As the 250th Anniversary Approaches, "Pride in America" Wavers—Why Americans Are Struggling to Feel Proud of Their Country

As the significant milestone of 250 years since its founding approaches, American society is experiencing a significant wavering in "pride in their country."

According to a new public opinion poll reported by the Associated Press, pride among Americans in their country's history and democracy has significantly declined since 2017. Furthermore, a recent Gallup survey found that only 33% of respondents said they are "extremely proud" to be American, marking the lowest level since the survey began in 2001.

Even when combining those who are "extremely proud" and "very proud," the figure is only 53%. Compared to the time when nearly 90% of Americans expressed strong national pride, the change is evident. In the aftermath of 9/11, there was a movement in the U.S. to display the national flag and reaffirm a sense of national unity. However, a quarter-century later, the Stars and Stripes have become a symbol of both unity and the differences in political stances and values.

What is particularly noteworthy in this survey is that the decline in pride is not limited to simply "being American," but also extends to core aspects of the nation, such as U.S. history, democracy, the military, international influence, and the treatment of groups within society.

In the AP-NORC survey, only 28% of respondents felt "great pride" in the functioning of U.S. democracy. This is a drop of 14 points from 42% in 2017 over approximately a decade. Pride in U.S. history fell from 58% to 44%, pride in the military from 78% to 59%, and pride in political influence in the world from 34% to 24%.

These figures indicate that the "self-image" of America as a nation is changing.

For a long time, the U.S. has positioned itself as the "land of freedom," the "model of democracy," and the country where "hard work leads to success." The American Dream was a symbolic phrase of this. However, in the recent AP-NORC survey, only about one-third of respondents believe that the American Dream, in the sense of being rewarded for hard work, still holds true. Half believe it once did but no longer does.

This perception is particularly strong among younger generations. Among those aged 18-29, the percentage who believe the American Dream still exists is even lower. Rising housing prices, medical costs, student loans, inflation, job insecurity, and political distrust make the American Dream less of a tangible reality for the younger generation compared to what their parents described.

Thus, the decline in patriotism cannot be explained solely by emotions. Whether one can be proud of their country is deeply tied to whether they feel their life is protected by the country, whether they believe the system functions fairly, and whether they can hold hope for the future.

The most striking aspect of this survey is the difference in perceptions based on party affiliation. According to Gallup, 70% of Republican supporters said they are "extremely proud" to be American, compared to 28% of independents and 14% of Democrats. When combining "extremely proud" and "very proud," the figure reaches 93% for Republicans, while it is 51% for independents and 27% for Democrats.

This difference is not simply a matter of "Republicans being patriotic and Democrats not." Rather, it shows that what constitutes "pride in the country" varies significantly based on political stance.

For some, patriotism means displaying the national flag, supporting the military, and celebrating U.S. success. For others, it means acknowledging the country's mistakes, criticizing racial discrimination, inequality, and the dysfunction of democracy, and striving for a better society. In other words, the debate is not about whether one loves America, but what it means to love America.

Reactions on social media also reflect this division well.

In public Facebook posts and comment sections sharing news articles, reactions like "If you can't be proud, go to another country," "There's no country as free as America," and "The fact that you can complain is proof of freedom" are seen. These reactions link pride in the country to civic loyalty and gratitude. The U.S. has freedom of expression, elections, and freedom of movement and career choice. Therefore, the view is that one should acknowledge these benefits before listing faults.

On the other hand, other comment sections show reactions like "I'm proud of U.S. history and culture, but not of the current government or politics," "Criticizing the country is not the same as hating it," and "To protect democracy, it's necessary to speak up." This perspective separates national ideals from the current political situation.

This difference is important. Many who criticize the country are not necessarily abandoning the U.S. Rather, they are disappointed by the gap between the ideals the U.S. has upheld—freedom, equality, justice, democracy—and reality. For them, criticism is not a denial of patriotism but another expression of it.

On social media, especially among younger generations, reactions rooted in real-life experiences are also prominent, such as "I want lower rent rather than national pride," "It's hard to be proud of a country where you can go bankrupt from medical bills," and "Before talking about democracy, fix the voting system and political funding issues." This reflects a sense that daily life is more important than national slogans. Whether one can be proud of their country is judged not by abstract ideals but by whether their own and their family's lives are stable.

These reactions indicate that "patriotism" is no longer a common language in American society. Words like the Stars and Stripes, Independence Day, respect for the military, and the American Dream once connected a relatively wide range of citizens. However, today, even these symbols are perceived differently based on party affiliation, generation, region, race, and education level.

The AP-NORC survey also reveals what Americans consider important as part of their national identity. 87% consider freedom of speech important, 86% consider voting rights important, and many also consider freedom of religion important. This means that Americans still view freedom and rights as core values of the nation.

However, at the same time, many feel these freedoms and rights are currently under threat. Democrats are more aware of threats to voting rights and freedom of speech, while Republicans tend to feel more strongly about threats to the right to bear arms. Even though the same word "freedom" is used, what is considered freedom and what is seen as a threat differ greatly.

This indicates that the division in America extends beyond mere policy differences to differences in the very concept of the nation.

For example, for some, the crisis of American democracy is distrust in the electoral system, voting rights restrictions, political violence, and the politicization of the judiciary. For others, the crisis appears to be government overreach, restrictions on freedom of expression, gun control, and lenient immigration policies. Both sides believe they are "protecting America." This is why the conflict intensifies.

The milestone of 250 years since the founding should have been a great opportunity to celebrate national success. However, in the U.S. of 2026, alongside the celebratory mood, the question "Is this country really moving in a direction we can be proud of?" is spreading. Some people display the Stars and Stripes, while others display it upside down as a symbol of protest. Some take pride in military power and technological innovation, while others focus on issues like inequality, discrimination, and political corruption.

Both are realities of America.

Reading the survey results as "American patriotism has vanished" is somewhat simplistic. What is happening is more likely a shift from "unconditional pride" to "conditional pride." In the past, simply being American was a strong source of pride. But now, questions like "What kind of America is it?" "For whom is it a free country?" and "Is democracy really functioning?" are being asked.

We are in an era where the country's name alone cannot unite people. The distance between the ideals the nation upholds and the reality of its institutional operations is being scrutinized more rigorously.

Interestingly, Americans have not completely lost their connection to the nation. In the AP-NORC survey, while family is considered the most important personal identity, "being American" is still regarded as an important element by many. This means people have not become indifferent to the nation. Rather, they are struggling with their relationship with it.

If people were indifferent, there wouldn't be intense debates on social media. Reactions of backlash, disappointment, and anger arise because there are expectations. The nation of America still deeply influences people's identities. Therefore, the question of "whether one can be proud" becomes a mirror reflecting the self-perception of society as a whole, beyond just a survey question.

In the future, patriotism will continue to be an important theme in American politics. In elections, candidates are likely to repeat phrases like "the real America," "taking back America," and "protecting democracy." However, even the same words can be received very differently by voters. To some, they resonate as hope, while to others, they sound like empty slogans.

Therefore, what America needs as it approaches its 250th anniversary is not just celebration, but self-examination. It is not enough to simply talk about freedom and democracy; it is necessary to question for whom and how these are functioning. It is not enough to praise the American Dream; it is necessary to create a society where the next generation can feel it is a reality. It is not enough to display the national flag; it is necessary to restore an environment where people under that flag feel they are part of the same society.

The question of "whether one can be proud of America" is actually also a question of "whether America can continue to be a country that can be proud of its people."

The survey results do not indicate the end of America. However, it is certain that the simple narrative of patriotism as it was is becoming less applicable. Americans have not come to dislike their country; rather, they are looking at it with a more critical eye. Pride and criticism, attachment and disappointment, hope and distrust—all of these shape the current image of America.

As the 250th anniversary approaches, the meaning of the Stars and Stripes is no longer singular.
However, as long as people continue to debate its meaning, American democracy has not yet completely fallen silent.

Source URL

WTOP/AP "Americans’ pride in US history and democracy has fallen since 2017 and fewer are proud of being American, new polls find."
https://wtop.com/news/2026/06/americans-pride-in-us-history-and-democracy-has-fallen-since-2017-and-fewer-are-proud-of-being-american-new-polls-find/

AP article on the same content. Reports on AP-NORC and Gallup survey results, decline in American pride, party differences, generational differences, etc.
https://apnews.com/article/3f333d6db84c73ca7e78882b0a2a2070

AP-NORC "America 250 Poll." Source of survey data on U.S. history, democracy, military, political influence, American Dream, and national identity.
https://apnorc.org/projects/ap-norc-america-250-poll/

Gallup "American Pride Falls to 25-Year Record Low." Shows the lowest level of pride in being American since 2001, with differences by party and generation.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/711938/american-pride-falls-year-record-low.aspx

Reference for SNS reactions: Examples of reactions in public Facebook posts and comment sections sharing news articles.
https://www.facebook.com/kcrgtv9/posts/a-new-ap-norc-poll-finds-that-americans-have-grown-less-proud-of-the-countrys-hi/1571379164354384/

Reference for SNS reactions: Examples of reactions in public Facebook posts and comment sections sharing news articles.
https://www.facebook.com/WBAYTV/posts/americans-have-grown-less-proud-of-their-countrys-history-or-the-way-its-democra/1415503370609710/