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(CN) — One month before the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, only a minority of Americans believe the country still embraces the ideal that “all men are created equal” with rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, most Americans still identify as proud citizens and believe democracy will endure. But there is widespread pessimism about whether the country is living up to its founding ideals, the current state of democracy and bridging political divides. Republicans are consistently more optimistic across most measures, while younger Americans show lower levels of national pride and higher skepticism about democracy.
“Are we who the Founding Fathers hoped we would be?” Poll analyst Tim Malloy asked. “Though there are clear differences among demographic groups, the U.S. is falling short of that hopeful ideal according to a majority of Americans.”
Sixty-one percent say the United States is not living up to the Declaration of Independence’s ideals of equality, while just 35% believe it is. Yet, 73% of Americans consider themselves proud, compared to 22% who said they were not.
“When only a third of Americans we polled feel the United States is living up to the founding principles of equality as laid out in the Declaration of Independence, that speaks to broad concern that democracy is not working," Malloy explained Thursday via email. “The overall mood of the country is mixed. Democracy in voters’ minds is on shaky ground, and there are mixed feelings on whether America’s best days are ahead or behind us.”
Notably, the poll found confidence in democracy itself has eroded further since 2024. Today, 57% of Americans say the system is not working, up from 49% in March 2024. Younger adults voice particularly deep skepticism, with 64% of 18-to-34-year-olds and 61% of 35-to-49-year-olds saying democracy is not working. But among those concerns, 68% believe democracy will endure beyond their lifetimes.
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last September, a separate Quinnipiac poll found 8 in 10 Americans believed the country was in a “political crisis.”
“It may be a measure of youthful cynicism that when we asked all Americans of all age groups whether they are proud to be Americans, the youngest demographic, 18-34, are the least likely to say yes, and the older the demographic is more apt the voter who would be proud,” Malloy explained. “We have also found when it comes to the Iran War and the Israel-Gaza situation, the younger the voter, the more apt they are to take a negative view of where the country is heading.”
Looking ahead, the country is evenly divided about whether its best days are still to come or already in the past. Half think America’s best days are ahead of us, while 41% believe they are behind us. Republicans stand out as notably more hopeful, with 62% saying the best days are ahead compared to just 29% who think they are behind. Democrats lean toward a more somber outlook, with 49% saying the best days are behind us and 43% believing they are still ahead.
On the issue of free speech, a modest majority (53%) remains optimistic that this core freedom will continue to be protected, while 41% express pessimism. Yet, bridging everyday political differences proves difficult: Americans are nearly evenly split, with 47% saying they are mostly able to talk about disagreements with friends and family who hold opposing views and 49% who choose to steer clear.
Despite these challenges, national pride remains resilient. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) consider themselves proud to be American, though the intensity varies dramatically by age. Pride is far lower among those under 35 (56%), rising steadily among older generations.
“Has American exceptionalism peaked, or is the road ahead filled with promise?” Malloy asked. “It may be battered, but it is not beaten. Americans are confident the bedrock of the country will endure.”
The poll was conducted May 14-18 among 1,316 adults.
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