July 1, 2026
America 250, July 2026
Eight in Ten Say U.S. Has Moved from Founding Principles, Yet Majority Still Think Best Days Still to Come
With 250 years of history in the rearview mirror, nearly half of Americans think the principles and ideals on which the nation was founded are a distant memory. Still, a majority of Americans think the nation’s best days are still to come, even if they are not confident that future generations will be better off than Americans today. Opinions, though, differ along partisan, generational, and gender lines.
Nearly one in three Americans (32%) say they are worried as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. 22% are frustrated while 23% are hopeful, and 22% are proud.
Pluralities of Democrats (42%) and independents (37%) report they are worried while a plurality of Republicans (42%) say they are proud as the nation marks 250 years.
65% of Americans nationally say they are either very proud or proud to be an American while 35% report they are either not very proud or not proud at all to be an American today.
93% of Republicans, including 65% of those who report a high level of pride, say they are very proud or proud to be an American. This compares with 45% of Democrats and 61% of independents who feel this way.
When asked to provide a single word or phrase that captures what best defines what it means to be an American, a plurality of Americans (36%) offered "freedom/liberty." 14% said "patriotism" or "national pride."
Other definitions of American identity, including "rights/constitutional rights/constitution" (8%) and "diversity/inclusivity/tolerance" (6%), received single digits.
Nearly Half of Americans Say America Has Moved Far Away from Founding Principles
When thinking about the principles and ideals on which the country was founded, 47% of Americans nationally say the country has moved far away from those ideals. 36% say they have moved somewhat away from them while 16% think the country still represents those principles.
In 1976, when America marked its bicentennial, America was emerging from the throws of Vietnam and Watergate. At that time, the Roper Organization asked this question and found that 46% of Americans thought America had moved somewhat away from its founding ideals. 30% said the nation had moved far away from them, and 18% said America still reflected its founding principles.
Democrats (53%) are more likely than Republicans (42%) to say the nation has moved away from the ideals of the Founding Fathers while Republicans (20%) are more likely than Democrats (13%) to say the nation still reflects those principles. Younger generations are more likely than older generations to say America aligns with its founding ideals (21% of Gen Z, 19% of Millennials, 14% of Gen X, and 13% of the Baby Boomer/Silent/Greatest Generation).
Majority of Americans Say the Nation’s Best Days are Still to Come
53% of Americans, including 65% of Republicans and 52% of independents, think the nation’s best days are ahead of us. 45% of Americans say they are behind us. Democrats divide with 50% saying the nation’s best days are behind us and 48% saying they are ahead of us.
More than Eight in Ten Americans Say a Serious Threat to Democracy Exists
82% of Americans think, when thinking about the issues that divide the nation, a serious threat to the future of democracy exists. This is up from 78% in February. 17%, in contrast, say there is not a serious threat to democracy.
Nearly Four in Ten Believe Violence is the Answer to Get Country on Track
More than one in ten Americans (12%) strongly agree that Americans may need to resort to violence to get the nation back on track. An additional 25% of residents nationally agree with that assertion. When last reported in October of 2025, 11% of Americans strongly agreed that violence might be necessary to right the ship while 19% agreed with the idea. 35% currently disagree that violence is the answer while 27% strongly disagree, down from 36% previously.
Americans Lack Historical Perspective, Say Most
84% of adults say Americans know too little about history. Five percent say they know too much, and 10% report Americans know just the right amount about history.
Americans Doubt Better is Ahead for Future Generations
Nearly six in ten Americans (59%) say, when thinking about the nation’s 300th anniversary, they are not too confident or not confident at all that future generations will be better off. 40% say they are very confident or confident that future generations will have a brighter future. Democrats (65%) and independents (62%) are more pessimistic than Republicans (44%). A majority of Republicans (55%) express confidence that younger Americans will be better off than their elders. Gen Z (48%) are more likely than older generations to say they are confident that future generations will be better off. Men (44%) are more likely than women (36%) to have this opinion.
Methodology
This NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll national survey of 1,340 adults was conducted June 8th through June 11th, 2026, by the Marist Poll in partnership with NPR and PBS News. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n= 1,340) are statistically significant within ±3.0 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,162) are statistically significant within ±3.3 percentage points.