Do Americans Grasp The Meaning Of Independence Day?
How well do Americans know the scoop on Independence Day? Surprisingly two out of three are a bit hazy about the details! In a recent OnePoll survey jam-packed with patriotic queries, 1,000 red, white, and blue respondents took the stage, with 99% proudly waving their “I’m American” flag.
When quizzed on the official reason we set off the fireworks on July 4th, only 59% nailed it with the right answer – the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Not too shabby, right?
Interestingly, 41% missed the memo, but 22% were like, “Eh, close enough,” choosing “The establishment of the United States as an independent nation.”
But there’s more trivia! When asked about the kickoff year for the very first independence celebration shindig, only 45% responded with the right answer – 1777. A year after that iconic Declaration of Independence moment in 1776.
“At night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated,” The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported of the event.
Independence Day Revelations: Testing U.S. History And Civics IQ
When it came to the nitty-gritty of the survey, a bunch of folks aced their U.S. history and Civics know-how, rocking a series of questions straight from the U.S. Citizenship Test.
82% nailed it by identifying the “Commander in Chief” as the President. Another 82% proudly declared that the “Star-Spangled Banner” is our National Anthem – such patriotic vibes!
Now the basic civics lessons have turned into head-scratchers. Only 65% knew that there are nine Supreme Court members doing their thing, currently in session and all.
But 40% stumbled when asked about the “right to bear arms,” thinking it was tucked away in the Second Amendment instead of the first. Plus, 11% were caught in a freedom-of-speech mix-up, thinking it had no business in the First Amendment at all.
But before the test, only 61% claimed to be U.S. history whizzes. Next, we move on to the grand finale, and bam! 73% felt like the kings and queens of knowledge, claiming they aced most, if not all, of the questions. Their confidence level went through the roof!
