Many of those polled failed to correctly answer basic questions about American independence and the Constitution

Nearly half of Americans don’t know what they’re celebrating on the Fourth of July, according to a shocking poll.

July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but 46% of Americans and 61% of Gen Zers couldn’t tell you that, the Cato Institute's national survey found.

Celebrations are taking place across the country this holiday weekend, but many Americans failed to correctly answer basic questions about the history of U.S. independence and the Constitution in the poll of 2,253 Americans aged 18 and older.

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[–] 75 points 3 months ago (6 children)

Hold it, is learning any history considered woke now? 🤔

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  • [–] 20 points 3 months ago

    Civics education in the USA has been on the decline since the 1960s. That was further sped up with the focus on STEM over everything else. Some time in the late 90s/00s they stopped requiring a civics class as a high school requirement at all.

    This was not accidental. Our education system has been under attacm since wealthy conservatives found out reality has a liberal bias because conservatism is based on fear and ignorance.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

    Just scroll, watch the TV and news, and listen to music specifically manufactured and marketed to keep you on the path that allows you to be a usable asset to their agendas. Right or left as long as one is using America's foundation as their foundation this will be life.

    It's not about freedom of the human species, it's about business and conquest of the species. You can see the reflection of this in everything "we" do.

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    [–] 68 points 3 months ago (6 children)

    Despite civic ignorance, overwhelming majorities are grateful (86%) and proud (79%) to be Americans. Most also believe America is a land of opportunity (61%), and even more believe the American Dream (74%) is available to them personally.

    big lol

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  • [–] 26 points 3 months ago

    The US has a choose-your-own-adventure history.

    We're a country that welcomes the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, where the pioneer spirit brings people together to build thriving communities away from the aristocrats and oligarchs, and you can be whatever you strive for. Life may be hard, but I've got my people, and we're doing the best we can.

    We're also a country of 'good' Christians, where geographic isolation protects us from threat of invasion or immigration, and allows only the smartest, most ambitious, and wealthiest people to exploit abundant natural resources and desperate labor force for fantastic personal gain.

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    [–] 47 points 3 months ago (5 children)

    The day we fought back the aliens. WELCOME TO EARTH

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  • [–] 21 points 3 months ago (4 children)
  • [–] 46 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    For those of you not aware of the fundamental bias in this statement, the CATO institute is a far right think tank funded by the Koch Brothers. They would rather say that America is dumb than admit that american policies are a failure.

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  • [–] 34 points 3 months ago

    Dismantling public education is going as planned

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  • [–] 32 points 3 months ago* (7 children)

    In case no one has seen the study, the issue is people don't know which part of the revolution is tied to independence day, not they are clueless of what is going on.

    In multiple choice responses were:

    53% Adoption of Declaration of Independance

    23% unsure

    8% Ratification of Constitution

    6% Victory of the Revolutionary War

    5% Election of first President

    3% Prilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock

    1% Founding of Jamestown

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  • [–] 14 points 3 months ago

    It's worse, they didn't actually ask about the 4th.

    "To the best of your knowledge, which of the following best describes what America's 250th anniversary commemorates?"

    Yeah the 4th is the day, but plenty of people might reasonably be less certain given the options listed and the fact that the anniversary has been talked about in general terms in the media for weeks.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    I appreciate the 23% willing to just admit they don't know, and the 8% are kind of close. That 3% who things pilgrims are why can fuck off, though.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    I guess it depends on how you define "kinda close" since the Constitution didn't start getting drafted until a decade later

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    [–] 26 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Oh man, I thought they meant Americans felt ambivalent as they wrestled with the promise of the american experiment, held up against the reality of our history and the revealed flaws in our society and system of government. And I was like "yeah, I get it".

    Turns out we're just dumb, lol

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  • [+] 24 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 child)
  • [–] 18 points 3 months ago* (2 children)

    We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. We're going to live on. We're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our independence day.

    -- George Washington or something (according to half the country)

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  • [–] 14 points 3 months ago

    I don't give a fuck what the Cato Institute finds. They can shut the fuck up and get back to gargling Newt Gingrich's balls while he's still breathing.

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  • [–] 13 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    To be fair, I know what the day marks, but I also don't know what the fuck were celebrating.

    This country is in the shitter, we're headed for very dark times even if we can defeat the Republicans this year and retake the house and senate.

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    [–] 12 points 3 months ago

    Garbage survey designed to illicit a bad result that they'll toss around to rile the base.

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  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    The 4th of July is obviously the day when Jesus, Columbus and Superman beat Karl Marx and Hitler! Duh!

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

    What to celebrate, you got to be kidding.

    Trump making 2 billion dollars grifting the American people!

    No? how about

    Women can't get proper pregnancy care anymore because of big scary abortions!

    Not your style, maybe

    Trans people have to submit to genital inspections from bigoted conservative males to use the restroom!

    Perhaps this

    Our greatest ally Isreal is nearly complete with their genocide!

    Maybe something more festive for the holidays

    The US has blown up over 60 civilian ships murdering countless innocents in celebration of our 250 anniversary!

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 child)

    Only 61 percent correctly identified Great Britain as the nation from which the 13 colonies declared independence 250 years ago

    Was "Britain" and "United Kingdom" options?

    Because it's more understandable if everyone who answered "British" or "Britain" or "UK" were marked as "wrong"

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago

    Only 61 percent correctly identified Great Britain as the nation from which the 13 colonies declared independence 250 years ago. Overall, 40 percent answered incorrectly, with 25 percent admitting they were not sure, and others guessing Europe (4 percent), Canada (3 percent), France (4 percent), Spain (2 percent), and Germany (2 percent).

    From tfa

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago

    Trust me, the rest of the world is trying to figure that out too.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago

    While I have read the Declaration of Independence, it was well before President Pedo's first term, and I don't have it memorized.

    I was making breakfast a few days ago and listening to the History That Doesn't Suck podcast. For the lead up to the 4th, they read the Declaration of Independence.

    Given the opportunity to listen and think about it just then, it was shocking just how many of the offenses the Founding Fathers listed this administration is engaging in.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Of course we do it’s when George Washington took over the airports and rammed the ramparts after Hitler invaded Boston Market and teabagged everyone

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  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago
    [–] 4 points 3 months ago

    Why is there no source for the poll? This seems like a purposeful oversight.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago*

    and some of us know exactly what july 4th 1894 means

    eat shit shocking poll, it’s an excuse to spend time with family the rest of it never meant a damn thing unless you’re a rich white land owner

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    I celebrate that finger I blew off last year while I was celebrating that finger I blew of the year before.

    America! Fuck yeah!

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago

    This year they sem to be celebrating Trump. That's how stupid the majority of the American people are.
    So they will either join or stay away on that basis.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago

    release of the Epstein files

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago

    I thought it was Trump’s birthday, right?

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