Most Americans believe country faces threat to democracy on 250th birthday
Recent polling shows that the majority of Americans are pessimistic about the direction of the country on its 250th birthday, and believe the U.S. faces a number of threats to its democracy.
According to an NPR/PBS News/Marist survey conducted in June, 32 percent of Americans say they are concerned about the state of the country amid the celebrations for its semiquincentennial, compared with 22 percent who are frustrated, 23 percent who are hopeful, and 22 percent who are proud.
And the poll found that over eight-in-ten (82 percent) believe there is a “serious threat” to the future of the country’s democracy, up from 78 percent in February, with only 17 percent saying no such threat exists.
Pessimism Widespread on 250th Anniversary
The poll was fielded among 1,340 adults from June 8 to June 11, and revealed broad partisan splits in perceptions of the country on its 250th birthday. Some 65 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents said they were not confident that future generations would be better off, compared to the 55 percent of Republicans who disagreed.
And a stark split also exists when it comes to national pride, with 93 percent of Republicans saying they are proud to be an American, over double the 45 percent of Democrats who agree.
A majority of 83 percent, however, believe the country has shifted—either somewhat or far—away from the ideals embodied by its founders. Only 16 percent—13 percent of Democrats and 20 percent of Republicans—said that the U.S. “pretty much still represents those principles and ideals.”
And in terms of defending the nation’s future, nearly four-in-ten (37 percent) said that Americans “may have to resort to violence in order to get the country back on track,” including 12 percent who strongly agreed with this statement.
This marks an increase from the last time this question was asked in October, the pollsters said. At that time, 11 percent of respondents “strongly” agreed that violence could be required, while an additional 19 percent agreed.
Growing Unease About America’s Direction
These feelings have been reflected in a number of surveys in the weeks and months leading up to this year’s Fourth of July celebrations.
Nearly six in ten respondents (59 percent) in a Pew Research Center poll from December said they thought the nation’s “best years are behind us.” This feeling was shared across political affiliations, though more Democrats (64 percent) agreed than Republicans (53 percent).
A survey from by NBC News fielded between May 29 and June 7 also showed that a majority of 58 percent thought the country’s best days were “behind us,” compared to 38 percent who said these lay ahead.
Meanwhile, over three quarters (77 percent) told Gallup pollsters in May that the country’s founders would be “disappointed” in the state of the nation, up from 71 percent in 2013 and 42 percent in 2001.
Only 13 percent of Democrats, 25 percent of Republicans and 21 percent of independents said that the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be “pleased” by “the way the United States has turned out.”
And with a growing share of Americans believing that violence may be necessary to “get the country back on track,” polls find that an increasing number are fearful of political violence in America’s future.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey taken June 12 to June 15 revealed that 77 percent of Americans think “there will be an increase in political violence in the U.S.” over the next five years.
