Recent data from Gallup shows Americas are not just divided on policy positions and personalities, but on their feelings of patriotism, too. The pride of U.S. adults in being an American is at an all-time low in Gallup’s 25 years of tracking the question.
By The Numbers:
Fifty-eight percent say they’re “extremely proud” to be an American; 19% say they’re “moderately proud,” 11% say they’re “only a little proud,” and 9% are “not proud at all.” When Gallup first asked this question in Jan. 2001, 87% of Americans said they were “extremely” or “very” proud.
The decline in national pride has been most prominent among Democrats. Today only 36% of Democrats say they’re extremely proud to be an American, compared to 53% of Independents and 92% percent of Republicans.
The Bottom Line: It’s not surprising there’s a decline of national pride amongst Democrats, considering their major election losses up and down the ballot last November. That said, sentiment has been declining among Democrats and Independents over the last 25 years in large part because of increased partisanship and political division. As Gallup notes, this decline aligns with growing pessimism among young people about their economic opportunity as well as dissatisfaction among other groups with the state of the nation and the large divide between the parties. As we approach the July 4th holiday, it’s an important reminder for the country’s elected leaders to remind their constituents why America is the greatest country in the world, and communicate the work they’re doing to ensure the USA maintains that status.
