Poll Finds 65% of Americans Proud to Be American While 83% Say Country Has Moved Away From Founding Principles

A majority of Americans say they are proud or very proud to be American, according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released July 1. The survey of 1,340 adults conducted June 8-11 found 65 percent hold that view while 35 percent say they are not proud. Republicans expressed the highest levels at 93 percent, followed by independents at 61 percent and Democrats at 45 percent.

Eighty-three percent of respondents said the country has moved away from its founding principles, up from levels recorded in a 1976 Roper Organization poll during the bicentennial year. Nearly half said the nation has moved far away, 36 percent said somewhat away, and 16 percent said it still represents those principles.

Democrats were more likely than Republicans to say the country has veered off course.

Eighty-two percent of Americans said a serious threat to democracy exists, a four-point increase since February. Twelve percent strongly agreed that violence may be needed to correct the country's direction, while 35 percent disagreed and 27 percent strongly disagreed. Sixty-five percent of Republicans and 52 percent of independents said America's best days are yet to come.

Forty-five percent of all respondents said the best days have already passed, including 50 percent of Democrats. Fifty-nine percent said they are not confident or not at all confident that future generations will be better off by the nation's 300th anniversary. David Walsh, a 62-year-old retired teacher from New Jersey who identifies as Republican, said he feels very proud.

Christopher James, a 59-year-old federal employee from Maryland who identifies as Democrat, described his feelings as mixed. John Grigg, a 59-year-old election officer from Virginia who identifies as independent, said he feels embarrassed at this moment.