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.
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
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.
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.
I guess it depends on how you define “kinda close” since the Constitution didn’t start getting drafted until a decade later
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
Well, I guess you can be glad more than half got it right.
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.
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.