patriotism gap” between the political right and left in America.
Eighty percent of conservatives said they are extremely proud of the country, while only 56 percent of liberals responded that way.
Some 68 percent of moderates said they were extremely proud of America.
Whites and non-whites showed a similar difference, with 73 percent of white Americans saying they were extremely proud of the country and 59 percent of non-whites responding that way.
 How proud are you to be an American? Extremely proud, very proud, moderately proud, only a little proud, or not at all proud? (Gallup) |
The poll found younger Americans are less likely to be extremely proud to be Americans than are those who are older. Six in 10 adults aged 18 to 29 say they are extremely proud, compared with about three in four Americans in both the 30-to-49 and 50-to-64 age groups as well as roughly two-thirds of adults aged 65 and older.
Likewise, the Gallup survey found, more than eight in 10 Republicans are extremely proud to be Americans, while two-thirds of Democrats feel this way.
Interestingly, while most Americans are personally extremely proud to be Americans, many perceive that other Americans are not so proud – and only half say the original signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased with the way the United States has turned out.
The poll was conducted June 27-29. The results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,003 adults, 18 years and older. It has a margin of error of 3 percent.
In answer to the question, “How proud are you to be an American?” 70 percent of respondents said they are “extremely” proud, with an additional 20 percent saying they are “very” proud. A January 2001 poll, conducted prior to the events of Sept. 11, found somewhat lower levels of pride, as 55 percent of Americans said they were extremely proud to be Americans. After the attacks, however, pride in the country increased substantially, with upwards of two in three respondents saying they were extremely proud to be Americans in two 2002 polls.
The current data show no decline in patriotism almost two years after the terrorist attacks.
 How proud are you to be an American? How proud do you think most people in this country are to be Americans? (Gallup) |
The poll asked Americans to assess how proud they believe “most people in this country” are to be Americans. Only 42 percent of respondents say that most other people in the United States are “extremely” proud. An additional 35 percent say most people are “very” proud.
The most skeptical respondents – those who are least likely to assign the highest levels of patriotism to others – include men (especially men aged 50 years and older), adults aged 18 to 29, people with postgraduate education, respondents with lower incomes, and liberals. About one-third of individuals in these groups say most other people are extremely proud to be Americans.
 Overall, do you think the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased or disappointed by the way the U.S. has turned out? (Gallup) |
A final question in the poll asked respondents whether the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased or disappointed by the way the United States has turned out. The results show roughly an even split, with 50 percent saying the signers would be pleased and 48 percent saying they would be disappointed.
