(The Center Square) – Sampling 1,000 adults nationwide ahead of America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, a poll released Tuesday finds 68% are proud to be American and 69% believe signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.
The Elon University Poll finds 80% saying no political party or movement represents their views; 79% say the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history; and 70% say America is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in its history. The findings include 68% who say elected officials are worse today than leaders of the past; 68% say America will be more politically divided in 2076; and 64% have little to no confidence U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years.
“We found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role in world history,” said Dr. Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and professor of political science and public policy. “At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.”
Estimates vary on how popular the United States is to citizens of other countries; available immigration statistics indicate it remains a destination place. This century, it continues to lead all other nations with Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom trailing among the leaders.
The Center Square estimates “a minimum of 14 million illegal border crossers” during the four years of the Biden administration, a figure inclusive of 2 million gotaways. Gotaway means someone illegally entering the country detected by lawmen, like the Border Patrol or surveillance, that were not captured and disappeared into the country.
Homeland Security has trended in recent years of annually issuing 1.1 million new green cards. Naturalizations, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in 2025 ranged between 30,000 and 88,000 monthly.
The U.S. Census Bureau, in its April estimation, said unauthorized migrants are included in estimates of the total foreign-born population. It also says it is not possible to tabulate separate estimates of unauthorized migrants or any other legal status category.
The Elon Poll was taken April 30-May 4 and carries a +/- 3.95% margin of error.
Asked about events representing American democracy at its highest ideals, the civil rights movement of the 1960s and World War II (1941-45 for the United States) were the top choices. Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) was chosen by those sampled as the greatest president.
Quotes from Lincoln, George Washington, John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt drew “broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements,” the poll said.
For America’s 250th anniversary a month away, 71% said local events would be more authentic than large national celebrations and 68% said America250 should focus more on a reflection of American history rather than national achievements.
Specifically for the anniversary, the top feeling chosen by 38% was pride. No strong feelings (21%) polled second, followed by gratitude (17%) and conflicted (12%).
